Essay Topic Brainstorming Sheet

Your college essay is your opportunity to show admissions officers who you are beyond your grades and test scores. To help you brainstorm ideas for your essay, use the following questions and prompts to guide your thinking. The goal is to come up with a topic that is both authentic and memorable, showcasing your individuality and growth.

1. Reflect on Personal Experiences

Think about moments in your life that have shaped who you are today. Consider these questions:

  • What’s the most meaningful experience you’ve had in the last few years?

  • Is there a challenge you’ve faced that helped you grow as a person? How did you overcome it?

  • Have you had any "aha" moments, realizations, or experiences that have changed your perspective on life or the world around you?

Potential Topic Ideas:

  • A turning point in your personal life

  • A time when you learned something new about yourself

  • A moment when you made a significant decision

2. Explore Your Passions and Interests

Your passions often reveal a lot about you. Think about activities, hobbies, or subjects that ignite your excitement.

  • What activity or subject do you get lost in, without noticing the time pass?

  • When was the last time you felt truly proud of something you accomplished, whether big or small?

  • What inspires you to take action or pursue something with determination?

Potential Topic Ideas:

  • How your passion for a particular subject has shaped your academic or career aspirations

  • An extracurricular project or activity that challenged you to grow

  • A volunteer experience that made a lasting impact on you

3. Consider Your Background and Identity

Your background and culture make you unique. Reflect on how your identity influences your actions, beliefs, and aspirations.

  • How has your family, culture, or upbringing shaped the way you view the world?

  • What traditions or values are most important to you, and how have they influenced your decisions?

  • Have you ever had to navigate multiple identities or cultures?

Potential Topic Ideas:

  • A cultural tradition or experience that has influenced your worldview

  • A time when you felt different or out of place and how you handled it

  • An experience of personal growth related to your cultural or family background

4. Explore Challenges and Overcoming Adversity

Everyone faces obstacles, and admissions officers want to understand how you’ve handled adversity.

  • What challenge or setback have you faced that taught you resilience?

  • Have you ever had to advocate for yourself or others in a difficult situation?

  • How have you turned a negative experience into something positive or meaningful?

Potential Topic Ideas:

  • An academic, personal, or family challenge and how you persevered

  • A time when you had to change your approach to a problem

  • How a failure or mistake led to personal growth

5. Look to Your Future

What you’re passionate about, where you want to go, and who you aspire to be matters. Reflect on your goals and how they shape the decisions you make.

  • What are your long-term goals, and how do you plan to achieve them?

  • Is there an issue or cause you care about deeply that you want to contribute to?

  • How do you envision yourself making a difference in the future?

Potential Topic Ideas:

  • A career goal or aspiration that motivates you

  • A project or cause you hope to contribute to in the future

  • A vision for how you can impact your community or the world

6. Dig into Uncommon or Unexpected Ideas

Sometimes, the best essay topics come from unique or unexpected angles.

  • What is something that most people don’t know about you, but is important to who you are?

  • Have you had an unusual experience or hobby that has shaped your worldview?

  • Is there a unique perspective or talent you have that you’re proud of?

Potential Topic Ideas:

  • A quirky personal habit that reveals something meaningful about you

  • An off-the-beaten-path interest or hobby that has contributed to your growth

  • A seemingly small event or idea that had a large impact on you

7. Look for Connections Across Ideas

Once you’ve brainstormed topics, try to identify connections. Is there a way to combine two or more ideas from the sections above?

  • How can you bring together your personal story and your academic or career aspirations?

  • Is there an overarching theme that ties together the experiences you’ve written about?

Final Steps:

Once you have a list of potential topics, ask yourself these questions to narrow down your choices:

  • Does this topic reflect who I am?

  • Will the essay show my growth, resilience, or passion?

  • Is this topic meaningful and memorable?

Tips for Success:

  • Be authentic: Write about something that is true to you. Avoid choosing a topic because you think it will sound impressive.

  • Show, don’t just tell: Use specific examples to make your story engaging.

  • Focus on growth: Admissions officers are looking for students who have learned and grown from their experiences.


Once you’ve chosen your essay topic, it’s time to outline your essay and start drafting! Remember, your college essay is a chance to showcase who you are beyond the application. Take your time, be yourself, and have fun with the process!