Updated August 14, 2026

11 Great College Essay Topics (with Examples!)

Bonus Material: PrepMaven’s 35 College Essays That Worked

Expert guidance provided by Mike Kleynman (10+ years’ experience in test prep, PhD in English) and reviewed by Kevin Wong (co-founder PrepMaven, 20+ years’ experience in test prep).

The college application process is more selective than ever. That also means your college application essays are more important than ever! 

If you want to lock in an acceptance to a competitive university, you need to make sure that you have a strong essay that wows admissions officers. And that starts with your topic. If you write a beautiful essay on the wrong topic, you’re going to be in trouble. 

At PrepMaven, we’ve got over 20 decades of experience matching elite tutors with students applying to college. 

Because almost all of our tutors hail from Ivy League schools, we were able to have them share what essay topics worked to get them into schools like Princeton, Harvard, and Brown. 

Below, we’ll offer examples of college essays that worked to get our tutors into top schools. As you read, think about how you can use these as jumping-off points for your own potential essay topics. 

Jump to section:
College Essay Topic 1: Learning to Write
 College Essay Topic 2: Privilege
 College Essay Topic 3: Social Class
 College Essay Topic 4: A Meaningful Extracurricular
 College Essay Topic 5: Pennies
 College Essay Topic 6: Social Integration
 College Essay Topic 7: Barry the Bike
 College Essay Topic 8: A Work of Art
 College Essay Topic 9: A Unique Passion
 College Essay Topic 10: Religion
 College Essay Topic 11: An Unusual Skill
 Next steps

College Essay Topic 1: Learning to Write

Here’s an excerpt from a student who wrote on this topic and was admitted to Princeton: 

What was the point of slaving over a novel if I had to start from scratch again? My father’s advice would force me to rewrite the entire novel. What sort of writer was I, that my work warranted such substantial alteration?

As I soon learned—a normal one.

Why does this essay topic work? It fulfills two key tests for a good college essay topic: 

  1. It’s personal.
  2. It shows growth.

Because trying to write a novel is quite unusual and clearly very important to this student, we’re getting an authentic look at what they’re passionate about. 

At the same time, the essay shows growth: the student has to come to learn what it means to accept criticism in their writing!

You can read the full essay here!

College Essay Topic 2: Privilege

The following excerpt comes from an essay written by a well-off, privileged student. Take a look at how they explore that background rather than taking it for granted: 

Flappers, speakeasies, and jazz. Two world wars. Pagers, hippies, and disco. I’m barely a 90’s kid who relishes SpongeBob episodes, and I know nothing of prior generations.

Royal weddings, tribal ceremonies, and Chinese New Years. I fast during Ramadan, but I know nothing of other cultures.

Hostile political parties. Progressive versus retrospective. Right and wrong. I am seventeen, and I know nothing of politics.

Is ignorance really bliss?

It’s true that many students who apply to elite universities are privileged, coming from relatively comfortable backgrounds. 

That’s not necessarily a problem, and it’s not something every student needs to address in their personal statement. 

However, it is potentially an excellent topic for an application essay. Why? Because it shows that the student is thinking critically about their background and issues of social justice. 

Colleges want students who are ready to question the assumptions they grew up with, students who are eager to engage different viewpoints and perspectives. 

By maturely and self-awarely interrogating their own privilege, this student shows admissions officers that they’re ready to be an open-minded member of the college community. 

Essays like this have to be handled carefully. There’s always the risk of coming off like you’re being inauthentic–one of the worst things you can do in a college essay. 

That’s why we recommend working with an experienced tutor if you’re writing on a potentially risky essay topic. Contact us today and we can pair you with an elite tutor who can help you steer clear of any pitfalls in your application essay. 

You can read the full essay here!

College Essay Topic 3: Social Class

Below is an excerpt from an especially powerful and insightful essay that takes up the question of social class–and excellent and highly relevant topic for college essays. 

    As I got older, I gradually conformed to my identity as part of the lower class. On playdates, I learned to accept that I couldn’t always get Lunchables or a McDonald’s Happy Meal like the other kids. Instead, opening the cupboard revealed the average WIC potpourri—Crispix cereal, frozen grape-juice, skim milk. However, despite my circumstances, I have always been surrounded by peers of a higher economic class. Since I was homeschooled until grade eight, the friends I had were from the wealthier church I attended. When my friend came over for the first time, I was met with incredulity—“you live here?” Looking back, others asked strange questions like how many bedrooms my house had or remarked on the cramped room I shared with my sister. 

Contemporary political issues–like social class and wealth inequality–make for interesting potential essay topics. 

This student’s essay uses their specific experiences growing up in Ohio as jumping-off points for an investigation into broader questions of privilege, wealth, and perspective. 

This perfect essay comes off without a hitch, but politics can be a controversial topic for essays and applications. 

