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When applying to college, your college essay is one of the most critical elements of your application. It is your chance to share your personality, experiences, and aspirations in a way that goes beyond test scores and grades. But the idea of writing this can feel overwhelming for many students. That’s where the right examples can make all the difference.
In this article, we'll walk through 10 college essay examples and explain what makes each one successful. You’ll also find a helpful template to get started and create an essay that grabs the attention of admissions officers while showcasing your unique story.
Read: How to Pick the Best College for You
How to Use College Essay Examples Effectively
Before we dive into the examples, let's first talk about how to use them properly. Looking at essay examples can help you find inspiration, but it’s important not to copy someone else’s work. College essays are about personal growth, and admissions committees want to hear your voice and your story. These sample essays show how other students have successfully tackled their essays, but your task is to make it your own design.
While reviewing examples, focus on these steps:
- Extract your ideas: Use examples to spark ideas for your own unique story and avoid replicating someone else’s essay.
- Focus on structure and tone: Notice how the essays are organized and how they balance personal stories with self-reflection. Consider how you can apply it to your own story.
- Understand what resonates: Admissions officers are looking for authenticity and genuine self-reflection. See how successful essays weave these aspects into their narratives.
Valuable Lessons from Real College Essay Examples
- College Essay Format:
- Many college essays follow a narrative structure where the writer tells a story about a personal experience. This is one of the most effective ways to engage the reader.
- Some essays use a montage structure, jumping from one scene or example to another to show different aspects of the writer's life.
- Your third paragraph should always reinforce the main idea and reflect on the significance of the experience you’re sharing.
- Be Authentic:
- Admissions officers value an authentic voice. Your essay should reflect who you are, not who you think the admissions committee wants you to be.
- Share your personal experiences and show a human connection. It’s not just about your achievements but about how they have shaped you as a person.
- Focus on Personal Growth:
- The most compelling essays often focus on how you’ve grown or learned from an experience. This could be a challenge you faced, an exciting opportunity you seized, or something unexpected that changed you. Personal statements should show how you’ve evolved and how you will bring that growth into your future.
Read: How to Format Your College Essay & What NOT to Do
10 College Essay Examples With Commentary
Below are 10 college essay examples with commentary. For each, I’ll highlight what works and how you can apply these insights to your own essay.
Example 1: Overcoming Family Expectations
Essay Theme: Overcoming pressure to follow in the footsteps of family members and choosing a different path.
Essays about this are common in college applications. Admissions officers value these stories because they demonstrate personal growth, resilience, and the courage to choose a different path, especially when it involves stepping away from family expectations. Whether this pressure began in middle school or more recently, what matters most is how authentic the story feels to you. While the topic itself may not be new, what truly matters is how deeply it resonates with your own journey. If it reflects the challenges you’ve faced and your personal growth, it can be a powerful and relatable way to connect with the admissions committee.
Why this will work:
- Personal Growth: This essay will explore how the writer’s family expectations shaped their choices and led to personal growth. It will show how the writer navigated a difficult situation and grew stronger as a result.
- Specific Examples: By including detailed experiences, the essay will become more relatable. Specific examples help bring the story to life and allow the reader to connect with the writer’s journey on a deeper level.
Expert Tip: If you're writing about this, avoid focusing too much on the negative aspects or blaming others. Emphasize how you learned and grew from the experience, and keep the focus on how it shaped who you are today.
Example 2: The Power of Sports
Essay Theme: Using sports as a vehicle for personal development and leadership.
Sports essays give you a chance to show what goes beyond your athletic abilities. Admissions officers want to see how sports have taught you valuable life lessons, like teamwork, resilience, leadership, and the importance of friendships. Think about the challenges you’ve faced, both on and off the field. How did you handle them? What did you learn from those experiences? And how have they shaped who you are today?
Note: Take time to reflect on these questions as they may reveal moments of personal growth that will make your essay stand out.
Why this will work:
- Reflective Tone: This type of essay is impactful due to its reflective tone. This reflection shows growth and maturity.
What to Avoid:
- Focusing too much on achievements or stats: Don’t make the essay just about your athletic successes. Some schools are not focused on how many games you won or awards you collected.
