You’re 18 years old and staring at your whole life ahead of you. But you need to write an essay for the college application. One that is impactful enough to help get you into the college of your choice. It may feel like you’re just beginning your life, but you’ve already created countless memories that will stick with you through the ages. Dig deep, reflect and find a perfect topic to make a splash with admissions officers. Here are some common app essay examples to get the juices flowing.
Types of College Application Essays
There are no hard and fast rules about what your college application essay should be about. It must be factual and should be personal. But organizing your thoughts or experiences can be tricky. It’s often emotional or something you “just grew up with.” Finding a way to tell your story that is logical and easy for a reader to follow can have an impact on your future.
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Some college applications will have a more specific prompt that may determine your topic. Some examples of prompts are:
- Describe an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked personal growth and a new understanding of self or others.
- Tell us about a time when you faced a challenge or setback. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from it?
- Describe a topic, idea, or concept that captivates you and makes you lose track of time. Explain why it interests you and who or what you turn to for more information.
- More common app essay prompts.
So, make an impact with your essay’s well-thought-out structure. Two common types of college application essays are narrative and montage structures. The examples of each below are just that – examples. Almost any topic could be bucketed into either of these structures depending on your experience.
Narrative Structured Essays
An essay structured as a narrative follows a chronological order of events. It could be walking the reader through a single experience from start to finish, or it could be spanning years.
Examples of common app essay topics that are great for narrative structure are:
- Personal Growth
- Community Involvement
- Unconventional Experiences
- Relationships
Montage Structured Essays
A montage structure might work better if you choose a topic that is more of a running theme than an experience. Sometimes, one experience doesn’t lead directly to another, but they are all connected thematically.
Examples of topics that you may want to structure as a montage are:
- Passions and Interests
- Cultural Background
- Academic Journey
- Future Goals
The following example essays are fictional creations and do not represent any real individual. Any resemblance to actual events or persons is purely coincidental.
Narrative Example (Community Involvement)
The sun descended below the horizon, casting a warm glow on the community garden. As I stood there, with dirt under my fingernails and sweat down my back, it dawned on me that this space was more than just a piece of earth – it was the beginning of my journey into community involvement.
The garden became my sanctuary. Every Saturday morning, I joined a group of volunteers—students, retirees, and families—all united by a common purpose. We planted seeds, pulled weeds, and nurtured life from the ground. Conversations flowed freely—a retired teacher sharing stories, a child marveling at a sprouting carrot. We were cultivating more than vegetables; we were sowing connections.
The garden wasn’t immune to challenges, though. Some doubted our impact. “A few rows of vegetables won’t change the world,” they said. But we persisted. We hosted workshops on sustainable gardening, inviting neighbors to learn alongside us. As we pulled out invasive plants, we also uprooted misconceptions. The lesson? Change starts small, but it ripples far beyond the initial plot of dirt.
The garden taught me community involvement isn’t about adding a line item to my resume. It’s about connecting with others to make something bigger than all of us. As I prepare for college, I carry these lessons with me:
- Unity in Diversity: As diverse plants thrive together, so do diverse minds. I’ll seek out collaborations that blend perspectives.
- Nurturing Connections: Like tending to seedlings, I’ll invest time in building relationships—with professors, peers, and the broader community. These connections will bear fruit beyond the classroom.
- Weeding Out Prejudice: I’ll challenge stereotypes. Just as we pulled out invasive plants, I’ll uproot biases and cultivate understanding.
The garden may have been a small patch of land, but its impact was deep, and I’ll carry its lessons with me into my future.
Module Example (Future Goals)
At five years old, I started down an unexpected path when I discovered a wounded mouse in my basement. While my mom might not have been thrilled about my newfound friend, that moment ignited a passion within me for caring for animals, regardless of their size or species.
As I reflect, I realize my life became a series of encounters with animals in need. Whether it was rescuing a stranded bird from the sidewalk or tending to a stray cat in our neighborhood, my instinct to help and heal thrived.
I remember the exhilaration of successfully rehabilitating a squirrel and the bittersweet joy of releasing it back into the wild. These experiences affirmed my calling to dedicate my life to the welfare of animals, particularly those considered exotic or unconventional.
Now, one thing is clear to me: my love for animals knows no bounds. This passion propels me towards my future goal of becoming a veterinarian specializing in exotic animals. I am eager to combine my compassion, knowledge, and dedication to make a meaningful impact in the lives of creatures great and small.
Real Examples of Successful College Application Essays
Here are some examples of real college admission essays that have resulted in acceptances:
1. Brittany’s Costco Essay
Brittany’s essay helped to get her accepted into five Ivy League schools and is a great example of using a narrative to connect to a lifelong theme of curiosity.
2. Ziad’s #BlackLivesMatter Essay
Ziad was accepted into Stanford with this unconventional essay that captivated admissions officers.
3. Jodie’s Thousand Paper Cranes
As Jodie can tell you, persistence pays off. Her essay is both a great example of narrative storytelling and showcases a trait that will set her apart from other students in college.
4. Soa’s Antananarivo Essay
Soa was accepted into 14 colleges with a heartfelt application essay that taught her lifelong lessons.
5. Abigail’s “S”
Abigail shared a beautiful example of a montage structured essay. You can easily follow the theme all the way through, and it got her accepted at Harvard.
Crafting a compelling common app essay does not mean that you must have a one-of-a-kind or newsworthy experience. You just need to find the experiences that have shaped you as a person and turn common experiences into a meaningful, authentic story. Once you’ve chosen your topic, and set up your format, it’s time to write your admission-worthy essay. And if you’re still searching for the perfect school, check out our free college match tool!