That doesn’t mean you should stay away from big issues in your writing! But it does mean you’ll likely benefit from the feedback and perspective that an expert college essay tutor can offer. 

To read the rest of this student’s essay, download our collection of 35 successful essays below!

College Essay Topic 4: A Meaningful Extracurricular

Although we often advise students not to write about sports, sometimes it can work! Just take a look at this essay from a student who was accepted to Princeton: 

The pain of rowing 2000 meters is like nothing else I have ever experienced. It is a short enough distance so that there is no pacing (it’s all out, everything you’ve got, from start to finish), but at the same time it’s long enough to require every ounce of strength and will power to reach the finish. By the end, the lungs scream out for oxygen, and the legs, chest, and arms all burn as if boiling water has been injected into every pore. 

Even though this essay risks coming off cliche by focusing on sports, it manages to succeed where many other sports essays fail. How?

Partially because of how detailed and interesting it makes the opening! The writer has made sure to choose a topic about which they can be incredibly vivid. That level of detail ensures that the essay doesn’t come off cliche. 

Plus, they do an excellent job of connecting this introductory “sports” scene with bigger and more important ideas later in the essay. 

You can read the full essay here to see how the author smoothly concludes it!

College Essay Topic 5: Pennies

 Here’s an excerpt from another essay from a student accepted to Princeton: 

Over 13 billion pennies are made each year, and for the most part, they are indistinguishable from one another. Each copper-brown coin has the same feel, the same size, and even the same old Abraham Lincoln on one side. Yet, as a collector of pressed pennies, these seemingly insignificant coins have taught me some of the most important life lessons. 

This works because it gives readers insight into an unusual interest that the writer has. 

When it comes to college application essay topics, the more specific (and weirder), the less likely you are to have a generic essay. The key for this essay’s success is precisely that it’s specific and unusual. 

You can read the entire essay in our collection of 35 College Essays that Worked below. 

College Essay Topic 6: Social Integration

The following essay is unusual in that it isn’t strictly personal. Instead, it addresses a relevant social justice issue, providing insightful commentary on it. Take a look at an excerpt from this Princeton student’s essay: 

Establishing a cohesive society where common values are shared is increasingly difficult in multi-faith, globalised societies such as the one I’m part of in the UK. My studies in politics and philosophy have made me more sensitive to this problem and as I have a much larger number of friends from different ethnic backgrounds than my parents and the previous generation, I realise that the friction created by the presence of different ethnic and social groups is not going to disappear anytime soon.

Honestly, we think this is a pretty risky essay. Not because of the political nature of the topic, but rather because very little of it is about the student’s life. 

Still, this essay worked for Princeton, and that’s because it introduces enough of the writer’s perspective and values to show admissions officers that he’s the kind of student they want to have. 

You can read the full essay here!

College Essay Topic 7: Barry the Bike

The following essay topic is one of our favorites–in fact, we’d call it a perfect essay! Here’s the essay start:

Barry is my best friend. Strong, dependable, resilient, and most importantly-fast as hell. You won’t believe the wheels on this guy! My top speed of some 15 miles per hour-which leaves me gasping for breath after a few seconds-is nothing compared to the 30 he goes without breaking a sweat. 

I remember nostalgically the day we met. That warm spring day when I entered Go-Go Gone Cycles. The store had recently opened; tools and empty delivery boxes littered the floor. Wheels and frames-both rusty and restored-clogged up the entrance, enough to scare any prospective customer away. 

What we love about this essay topic is the specificity. It’s not just about biking or a bike. It’s about Barry, a bicycle that really becomes a character in this student’s essay. 

Like some of the topics we looked at above, this one is effective because it combines voice with character. We get a great sense of how this writer thinks, talks, and jokes. But we also get a sense of this student’s values. 

As you read the rest of this essay, notice how the writer connects his love for Barry with his desire for freedom and adventure. 

College Essay Topic 8: A Work of Art

Another great college application essay topic is a work of art that is important to your life. Any book, song, film, painting, etc. that has been an important part of your life can really help admissions officers get to know you!

Take a look at an excerpt from an essay that helped one of our tutors earn admission to Brown University: 

Tucked inside the small blue box that sits on my dresser is a folded-up Market Basket receipt from November 3rd, 2010. If you flipped over the order, you’d find—written in neat and lilting handwriting—the lyrics to “My Favorite Things” from the Sound of Music.

On November 3rd, 2010, I was six going on seven, watching the Sound of Music with my grandparents for the first time, nestled between them on their old brown leather couch. The themes of the film were far beyond my understanding, but I could not get the lyrics of “My Favorite Things” out of my head. I begged my grandmother to transcribe them for me to keep. The message of the song, which lists images dear to Maria—from “raindrops on roses” to “silver white winters that melt into springs”—is that by drawing upon moments of joy, we can cope with any misfortune.

The student helps us see how The Sound of Music connects to her personal experiences with her family. That’s crucial! If you write about a work of art, always be sure to relate it back to yourself and your life. 

