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Hey guys! I'm working on my Yale application, and there's an essay prompt about what inspires me. Do any of you have examples or tips on how to approach this essay? I want to make sure I'm conveying my passion effectively. Thanks!

Hey! It's great that you're working on your Yale application. Tackling the "What inspires you?" essay prompt can be an excellent opportunity to share your unique passions and experiences. Here are some tips on how to approach this essay:

1. Reflect on your interests: Start by reflecting on what genuinely inspires and motivates you. What are you passionate about? It could be related to academics, extracurricular activities, social issues, hobbies, or anything else that fuels your curiosity and drive. Remember, the essay should be personal and genuine, so pick something that truly resonates with you.

2. Be specific: Once you've identified your inspiration, be specific about why it excites you. Don't just give a general description. Instead, try to think about the particular aspects, instances, or people that kindled your interest. Providing specific examples can effectively convey your passion and make your essay engaging.

3. Show, don't tell: When writing about your passion, rather than just stating what you feel, try to show how your inspiration has influenced your actions, choices, and accomplishments. This will not only make your essay more persuasive but also provide a clear picture of your personality and values.

4. Keep it concise and focused: This prompt is a short answer question. Stay focused on the prompt and ensure that the essay is well-structured and easy to follow. While you may feel tempted to connect your inspiration to Yale, you have the "Why Yale" essay to write about the school itself, so focus on your inspiration here.

Here's an example: maybe you’re passionate about competitive weightlifting and computer programming. You love the two very different activities because they allow you to constantly push your limits. You can always lift more, and create a more efficient program. Your response to this prompt might focus on your desire to continually improve yourself and what you’ve built.

Here's what the short answer could look like: "Sweat inspires me—the sweat on my brow when I'm weightlifting or writing a computer program. Sweat means I'm working towards something, constantly improving myself and the things I'm building."

Check out this CollegeVine blog post with more in-depth guidance on how to write the Yale essays, including this prompt: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-yale-university-essays

Good luck with your essay!

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CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

134 Yale Essays That Got In

Updated for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle.

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Nestled in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale University is an Ivy League institution that provides students with an exceptional educational experience. Students at Yale may benefit from the University's highly regarded academics and research opportunities, diversified campus culture, world-renowned professors, and extensive choice of extracurricular activities. Yale's dedication to quality extends far beyond the confines of a typical institution, with renowned undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, as well as world-class museums and libraries. The school’s interdisciplinary philosophy is best captured by their motto “Yale is and.” Indeed, at Yale, students are encouraged to study multiple disciplines and see how they interact; for Yalies, it’s about studying fields like biology and sociology — not one or the other. As such, Yale University—with its lively student body and devoted staff—provides an exciting, challenging, and creative learning environment for students from all walks of life.

Unique traditions at Yale

1.Bulldog Days: This tradition is held annually in the spring and is a multi-day event that provides prospective students an opportunity to experience and explore life at Yale. 2.Freshman Shirts: A tradition where incoming freshman each choose a unique shirt and wear it on the Wednesday of Bulldog Days. 3.Heave Ho: At the end of each spring semester, Yale students gathered outside Dwight Hall and wait for a shared count of three. Then, with 3 cheers of “Hip Hip Heave Ho!” the entire Yale community school throws their hats in the air. 4.The Gold Rush: In this tradition, competing teams of Yale undergraduate students race around the Yale campus while pushing a shopping cart with two passengers on board. 5.The Stephen S. Roberts Memorial Run: A 13-mile march offered to all incoming freshmen that follows historical events and locations related to the Yale community.

Programs at Yale

1) Yale Women in Business: A student-led organization with a mission to foster an inclusive and supportive network of women at Yale who are passionate about business. 2) Morse College Writing: A yearlong program of small-group seminars focused on the study of the craft of writing. 3) Chapter 16: A club devoted to the study and directed discussion of Yale's Literary Magazine, Chapter 16. 4) The Chinese Language and Culture Program: An intensive language program focused on introducing beginners to conversational Chinese through conversation and culture courses. 5) Yale Debate Association: A student-run organization that provides students of all levels with the opportunity to improve their debating skills through a variety of competitive and educational activities.

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Real Essays from Yale Admits

Prompt: what inspires you.

Unfinished stories. They’re a reminder that life isn’t neatly defined by chapters, and that I have the power to choose the meaning and impact of events and find ways to improve upon them.

Essay by Rosie

Statistics & Data Science + Ethics, Politics & Economics (and Musician?) @ Yale :D

Prompt: What is something about you that is not included anywhere else in your application?

The freedom of a Hibachi buffet is amazingly powerful. Ice cream, beef and broccoli, a dozen dishes of fish—it’s a veritable choose-your-own adventure novel. For me, Yale holds even more appeal. I want to gorge myself on Yale's "Writing About Oneself" course—it focuses on self-exploration through literature and theme introspection, something I wish to do with my own writing. My palate is not bound to English foodstuffs—I also want to devour Yale's "Democracy and Sustainability" course. Through my urban community farm, I have seen firsthand the importance of sustainability but have seldom been able to study it at my own school. Yale's undergraduate curriculum combined with its two-week shopping period will allow me to freely explore my many interests—letting me discover myself in the process.

Essay by Python Chen

I'm an aspiring author from Nashville. I love reading & writing, playing video games, watching anime, cooking, and letting my undiagnosed ADHD lead me on a wild ride everyday!

Prompt: What is it about Yale that has led you to apply?

