How to Brainstorm a Great College Essay Topic

In this video, I share a few tips on how to brainstorm a great personal statement topic. We'll talk about what makes a great topic in the first place, as well as how to figure out whether your college essay topic is likely to work or not. Oh, and I talk a bit about you should ignore the Common App prompts when just starting out.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction
00:56 – Why you should ignore Common App prompts
01:40 – What makes a great topic?
01:54 – How to figure out if your topic stands out
02:29 – Types of structure (Narrative vs Montage)
02:51 – Montage essay structure & qualities
04:32 – Narrative essay structure & qualities
05:50 – Common topics you might want to avoid
06:49 – How to find a great personal statement topic
07:03 – The "Five Things" exercise
08:45 – The "21 Details" exercise
11:20 – The "I Love" exercise
13:13 – Don't overthink this (too much)

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[ScootTooner]

even after this i cant think of anything

[JdfFan-di]

Don't overthink:
So if you got a couple of ideas already, try them out and see if you can use those ideas/details and connect or talk about different aspects of your life. Need to be able to find ideas or topics you have a lot to say about (in other words elastic). If you find there's not much you can write about relating to those details, probably not as elastic.
You need to try to make a simple outline out first before you will know whether or not your topic is going to work (like if you have much to say about it).

[HAD]

hey hey hey hey before i resume the video: THE SHIRT MOVE IS AMAZING

[FSM_Reviews]

I was wondering if my proposed personal essay topic is going to be unique enough in the eyes of admissions readers. I want to write about the time I was 2 inches away from getting electrocuted while fixing our central AC system (I did get a sustained shock though), and how that changed my philosophies and outlook on life.
Thanks for making these videos! I've been binging your videos lately as I gear up to start my CommonApp applications.

[thebeginningchq]

Oh wow, thank you for this! I found this video very helpful. 🙏
I'm going to start my "21 things" list first. Wish me luck 🍀🤞

[ludielizsilaya]

Hi can you create video for students procrastinating? Like what if someone waited the week before? How would you tackle this?

[jenbrown]

These are fantastic brainstorm/outline ideas

[anushkakapoor]

Hi Essay Guy! Love your videos and how you’re helping so many people! I wanted to ask if writing about being a middle child is too common of a topic, and if it has elasticity

[russelniedermayer]

I'm in my thirties and applying to finally finish my degree. Being geriatric applicant is immensely stressful.
This not only helped me brainstorm the perfect essay topic(which I still haven't written yet, so indefinitely remain on the edge of your seat for the upcoming epic conclusion), but led to a rather profound moment of self-actualization.
Love your videos. You're an unsung hero of the internet.

[mirandaaralyn]

this is so helpful! i appreciate this so much

[Christian_Dietrich]

I am on my fourth personal essay this summer, thank you so much for this :)

[zainabshah]

Hi! Would you say that writing about how my entire life I didn’t like my name until my grandmother told me about the story of how I got it, (from my aunt who passed away and I looked just like her) made me realize the importance of my name ? Do a lot of students write about their name? Thank you!

[chaoticstupidwarlock]

So, I'm considering writing about my ADHD and the struggles I've had to overcome, but I'm not entirely sure if it would be a good topic or not. I really don't want it to become a pity party, and I'm also worried that mental struggles are a really common essay topic. Any tips?

[jcmqklr]

Hello Ethan, I wanted to write my personal essay about my father and how he was far away from me everytime due to his job and my experience/reflection towards it. Since, personal essay should be more about me, I don't want as though I'm writing only about him. So, do you have any suggestions?
Btw, I loove your videos:)

[eugeniaenchill]

Your videos are helpful and informative. I would love for you to talk about if you can share about a medical condition as topic and how it’s shaped your world and overcoming this obstacle for college essay. Your thoughts will be appreciated. Thanks

[lucassthazra]

Hi Ethan! Firstly Love your videos Secondly, I am confused about some topic ideas. I have a topic where I will explain an album composed entirely by me which is "Me, Myself and" where each song will fill up the blank after and indicate how that song represents me and my journey. It is also leaned towards the ups and downs of life where it begins with songs on a sad note and eventually leads to happy songs holding on to the moral of life will always start on lows and then rocket up to highs. i'm really confused and stressed

[hibasoobaaii]

Great video thank you that was so helpful.
I actually have a questions concerning international students, we are fluent in english but writing the story of our lives and talking about ourselves is hard when it is not your mother tongue and also when English is your 4th language (my case) and I heard an admission officer talking about this where he said that American's write outstanding essays compared to international students.please can you share with us more tips and advices.

[fruitcake]

Hello! Would a good essay topic be about chapped lips and how though I despise chapped lips with my being, and even though I have about 20 different chapsticks, I always seem to have them. My plan was to tie this into my relationship with my parents and how even though I argue with them and at times despise them they are always there for me. I also don’t just want to make it about my relationship with them, I want to expand more about myself any ideas on how I can?

[ryanni]

I'm thinking of writing my personal statement on the first time I went to a dormitory because of my grades sinking during COVID, and how I worked hard to build myself back up at that dorm. Would that be too common/boring of a topic?

[shafkatkhalekkhan]

Hey, I have watched a lot of your videos and I absolutely love them. I needed some more help and guidance is there any possible way I could reach out to you personally?