- Generalizing the experience: Avoid vague statements like "sports taught me leadership." Be specific about how sports impacted your personal development and share examples that show your growth.
Read: The Role of Athletics in College Admissions: Balancing Academics and Sports
Example 3: A Transformative Year as a Host Family Member
Essay Theme: A year spent as a host family to an international student and the growth that came from it.
Essays about this can offer a unique perspective on personal development and cultural exchange. These stories highlight how stepping outside of your comfort zone and embracing new experiences can lead to significant growth. The experience goes beyond welcoming a new culture into your home and how it shaped your understanding of different cultures and your own identity.
What makes this type of essay stand out:
- It is how it blends personal development with global awareness. Unlike other experiences, this one pushes you to navigate differences, embrace new perspectives, and build meaningful relationships with someone from a completely different background.
Expert Tip: If you're writing about this experience, focus on the emotional journey and how it influenced your goals or perspective.
Example 4: The Summer Internship That Changed My Life
Essay Theme: A summer internship at a startup and how it shifted the writer’s perspective on career goals.
Essays about internships are powerful because they show how real-world experiences can shape your career goals and development. This type of essay is unique because it connects practical, hands-on experiences to long-term aspirations. Whether the internship was your first professional experience or something you've been pursuing since middle school, that is fine! As long as the experience opened your eyes to new possibilities and helped you gain a clearer vision for your future career.
Note: When you reflect on how the internship influenced your career path, it becomes a meaningful and relatable story for the college admissions officer. Keep it up!
Why this will work:
- It highlights how the writer’s skills and perspective evolved, making a compelling case for why these experiences matter in shaping one’s future.
Example 5: A Pivotal Moment of Personal Growth
Essay Theme: A personal story about a difficult decision that led to self-discovery.
Writing about a pivotal moment of self-discovery gives you the chance to share a deeply personal experience. This kind of essay works because it shows your ability to reflect on your experiences and how they’ve helped you understand yourself better. By focusing on a turning point, you can highlight how it changed your perspective or set you on a new path.
Why this will work:
- Real Impact: This essay works because it’s not just about a decision but about how that decision changed your path. You’ll show that even a small moment can completely shift your view on life.
- Authentic Reflection: What makes this essay powerful is its being real. Share your feelings, doubts, and the lessons you learned. Showing your vulnerability and how you embraced change will make your story more relatable and meaningful.
Expert Tip: Don’t be afraid to explore the messy parts of self-discovery. Life-changing decisions often come with uncertainty or regret, and embracing these imperfections will make your essay more relatable and genuine.
Example 6: A Passion for Public Speaking
Essay Theme: The writer’s commitment to public speaking as a tool for personal and academic growth.
Public speaking essays are powerful because they show how overcoming challenges, like fear, can lead to significant personal growth. This essay works because it connects your journey from nervousness to confidence, illustrating how public speaking has helped you build leadership skills and better communication. Whether you started speaking in front of groups recently or have been doing it for years, what matters is how each experience has shaped you.
Note: Reflecting on how public speaking has contributed to your growth shows that you’ve not only built a skill but also developed a deeper understanding of yourself. Keep it real and focus on how the process has changed you.
Why this will work:
- It shows personal growth: By highlighting how your fear turned into confidence, the essay demonstrates your ability to grow and adapt.
- It demonstrates leadership: Public speaking shows your ability to lead and influence others, making a strong case for your future potential.
Example 7: Volunteer Work in My Community
Essay Theme: Volunteering at a local shelter and the impact it had on the writer’s understanding of community.
Essays about volunteer work are compelling because they show how giving back can transform your perspective. This essay works because it highlights your personal commitment to helping others and how it deepened your understanding of community and service. Whether you volunteered for a cause close to your heart or took on a responsibility that pushed you out of your comfort zone, what matters is how the experience shaped your values and gave you a new understanding of the world around you.
Note: Reflecting on how volunteering influenced your academic and career aspirations adds depth to your story. Keep it genuine and focus on how the experience helped you grow.
Example 8: Embracing Diversity Through Study Abroad
Essay Theme: A transformative study abroad experience that changed the writer’s worldview.