Visiting campus, I learned Yale students were exceptionally passionate. Yalies raved not only about the world-renowned academics, but also their adventures in the arts, volunteering, and athletics. Additionally, I saw that residential communities’ fascinating guest speakers and social events transform dorms into lively homes. As an institution, Yale fosters student enthusiasm. Through class shopping, students explore their many interests before committing to a course. Also, many classes are seminars, proving that Yale has plenty of opportunities like any large university, but maintains the intimacy of a small college. Finally, I love that the Yale spirit is intelligent and collaborative. Students are both brilliant and appreciate others’ strengths. Yale is the perfect place for me to pursue my passions, surrounded by other Yalies doing the same.

Essay by Michelle

Yale grad who loves renewable energy, travel, and the arts!

Prompt: Yale’s residential colleges regularly host conversations with guests representing a wide range of experiences and accomplishments. What person, past or present, would you invite to speak? What would you ask them to discuss?

To rapper and Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar: How do you balance telling your own personal stories and addressing social issues in your music?

Essay by Nikhe

History student, poet, and Succession-fanatic @ Yale

Prompt: You are teaching a new Yale course. What is it called?

Computer science: an alluring juxtaposition of problem-solving and art. It transforms me. When I’m meticulously debugging code, I’m 8-year-old me, manipulating the faces of my Rubik’s cube to return it to its original configuration. When I’m fervently typing away lines of code, I am a craftsman, painting on the canvas I call the IDE-software-application. When I’m compiling code, I am a scientist, testing for sources of error.

Essay by Rose

Programmer and performer @ Yale!

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Someone with the same interests, stats, and background as you

Passion Unleashed: Conveying Your Enthusiasm through the ‘What Inspires You’ Essay Prompt

The essay prompt “What inspires you?” is a fantastic chance to show off your personality and leave a lasting impact on college and scholarship applications. This straightforward query has a tremendous impact since it encourages you to explore your interests, goals, and motivations.

The skill of writing a fascinating answer to this question will be discussed in this blog, along with tips on how to discover your genuine passion, some essay examples, and make a lasting impression on your application. It’s an opportunity to connect with readers personally, break free from numbers and statistics, and show how your influences have developed your character and motivated your goals.

Let’s go on a self-discovery journey and discover how to communicate your excitement to capture the attention of people who hold the key to your future success.

Best Ways to Convey Your Enthusiasm through the ‘What Inspires You’ Essay Prompt

You can use several efficient techniques while responding to the essay prompt, “What inspires you?” to demonstrate your zeal in a convincing and sincere way. Here are some of the more effective ways to answer this college essay:

Be Particular and Unique

Focus on what fuels your enthusiasm rather than offering a general or generic response. Give examples of your own stories, interactions, or experiences that had a lasting impression on you. By being particular, you help the reader see your tale and enable them to relate to it more deeply.

Show, Don’t Just Tell

Instead of merely declaring that you are enthusiastic about something, show it by your actions and accomplishments. Talk about the efforts, projects, or activities you’ve done to follow your interest. Highlight any honors, accolades, or significant accomplishments you have earned along the road. The reader will be more convinced of your sincere passion if you can provide concrete examples of your commitment.

Think about Why

Think about the reasons your chosen source of inspiration speaks to you. What principles, ideals, or character traits does it support? What impact has it had on your perspective or your objectives? You demonstrate a higher degree of awareness and dedication by looking deeper into the motivations behind your enthusiasm.

Link Your Future Aspirations

Link your inspiration to your future goals by describing how it motivates you to pursue success in the future. Describe how you plan to have a positive influence or effect change in regard to your interest. Draw a picture of the future you want and how your passion will help you achieve your objectives.

Use Evocative Language and Narrative Tactics

Use descriptive language to construct a clear picture of your experiences and feelings, and use narrative strategies to draw the reader in. Create a compelling and motivating tale by using storytelling strategies. A well-written essay that stirs the reader’s emotions and imagination is more likely to have a lasting impact.

Be Genuine and Authentic

Last but not least, stay loyal to yourself. stay honest and sincere. Showcase your distinct voice and perspective while writing with passion and honesty. Instead of attempting to predict what the reader wants to hear, concentrate on speaking your own truth. Your essay will stand out from the competition because of your genuineness.

By employing these techniques, you can successfully answer the essay prompt “What inspires you?” while positively impacting the reader and displaying your sincere enthusiasm and drive. Recall to be particular, demonstrate your commitment, consider your motivations, relate to your goals, use vivid language, and be true to who you are.

Also Read: Defining Moments: Exploring The ‘Significant Experience’ Essay Prompt

Example of ‘What Inspires You’ Essay Prompt

Essay Prompt: “What inspires you? Discuss a person, event, or idea that has significantly impacted your life and explain how it has shaped your aspirations.”

My grandmother is someone who has profoundly affected my life and always ceases to inspire me. I saw her steadfast courage, tenacity, and undying love while she faced hardship as a child. She endured a great deal of difficulty, including financial difficulties and the death of loved ones, yet she never lost her spirit or her will to improve things for herself and her family.

Despite obstacles, I will never forget my grandmother’s unwavering commitment to pursuing her degree. She was raised in a period and place where it was taboo for women to pursue higher education, yet she bucked convention and did so. Her dedication to studying and personal development showed me the significance of education as a tool for opportunity creation and self-empowerment. I personally witnessed how education changed her life and gave her the skills she needed to escape the cycle of poverty.

I have a profound respect for the importance of resiliency, education, and perseverance as a result of seeing my grandmother’s path. My desire to pursue a profession in teaching with the goal of uplifting underprivileged youngsters and giving them the means to overcome their situations have been influenced by her tale. As my grandma has been for me, I want to be a source of inspiration and support for young people going through similar struggles.

In closing, I would want to say that my grandma has always been an inspiration to me because of her strength, fortitude, and commitment to education. Her tale has molded my desire to have a good influence in the field of education and assist others in overcoming hardship. I’m inspired to carry on her tradition by being as tenacious, passionate, and unflappable as she has been throughout her life.

