How to Brainstorm Your College Essay: 5 Exercises to Get You Started

If you’re a rising high school senior staring at a blank page, wondering how to start your common app personal statement, you’re not alone. The college essay is one of the most daunting parts of the application process—not because it’s hard to write, but because it feels like it has to be perfect. Here’s the truth: your essay doesn’t need to be perfect from the start. It just needs to be you. And the best way to get there? Brainstorming.

I pulled together some of the best brainstorming exercises from The College Essay Guide and Inside the Admissions Office to help you get the ideas flowing. Try these out; you’ll have plenty of material to craft an authentic, compelling essay.

1. The “Defining Moments” Timeline

Think of your life as a timeline. Write down 10-15 moments that have shaped who you are. These don’t have to be dramatic or life-changing—sometimes, the smallest moments reveal the most about you. Maybe it was when you stood up for someone in middle school, a road trip where you had a deep realization, or the day you finally mastered a challenging skill. After listing them, pick 2-3 and free-write about why they mattered.

2. The “3-Word Self-Description” Test

If your best friend had to describe you in three words, what would they say? Now, ask yourself: Do those words actually describe how you see yourself? If not, what words would you pick? This exercise helps uncover core traits that define you. For example, if you come up with “determined, curious, and optimistic,” think of a story that shows those qualities in action.

3. The “Weird But True” List

What’s something about you that’s a little unexpected? Maybe you collect antique keys, memorize license plate numbers for fun, or bake a different kind of cookie every weekend. The best college essays often stem from small quirks that show personality. Make a list of 5-10 “weird but true” things about yourself and pick one to explore in more detail.

4. The “Letter to a Younger You” Exercise

Write a letter to your younger self—maybe to your 10-year-old self, your freshman-year self, or even yesterday you. What advice would you give? What do you wish you had known? This can spark meaningful reflections that translate into a powerful personal statement.

5. The “Why Do You Care?” Drill

Think about a passion or value that matters deeply to you. Now, ask yourself “Why?” five times in a row. Each answer should build on the one before. For example:

1. I love photography.

2. Why? Because it lets me capture small moments in time.

3. Why does that matter? Because I believe everyday moments tell the best stories.

4. Why? Because I grew up in a busy household where small moments meant a lot.

5. Why? Because they made me feel seen.

Now, you’ve got a personal, introspective essay idea rooted in something real.

Start Writing—It Doesn't Have to Be Perfect

The hardest part is just getting words on the page. Don’t worry about structure or polish right now. Just write. One of these exercises might lead to the perfect idea—or it might lead to something unexpected. Either way, you’ll have taken the first step.

Need help refining your essay? Check out Resume All Day’s essay coaching services for expert feedback and guidance. Your story is worth telling—let’s make it unforgettable.

Essay Coaching Services