How to Brainstorm College Essay Ideas: 7 Proven Techniques
Staring at a blank page? These brainstorming exercises (used by Ivy League admits) will help you find your unique story in under 2 hours.
The hardest part of writing a college essay isn't the writing—it's figuring out what to write about.
You've been told to "be authentic" and "tell your story," but which story? You have hundreds of experiences. How do you know which one will make admissions officers remember you?
This guide gives you 7 brainstorming techniques that work. These aren't generic tips—these are specific exercises used by students who got into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford. Set aside 2 hours, work through these methods, and you'll have 5-10 solid essay ideas by the end.
Why Most Students Choose the Wrong Topic
Here's what happens: You panic, pick the first "big" thing that comes to mind (sports injury, mission trip, academic competition), and force yourself to write about it—even though you're not excited about it.
The result? Generic essays that sound like everyone else's. Admissions officers call these "the same 6 essays"—they read them hundreds of times per cycle.
Good brainstorming helps you find the story that only YOU can tell—the one that admissions officers haven't read before.
Before You Start: 3 Core Principles
No Judgment
Write down EVERY idea, even if it seems "too small" or "not impressive enough." Some of the best essays are about seemingly mundane moments.
Specific > Generic
"I love science" is too broad. "I spend Friday nights watching surgery videos on YouTube" is specific. Specific = interesting.
Quantity First
Generate 20+ ideas before judging any of them. Your first idea is rarely your best idea. The good stuff comes when you dig deeper.
The "Firsts, Lasts, and Onlys" Method
Memory science shows that firsts, lasts, and one-time experiences stick with us. These often make compelling essays.
How It Works:
Set a timer for 10 minutes. Fill in these prompts as fast as you can:
FIRSTS
- • First time I felt like an outsider
- • First time I questioned something everyone else believed
- • First time I failed at something important
- • First time I stood up for something
- • First time I realized I was wrong about something big
LASTS
- • Last time I cried (and why)
- • Last conversation I had with someone before they left/moved/changed
- • Last time I changed my mind about something important
- • Last time I felt completely out of my element
ONLYS
- • I'm the only person in my family who...
- • I'm the only one of my friends who...
- • Only time I've ever...
- • The only thing I've done consistently for years is...
Example of What This Produces:
"First time I felt like an outsider" → A student wrote about being the only kid in their rural town who liked classical music. They couldn't relate to country music conversations. Led to an essay about finding community online in weird forums and what "belonging" actually means.
→ This exercise helps you identify turning points and unique experiences you might have overlooked.
The "5 Objects" Exercise
Objects tell stories. This technique helps you find essay topics through the things that matter to you.
How It Works:
- 1.
Look around your room. List 5 objects that mean something to you. Not fancy things—everyday objects that tell your story.
- 2.
For each object, ask:
- • Why do I keep this?
- • What does it remind me of?
- • What does it say about who I am?
- • What memory is attached to it?
- 3.
Write 3-5 sentences about each object without filtering yourself.
Real Example:
Object: A broken calculator from middle school
Brainstorm: "I keep this because it's from when I first realized I was good at math. But actually, it's more about the teacher who let me borrow it and never asked for it back. She saw something in me before I saw it in myself. I remember being embarrassed that my family couldn't afford a calculator for the test..."
→ This became an essay about class consciousness, generosity, and how small acts of kindness compound over time.
Why This Works:
Objects are concrete. They anchor abstract ideas (like identity, growth, relationships) to something physical and specific. This exercise often uncovers stories you haven't thought about in years.
The "Contradiction Mapping" Method
You're not one-dimensional. The most interesting essays explore your contradictions.
How It Works:
Finish these sentences with things that seem to contradict each other:
"I love _______________, but I hate _______________."
Example: "I love debate, but I hate arguing with friends."
"People think I'm _______________, but really I'm _______________."
Example: "People think I'm confident, but really I rehearse everything I say."
"I'm both _______________ and _______________."
Example: "I'm both deeply introverted and constantly performing."
"I value _______________, but I also value _______________."
Example: "I value tradition, but I also value questioning everything."
Why Contradictions Make Great Essays:
- ✓ They're inherently interesting (tension creates narrative)
- ✓ They show self-awareness and complexity
- ✓ They're unique to you (no one has your exact contradictions)
- ✓ They demonstrate growth mindset (you contain multitudes)
The "Dinner Table Test"
What stories do you actually tell people? Those are your essay topics.
How It Works:
Think about the last 5-10 times someone asked you "How was your day?" or "What's new?" What did you actually talk about?
Write down:
- • Stories you've told multiple times
- • Topics you naturally bring up in conversation
- • Things that make you laugh when you remember them
- • Moments you found yourself explaining to someone recently
Key Insight:
The stories you naturally tell are the ones you're emotionally connected to. That emotional connection comes through in your writing. Don't force yourself to write about something you wouldn't naturally talk about.
The "Weird Habits" Inventory
Your quirks are more interesting than your achievements.
