Most students think brainstorming means sitting in front of a blank document and asking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cWhat should I write my college essay about?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
That is usually the wrong question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A strong college essay topic is rarely hiding in a list of impressive achievements. It is more often buried in an ordinary object, an awkward moment, a recurring habit, a problem you couldn’t let go of, or a thought you have never quite known how to explain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The goal of brainstorming isn’t to invent an impressive story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s to uncover a story that reveals something real about you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over time, I’ve found that the most useful brainstorming methods tend to answer four questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- What matters to me?<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What experiences reveal that?<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Where did something go wrong or become complicated?<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What can I say about it that nobody else could?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Here’s the process I recommend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n1. Start With Your Stuff<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Before searching your memory for a \u201clife-changing experience,\u201d look around your room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pick up the objects around you. Your old basketball. A friendship bracelet. A beat-up notebook. A recipe card. A pair of headphones that barely works. A book covered in annotations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then make a list of at least 20 objects<\/strong> that are connected to your memories, relationships, interests, habits, or personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t worry about whether they sound impressive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, the more ordinary they seem, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- Why have I kept this?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Who or what does it remind me of?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What memory comes back when I see it?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What does this object reveal about me?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Does it represent something I care about?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Is there something unresolved about it?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What object makes me feel at home?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What object would I want someone to understand if they wanted to understand me?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You might end up with something like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nMy grandmother’s recipe card.
My cracked phone screen.
A train ticket.
My old basketball shoes.
A half-finished sketchbook.
A screwdriver set.
A stuffed animal I refuse to throw away.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nAt first, these may look like random objects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They’re not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Objects can act as shortcuts into memories, relationships, values, and stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your old screwdriver set might lead to a story about constantly taking things apart. The recipe card might lead to your relationship with your grandmother. The cracked phone might lead to an unexpectedly complicated relationship with perfectionism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t decide what the essay is about yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just collect the raw material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n2. Find the Values Behind the Objects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now look at your list and ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What does all of this say about me?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is where brainstorming moves beyond collecting stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make a list of values that matter to you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- independence<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- curiosity<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- loyalty<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- creativity<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- responsibility<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- humor<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- resourcefulness<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- justice<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- belonging<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- ambition<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- empathy<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- freedom<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- craftsmanship<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- intellectual curiosity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Then narrow them down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Start with 10<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then 5<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then 3<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nWhat is the one value that feels most important to me right now?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
You can also go back to your objects and connect them to those values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Object<\/th> Possible Values<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Old radio<\/td> Curiosity, resourcefulness<\/td><\/tr> Recipe card<\/td> Family, tradition, care<\/td><\/tr> Annotated novel<\/td> Curiosity, independence<\/td><\/tr> Basketball shoes<\/td> Discipline, belonging<\/td><\/tr> Broken headphones<\/td> Persistence, problem-solving<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n You may start noticing patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe the stories that initially seemed unrelated are actually connected by the same value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That’s what you’re looking for.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your essay isn’t necessarily about the object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The object is a doorway into something deeper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n3. Turn Your Qualities Into Stories<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here’s another way to approach the same problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ask three people who know you well:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cWhat three to five qualities would you use to describe me to someone who had never met me?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Don’t ask them what you’re \u201cgood at.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ask about who you are<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe they say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- stubborn<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- funny<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- analytical<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- empathetic<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- resourceful<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Now take each quality and complete this sentence:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cA time when I was [quality] was\u2026\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Not:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cI’ve always been resourceful.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Instead:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cThe time I fixed an old radio with junk from the garage\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Not:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cI’m empathetic.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Instead:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cThe time I realized my friend didn’t actually want advice\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
You’re looking for a time<\/strong>, not a life summary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ideally, it’s a small episode that lasted minutes or hours rather than an entire year of your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because a specific moment gives you something to write about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And more importantly, it gives the reader something to see<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n4. Don’t Automatically Choose the \u201cMost Impressive\u201d Topic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This is one of the biggest brainstorming mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students often assume their essay should be about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- winning a championship<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- founding an organization<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- traveling somewhere exotic<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- receiving a major award<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- leading a huge project<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- overcoming an enormous obstacle<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These experiences can certainly produce good essays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But impressive does not automatically mean interesting<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes the better topic is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nthe time you burned a cake three times because you refused to follow the recipe<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
or<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nthe argument you had with your younger brother about a completely ridiculous issue<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