You can read the full essay here, where it’s Essay 13 on our list of 15 College Essays that Worked. 

College Essay Topic 9: A Unique Passion

Here’s an excerpt from another student who was admitted to Princeton with this college essay topic: 

I am an aspiring hot sauce sommelier. Ever since I was a child, I have been in search for all that is spicy. I began by dabbling in peppers of the jarred variety. Pepperoncini, giardiniera, sports peppers, and jalapeños became not only toppings, but appetizers, complete entrées, and desserts. 

You might think it’s silly to write a college application about really loving spicy food. But, as with the first essay topic we looked at, this one does everything we need it to. 

First, it shows us something unique and personal about the applicant (clearly, they take spicy food very seriously). 

Equally importantly, it gives admissions officers a clear sense of the writer’s voice, style, and personality. 

And, as with any good essay, it chronicles a process of growth and development. Even in this short opening, we can see that the student is actively exploring their interests, “dabbling” in something they’ll go on to pursue more seriously. 

You can read the full essay here!

College Essay Topic 10: Religion

Whether you plan to pursue religion in college or not, your religious experiences can make for an original essay that impresses admissions committees. Take a look at an excerpt below: 

Teiku. I consulted the dictionary. The Aramaic word meant, “let it stand.” What a disappointment. I had followed an entire page of logic and proofs eagerly awaiting the zenith of the Talmudic debate, the statement in which one scholar’s opinion would prevail without doubt. Instead, I was left with this cryptic word, teiku, let it stand. Could this word be an answer? Over my years of studying the Babylonian Talmud, I’ve grown accustomed to such moments of confusion. The text is notoriously esoteric: rife with tangents, terse logic, and abstruse Aramaic. Developing the skills to study Talmud independently had taken patient practice. But as the Talmud became clearer, my relationship with it became more confusing, as I realized that my studies were paradoxical, both traditional and untraditional at the same time. 

This essay worked for admissions readers because it doesn’t just focus on religion in the abstract sense. 

Instead, this essay dives deep into an unusual experience this student had, one that highlights not only their intelligence but also their advanced writing style. 

By now, you’re likely picking up on a theme. The best college essay topics are the ones that let you get specific and detailed, avoiding the risk of producing a generic essay. 

You can download this full essay (and 34 more!) below. Use them for inspiration as you think of potential essay topics!

College Essay Topic 11: An Unusual Skill

If you’ve got a passion or skill that has shaped how you view the world, there’s another good candidate for the subject of your essay! 

Take a look at this student’s essay, written about how he developed his love for improv:

I first entered the world of improv listening to “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Benny Goodman in the car with my brother. He told me offhandedly that the majority of the song had been made up on the spot. I was shocked. I could hardly give a speech at the head of the classroom with five pages of prepared notes and two hours of rehearsal. How could someone just “make up” something so enjoyable? My enlightenment came in the form of music. In playing the trombone, I fell in love with the difficult yet rewarding task of jazz improvisation; the combination of intense musical focus with unbridled creative expression brought about not only a new appreciation for my childhood “Whose Line” idols but also a burning desire to reach their level of prowess in terms of music.

As we’ve seen with the other ten essays in this post, what admissions committees are really looking for is that rare combination of voice, detail, and writing ability that a perfect essay can convey. 

Here, we once again get it all: you can just hear this student’s voice as you read the excerpt, which is brimming with specific details about their past experiences. 

At the same time, we learn that this student values things that are difficult and rewarding (like jazz improv).

Read more about how these improv skills shaped the writer’s life here, where this essay is number 12 on our list of 15 College Essays that Worked. 

Next Steps

Now that you’ve gotten to see 11 examples of successful college essay topics, it’s time to start planning your own. 

First, we suggest you check out the full versions of the essays we excerpted in this piece. You can find 15 college essays that worked here, and you can download 35 essays by clicking the link below. 

Then, when you’re ready to start brainstorming, writing, or editing, reach out to us for professional help. 

College essays are more high stakes than ever, and you want to make sure that you have the best possible guidance. 

Our tutors come from the most elite universities in the country, go through extensive training on college essay coaching, and have a proven track record of helping students earn admission into top schools. 

Contact us, and we’ll start the personalized tutor-matching process for you!

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Mike

Mike Kleynman is an expert test prep tutor (SAT/ACT/LSAT) and college essay consultant, with over a decade of experience and industry-leading results.

With average final scores of 34+ on the ACT and 1500+ on the SAT, nearly all of Mike’s test prep students score in the top percentiles. They also routinely earn admission to the most selective universities: just last year, Mike had students accepted to Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, UC Berkeley, USC, and Carnegie Mellon. The average final LSAT score of his students is over 172, and his law school application coaching students have been accepted to Harvard, Yale, and Columbia Law.

Mike holds a PhD in English from Duke University.

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