A college application isn’t the first time high school students have to answer an essay prompt. That doesn’t mean writing a college admissions essay that makes you stand out is easy.
Essay writing is a core pillar of the college admissions process. To impress admissions officers, students must tackle many essay prompts, such as each university’s supplemental essay, the personal statement, the Common App essay, and the personal essay required by many financial aid programs and scholarships.
When brainstorming how to write your college admissions essay, how do you know what admissions officers are looking for? Usually, it’s a combination of good writing skills and introspective answers to essay prompts that showcase exactly how you would add value to the campus of your dream school.
Here, we’ll highlight three examples of essays that answer common essay prompts. After each example, we’ll give the essay tips and takeaways. Keep in mind that since these are examples, the word count of each will be lower than what’s required for the average essay.
Share Your Story: The Art of Biochemistry
As soon as I was old enough to hold a crayon, my parents were teaching me how to draw three-dimensional shapes and add shading. Art has always been easy for me because it’s always been my life.
In fact, most of my family members are artistic. I am the son of a painter and a sculptor. My grandparents, both in the theater, met at auditions for an acting gig. My older brother followed in their footsteps and lives in New York City in hopes of being an actor. My little sister is interested in fashion design. But I’m happiest in a lab working with cold, hard data. I’m the Vantablack sheep in my family.
I get that I’m complaining about the opposite problem that most people have. My best friend Tristan wants to major in film, but his parents say they want him to have a career that will work in the real world, whatever that means. Art is my real world, but it’s not my passion — biochemistry is.
The first time I discovered my love for biochemistry was in middle school when my science teacher Mrs. Smith congratulated me for my high test scores in her class and gave me a pamphlet about a summer science camp. Since my first molecular structure diagram, I was hooked.
I love learning how the bonds that hold life together — that hold us together — interact with each other. But that doesn’t mean I’m completely rejecting my artistic legacy. I want to use the facts of biochemistry to find creative solutions in medicine. After touring Stanford and speaking to your professors, I know Stanford is the best college to help me achieve this dream.
What makes this example stand out
- Strong voice. This essay reflects the writer's personality through his balanced approach between conversational and professional writing.
- Specific examples. The writer expands on the main idea by using examples and specific moments to engage the reader.
- Unique answer. The student uses his background in an unconventional way to explain why he’s not like his family.
Overcoming Obstacles: Dancing as Clara
Since the first time I put on a tutu and twirled in my living room, I knew I wanted to be a dancer. My parents thought it was a phase until one snowy Christmas Eve when they took me to see a performance of The Nutcracker. I watched Clara do a perfect arabesque and begged my mom to sign me up for dance lessons. When she finally relented, I was so excited that I slept with my new ballet shoes.
Unfortunately, I have horrible performance anxiety. I don’t get nervous butterflies. I get nervous pterodactyls. I’m a good dancer but never auditioned for a solo role. My comfort zone is dancing in the background with the other girls and watching the solos backstage.
Still, I secretly dreamed about dancing in the spotlight. During my junior year, I considered auditioning for the lead role. I even memorized the solo and practiced it in my bedroom during the middle of the night. But when the day for auditions came up, I was too scared to dance in front of the class. I didn’t get a solo, and I was relieved — then I was disappointed.
When my senior year recital was announced — The Nutcracker — I felt like the little girl sitting in the audience on Christmas Eve. I knew I wanted the role, but auditioning for it felt impossible. That is until the day my instructor Ms. Carson tapped me on the shoulder and asked to talk to me.
Nervous, I followed her into the hallway. Was I in trouble?
Surprisingly, Ms. Carson said, “I want you to audition for the part of Clara. I’ve seen how much hard work you’ve put into dancing, even if you’re too shy to show everyone else.”
Me? Auditioning for the starring role? The pterodactyls started flapping, but there was something else. Hope. Excitement. After many sleepless nights, I decided to audition. During my audition, I was nervous, and it wasn’t the best dancing I had ever done, but I did it. I had actually danced a solo, even if it was just in front of my class.
My best friend Amanda and I both auditioned for Clara. Amanda is a fantastic dancer, so I wasn’t upset when she got the starring role as Clara. I was still her understudy, and I got a bigger role than last year. I had still achieved the personal growth I wanted, even if I wasn’t in the spotlight.
But Amanda tore her meniscus the weekend before the recital, and I became the new Clara. I was so scared that I considered tearing my meniscus so I didn’t have to do the solo. But with my mentors' and best friend's support, I stepped onto the stage. And I got a standing ovation.
Now that I know what it feels like to be in the spotlight after so much hard work, I’m not slowing down. I’m shooting for the stars — which is why Harvard is my dream school. I want to spend the rest of my academic and professional life challenging my limits and finding opportunities to dance solo.
What makes this example stand out
- Storytelling. The most engaging and effective college admissions essay is one that keeps the focus on the student’s personal perspective. Your college application essay has to avoid the cliches that come with writing about big, vague topics.
- Focus. The student remains focused on the main essay prompt. She narrows her experience to a single moment and explains how it resulted in personal growth.
- Extracurricular activities. She uses an extracurricular activity to showcase her personality and well-rounded character. She explains how ballet impacts her life and academic interests.
Personal Growth: TTYL
I have a confession: I used to be addicted to social media. Whenever my parents lectured me about the evils of my phone, I would roll my eyes and continue scrolling on my feed. I didn’t want to pay attention to the real world because the virtual world was more interesting.
Why would I want to listen to my sister talk about her day when I could watch a vlog of a girl’s morning routine from halfway across the world? What was so important about my dad’s fight with the office printer when people online shared videos of protests and marches for climate change?
Looking back, I realize how I sound. Self-centered. Disengaged. Plain rude. I was so trapped in the algorithm of my social media feed that I didn’t realize that consuming more content didn’t mean I was actually engaged.
One day, I was driving to a friend’s house when my phone rang with a notification. I knew it was dangerous to check my phone, but it would only take a second. One second was enough for me to miss my turn, overcorrect my car, slip on the wet road — and flip into the ditch.
I was fine, but my car wasn’t. After help arrived and I was rescued, my first reaction was to grab my phone and post about my crash on social media. In that moment, I realized I needed to turn my life upside down.
Social media is addictive by design. But does it have to be? After all, communication is meant to keep us informed and aware of what’s happening. Digital media has made it easier to do that, but we’ve lost sight of its true purpose — to help us be more aware.
I’m pursuing a career in media studies because I understand the power of the digital world. But I also want to help people spend as little time as possible on their phones. I aim to create intentional media that helps people become more aware of their own lives.
What makes this example stand out
- Error-free writing. You can tell this student spent a lot of time proofreading and carefully reviewing each sentence. Her writing skills shine because there are no typos to interrupt the essay.
- Introspection. This student reframes a failure as an opportunity to talk about her self-awareness and how she’s experienced personal growth.
- Connection to her intended major. She uses a personal moment to explain her passion for her chosen career path. She also stands out by explaining how and why she wants to change the world.
Get help choosing the best school for you with College Rover
If you’re looking for an easier way to tackle the application process for your top schools, College Rover is here to help. Use our college comparison tools so you can put your mental energy toward brainstorming answers to the common application essay prompts.
