stuck on your college essay? start with these four questions

by iris madeira, team madhavi desai, counselling students since 1986 and helping families navigate international university admissions for over 37 years.

one of the most common things students tell us is:

"i have nothing interesting to write about."

almost every time, they're wrong. after working with 29,000+ students applying to universities across 35+ countries, we've found that the problem is rarely a lack of experiences.

the real challenge is knowing which experience is worth writing about. many students believe their essay needs to describe an extraordinary achievement, a life-changing event or an inspirational story.

in reality, admissions officers are usually looking for something much simpler. they want to understand how you think, what matters to you and how you've grown. the best essay topics often come from ordinary moments that reveal something meaningful about the person behind the application.

when students feel stuck, we don't immediately suggest topics. instead, we begin with a conversation. here are four questions we often ask.

1. what experience changed the way you think?

one of the strongest essay topics begins with change. think about a moment, big or small that changed your perspective. perhaps a classroom discussion challenged an opinion you had always held.

maybe a community project made you see leadership differently. perhaps learning a new skill taught you patience in unexpected ways. the experience itself doesn't need to be dramatic. what matters is how it influenced the way you think today. admissions officers are often more interested in personal growth than dramatic storytelling.

2. what challenge helped you grow?

students often assume that writing about challenges means describing major hardships.

it doesn't. a challenge could be:

1. overcoming self-doubt

2. learning to work with others

3. adapting to a new environment

4. balancing academics with other responsibilities

5. recovering from failure

6. improving after constructive feedback

   
   

the focus shouldn't be on the difficulty itself. it should be on what the experience taught you. growth is usually far more memorable than struggle.

3. what could you talk about for hours?

some of the strongest essays aren't about challenges at all. they're about genuine enthusiasm. think about subjects, ideas or activities that naturally capture your attention.

• what do you enjoy learning about outside school?

• what projects make you lose track of time?

• what problem would you happily spend hours trying to solve?

authentic curiosity often produces essays that feel engaging because the student's excitement comes through naturally. we've seen memorable essays emerge from interests ranging from robotics and economics to baking, photography, languages and community initiatives. the topic itself isn't what makes the essay memorable.

your perspective is.

4. what kind of person are you becoming?

a college essay isn't simply about your past. it's also about your future. admissions officers want to understand how your experiences have shaped your aspirations.

ask yourself:

1. what values guide my decisions?

2. what motivates me?

3. what kind of impact do i hope to make?

4. what have my experiences prepared me for?

   
   

you don't need to have your entire career planned. you simply need to help the reader understand the direction you're moving towards. connecting past experiences with future aspirations creates a story that feels complete.

a counsellor's observation

one pattern we've consistently observed over nearly four decades is that students often overlook their strongest stories because they seem too ordinary. the conversation usually begins with,

"nothing interesting has happened to me."

thirty minutes later, they're describing a family tradition, a classroom experience, a failed science project or a conversation that completely changed the way they saw the world. those are often the stories that become memorable essays. extraordinary essays rarely begin with extraordinary events. they begin with honest reflection.

don't search for the "perfect" topic

there isn't one perfect essay topic. there is only the topic that allows admissions officers to understand who you are beyond your grades and achievements. the strongest essays don't try to impress. they create connection.

once you've identified a topic, the next step is learning how to shape it into a compelling personal statement. our companion article, starting your college essays: how to approach the process with clarity, explores how to move from brainstorming to drafting, revising and refining your essay.

at team madhavi desai, we help students uncover authentic stories through thoughtful conversations, structured reflection and personalised essay guidance. having supported 29,000+ students pursuing higher education across 35+ countries, we've learned that every student has meaningful stories to tell, sometimes they simply need the right questions to discover them.

frequently asked questions

1. what if i genuinely can't think of a college essay topic?

   
   

   that's more common than students realise. instead of trying to write immediately, talk through your experiences with a parent, teacher or counsellor. conversations often reveal meaningful stories that students overlook because they seem too ordinary.

   
   

2. does my college essay need to be about a major achievement?

   
   

   no. many successful essays focus on everyday experiences that reveal personal growth, curiosity or values. universities are interested in understanding the person behind the application, not just the achievements listed on a résumé.

   
   

3. should i write about a challenge if i haven't faced a major hardship?

   
   

   not necessarily. challenges come in many forms, from learning new skills to overcoming setbacks or changing your perspective. the lesson you learned is usually more important than the size of the challenge.

   
   

4. can i write about a hobby or personal interest?

   
   

   absolutely. if a hobby or interest genuinely reflects your personality, curiosity or values, it can become an excellent essay topic. authentic enthusiasm often creates memorable essays.

   
   

5. how does team madhavi desai help students with college essays?

   
   

   we guide students through every stage of the essay process—from identifying authentic topics and brainstorming ideas to drafting, revising and refining essays that genuinely reflect their voice, experiences and aspirations.