133 brainstorming prompts to help you find a college essay topic
If you are struggling to come up with a topic for your personal statement, I've cooked something up just for you. You might have already taken a look at the seven prompts that the Common App offers. These questions are intended to cast a wide net, but because of this they are hard to answer. It's sort of like when someone asks you, "What is the most meaningful moment of your life?" and your mind goes blank. These sorts of broad, sweeping questions tend to overwhelm our brains. That's why the prompts I list below are not you conventional questions about the greatest moment, they are about a moment.
Because great essays don't need to be about Important Topics. It's actually much easier (and more interesting) to write about the little things in our lives. In fact, if you ask admissions officers about the essays that stuck with them, they are often about the little things: arguments about pulp/no pulp, observations made during a commute, a silly contest that meant a lot to someone.
The trick is to start your essay with something small and simple, and then mine it for meaning. Another metaphor: treat your answers to the following prompts like the tip of an iceberg. The tip of that iceberg may seem small and insignificant, but I have seen over and over again how these seemingly insignificant bits are actually deeply connected to our deeply held beliefs, our families, our personal histories, and our values.
Also, please have fun with these. 🤠💃 They are designed to tickle your brain. Just write down the first thing that comes to mind and then move on. There are plenty of questions so it's ok if you don't have an answer for each one. For a Google Doc version of these questions, please go here.
Your favorite app on your phone (besides social media).
A debate you've had about food.
A person you've never met who fascinates you.
A person who you don't get along with but admire.
A cliché that you've found to be true. What did you have to live through in order to find this out?
A word or a phrase that your family or friends invented.
Something people say that makes you roll your eyes.
A corner of TikTok that has completely fascinated you.
Are you a 0 emails in the inbox person or a 12,859 emails in the inbox person?
A moment in a movie that you haven't forgotten.
Your favorite day of the week.
A sound you can't stand.
Something you wish you had said to someone but didn't.
Something you did say to someone but wish you hadn't.
What's a skill or talent you don't possess but wish you did?
Is there a story behind your name?
A piece of advice someone gave to you that you haven't forgotten.
Your favorite meme.
A smell associated with a building you frequent. What does it bring to mind?
Something you care about that no one else seems to care about.
Your favorite body part.
A time when you won something randomly (lottery, raffle, etc).
A story involving teeth.
What's the closest to death you've ever been?
A decade of the 20th century that you most belong in.
A story involving an animal you dislike.
A story involving something you fixed.
A story involving fire.
Something you manifested.
An early memory you aren't sure why you remember.
Do you have a scar? How did it get there?
A memorable person you met once and will probably never meet again.
What made you a weird kid?
A time when you lost track of time.
A goal you used to want that you don't want anymore.
Something you lost and never found again.
A contest you won.
A window you've spent a lot of time looking out of.
A living thing (not a pet) that you've taken care of.
The room at home that gets the most use.
A person who you are trying to prove wrong.
Your dream job when you were 5.
A memory involving a pool.
Something weird you saw at a mall.
What does your kitchen smell like?
An animal you were obsessed with as a kid.
What are you in charge of at home?
A disaster haircut.
A time when you got pranked.
A time you pranked someone.
Your favorite time of day.
A Wikipedia article you haven't forgotten.
A memory involving a fast food chain.
Something you sold.
A story involving a trampoline.
Something you can't wait for.
Something you pass by and notice almost every day.
An unimportant thing you and your family argue about.
An important thing you and your family argue about.
Do you have a signature hairstyle?
A teacher's quirk that you find charming.
A work of art that took you time to appreciate.
A habit you quit.
A habit you're trying to start.
A place you associate with the smell of spring.
Something you would change about your school.
A place you could give a detailed tour of that's not your home.
A place you helped build or create.
The most useful thing you've bought on Amazon.
Do you have any phobias?
It's Saturday at 4 P.M. What are you most likely doing? And are you happy about it?
A piece of trivia you haven't forgotten.
Something shocking you learned in biology class.
The moment you knew your best friend was your best friend.
A food that you know your family has eaten for at least three generations.
A time you tried meditating.
Your nickname and its back story.
Something you're dreading.
A story involving a tent.
The moment you found out the truth about Santa Claus.
A motto you live by.
A way you feel misunderstood by your friends.
A way you feel misunderstood by your family.
Something you hate and would never do again.
Something you think about a lot that has to do with your skin.
Do you believe in ghosts?
An underrated spot in your town.
Something you notice on your bus ride to school.
Something you've listened to on a long car ride.
A time when your body disobeyed you.
A food you hated as a kid but now love.
Your Hogwarts house.
What do you think of people who don't have a case for their phone?
The best fish (in your opinion).
A time you cried when you were supposed to be happy.
A short cut you take.
A Halloween costume you're proud of.
A building you find creepy.
Something in your town you think should be painted.
A skill you think everyone should learn.
Something you disassembled.
A person you know who is crazy about a holiday.
A party you attend every year.
A dream of yours you haven't told anyone about.
The best way to pass time while getting somewhere.
Something you've built with snow that wasn't a snowman.
A person in history you think was way ahead of their time.
Something that gives you chills.
A disagreement you mediated.
The hardest you've ever prayed.
The most excited you've been to be on a plane.
A prize you really wanted but didn't get.
Something you've wished for while blowing out the candles on a birthday cake.
An accomplishment you don't deserve credit for.
A time you didn't listen to advice when you really should have.
Something you wished you learned or talked about more in school.
The most important piece of furniture in your house.
A classmate who you think is brilliant.
The loudest you've ever screamed.
A product you think should exist.
A story involving a broken musical instrument.
The coziest place to be when it rains.
The last time you were on a train.
A gift you made for someone.
A poster in a classroom that you stare at a lot.
A weekly ritual.
A compliment you've received.
A compliment you've given.
Do you wear shoes in the house?
A disaster at your job.
A problem you solved with a eureka moment.
Something you love that is inconvenient.
What about you now would surprise your middle school self?
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