An essay is an important part of your college application. You have the opportunity to show the admissions committee an aspect of your personality that cannot be discerned from your transcripts and grades. Choosing the right topic for your college essay is the key to success. Check out these 20 creative college essay topics!
College Essay Prompts
Colleges sometimes provide applicants with a list of essay topics to choose from. The options provided are relatively easy to choose from. It’s just a matter of selecting the one that is most appropriate for you.
Other colleges require students to write an essay on a topic of their choice. When you have endless options to choose from, narrowing them down can be a challenge. To help you get started, here are some creative topics for college essays.
20 Creative College Essay Topics
Think about whether the topic ideas relate to you as you go through them. Spend time brainstorming how you can relate the topic to your circumstances after you’ve shortlisted a few.
- Describe an experience, event, or achievement that changed your perception of yourself or others.
- What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Is there a reason why you rate it as the best? What did it teach you or change you?
- If you could change just one event in world history, what would it be? Why is that?
- If you find an idea or concept so intriguing, you often lose track of time thinking about it. Describe what you find fascinating about it and how you discovered it.
- Tell us about some of your most notable accomplishments that are not academic in nature.
- Choose a quote that describes who you are. Why did you choose that particular quote and how does it define you?
- Discuss your unusual plans for after you graduate. Describe how the idea came about and how it will be implemented.
- What do you think is the biggest challenge facing teenagers today? Your reasoning should be explained.
- Do you know someone who deserves the Nobel Prize in a particular field? Put forward a convincing argument about why you think the nominee deserves the Nobel Prize as a member of the Nobel Prize Board.
- Think about the unique personality trait or special skill that makes you stand out. If possible, provide concrete examples.
- Describe a volunteer experience that was unusual. Describe the impact these experiences had on you.
- Tell us about an unusual travel experience.
- Who would you choose to have a one-on-one conversation with, living or dead? Let them know why you chose them and what you would like to discuss with them.
- Consider how your family as a whole or a particular member shaped you.
- Think back to a teacher or mentor who inspired and motivated you or said something that guided your actions.
- As a member of a competitive sports team, discuss what you learned.
- Describe a time when you challenged or questioned an idea or belief. Why did you question the idea or belief? How did things turn out?
- What period in history would you choose if you could travel back in time? How come?
- One book, person, or event that has profoundly influenced your decisions.
- Describe an obstacle or setback that ultimately contributed to your success.
Keep These Tips In Mind When Choosing Your College Essay Topic
While there are no absolute right or wrong topics for writing a college essay, there are a few you should avoid. It is best to avoid controversial topics, such as politics and religion, as much as possible. These two areas are very controversial for most people. Readers will have trouble being objective if their beliefs or opinions contradict yours.
Honesty should guide your choice of topics and your message. If you choose a topic that truly matters to you, your essay will sound more sincere and convincing. To an experienced eye, spotting a fake is easy.
There is no need to choose a very serious or heavy topic. You can choose a humorous angle if that’s your innate personality, but don’t force it.
The Importance of a College Essay
It is important to note that the final decision on admission does not solely depend on the essay. However, a well-written essay can help sway the decision in your favor. When deciding between candidates with equally strong academic credentials, this is of particular importance.
Choosing a topic at random and rushing through the essay writing process is a mistake. An essay that stands out and helps you get into your dream college takes time to write.