How It Works:
Make a list of your weird habits, rituals, and routines. The things you do that you don't tell many people about:
Daily rituals:
- • I always ___ before ___
- • I can't ___ unless ___
- • Every night I ___
Weird interests:
- • I know way too much about ___
- • I watch YouTube videos about ___
- • I collect ___
Secret skills:
- • I can ___ better than most people
- • I've taught myself to ___
- • People are surprised when they learn I ___
Strange preferences:
- • I prefer ___ to ___
- • I'm the only person I know who ___
- • I have strong opinions about ___
Real Examples That Became Essays:
- • "I organize my books by the color of the spine" → Essay about finding order in chaos, visual thinking
- • "I name all my plants and apologize to them when I forget to water them" → Essay about empathy and responsibility
- • "I watch mukbang videos while doing homework" → Essay about comfort, loneliness, and connection
- • "I keep every receipt from everywhere I've been" → Essay about memory, permanence, and growing up
The "Teaching Moment" Framework
What could you teach someone else? That's evidence of expertise and passion.
How It Works:
Ask yourself:
What could I teach a 10-year-old?
Skills you've mastered through practice (cooking, coding, gaming strategies, makeup, sports technique, etc.)
What could I teach my parents?
Things you know that they don't (technology, trends, new perspectives, generational differences)
What could I teach my past self?
Lessons learned through experience (relationships, failure, growth, change)
Why This Produces Strong Topics:
If you can teach something, you've thought deeply about it. Essays about things you've mastered (or attempted to master) naturally have depth, reflection, and specific details.
Plus, the "teaching" frame often reveals growth: you compare who you were (didn't know this) to who you are now (can teach it).
The "Question Everything" Prompt Generator
When in doubt, start with questions. Good questions lead to good essays.
How It Works:
Answer these 21 questions rapid-fire. Don't overthink—just write whatever comes to mind:
Identity:
- 1. What makes you different from your siblings/friends?
- 2. What word do people use to describe you that you disagree with?
- 3. What part of your identity is invisible to others?
Curiosity:
- 4. What question do you think about most?
- 5. What topic could you talk about for hours?
- 6. What's something everyone should know about?
Values:
- 7. What makes you angry?
- 8. What rule do you disagree with?
- 9. What would you protest for?
Growth:
- 10. What belief have you changed?
- 11. What skill took you longest to learn?
- 12. What's something you used to hate but now love?
Relationships:
- 13. Who understands you best?
- 14. Who have you changed because of?
- 15. Who do you want to become?
Challenges:
- 16. What's the hardest conversation you've had?
- 17. What do you struggle with that seems easy for others?
- 18. What failure are you most proud of?
Future:
- 19. What problem do you want to solve?
- 20. What world do you want to build?
- 21. What do you want to be known for?
After You Finish:
Circle the 3-5 answers that made you pause and think. Those are your essay seeds. The ones that required the most thought are often the ones worth exploring.
You Have Ideas. Now What?
Step 1: Narrow Down to 3-5 Finalists
Look at all your brainstorming. For each idea, ask:
Am I excited to write about this? (If not, it won't be a good essay)
Can I tell this story with specific details? (Vague = boring)
Does this reveal something about me? (Not just what I did, but who I am)
Is this story already in my application? (Don't repeat your activities list)
Step 2: Write 3-Sentence "Pitches"
For your top 3-5 ideas, write a quick pitch:
Sentence 1: What happened (the event/experience)
Sentence 2: What it meant (the realization/lesson)
Sentence 3: Why it matters (how you're different now)
Step 3: Get Feedback (Optional)
Share your pitches with someone who knows you well. Ask them:
- • Which one sounds most like me?
- • Which one are you most curious to read?
- • Which one feels most unique?
Step 4: Just Start Writing
Pick the idea that you're most excited about and write a messy first draft. Don't worry about making it good—just get it out. You can always revise (or start over with a different idea) later.
Brainstorming Mistakes to Avoid
DON'T
- ✗ Censoring yourself: "That's too weird to write about"
- ✗ Choosing what you think they want to hear: "I should write about leadership"
- ✗ Picking the first idea: Your best ideas come after you've exhausted the obvious ones
- ✗ Brainstorming for 5 minutes: This takes TIME. Set aside 1-2 hours minimum
- ✗ Skipping the writing test: Some ideas seem great until you try to write them
DO
- ✓ Write everything down: Even "dumb" ideas can lead to good ones
- ✓ Trust your gut: If you're excited to write it, that enthusiasm shows
- ✓ Go deep, not broad: One small moment beats a whole life story
- ✓ Take breaks: Your subconscious will keep working
- ✓ Try multiple ideas: Write 2-3 paragraphs of each to see what flows
Remember: There's No "Perfect" Topic
Students obsess over finding the "perfect" essay topic—the one impressive experience that will guarantee admission.
Here's the truth: There is no perfect topic. Some of the best essays are about incredibly mundane things—making sandwiches, losing a sock, sitting in traffic. What matters is how you write about it, not what you write about.
A mediocre topic written with specificity, voice, and reflection beats an "impressive" topic written generically. Every time.
So pick something you care about, something that feels true to who you are, and start writing. You can always revise later. But you can't revise a blank page.
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