Study abroad essays offer a unique opportunity to show how stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to personal growth and a deeper understanding of the world. This type of essay gives you the chance to highlight how living in a new culture challenged your assumptions, expanded your perspective, and helped you grow. Think about the challenges you faced in adjusting to a new environment, and what you learn from navigating those differences. How did the experience shape your views on diversity, culture, and human connection?
What to Avoid:
- Focusing too much on the travel details: Don’t make the essay solely about the places you visited or the activities you did. Instead, focus on how the experience changed you and what you learned about yourself and others.
- Being too general: Avoid vague statements like “I learned a lot about different cultures.” Be specific about the lessons you learned, the challenges you overcame, and how the experience helped shape your views and future goals.
Note: Study abroad experiences show a willingness to embrace human existence and adapt to new perspectives, which is highly valued in a college application.
Example 9: The Challenge of Starting a New School
Essay Theme: The writer’s experience of transferring schools and adjusting to a new environment.
Transfer students often face isolation in a new environment, but how you handle it can be a defining moment. Discuss how you felt disconnected at first but found ways to build relationships with peers, teachers, or join clubs/organizations. Emphasize the emotional growth of learning to put yourself out there and develop meaningful connections despite initial discomfort.
Expert Tip: Showcase how you actively worked to combat feelings of loneliness and built a community. Highlight specific actions you took, like joining a team or creating study groups, and reflect on how those actions helped you build resilience and social confidence.
Example 10: Overcoming Failure to Achieve Success
Essay Theme: A story of how a setback led to greater self-discovery and eventual success.
Instead of focusing solely on personal success, explore how a failure shaped your ability to empathize with others. Perhaps you failed at something, but it helped you relate to someone else going through a similar experience. This failure taught you to listen better, support others, and build stronger relationships. This idea stands out because it moves beyond personal growth, showing how failure can foster empathy, a key leadership trait that colleges value.
What to avoid:
- Generalizing the Empathy: Don’t make vague statements like “I became more empathetic.” Be specific about how the failure helped you understand others’ struggles and how it changed your approach to relationships.
- Blaming Others for the Failure: Even if the failure involved others, avoid placing blame. The focus should be on how the failure helped you grow, not on pointing fingers. Use this as an opportunity to show personal responsibility and maturity in how you handled the setback.
- Exaggerating the Failure: While the failure should feel significant, be careful not to over-dramatize it. The focus should be on how you handled the situation. Keep the tone balanced and authentic.
How to Start Writing Your Own College Essay
Writing your college essay might seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Here's how to get started:
Step 1: Brainstorming Your Topic – Find Your Unique Voice
The first step in crafting your college essay is brainstorming a topic that is both meaningful and personal to you. Think about the moments in your life that have shaped your character, beliefs, and values, or a time when you faced and overcame a major challenge. The goal is to identify an experience that will reveal something deeper about who you are as a person.
Remember, don’t feel pressured to pick the “perfect” topic. Your college essay doesn’t need to be about a grand achievement or a life-changing event; instead, it’s about showcasing your authentic self and your growth. This could be an experience where you gained a new understanding of yourself, or something that led to later success in your personal or academic life.
Step 2: Organizing Your Essay – Structure Your Story for Clarity
Once you’ve brainstormed your topic, it’s time to organize your essay. Your essay should tell a compelling story, and structure plays a vital role in making it clear and engaging. Choose a structure that best supports your narrative, whether it’s a narrative structure that follows a clear chronological order or a montage structure where you highlight key moments that show your growth or understanding.
For instance, if you’re discussing a challenge you overcame, a narrative structure could guide the reader through the process of the challenge, your actions, and how you emerged stronger. Alternatively, a montage structure might allow you to explore several moments that collectively contribute to your personal development. Either way, make sure your essay has a clear beginning, middle, and end to help the officers follow your story from start to finish.
Step 3: Writing the Draft and Let Your Ideas Flow Freely
The first draft is all about getting your ideas down on paper. Don’t worry about crafting the perfect sentence or making every word count just yet. Just let your thoughts flow naturally and focus on expressing your ideas without self-criticism. Start writing without worrying too much about structure, style, or word count. The goal at this stage is to capture your thoughts and the essence of your story. It’s normal for the first draft to be rough. What matters is that you’ve started.
