How to Find a Good Common App Topic for Your Essay

How to Find a Good Common App Topic for Your Essay

Hey! So, you’re stuck. You’re sitting there staring at a blank screen like it’s your ex’s face after they ghosted you. I get it! Finding a great topic for that Common App essay feels like trying to find Bigfoot. It’s just super hard and kinda funny. But don’t worry, I’m here to help you figure this out with some totally legit tips and lots of giggles along the way. Grab some snacks and let’s dive in, shall we?

Step One: Look In The Mirror
Okay, don’t freak out but…you gotta think about YOU. Yep, that’s right! What makes you interesting? Is it your talent for baking cookies or your mad skills in competitive napping? Just look in the mirror and start talking to yourself like you’re a contestant on a weird talk show. What stories pop up? Jot those down! You never know when “that time I accidentally set my hair on fire while making toast” might be the winner.

Step Two: Ask Your Friends
Call up your besties and ask them what is funny or interesting about ya. They will give you good stuff like “You still can’t ride a bike without training wheels!” or “Remember when you thought cheese was a food group?” This could spark tons of ideas too! Or maybe just make you rethink your life choices…either way, content folks!

Step Three: Think About Your Challenges
But wait, challenges are more than just bad hair days or losing at board games! Think of stuff that really challenged you—like when your pet goldfish died and you had to deal with that grief while also pretending not to cry in front of your friends. That’s real-life stuff right there. People love stories of overcoming things, even if it’s just learning how to fold a fitted sheet. Spoiler alert: No one does that well anyway!

Step Four: Go on Adventures
Take a trip somewhere—even if it’s just down to the pizza joint on the corner (hey, food adventures count). Pay attention to silly little things that happen. Maybe the cook has an odd obsession with dinosaurs or the guy at the counter tells jokes so bad they win awards for being awful. Write down all these weird experiences; one of them might turn into the best story ever told!

Step Five: Check Out Obscure Hobbies
Cuddle up with Google and search for strange hobbies. Like llama trekking or soap sculpting—who knew!? If something tickles your fancy, write about it! Even if it seems dumb at first glance, think about how you can turn it into something amazing like “How my soap sculpture helped me connect with my inner Zen.” Yes please!

Step Six: Don’t Overthink It
And sometimes…just don’t think too much! Seriously! Don’t be like “Oh no, I cannot write about lunch because everyone eats lunch!” Just try writing about lunch anyway! Was it soggy? Did someone steal half your fries? Go wild with whatever comes to mind—it may lead to something completely ridiculous but laughter-inducing which is what college admissions want—a glimpse into YOUR fun personality!

Step Seven: Throw A Family Reunion
Invite everyone over—or just annoy them during dinner—and ask them what crazy stories they have about you growing up. Trust me; there are gems buried deep in those memories. Stories that make everyone laugh but also showcase who YOU are deep inside—like how you attempted to train your cat for agility competitions but she still just naps all day.

Fun FAQ Section

Question: Why does this essay even matter?
Answer: Because colleges wanna see who YOU are—not just grades and test scores!! It’s like showing off dessert after dinner—you gotta give ’em something sweet!!

Question: How long should my essay be?
Answer: Not too short or too long—find that Goldilocks zone where it’s juuuust right!

Question: Can I be funny in my essay?
Answer: YES!!! Please do!! Humor shows personality!!!!

Question: What if my life is boring?
Answer: There’s no such thing as boring lives!!! Everyone has cool moments; u just gotta dig deep!!

Question: How do I keep from crying while writing?
Answer: Snack breaks help!! Also watch funny cat videos before plunging back into serious topics!

Question: Should I use big words?
Answer: Nahhh!! Keep it simple so ur readers don’t need dictionaries—unless ur goal is becoming their dictionary hero—but then they’ll never finish reading!

Question: Can I include aliens?!
Answer: Only if they’re real aliens—but it’s probably better not 2 risk getting abducted while writing an application essay LOL!

So there ya go buddy!! Now grab those ideas & happy writing!!!