To help you out further, here are some of the common app essay examples.

Some of the Common App Essay Examples

Examples of essay prompts from the Common Application are provided below, along with some ideas on how you could respond to them:

• Essay Prompt:

 “Some students have backgrounds, identities, interests, or talents so significant that they feel their applications would be completed without them. If this describes you, kindly share your experience.

You might decide to concentrate on a significant element of your background, identity, passion, or ability that has significantly influenced the development of your personality or experiences. Discuss your beliefs, objectives, and worldview in relation to this factor using personal anecdotes.

2. Essay Prompt:

According to the essay prompt, the lessons we learn from the challenges we face might be crucial to future success. Tell about a time when you had to overcome a difficulty, failure, or setback. How did it make you feel, and what did you take away from it?

Describe a particular difficulty or setback you had and how it affected you. Talk about your original reaction to the circumstance, any insights or lessons you learned from it, and how it affected your personal development, resiliency, or problem-solving abilities.

3. Essay Prompt:

According to the essay prompt, reflect on a period when you questioned or opposed a notion or idea. What made you believe that? What was the result?

Describe a time when you used critical thinking to challenge an ingrained notion or social convention. Describe the circumstances that led to your reflection and the method you used to challenge the notion. Think about the result and if it confirmed your prior view, provided a fresh angle, or suggested more research.

4. Essay Prompt:

“Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve,” is the essay prompt. Any issue that is significant to you personally, no matter how small, might be an intellectual challenge, a research question, an ethical conundrum, etc. What does it mean to you, and what measures have you taken or may be taken to find a solution?

Decide on a topic or subject that speaks to you and explain why it is important to you personally. Describe your approach to the issue, any study or analysis you did, and the actions you took to solve it. Discuss options for reaching a resolution or bringing about positive change if the problem is still present.

Also Read: From Personal Story To Powerful Essay: Crafting A Compelling Narrative For College Admissions

Keep in mind that they are only examples, and it’s essential to pick a challenge that enables you to highlight your distinctive experiences, viewpoints, and hobbies. Customize your essay to showcase your beliefs, goals, and personal progress while capturing the reader’s attention with a gripping story and insightful reflections.

Follow these approaches and pave your way to get into your desired college!

Get in Touch With Rostrum Education Today!

Rostrum Education comes highly recommended to anybody looking for help writing compelling essays. We offer priceless advice and help during the writing process because of their extensive essay writing experience. Our staff of knowledgeable mentors assists students in idea generation, effective essay structuring, and composition revision to produce engaging and compelling narratives. Your essays will be interesting, skillfully written, and specifically designed to highlight your own voice and experiences, thanks to Rostrum Education’s devotion to individualized attention and commitment to quality.

With Rostrum Education, improve your essay writing skills and leave readers with a lasting impression. Contact us Today !

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Hero — Someone Who Inspires Me

Essays About Someone Who Inspires Me

My dad is my inspiration: a story from my life, my favorite person, my friend vie, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

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My Parents – The People I Admire The Most

How my grandfather inspires me throughout my life, my mother is a true hero for me, one of my heroes – my cousin, let us write you an essay from scratch.

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The people i consider to be my heroes, reason why my mother is the person i admire the most, my hero: elon musk, why my role model is my mother, me hero: forensic expert henry chang-yu lee, the life and accomplishments of mother teresa, my hero: larry page, bo jackson: an american hero and legend in sports, oprah winfrey as a nowadays hero, who is your role model: my father's influence on my life, why jesus inspires me and other poeple, an entrepreneur i admire the most, my hero: timothy john 'tim' berners-lee, emma watson as my role model, ellen degeneres – a person who inspires me, my hero: michelle obama, my role model at work, my favorite tv presenter and why i admire her, kobe bryant - an example of genuine leader, relevant topics.

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Inspirational College Application Essay Decoded!

Updated: July 11, 2022

Published: October 29, 2021

If you are applying to a college that requires a college application essay, you will undoubtedly want your college essay to leave a lasting impression on its readers. 

Many colleges request a college application essay; some colleges will provide prospective students with the topic they want you to write about, while others will leave the choice up to you.  

So, how do you write an inspirational essay? There’s no single right way to source college essay inspiration, but there are some recommendations that we’ve compiled here to help you along with your process. 

What is a Personal Statement?

A personal statement, or college application essay, is an opportunity to share something about yourself through writing that the college admissions team won’t necessarily glean from your resume , transcript, or letters of recommendation. 

It provides applicants with the space to share more about their personality and complement the other pieces of your application to offer a well-rounded picture of who you are. 

Things to Note 

Before you get started on your college essay, there are some important things to keep in mind . You’ll likely have been spending a lot of time compiling all the other components for your application, which may include transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, letters of recommendation, and more. 

When it comes time to write your personal statement, be sure to:

Read the Directions Closely

Many prospective students and enrolled students will note that their college essay was the most challenging aspect of completing their college application. This is because it requires the most thought, time, and can also be somewhat open-ended. As such, it’s vital that students read the college essay guidelines and directions closely. In itself, the college essay is like a test for college admissions committees to see how well you can follow directions. 

Avoid Clichés 

There are many inspirational essay examples you can choose from to find ideas, but when using inspiration, avoid using clichés. While clichés exist for a reason because they are based in truth, many students will likely use them. To prevent your essay from getting overlooked, use your own words and voice to describe what you write about so that you can stand apart. 

Once you have your essay drafted, be sure to plan enough time to proofread and edit your work. Even if you feel unsure of putting words on the page, write them down. You can spend time making it better with a second, third, and fourth look. The proofreading stage should also include an objective set of eyes (someone you trust) who can give you their honest opinion about your essay.

