We’ve all wondered about how to write the best college admissions essay. Whether you’re going through it for the first time (hi pre-collegiettes™!) and can’t come up with a killer topic, need an even better one this time around for transferring, or just want to know what your classmate may have written hers about, we’ve got you covered here at HC. Check out what collegiettes™ like you wrote their college admissions essays on. They got in to college, so they must know what they’re talking about!
I wrote my college essay about how the volunteer work and community service that I did over my high school career impacted me and shaped me into the person I was (when it was time to apply for college). I described how it helped me become prepared for college and the many experiences I had over the four years of high school.
– Itopia Mills, Campus Correspondent, Florida A&M
I wrote mine on why I wanted to become a part of the greatest tradition in the SEC.
– Jessica Johnson, Campus Correspondent, University of Alabama
I wrote my essay on going into the city (Boston) by myself for an art class for the first time. I decided on that topic because I wanted to show that I was ready for independence at a college far from home.
– Lynne Carty, Contributing Writer, Northwestern University
I can’t remember what the prompts were, but I think one of them was who is your role model and why? I wrote about my dad for that one. For my 2nd essay I wrote about my experience teaching English in Taiwan over the summer.
– Bernice Chuang, Campus Correspondent, UT Austin
The prompt was to write about your favorite teacher. I wrote about my dog and how he taught me loyalty because he loves my dad so much.
– Caitlin Fernandez, Campus Correspondent & Branch Manager, Virginia Tech
[pagebreak]
I wrote my college essay about my computer, and how it is able to house everything important to me on it — my writing, videos of my dancing, communication with friends, photos, etc. Looking back on it as an English major, I never would have written that essay the same way I did as a high school senior. I would have liked to approach it with a more mature voice and concept, and something a lot more creative than an “about me” kind of thing.
– Lauren Kaplan, Contributing Writer, Emory University
I wrote my college essay about my involvement with Relay for Life. I was involved with this community event all four years in high school and it was a very significant experience for me. This topic gave me the opportunity to talk about something I was passionate about, leadership and volunteer experience as well as the impact the event and camaraderie of the community had on my outlook on life.
– Alaine Perconti, Campus Correspondent, Miami University (OH)
I wrote my college essay about how I went streaking in a fountain one summer and was finally able to develop a positive body image.
-Elyssa Goodman, Style Editor, Carnegie Melon University
I wrote about what I’d learned from all of the musical extracurriculars I’d gotten involved in. It’s such a huge part of my life and my resume, so it made sense to explain what it taught me and what those activities say about who I am and the different strengths and talents I possess.
– Sydney Nolan, Contributing Writer, University of Missouri: Columbia
[pagebreak]
I wrote my long essay about working at a summer camp. I worked there for every summer during high school and it was (and still is!) my favorite place on earth. I wrote about why I loved it so much, and why I was able to be 100% myself there (that way I could talk about the things I personally valued).
For my short essay, I wrote about cooking. I’ve always loved cooking and so I used the short piece as a way to highlight my creative side and to show the admissions officers that I was really passionate about things other than just school/academics/varsity athletics/etc.
– Jenni Whalen, Editorial Intern & Contributing Writer, Bucknell University
I wrote about my “obsessions.” Basically, I talked about how I find certain subjects or historical events fascinating even when others don’t, and how my curiosity and love of learning has taught me about the world and about myself.
– Katherine Mirani, Contributing Writer, Northwestern University
My essay was, in many ways, the “anti-essay.” I wasn’t interested in highlighting a specific moment in my life or profiling an important person. Instead, I sought out to prove through a montage of anecdotes and introspective musings that I’m more than an applicant — I’m a person. I didn’t pretend to have it all figured out, but I tried to convey my strengths, weaknesses, idiosyncrasies, and personality through a (what I like to think was at least relatively) funny essay explaining why I wasn’t writing a more traditional essay.
– Rachel Peck, Contributing Writer, Barnard College
I was applying to college to study journalism, so I wrote my essay on how I’ve been influenced by words and writing my entire life. I focused on the impression that journalists such as Lisa Ling have had on my life and how their work ultimately inspired me to join the exciting, ever-changing field of media. I tried to make it interesting and give it a very personal but accessible feel.
– Kayla Riley, Contributing Writer, University of Maine