Brainstorming the College Essay
Students can set themselves apart with their college essay. Grades through junior year are set, and while students may be able to improve test scores in the fall, it’s the essay where they can truly spotlight their personality.
Remember, there are more than 35,000 other student government presidents, nearly 35,000 other school newspaper editors and thousands more members of National Honor Society. The essay can be a ticket out of “Sameville,” and summer is the time to think about and draft essays.
After the College Solutions Rising Senior Workshop where students will get acquainted with what is expected with essays and on the applications, students will meet with their counselor and brainstorm intriguing topics. Coming up with a compelling topic requires self-analysis and a willingness to dig deep to provide the college admission reader with a student’s careful thought and introspection.
Students might want to be thinking of possible topics now. What is the best way to brainstorm?
First, find a quiet place to think and write, away from distractions. Free-write some thoughts on defining moments.
Then answer some questions:
Have you worked with someone who has had an impact on your life? This could be an extracurricular, academic, or athletic activity.
What are the descriptors or the “defining characteristics” that you or someone who knows you really well would use to describe you?
Are you passionate about something?
Do you have any quirky hobbies?
How have you changed in the last few years?
Which experiences have been the most meaningful?
How have you grown and changed during this pandemic year?
This is a great time to think about what is important and how you have matured over the last several years. Students should think about what they really want colleges to know about them.
Finally, take a look at the essay prompts for the Common and Coalition applications. These are intentionally vague, providing opportunities to use brainstormed topics to fit one or more of the prompts.