Once you have the skeleton of your essay down, you can begin refining and reworking it. Don’t be afraid to edit later. The first draft is simply the foundation. As you revise, you can make sure that your essay stays on track, aligns with your own design, and focuses on the key points that will make your story compelling and authentic.
What to Avoid:
Overthinking the Topic
It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that your college essay needs to be about something “extraordinary.” You might feel pressure to write about a grand achievement or a life-changing moment. But remember, the main point of your essay is to give a genuine snapshot of who you are. What matters is the story's authenticity and its ability to reflect your true self. If you try too hard to craft the perfect topic, you might miss the chance to describe a more personal, meaningful experience.
Focusing Too Much on Achievements
While it’s tempting to highlight accomplishments, don’t let your essay turn into a resume. The purpose of your essay is not to list achievements but to show how those achievements or experiences helped shape your character, mindset, and future goals. Colleges want to understand how your growth has been shaped by your actions.
Skipping the Revision Process
Your first draft will likely be far from perfect, and that’s completely fine! Writing is a process, and your first attempt will likely just be a rough sketch of your final piece. Many students make the mistake of thinking they should get everything right on the first try. The truth is, revision is where you’ll discover the best parts of your essay. Each revision helps you clarify your message, sharpen your voice, and ensure that your essay is well-written and free from unnecessary distractions. Keep in mind that the best essays evolve, and every round of editing brings you closer to a polished final draft.
Using Cliché Language or Generalizations
It’s easy to slip into using overused phrases or vague statements, but these will weaken your essay and make it feel generic. Phrases like “I learned a lot about life” or “this experience changed my world” can make your essay sound more like everyone else’s. Instead, take the time to be specific about how you grew from the experience.
Neglecting to Show Your Personality
Your college essay is one of the few opportunities to show your character outside of grades and test scores. Don’t let your essay become another list of facts or a recounting of your academic career. You want to describe not only what you’ve done but also who you are. Make sure your essay reflects your authentic voice and gives the admissions team a sense of who you are as a person and a student.
Choosing the Right Common App Essay Prompt: Tips for Crafting a Personal and Authentic Story
The Common App essay is a crucial part of your college application, with a 650-word limit and 7 prompts to choose from. It doesn’t matter which prompt you pick. In fact, most experts recommend writing your essay first and then selecting the prompt that best matches your narrative. This approach allows you to focus on telling your authentic story without being confined to a specific structure.
Here are the prompts with insights on how to approach them:
1. Identity, Background, Interests, or Talents
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
This prompt gives you the freedom to dive into your passions or the defining aspects of your identity. Whether it is a talent like playing an instrument or a unique cultural background, this is your chance to showcase what makes you, you.
Expert Tip: Don’t just explain your talent or background. Show how it shaped you.
2. Overcoming Obstacles
The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
This prompt is about resilience. Think beyond the obvious failure. For instance, if you didn’t get into your dream school on your first try, focus on how it shaped your approach to future opportunities.
Real-World Example: A student who failed a major test but used the setback as a turning point to refine their study methods and eventually improved their academic performance could make for a compelling story.
3. Challenging Beliefs
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
This is your chance to demonstrate critical thinking and growth. Think about a time when you confronted an idea or value you once held dear. The key here is to focus on the thought process, like how you come to challenge your belief, and how the experience changes you.
Expert Tip: The most effective essays here are those that balance questioning with reflection. Show that your ability to challenge ideas is not only a sign of intellectual curiosity but also a tool for development
4. Gratitude and Impact
Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
Gratitude is a powerful emotional tool, and this prompt allows you to show your emotional intelligence. Consider how a small act of kindness or support from someone who has had a lasting impact on your life. Instead of just thanking someone, reflect on how their actions inspired you to pay it forward, change your mindset, or develop a new approach to challenges. This shows a sense of maturity and emotional growth.
5. Personal Growth and Realization
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
This prompt is ideal for illustrating how a specific moment led to a shift in perspective. Whether it was a personal achievement, a challenge you overcame, or an enlightening experience, show how that event expanded your understanding.