A Step-by-Step Guide 

Your college essay isn’t going to write itself. You have to put in the work, but it can be overwhelming to know where to start. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide that should help you start and finish your inspirational college essay. 

Organize and Brainstorm 

Before you get started on drafting your college essay, organize your thoughts. If you’ve been given essay prompts, dedicate at least 5-10 minutes to each prompt to think about what you may write about.  

Choose Your Topic 

Based on how much you come up with for each prompt, you can choose which prompt will suit your story the best. If you have an open-ended prompt, think about defining moments in your life, your passions, inspirations, achievements, and the like to come up with some ideas of what you can share. 

Create an Outline 

There will be a lot of details that you’ll want to add to your essay to convey your point(s). To keep the flow organized, begin by outlining what you will talk about. A clear starting point is a brief introduction with a hook sentence to grab the reader’s attention. Then, list where you will go next with main points and supporting evidence (anecdotes from your past, examples of your point, etc.). Finish up with a conclusion that reiterates your main point (topic/gist), and close out with something that leaves the reader thinking or feeling something strongly so that your essay lingers in their mind. 

Once you have your outline sorted, you can get to drafting up your inspirational essay. While it’s difficult not to edit as you write, try to let everything out. You’ll have time to clean it up after, but allowing your train of thought to appear on the page may lead to something brilliant. 

Many college essays will provide you with a maximum word count. Remain aware of this word count as you write. 

Pro Tip: If you use Google Docs, go to Tools> Word Count> Select “Display Word Count While Typing.”

The chances are, you’ll probably find it easier to write more than less. To cut down your word count, read each sentence and ask yourself if that sentence or word is necessary to convey your point. Keep an eye on grammar and spelling. Even though you will use the word processor’s spelling and grammar review upon completion, it doesn’t always catch everything. 

After you’ve edited down your college essay, read it over a few times, and entrust someone (or multiple people) to give you some feedback. Try not to take the feedback personally, as the people you allow to read your essay will likely have your best interest in mind, and they are just trying to help you write a better final product. 

College Essay Inspiration 

You’ll want your personal statement to be considered an inspirational college essay. To make this vision a reality, remember to: 

• Be passionate 
• Be specific 
• Be yourself 

Some topics that make for inspirational college essays include stories about:

• Overcoming a challenge 
• Learning something new 
• Making a significant life change 
• Sharing an epiphany 
• Expressing your interests and reasoning 

Your Story is Important 

Whether you believe it or not, your personal statement and story is important. No two people have the same life circumstance or outlook as another, so sharing your truth with a college admissions team can be the root of inspiration, and ultimately, admission. 

Believe in yourself and your words, and take the necessary time to prepare, edit, and write your very own inspirational essay for college. The truth is that it can be all the difference to granting your acceptance into the college of your dreams.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 53 stellar college essay topics to inspire you.

College Essays

Most colleges and universities in the United States require applicants to submit at least one essay as part of their application. But trying to figure out what college essay topics you should choose is a tricky process. There are so many potential things you could write about!

In this guide, we go over the essential qualities that make for a great college essay topic and give you 50+ college essay topics you can use for your own statement . In addition, we provide you with helpful tips for turning your college essay topic into a stellar college essay.

What Qualities Make for a Good College Essay Topic?

Regardless of what you write about in your personal statement for college , there are key features that will always make for a stand-out college essay topic.

#1: It’s Specific

First off, good college essay topics are extremely specific : you should know all the pertinent facts that have to do with the topic and be able to see how the entire essay comes together.

Specificity is essential because it’ll not only make your essay stand out from other statements, but it'll also recreate the experience for admissions officers through its realism, detail, and raw power. You want to tell a story after all, and specificity is the way to do so. Nobody wants to read a vague, bland, or boring story — not even admissions officers!

For example, an OK topic would be your experience volunteering at a cat shelter over the summer. But a better, more specific college essay topic would be how you deeply connected with an elderly cat there named Marty, and how your bond with him made you realize that you want to work with animals in the future.

Remember that specificity in your topic is what will make your essay unique and memorable . It truly is the key to making a strong statement (pun intended)!

#2: It Shows Who You Are

In addition to being specific, good college essay topics reveal to admissions officers who you are: your passions and interests, what is important to you, your best (or possibly even worst) qualities, what drives you, and so on.

The personal statement is critical because it gives schools more insight into who you are as a person and not just who you are as a student in terms of grades and classes.

By coming up with a real, honest topic, you’ll leave an unforgettable mark on admissions officers.

#3: It’s Meaningful to You

The very best college essay topics are those that hold deep meaning to their writers and have truly influenced them in some significant way.

For instance, maybe you plan to write about the first time you played Skyrim to explain how this video game revealed to you the potentially limitless worlds you could create, thereby furthering your interest in game design.

Even if the topic seems trivial, it’s OK to use it — just as long as you can effectively go into detail about why this experience or idea had such an impact on you .

Don’t give in to the temptation to choose a topic that sounds impressive but doesn’t actually hold any deep meaning for you. Admissions officers will see right through this!

Similarly, don’t try to exaggerate some event or experience from your life if it’s not all that important to you or didn’t have a substantial influence on your sense of self.

#4: It’s Unique

College essay topics that are unique are also typically the most memorable, and if there’s anything you want to be during the college application process, it’s that! Admissions officers have to sift through thousands of applications, and the essay is one of the only parts that allows them to really get a sense of who you are and what you value in life.

If your essay is trite or boring, it won’t leave much of an impression , and your application will likely get immediately tossed to the side with little chance of seeing admission.

But if your essay topic is very original and different, you’re more likely to earn that coveted second glance at your application.

