College Essay Step #1: The Importance of Brainstorming

The purpose of brainstorming is for you to develop and to generate ideas. It is of the utmost importance for you to spend time brainstorming before you begin writing your college essay. First, read the essay prompt thoroughly so that you clearly understand what the prompt is asking you to write about. Consider breaking down the essay into four to five segments: an introduction paragraph, two, three, or four body paragraphs or supporting paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. This will help you to organize and to start compartmentalizing your ideas and thoughts.

As you brainstorm, consider some of the follow questions as launching points to help you with your essay. Here are a few helpful guiding questions that you can use during the brainstorming process.

• What are the most important extracurricular or community service activities that you are involved in? Why did you join these involvements? What made you want to continue to participate in these activities? Think about the emotions that were involved with these activities. Is there one activity that stands out to you?
• Universities seek in their candidates characteristics that demonstrate leadership, persistence, and innovation. What have you done outside of school that demonstrates these qualities in you? Of these qualities, which is the most important to you? Remember, think of these characteristics that offer an added value to who you REALLY are. The admissions board is looking for students who exude sincerity.
• Have you greatly struggled for a goal or a project and failed? How did you respond in this situation?
• Have you greatly struggled for a goal or a project and succeeded? What helped you to be successful?
• What are your aspirations for the future? Who are the people, the resources, or the accomplishments you need to achieve in order to reach this aspiration? How does this particular college fit into your future plans?
• What was the most challenging time in your life? Did your perspective on life change as a result of this challenge? Why? How?
• Think about your favorite movie, book, or work of art, etc. Have these influenced your life or shifted your perspective in a meaningful way? Why are these pieces your favorites?
• What are your major accomplishments thus far? Why do you consider them to be accomplishments? Do not limit yourself only to accomplishments that have been formally recognized at school.
• Do you have any attributes, character traits, qualities, or skills that differentiate you from other individuals? How did you develop these qualities?
• Considering everything in the world, what would you most like to be doing right now? Who, living or passed, would you like to spend time with the most? Where would you most like to be right now? These questions will help you to reflect upon what you love or value the most.

These suggestions should help you to brainstorm potential topics for your college essay. Generating an idea is challenging and it requires deeper thinking and reflection. Do not feel discouraged if you do not come up with any ideas during your initial brainstorm. Now, grab a piece of paper, write each of these questions on different sheets of paper and tape them to your wall. Then start walking around visiting each posted sheet and as an idea comes to mind, write it down on the sheet! Give yourself a full hour of just looking at these questions. Once you have exhausted your mind, then pull these sheets down and before you know it, you have a set of fantastic ideas to work off of! The only way you can write a unique and distinguished essay is if you draw from your personal experiences and strengths.

Come back next week for the College Essay Step #2 post.