Admissions Essay and Personal Insight Questions Guidance

How to Get Started

Start by writing down a list of locations, objects, mementos, or moments that are meaningful to you.
Focus on a specific incident or moment that represents something about your character.
Consider writing about something most people don't know about you.
Think about any cultural or family traditions that stand out to you as having shaped who you are today.
Examine whether or not the essay you write today will reflect who you still are ten-twenty years from now.
Be sure it shares something different from the rest of your application.
Think of a topic that is unique and makes you stand out.
Ask yourself if the topic will allow you to be introspective and reflective.

A meaningful experience that shaped your values and beliefs.
A personal challenge that you overcame and how it changed you.
The person who has had the biggest influence on your life.
A time when you failed and what you learned from it.
An accomplishment that you are proud of and why.
How your background has shaped your perspective and identity.
An important lesson you learned from someone in your life.
The impact of a particular book or piece of literature on you.
Your future aspirations and how your college education will help you achieve them.
A significant cultural experience that broadened your understanding of the world.
A passion or hobby that has shaped your personal growth.
A volunteer or service experience that impacted you and the community.
How your academic interests and goals align with a particular college or university.
A personal trait or characteristic that defines you and how it has influenced your life.
A significant moment of personal growth or self-discovery.

Pre-high school achievements. Focus on who you are NOW.
Illegal/inappropriate activities such as underage drinking, drugs, trespassing, fighting, stealing, etc.
Academic interests. Save this topic for any supplemental essays that may be required.
Family trips. These essays often paint a picture of entitlement and privilege.
Your love life. Keep the Romeo and Juliet stories in your diary.
Your hero/idol. This essay is about YOU, not someone you idolize.
Privilege or luck. An essay focusing on all the things you have/have experienced will come of as boasting.
Cliché sports-related obstacles such as focusing on "never giving up" or "overcoming a loss."
Tragedies you've experienced UNLESS you focus on the impact and how you have done something to better others/your community because of it.
A summary of your achievements. Admissions Officers will see all of this in the activities list section of your application.