What does being unique mean exactly, though? Many students assume that they must choose an extremely rare or crazy experience to talk about in their essays —but that's not necessarily what I mean by "unique." Good college essay topics can be unusual and different, yes, but they can also be unique takes on more mundane or common activities and experiences .

For instance, say you want to write an essay about the first time you went snowboarding. Instead of just describing the details of the experience and how you felt during it, you could juxtapose your emotions with a creative and humorous perspective from the snowboard itself. Or you could compare your first attempt at snowboarding with your most recent experience in a snowboarding competition. The possibilities are endless!

#5: It Clearly Answers the Question

Finally, good college essay topics will clearly and fully answer the question(s) in the prompt.

You might fail to directly answer a prompt by misinterpreting what it’s asking you to do, or by answering only part of it (e.g., answering just one out of three questions).

Therefore, make sure you take the time to come up with an essay topic that is in direct response to every question in the prompt .

Take this Coalition Application prompt as an example:

What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What's the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?

For this prompt, you’d need to answer all three questions (though it’s totally fine to focus more on one or two of them) to write a compelling and appropriate essay.

This is why we recommend reading and rereading the essay prompt ; you should know exactly what it’s asking you to do, well before you start brainstorming possible college application essay topics.

53 College Essay Topics to Get Your Brain Moving

In this section, we give you a list of 53 examples of college essay topics. Use these as jumping-off points to help you get started on your college essay and to ensure that you’re on track to coming up with a relevant and effective topic.

All college application essay topics below are categorized by essay prompt type. We’ve identified six general types of college essay prompts:

Why This College?

Change and personal growth, passions, interests, and goals, overcoming a challenge, diversity and community, solving a problem.

Note that these prompt types could overlap with one another, so you’re not necessarily limited to just one college essay topic in a single personal statement.

• How a particular major or program will help you achieve your academic or professional goals
• A memorable and positive interaction you had with a professor or student at the school
• Something good that happened to you while visiting the campus or while on a campus tour
• A certain class you want to take or a certain professor you’re excited to work with
• Some piece of on-campus equipment or facility that you’re looking forward to using
• Your plans to start a club at the school, possibly to raise awareness of a major issue
• A study abroad or other unique program that you can’t wait to participate in
• How and where you plan to volunteer in the community around the school
• An incredible teacher you studied under and the positive impact they had on you
• How you went from really liking something, such as a particular movie star or TV show, to not liking it at all (or vice versa)
• How yours or someone else’s (change in) socioeconomic status made you more aware of poverty
• A time someone said something to you that made you realize you were wrong
• How your opinion on a controversial topic, such as gay marriage or DACA, has shifted over time
• A documentary that made you aware of a particular social, economic, or political issue going on in the country or world
• Advice you would give to your younger self about friendship, motivation, school, etc.
• The steps you took in order to kick a bad or self-sabotaging habit
• A juxtaposition of the first and most recent time you did something, such as dance onstage
• A book you read that you credit with sparking your love of literature and/or writing
• A school assignment or project that introduced you to your chosen major
• A glimpse of your everyday routine and how your biggest hobby or interest fits into it
• The career and (positive) impact you envision yourself having as a college graduate
• A teacher or mentor who encouraged you to pursue a specific interest you had
• How moving around a lot helped you develop a love of international exchange or learning languages
• A special skill or talent you’ve had since you were young and that relates to your chosen major in some way, such as designing buildings with LEGO bricks
• Where you see yourself in 10 or 20 years
• Your biggest accomplishment so far relating to your passion (e.g., winning a gold medal for your invention at a national science competition)
• A time you lost a game or competition that was really important to you
• How you dealt with the loss or death of someone close to you
• A time you did poorly in a class that you expected to do well in
• How moving to a new school impacted your self-esteem and social life
• A chronic illness you battled or are still battling
• Your healing process after having your heart broken for the first time
• A time you caved under peer pressure and the steps you took so that it won't happen again
• How you almost gave up on learning a foreign language but stuck with it
• Why you decided to become a vegetarian or vegan, and how you navigate living with a meat-eating family
• What you did to overcome a particular anxiety or phobia you had (e.g., stage fright)
• A history of a failed experiment you did over and over, and how you finally found a way to make it work successfully
• Someone within your community whom you aspire to emulate
• A family tradition you used to be embarrassed about but are now proud of
• Your experience with learning English upon moving to the United States
• A close friend in the LGBTQ+ community who supported you when you came out
• A time you were discriminated against, how you reacted, and what you would do differently if faced with the same situation again
• How you navigate your identity as a multiracial, multiethnic, and/or multilingual person
• A project or volunteer effort you led to help or improve your community
• A particular celebrity or role model who inspired you to come out as LGBTQ+
• Your biggest challenge (and how you plan to tackle it) as a female in a male-dominated field
• How you used to discriminate against your own community, and what made you change your mind and eventually take pride in who you are and/or where you come from
• A program you implemented at your school in response to a known problem, such as a lack of recycling cans in the cafeteria
• A time you stepped in to mediate an argument or fight between two people
• An app or other tool you developed to make people’s lives easier in some way
• A time you proposed a solution that worked to an ongoing problem at school, an internship, or a part-time job
• The steps you took to identify and fix an error in coding for a website or program
• An important social or political issue that you would fix if you had the means

How to Build a College Essay in 6 Easy Steps

Once you’ve decided on a college essay topic you want to use, it’s time to buckle down and start fleshing out your essay. These six steps will help you transform a simple college essay topic into a full-fledged personal statement.

Step 1: Write Down All the Details

Once you’ve chosen a general topic to write about, get out a piece of paper and get to work on creating a list of all the key details you could include in your essay . These could be things such as the following:

• Emotions you felt at the time
• Names, places, and/or numbers
• Dialogue, or what you or someone else said
• A specific anecdote, example, or experience
• Descriptions of how things looked, felt, or seemed

If you can only come up with a few details, then it’s probably best to revisit the list of college essay topics above and choose a different one that you can write more extensively on.

