Choosing a Topic: Who You Are, Not What You’ve Done

When I first meet with students, they often fall into one of two categories. Either they think they have nothing worth writing about, or they're emotionally attached to what they think is their most impressive story. But here’s the reality – you don’t need to have cured cancer or started a successful business to have something to write about.  And, what feels most impressive may not be your best topic.

Here’s the thing: your essay isn’t about what you’ve done, it’s about who you are.

What Your Essay Is Actually For

Your essay isn't a resume highlight. It's not a list of achievements. Its job is to do three things:

Show that you have self-awareness. You understand who you are - not who you think the readers want you to be.

Help the reader become invested in you as a person. They want to understand what makes you interesting. What do you notice? What matters to you? How do you think?

Demonstrate how your unique traits will help you succeed in college and contribute to the community. This isn't about being impressive. It's about being valuable.

Ultimately, you want to present a compelling version of yourself, so your reader becomes your fan – they want you enough that they’ll become your advocate.

But, I have nothing to write about.

I had a student convinced she had nothing worth writing about. During our discussion, she told me that for years, she had kept a detailed journal -- but only on vacation. She filled pages with minute details: the exact shade of the ocean, the specific birds she saw, the pattern of tiles on someone's patio. Her family teased her for being obsessed over such insignificant things.

But as we talked (and laughed) about this odd habit, she realized something: Appreciating the minute details is part of who she is. While other people start from the big picture and work down, she starts with details and lets them lead her to the bigger story. That's how her mind works. That's a strength.

When I asked another struggling student what her parents remember from her childhood, she said they’d mention playing in the dirt. She’d spend hours outside, digging, observing, building. When she thought more, she realized her childhood curiosity had grown into a passion for environmental advocacy. The essay showed where her values came from and why they matter to her.

In both cases, the starting point was small and ordinary. But the reflection revealed something distinctive about who the writer is. These students didn't think they had material. Turns out, they did.

But I know I want to write about

Maybe you know exactly what you want to write about. You're emotionally attached to it. It feels important. But when you try to explain why, it's hard to articulate. You end up describing the event without really explaining what it revealed about you.

Here's the work: dig deeper into what the moment actually means.

I had a student who was set on writing about her passion for improv.   As we talked, she realized that the ‘Yes, and’ game -- you can’t say no, you have to say yes and add another thought -- was a great metaphor for how she manages challenges in her life. When something unexpected happens, she doesn't shut down. She says yes to it and figures out what to do next. That game revealed her approach to adversity. That was the real story.

Another student wanted to write about quitting her swim team. She was emotionally committed to this moment that freed her up to pursue other activities. However, that insight felt obvious and ordinary.  As we talked, she realized that she hadn't quit the habits she'd built as a swimmer. The ability to maintain sustained effort that resulted in small gains—that was how she approaches all challenges. Ultimately, she quit the team, but she would never stop being a swimmer at heart.

In both cases, the students had the right topic. They just needed to understand how it could reveal something distinctive about them.

What do all these topics have in common?

·      They reveal something true about how the writer thinks: Admissions readers get to see inside their minds to understand not just what you did, but how you process the world.

·      They’re unique: A hundred students will write about founding a club or winning an award. Almost nobody will write about their journal habit or an improv game or playing in the dirt.

The Strategic Part Matters

Each of these essays ended with a thought about the future. Not "I want to change the world," but something like: "This is who I am, and here's how that will serve me in college and beyond."

The journal student: "I approach problems by noticing details first. In college, this will help me in research and analysis."

The improv student: "I handle uncertainty by saying yes to what comes and figuring it out. This will help me adapt to college and take on new challenges."

The environmental student: "My childhood curiosity about nature has become a commitment to environmental advocacy. In college, I want to deepen this work."

The swimming student: "I learned that persistence isn't about the activity, it's about the mindset. That's how I'll approach college coursework and challenges."

See the pattern? They're not boasting. They're making a strategic case for why their unique traits will make them successful.

The Bottom Line

Stop looking for the big accomplishment. Stop waiting for the dramatic moment. Big accomplishments make impressive essays. So do honest, authentic ones.

If you think you have nothing to write about, look closer. The ordinary moments -- the habits, the interests, the small things you do -- often reveal the most about who you are.

And, if you're committed to a story, dig deeper. Ask yourself: what does this moment actually reveal about how I think, what I value, or how I approach challenges?

That's the essay admissions officers want to read.

For more help choosing a topic, check out my free guide HERE.