You Don't Have to Have It All Figured Out (Yet): Brainstorming Your College Personal Statement
- Lynn Hofstad
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 12 hours ago
The Personal Statement. One could argue that it is the most consequential essay that many people will write in their lives (or just feels that way at the time). This creates an almost mythic pressure around choosing a topic and writing the essay. There are so many questions about what to write about, how to write, and when to write that it can often feel overwhelming. Where does one even begin?
(I'll leave the other questions for a different post, but if you can't wait: (spoiler) something that reveals something about your individuality, written by you (not AI, not a coach, not your parents), and ideally before your senior year starts)
My answer for where to begin will always be: Brainstorming.
While that seems like an easy answer, for many rising high school seniors it can feel paralyzing. You can talk about anything and how do you narrow down what part of your life to including in the brainstorming? That's a lot.
Now, take a breath...
Common App Prompts
Let's start with the Common App Prompts. There are seven options for the 2026-27 application. They are:
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
If I'm honest, you can make just about any topic work with the breadth of these prompts. Common App even admits that in the last prompt. Essentially, if your essay doesn't fit into the first six categories, you are welcome to submit an essay on whatever topic you choose. However, if you don't have a good idea of what to write about, reading through the first six questions might prompt (pun absolutely intended) ideas.
Still not sure? Now comes the brainstorming.
There are a myriad of books written about how to write the best or perfect college essay. I've read many of them and two of my favorites are Write Yourself In by Eric Tipler and College Essay Essentials by Ethan Sawyer. In the latter, you can find one of my favorite brainstorming activities.
Sawyer suggests imagining a box. Inside the box are 20 (or so) objects. These objects represent who you are—qualities about yourself, activities that are important to you, relationships that have shaped you. Write down the objects as you think of them and try to be as specific as possible. Your box can be of infinite size, so don't be limited by thinking the objects need to fit into a shoebox.
For example, some of the things in my box would be: my worn, red briefcase with lecture notes, tea, water, and snacks; the sweatshirt from my college choir; my falling apart copy of Sexism and God-Talk; and my favorite streaming playlist (or as a child of the 80s and 90s I could make it into a mixed tape or burned CD, so it's actually an object). Why these objects?
The briefcase: I bought the briefcase before studying abroad in Germany (I went to learn German to be able to pass my PhD language exam) and used it throughout my professorial career. It and the lecture notes represent my passion for teaching. The tea represents my need for caffeine and desire to be cozy and warm, and the water and snacks represent my role as a parent always ready to provide snacks and hydration to my son.
The sweatshirt: I went to the perfect college for me. I was profoundly shaped by the education I experienced and the people I met during that time. Particularly influential was my participation in the renowned choir at the college. It nourished my need for artistic expression in the midst of academia, taught me discipline, and fostered lifelong friendships. It also had the side benefit of enabling me to see most of the country and many countries abroad during the tours.
The book: I have read Sexism and God-Talk so many times that it is falling apart, yet I won't replace it with the new copy I purchased because of all my notes in the margins. It is a book that lit a spark in me and led to my academic path.
The playlist: Music opens a part of me like nothing else. It can spark memories, calm me down, hype me up, remind me of people and places. All of the songs on that playlist correlate to an important part of my life.
After you make your list, I encourage you to do as I have done above and briefly describe why you included each object in your box.
Next, go back to the Common App prompts. Do any of the objects correlate to any of the question prompts? Do they represent a challenging time, a community or person who shaped you, or an activity or idea that is important to you? If so, you've got your essay topic. If not, try adding more things to your imaginary box.
While this brainstorming exercise doesn't work for everyone, it can be a good first step. And if you are looking for other tips (particularly what pitfalls to avoid when writing your personal statement), check out my previous blog post.
Above all, make sure your essay reveals something about you. Your friends or loved ones should be able to read five different essays and clearly pick out which one was written by you. You are an interesting individual (even if it doesn't always feel that way), so make sure your uniqueness shines in the personal statement.
* As stated above, I am indebted to Ethan Sawyer for the creation of brainstorming activity. If you are looking for a book to help you through the writing process, College Essay Essentials is a great choice.