Good college essay topics are typically those that:

• You remember well (so nothing that happened when you were really young)
• You're excited to write about
• You're not embarrassed or uncomfortable to share with others
• You believe will make you positively stand out from other applicants

Step 2: Figure Out Your Focus and Approach

Once you have all your major details laid out, start to figure out how you could arrange them in a way that makes sense and will be most effective.

It’s important here to really narrow your focus: you don’t need to (and shouldn’t!) discuss every single aspect of your trip to visit family in Indonesia when you were 16. Rather, zero in on a particular anecdote or experience and explain why and how it impacted you.

Alternatively, you could write about multiple experiences while weaving them together with a clear, meaningful theme or concept , such as how your math teacher helped you overcome your struggle with geometry over the course of an entire school year. In this case, you could mention a few specific times she tutored you and most strongly supported you in your studies.

There’s no one right way to approach your college essay, so play around to see what approaches might work well for the topic you’ve chosen.

If you’re really unsure about how to approach your essay, think about what part of your topic was or is most meaningful and memorable to you, and go from there.

Step 3: Structure Your Narrative

• Beginning: Don’t just spout off a ton of background information here—you want to hook your reader, so try to start in the middle of the action , such as with a meaningful conversation you had or a strong emotion you felt. It could also be a single anecdote if you plan to center your essay around a specific theme or idea.
• Middle: Here’s where you start to flesh out what you’ve established in the opening. Provide more details about the experience (if a single anecdote) or delve into the various times your theme or idea became most important to you. Use imagery and sensory details to put the reader in your shoes.
• End: It’s time to bring it all together. Finish describing the anecdote or theme your essay centers around and explain how it relates to you now , what you’ve learned or gained from it, and how it has influenced your goals.

Step 4: Write a Rough Draft

By now you should have all your major details and an outline for your essay written down; these two things will make it easy for you to convert your notes into a rough draft.

At this stage of the writing process, don’t worry too much about vocabulary or grammar and just focus on getting out all your ideas so that they form the general shape of an essay . It’s OK if you’re a little over the essay's word limit — as you edit, you’ll most likely make some cuts to irrelevant and ineffective parts anyway.

If at any point you get stuck and have no idea what to write, revisit steps 1-3 to see whether there are any important details or ideas you might be omitting or not elaborating on enough to get your overall point across to admissions officers.

Step 5: Edit, Revise, and Proofread

• Sections that are too wordy and don’t say anything important
• Irrelevant details that don’t enhance your essay or the point you're trying to make
• Parts that seem to drag or that feel incredibly boring or redundant
• Areas that are vague and unclear and would benefit from more detail
• Phrases or sections that are awkwardly placed and should be moved around
• Areas that feel unconvincing, inauthentic, or exaggerated

Start paying closer attention to your word choice/vocabulary and grammar at this time, too. It’s perfectly normal to edit and revise your college essay several times before asking for feedback, so keep working with it until you feel it’s pretty close to its final iteration.

This step will likely take the longest amount of time — at least several weeks, if not months — so really put effort into fixing up your essay. Once you’re satisfied, do a final proofread to ensure that it’s technically correct.

Step 6: Get Feedback and Tweak as Needed

After you’ve overhauled your rough draft and made it into a near-final draft, give your essay to somebody you trust , such as a teacher or parent, and have them look it over for technical errors and offer you feedback on its content and overall structure.

Use this feedback to make any last-minute changes or edits. If necessary, repeat steps 5 and 6. You want to be extra sure that your essay is perfect before you submit it to colleges!

Recap: From College Essay Topics to Great College Essays

Many different kinds of college application essay topics can get you into a great college. But this doesn’t make it any easier to choose the best topic for you .

In general, the best college essay topics have the following qualities :

• They’re specific
• They show who you are
• They’re meaningful to you
• They’re unique
• They clearly answer the question

If you ever need help coming up with an idea of what to write for your essay, just refer to the list of 53 examples of college essay topics above to get your brain juices flowing.

Once you’ve got an essay topic picked out, follow these six steps for turning your topic into an unforgettable personal statement :

• Write down all the details
• Figure out your focus and approach
• Structure your narrative
• Write a rough draft
• Edit, revise, and proofread
• Get feedback and tweak as needed

And with that, I wish you the best of luck on your college essays!

What’s Next?

Writing a college essay is no simple task. Get expert college essay tips with our guides on how to come up with great college essay ideas and how to write a college essay, step by step .

You can also check out this huge list of college essay prompts  to get a feel for what types of questions you'll be expected to answer on your applications.

Want to see examples of college essays that absolutely rocked? You're in luck because we've got a collection of 100+ real college essay examples right here on our blog!

Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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8 Examples of College Essays That Worked

There are many elements to building a successful college application–one of the most important being your essays 📝! Whether it’s the personal statement you submit with your Common & Coalition application or answering the supplemental prompts provided by your colleges of choice, essays give you a space to tell your story. You get to show admissions officers who you are 🤗 in ways that they can’t detect in other parts of your application.

2021-22 Common App Essay Prompts

The Common App provides students with a set of essay prompts for each application cycle. The following are the set of prompts for 2021-2022.

• 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.

Sourced from 2021-2022 Common App Essay Prompts

Essay Examples

Reading examples of other students' essays that worked can be a really great way to get a better feel for what you want to write. Check out some of these amazing YouTubers to hear college essay advice directly from people who wrote exemplary essays!