or<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nthe strange obsession you developed with repairing old electronics<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
or<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nthe way you learned to deal with your uncontrollably curly hair<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The topic doesn’t need to sound extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your perspective makes it extraordinary.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A championship tells me that you won something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A small, specific story might show me how you think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That’s much more useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n5. Find the \u201cJuicy Problem\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now take your possible stories and ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nWhere did something go wrong?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Every good narrative needs some form of tension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It doesn’t have to be dramatic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It could be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- a mistake<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- a failed plan<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- an embarrassing moment<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- a misunderstanding<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- a bad habit<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- an irrational fear<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- a difficult choice<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- a problem you couldn’t solve<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- an assumption that turned out to be wrong<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- something you thought would be easy but wasn’t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Too flat:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nI enjoy fixing things, so I repaired an old radio.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
More interesting:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nI spent three hours trying to fix an old radio, convinced the problem was the wiring. It wasn’t.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Now we have a story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The important question isn’t simply:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cDid you succeed?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
It’s:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cWhat did you do when your first idea didn’t work?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
That question reveals your mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe you changed your approach. Maybe you asked someone for help. Maybe you became frustrated and nearly quit. Maybe you discovered that you had been solving the wrong problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The problem creates the opportunity to show how you think.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n6. Look for the Unexpected Contrast<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here’s another useful filter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nWhat’s surprising about me?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Maybe you’re the extremely serious student who secretly knows every line from a ridiculous sitcom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe you’re a competitive athlete who spends hours decorating cakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe you’re the person everyone asks for mathematical help who is terrible at assembling IKEA furniture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These contrasts can make an essay memorable because they prevent the reader from reducing you to one stereotype.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But don’t manufacture a quirky personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don’t need to be unusual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You just need to notice the things that are genuinely you<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n7. Run the \u201cCould Someone Else Have Written This?\u201d Test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now comes one of my favorite filters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take your potential essay idea and ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nCould someone else have written this?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cI learned the importance of perseverance.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Could thousands of students write that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cross it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cMy family has always supported me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Could thousands of students write that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cross it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cVolunteering taught me the importance of helping others.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep digging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What happened specifically<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What did you think?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What did you notice?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What did you do that someone else wouldn’t have done?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What sentence could only come from you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That’s the material you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your essay could belong to anybody, it doesn’t belong in your personal statement yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n8. Find Your \u201cInconvenient Fact\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now ask a slightly uncomfortable question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nWhat part of this story am I tempted to leave out?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Maybe you were jealous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe you were embarrassed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe you initially wanted to quit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe your motivation wasn’t as noble as you would like it to sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe you made a mistake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe you misunderstood someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe you were afraid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe your carefully planned solution completely failed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t automatically remove these details because they make you look imperfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They may be exactly what makes the story believable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Compare:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cI confidently led my team through a difficult challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cFor the first twenty minutes, I had no idea what I was doing and was too embarrassed to admit it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The second one gives us a person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your essay isn’t supposed to prove that you are perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s supposed to let the reader see you thinking.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n9. Look for the \u201cOther Side\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Be careful with easy conclusions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A story about volunteering doesn’t automatically have to end with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cI learned that everyone deserves kindness.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
A difficult competition doesn’t automatically have to teach:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cPerseverance is the key to success.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
These statements may be true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That’s the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They’re true for almost everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nWhat became more complicated after this experience?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Maybe you volunteered at a food drive and realized that the people receiving food did not necessarily want the kind of help you were offering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe you thought you loved leadership until you discovered that you hated telling people what to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe you thought working harder would solve your problem and eventually realized that you were asking the wrong question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These moments are powerful because they show your mind in action<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You’re not simply reporting what happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You’re showing the reader how your understanding changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n10. If You’re Writing About a Challenge, Go Beyond the Challenge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If your essay centers on a difficult experience, don’t let the difficult experience become the entire essay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A useful brainstorming exercise is to map out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Challenge \u2192 Effects \u2192 Feelings \u2192 Needs \u2192 What I Did \u2192 Values Gained \u2192 Future<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Challenge:<\/strong> Moving to a new country
\u2193
Effect:<\/strong> Lost familiar routines and friendships
\u2193
Feeling:<\/strong> Isolated
\u2193
Need:<\/strong> Belonging
\u2193
What I Did:<\/strong> Started reaching out, joined a community, learned how to build new relationships
\u2193
Value:<\/strong> Initiative and adaptability
\u2193
Future:<\/strong> How I now approach unfamiliar environments<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis helps you avoid writing an essay that is mostly about what happened to<\/strong> you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The more important question is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nWhat did you do with what happened to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