Expert Tip: Focus on the moment of realization and describe how it reshaped your behavior or mindset.
6. Engaging with a Topic, Idea, or Concept
Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
This is one of the most exciting prompts because it allows you to show your curiosity and passion. Pick something that excites you and explain why it fascinates you and how you pursue it beyond the classroom.
Real-World Example: A student who loves coding might explain how they lost track of time building an app, and how that experience led them to pursue internships or self-study resources to deepen their knowledge.
7. Your Own Topic
Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
This is the wild card option. It gives you the chance to showcase your creativity and originality, but remember, the essay should still reveal something meaningful about you.
Expert Tip: If you choose this prompt, don't repeat something from another part of your application. The best essays here are authentic and insightful.
Read: Common App College Essay Prompts & Tips
Sample College Essay Format
Here’s a simple template to help you organize your college essay:
- Introduction:
- Hook the reader’s attention with an interesting opening.
- Briefly introduce your main idea or experience.
- Body Paragraphs:
- First paragraph: Describe the situation or experience.
- Second paragraph: Discuss the impact of the experience.
- Third paragraph: Reflect on how this experience shaped you and your future.
- Conclusion:
- Tie everything together and emphasize how this experience has influenced your growth or future goals.
Real Insights From Other Students Who’ve Applied
Reddit threads reveal their unique college essay samples:
- "It was interesting because my college advisors initially didn't want me to write about Eurovision. They thought it was well-written but didn't see how it connected to community and identity."
- "Wrote essays about Eurovision, and now I'm a sophomore at an Ivy."
- "I was accepted to UMich years ago with an essay about being part of BTS Army."
What worked for others:
- "For my personal statement, I answered the first Common App prompt, detailing how my NASA experience empowered me to mentor others and reshaped my self-perception."
- "The best essays demonstrate self-awareness and emotional growth."
Final Tips For Your Essay
1. Dig Deeper Into Your Story
Don’t skim the surface. The best college essays reveal moments of true vulnerability and personal insight. Show how those lessons transformed you. A deep dive into your thoughts, emotions, and personal growth will make your essay memorable.
2. Connect the Past to Your Future
Your college essay should not only highlight who you are now but also give insight into who you want to become. Reflect on how your experiences have prepared you for future challenges, academic pursuits, or personal growth. Admissions officers want to know how your past has shaped your aspirations and how you’ll bring that growth with you to their campus.
3. Edit Ruthlessly
Once your essay is drafted, step back and cut anything unnecessary. Each sentence should add value or provide insight into who you are. Don’t hesitate to eliminate filler or overly flowery language to keep the essay sharp and focused.
The Bottom Line
Writing your college essay doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Use the examples and tips shared here to guide you through the process. By staying true to your own essay, focusing on personal growth, and writing with an authentic voice, you’ll create an essay that not only tells your story but also resonates with the admissions committee. Take the time to reflect, revise, and write freely. You’ve got this!
Ready to Craft Your Best College Essay?
You’ve got the tools. Now let the expert coaches help you make your essay stand out! With insights, personalized guidance, and a focus on your unique story, we’ll help you craft a college essay that resonates with admissions committees. Book a session with Leland's expert coaches today to get started on your path to success and make your application truly shine!
Visit: The 10 Best College Admissions Consultants
Be prepared and read more here:
- How to Write the "Why Us?" / "Why This School?" College Essay
- The Ivy League Schools: What They Are & How to Get In
- How to Write the Best College Essays: Step-by-Step Guide With Examples
- College Essay Topic Brainstorming Worksheet + Ideas That Worked
- Top 25 Free Resources for Your College Application
FAQs
How do I start my college essay?
- Begin with a personal story or moment that matters to you. Then connect it to a deeper insight about who you are, rather than starting with your achievements.
What are the 5 D’s of college essays?
- The “5 D’s” to generally avoid as topics are: Death, Divorce, Disease (including depression), Drugs, and Dating.
What to write in a college essay?
- Write about a meaningful experience or insight, show how it changed you, and demonstrate your growth, values, or goals.
What is the most overused word in college essays?
- One of the most overused words is “passion”.
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