Common App Essay Prompts #1 & #7

When I was very little, I caught the travel bug. It started after my grandparents first brought me to their home in France and I have now been to twenty-nine different countries. Each has given me a unique learning experience. At five, I marveled at the Eiffel Tower in the City of Lights. When I was eight, I stood in the heart of Piazza San Marco feeding hordes of pigeons, then glided down Venetian waterways on sleek gondolas. At thirteen, I saw the ancient, megalithic structure of Stonehenge and walked along the Great Wall of China, amazed that the thousand-year-old stones were still in place.

It was through exploring cultures around the world that I first became interested in language. It began with French, which taught me the importance of pronunciation. I remember once asking a store owner in Paris where Rue des Pyramides was. But when I pronounced it PYR–a–mides instead of pyr–A–mides, with more accent on the A, she looked at me bewildered. {...}

Interestingly, after studying foreign languages, I was further intrigued by my native tongue. Through my love of books and fascination with developing a sesquipedalian lexicon (learning big words), I began to expand my English vocabulary. Studying the definitions prompted me to inquire about their origins, and suddenly I wanted to know all about etymology, the history of words. My freshman year I took a world history class and my love for history grew exponentially. To me, history is like a great novel, and it is especially fascinating because it took place in my own world.

But the best dimension that language brought to my life is interpersonal connection. When I speak with people in their native language, I find I can connect with them on a more intimate level. I’ve connected with people in the most unlikely places, finding a Bulgarian painter to use my few Bulgarian words with in the streets of Paris, striking up a conversation in Spanish with an Indian woman who used to work at the Argentinian embassy in Mumbai, and surprising a library worker by asking her a question in her native Mandarin.

I want to study foreign language and linguistics in college because, in short, it is something that I know I will use and develop for the rest of my life. I will never stop traveling, so attaining fluency in foreign languages will only benefit me. In the future, I hope to use these skills as the foundation of my work, whether it is in international business, foreign diplomacy, or translation.

I think of my journey as best expressed through a Chinese proverb that my teacher taught me, “I am like a chicken eating at a mountain of rice.” Each grain is another word for me to learn as I strive to satisfy my unquenchable thirst for knowledge.

Today, I still have the travel bug, and now, it seems, I am addicted to language too.

Sourced from 26 Outstanding College Essay Examples 2020/2021

Common App Essay Prompt #6

Was I no longer the beloved daughter of nature, whisperer of trees? Knee-high rubber boots, camouflage, bug spray—I wore the garb and perfume of a proud wild woman, yet there I was, hunched over the pathetic pile of stubborn sticks, utterly stumped, on the verge of tears. As a child, I had considered myself a kind of rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees, who could glide through tick-infested meadows and emerge Lyme-free. I knew the cracks of the earth like the scars on my own rough palms. Yet here I was, ten years later, incapable of performing the most fundamental outdoor task: I could not, for the life of me, start a fire.

Furiously I rubbed the twigs together—rubbed and rubbed until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers. No smoke. The twigs were too young, too sticky-green; I tossed them away with a shower of curses, and began tearing through the underbrush in search of a more flammable collection. My efforts were fruitless. Livid, I bit a rejected twig, determined to prove that the forest had spurned me, offering only young, wet bones that would never burn. But the wood cracked like carrots between my teeth—old, brittle, and bitter. Roaring and nursing my aching palms, I retreated to the tent, where I sulked and awaited the jeers of my family. Rattling their empty worm cans and reeking of fat fish, my brother and cousins swaggered into the campsite. Immediately, they noticed the minor stick massacre by the fire pit and called to me, their deep voices already sharp with contempt.

“Where’s the fire, Princess Clara?” they taunted. “Having some trouble?” They prodded me with the ends of the chewed branches and, with a few effortless scrapes of wood on rock, sparked a red and roaring flame. My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame. In the tent, I pondered my failure. Was I so dainty? Was I that incapable? I thought of my hands, how calloused and capable they had been, how tender and smooth they had become. It had been years since I’d kneaded mud between my fingers; instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano, my hands softening into those of a musician—fleshy and sensitive. And I’d gotten glasses, having grown horrifically nearsighted; long nights of dim lighting and thick books had done this. I couldn’t remember the last time I had lain down on a hill, barefaced, and seen the stars without having to squint. Crawling along the edge of the tent, a spider confirmed my transformation—he disgusted me, and I felt an overwhelming urge to squash him.

Yet, I realized I hadn’t really changed—I had only shifted perspective. I still eagerly explored new worlds, but through poems and prose rather than pastures and puddles. I’d grown to prefer the boom of a bass over that of a bullfrog, learned to coax a different kind of fire from wood, having developed a burn for writing rhymes and scrawling hypotheses.

That night, I stayed up late with my journal and wrote about the spider I had decided not to kill. I had tolerated him just barely, only shrieking when he jumped—it helped to watch him decorate the corners of the tent with his delicate webs, knowing that he couldn’t start fires, either. When the night grew cold and the embers died, my words still smoked—my hands burned from all that scrawling—and even when I fell asleep, the ideas kept sparking—I was on fire, always on fire.

Sourced from 11 Stellar Common App Essay Examples to Inspire Your College Essay .

2021-22 Coalition App Essay Prompts

The Coalition App provides students with a set of essay prompts for each application cycle. The following are the set of prompts for 2021-2022.

• Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
• Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.
• Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs?
• What is the hardest part of being a student now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?
• Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.

Sourced from Coalition Application Essay Prompts  

The clock slowly ticks on…

Tic , toc, tic , toc….

It’s 3:30 am and everything seems to be asleep. Normally, I’m coding at my desk with a glass of orange juice. What am I coding? Depends on the night, but you can tell from my whiteboard, as each night there is something new on it. This week it was modeling the flow of a rules engine for validating bank wires, one part of my work for Microsoft. The week before it was filled with data-flow models from my React UI to a SQL database for an app my school asked me to build.

