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?
Why Most Students Choose the Wrong Topic
You panic, pick the first "big" thing that comes to mind (sports injury, mission trip, academic competition), and force yourself to write about it. The result? Generic essays that sound like everyone else's. Good brainstorming helps you find the story that only YOU can tell.
Before You Start: 3 Core Principles
No Judgment
Write down EVERY idea, even if it seems "too small." Some of the best essays are about mundane moments.
Specific > Generic
"I love science" is too broad. "I spend Friday nights watching surgery videos" is specific. Specific = interesting.
Quantity First
Generate 20+ ideas before judging any. Your first idea is rarely your best. 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.
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 realized I was wrong about something big
LASTS
- • Last time I cried (and why)
- • Last conversation before someone left/moved/changed
- • Last time I changed my mind about something important
ONLYS
- • I'm the only person in my family who...
- • I'm the only one of my friends who...
- • The only thing I've done consistently for years is...
The "5 Objects" Exercise
Objects tell stories. This technique helps you find essay topics through the things that matter to you.
- 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 memory is attached?
- 3. Write 3-5 sentences about each object without filtering yourself.
Example:
A broken calculator from middle school became an essay about class consciousness, generosity, and how small acts of kindness compound over time.
The "Contradiction Mapping" Method
You're not one-dimensional. The most interesting essays explore your contradictions.
Finish these sentences with things that seem to contradict each other:
"I love ___, but I hate ___."
"People think I'm ___, but really I'm ___."
"I'm both ___ and ___."
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)
The "Dinner Table Test"
What stories do you actually tell people? Those are your essay topics.
Think about the last 5-10 times someone asked "How was your day?" or "What's new?" 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 recently
The stories you naturally tell are the ones you're emotionally connected to. That emotional connection comes through in your writing.
The "Weird Habits" Inventory
Your quirks are more interesting than your achievements.
Make a list of your weird habits, rituals, and routines—things you don't tell many people about:
Daily rituals:
I always ___ before ___. I can't ___ unless ___.
Weird interests:
I know way too much about ___. I watch YouTube videos about ___.
Real Examples That Became Essays:
- • "I organize books by spine color" → Essay about finding order in chaos
- • "I keep every receipt from everywhere I've been" → Essay about memory and growing up
Want All 7 Techniques + Templates?
The Essay Blueprint includes these brainstorming exercises with fillable worksheets, plus essay structures, real examples, and step-by-step writing frameworks. Everything you need to write your essay yourself.
- 47 pages of frameworks & templates
- Brainstorming worksheets included
- Instant download · Keep forever
You Have Ideas. Now What?
Step 1: Narrow Down to 3-5 Finalists
For each idea, ask: Am I excited to write about this? Can I tell it with specific details? Does this reveal something about me?
Step 2: Write 3-Sentence Pitches
Sentence 1: What happened. Sentence 2: What it meant. Sentence 3: Why it matters.
Step 3: Just Start Writing
Pick the idea you're most excited about and write a messy first draft. You can always revise later.
Remember: There's 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 and reflection beats an "impressive" topic written generically. Every time.