When high school seniors sit down to start the Common App personal statement, the first question that usually pops up is: What should I write about? The honest answer is this: the topic itself matters far less than what the topic lets you reveal about yourself.
Take soccer, for example. One student might write about scoring the winning goal in the championship game. It’s exciting, sure — but if the essay stops there, it’s little more than a highlight reel. Another student might also write about soccer, but instead of focusing on the victory, they describe the months of practices in the rain, the moment they encouraged a discouraged teammate or the lessons they carried into other parts of life about resilience, teamwork and leadership. Same topic, completely different essay. The second one gives admissions officers a glimpse of who the student is, and that’s exactly what they’re hoping for.
Colleges aren’t looking for you to have cured cancer or climbed Mount Everest (though if you did, definitely mention it). What they are looking for is how you think, how you handle challenges, and what values drive you. In other words, the story matters less than the self it reveals.Bottom line: if your essay shows your interests, the initiative you took and the impact the experience had on you, you’ll be in great shape. In the admissions world, those are called the 3 I’s — interest, initiative, and impact — and they’re a powerful framework to keep in mind as you write.
Do’s
- Do focus on growth. Choose a story that shows change — how you learned, adapted or saw the world differently.
- Do keep your voice. If you’re funny, let that humor come through. If you’re reflective, lean into it. The best essays sound like the student who wrote them.
- Do show, don’t tell. Details make your story vivid. Don’t just write, “I worked hard.” Show us the late nights, the setbacks, the small wins that kept you going.
- Do connect it back to you. The essay isn’t about the soccer game, the move or the part-time job — it’s about what those experiences reveal about your character.
- Do revise (a lot). The first draft is just raw material. Great essays usually go through rounds of trimming, reshaping and polishing.
Don’ts
- Don’t try to impress with a “perfect” story. Struggle, failure or everyday moments often make stronger essays than polished “success” tales.
- Don’t use words you’d never actually say. Admissions officers read thousands of essays; they know when the thesaurus did half the work.
- Don’t forget reflection. A well-told story without reflection is just a story. Show how the experience shifted your perspective or prepared you for what’s ahead.
- Don’t repeat your résumé. If it’s already in the activities section, don’t just list it again. Use the essay to add dimension beyond stats and titles.
The Bottom Line
The Common App essay isn’t a test of how dramatic your life has been. It’s a window into how you think, how you grow and what you’ll bring to a college community. Pick a topic that lets you shine in those ways, and you’ll have the right essay — no matter what the story is about.