A difficult experience can be the beginning of your essay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It shouldn’t necessarily be the conclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n11. If You Don’t Have One Big Story, Build a Montage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Not every student has one dramatic narrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And you don’t need one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A montage essay<\/strong> can connect several smaller moments through a common thread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The thread might be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- stickers on your laptop<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- five pairs of shoes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- games you play with your family<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- the tools on your desk<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- recipes you make<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- objects in your backpack<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Each object or moment becomes a \u201cbead\u201d on the same thread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The basic formula is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nValue + Example + Insight = One Paragraph<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Value:<\/strong> Curiosity
Example:<\/strong> Taking apart old electronics
Insight:<\/strong> You don’t just want things to work. You want to understand why they work.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThen another bead might reveal humor, family, independence, or another part of your personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The result isn’t a list of unrelated anecdotes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pieces work together to create a portrait of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n12. Talk Before You Write<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here’s a surprisingly effective trick:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stop trying to write. Talk instead.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tell a friend about the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or record yourself explaining it aloud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then have the other person ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cLike what?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cWhat happened next?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cWhy did that bother you?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cWhat were you actually thinking?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Pay attention to the moment when you stop sounding polished and start sounding honest<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might say something like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cI know this sounds stupid, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Write that down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cI didn’t realize it at the time, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Write that down too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those spontaneous phrases often contain more personality than the polished sentences you would have written at a desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t translate your thoughts into \u201ccollege essay language.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your real voice is usually more interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Complete Brainstorming Process<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
At this point, you should have a collection of possible stories rather than one forced topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now put everything together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
STEP 1: INVENTORY<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
List:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- 20+ meaningful objects<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- important memories<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- recurring interests<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- things you can’t stop thinking about<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
STEP 2: IDENTIFY<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Find:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- 3\u20135 defining qualities<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 3\u20135 core values<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- specific \u201ca time\u201d stories that reveal them<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
STEP 3: FILTER<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
For each possible story, ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- Is there a specific moment?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Is there a problem?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Is there something unexpected?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Is the topic ordinary enough that my perspective has to do the work?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Does this reveal something beyond my r\u00e9sum\u00e9?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
STEP 4: AUDIT<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Then ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- Could someone else have written this?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What am I tempted to leave out?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What did I initially get wrong?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What became more complicated than I expected?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What was I actually thinking?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
STEP 5: CHOOSE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don’t choose the story that sounds most impressive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Choose the one that gives you the most interesting things to say<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nYour College Essay Brainstorming Checklist<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Before you start drafting, you should be able to answer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2610 What are 3\u20135 qualities that genuinely describe me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2610 What specific moments reveal those qualities?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2610 What objects, places, habits, or experiences trigger meaningful memories?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2610 Where did something go wrong?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2610 What did I do when my first solution failed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2610 What was I actually thinking?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2610 What detail am I tempted to leave out?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2610 What surprised me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2610 Could someone else have written this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2610 What can I say about this experience that is specifically mine?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you can answer those questions, you are no longer staring at a blank page.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
You have raw material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that is what brainstorming is really for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You Don’t Need a Perfect Story<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The best college essay topic is not necessarily the biggest thing that has ever happened to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It might be the broken object sitting in your drawer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recipe you make without thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The argument you still remember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The embarrassing mistake you wish nobody had seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The problem you couldn’t leave alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weird little habit your friends tease you about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Start small. Look closely. Ask better questions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your job isn’t to manufacture an extraordinary story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s to notice the extraordinary meaning hiding inside your ordinary life.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Most students think brainstorming means sitting in front of a blank document and asking: \u201cWhat should I write my college essay about?\u201d That is usually the wrong question. A strong college essay topic is rarely hiding in a list of impressive achievements. It is more often buried in an ordinary object, an awkward moment, a … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/whyessaysfail.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/whyessaysfail.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/whyessaysfail.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whyessaysfail.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whyessaysfail.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=34"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/whyessaysfail.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36,"href":"https:\/\/whyessaysfail.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34\/revisions\/36"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whyessaysfail.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/35"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/whyessaysfail.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=34"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whyessaysfail.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=34"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whyessaysfail.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=34"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}