But why am I doing all of this so late into the night?

I’m battling time. Seeing how much territory I can claim before my moments are up.

I didn’t know how to handle the idea of time as a kid and, when it became too much, I’d hide with my two stuffed dogs, my white blanket, warm vanilla milk, and the Calvin and Hobbes book The Days Are Just Packed. Under that blanket I would curl up and lose myself in Calvin’s antics as Spaceman Spiff.

Eventually, I found a much better way to deal with time: through soccer. Each day I would come home and rush through homework so I could go outside and practice until it got so dark I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. But after suffering twelve major injuries in between 6th and 11th grade I could feel all the time that I’d lost while recovering. This led to a burnout and caused me to transition away from soccer. So I did. During my recovery time I’d learned to code through personal projects and CodeAcademy. As I entered high school, coding started to take over, and all the time I’d poured into soccer instead went to coding, which led to some exciting personal projects such as a physics equation solver, a chip8 emulator and a compiler for my own language. {...}

Time never stops, so why should I? Why should I stop learning? I don’t think I should. I plan to continue waging my battle against time by learning everything that I can. And I will. But I also won’t forget things I love: Calvin’s sled, homemade pastas, lacing up cleats, and tinkering into the night. ”

Sourced from Coalition Application Essay Prompts Guide + 5 Outstanding Essay Examples 2020/2021

What about Supplemental Essays?

Supplemental essays vary from college to college in number, word count, and topics! Here are a couple of example prompts and essays from universities 🏫 across the USA.

Supplemental Essay Examples

UCLA, California: Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

Ever since I was little, I have possessed a unique fascination for nature and the way it interacts with itself. As I sat in the prickly seats of old tour buses and the bilingual tour guide has silenced himself for the dozens of passengers that have closed their curtains and fallen into deep slumber, I would keep my eyes glued to the window, waiting to catch a glimpse of wild animals and admiring the beautiful scenery that mother nature had pieced together.

At Outdoor Science Camp, while most of my friends were fixated on socializing and games, I was obsessed with finding every organism in the book. Nothing else caught my attention quite like ecology. As high school dragged on and the relentless responsibilities, assignments, and tests washed away the thrill of learning, ecology was one interest that withstood the turmoil. At the end of a draining day, I would always enjoy relaxing to articles detailing newly discovered species or relationships between species.

This past summer, I was able to further this interest when a unique opportunity to volunteer abroad caught my eye. Flying over to the beautiful tropical shorelines of the Dominican Republic, I was able to dive into the frontlines of the battle against climate change, dwindling populations, and habitat destruction brought about by mankind, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

While everyone was obviously ecstatic about snorkeling in the crystal blue waters, only I was able to retain that same excitement about trekking through knee thick mud and mosquito infested forests to replant mangrove trees. While tracking animal populations, my heart leaped at the sight of every new species that swam right in front of my eyes. Even when it came to the dirty work of building structures to rebuild coral and picking up trash along the beach, I always found myself leading the pack, eager to start and do the most. From this experience, I realized that pursuing the field of ecology was what I could picture myself doing far into the future, and this was how I was going to impact the world.

Sourced from 103 Best College Admission Supplement Essay Examples 2021

UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina: What do you hope will change about the place where you live?

There aren’t many places where everyone is free from prejudice. One exception is a basketball court. The first time I stepped on a basketball court, I was expecting the usual joke about my race or the judgmental questions about my culture. But they never came. Everyone I met had unique perspectives on everything, from basketball itself to politics, and they were open and willing to share. I began to open up more about my background – how I couldn’t tie my own shoes until I was 10 and that I’m the only person in my family who loves hip-hop music. I was willing to share my experiences because there were no judgments made about me.

Despite living in an ethnically homogenous area, on the court, I met and connected with people who have different backgrounds and interests. Coleman, now one of my best friends, who is in love with Greek architecture, or Gavin, who is the only member of his family who isn’t a Packers fan. The culture of unity and acceptance that is fostered is not due to the courts themselves, but due to the common goal everyone shares. I hope my community will find ways to build more places that promote what I have experienced on the basketball court – areas where everyone is respected for their perspectives rather than judged by their race, religion, or beliefs.

Columbia University, New York: Please tell us what you value most about Columbia and why?

Computer science is at the core of my academic passions and my life ambitions. What I value in life is being around brilliant technologists. At Columbia, I have worked with and befriended the most driven and gifted programmers I’ve ever met. In January, I formed a team with three Columbia freshmen for MIT’s annual strategy-game-playing artificial intelligence competition. Ben, Ryan, Koh and I spent the month reviewing matches, debating approaches and tweaking our models. More than once we coded through the night. Their caliber was clear in the subtle insights that their multi-disciplinary backgrounds gave them and they gave me something to aspire to.

I have many interests that lie outside of my intended major but that I want to continue to pursue, and Columbia provides an environment for those diverse passions. Recently, while at a Columbia math club meeting with Ben, I ran into a political science major, Mathieu. He was elated to point out the insights that a love of math granted him in his courses and his conviction encouraged me to explore the peculiar intersection of the two fields.

I love teachers who love to teach. At Columbia, I’ve seen faculty who have a love for what they do and who care about students. While touring, I sat in on a quantum mechanics lecture. Professor Norman Christ strode into the room at eight on-the-dot and jumped into a discussion of WKB complex value approximation. For three straight hours, he guided us through the intricate world of QM without any notes. His enthusiasm brightened that drizzling Monday morning. That I could follow the lecture at all is a testament to his lucid explanations and extraordinary knowledge. When I came to him with questions afterward, he helped me truly understand a topic that initially felt years out of reach.

Writing a great "Why This College" essay with a prompt similar to the one above is one great way to show demonstrated interest .

Emory University, Georgia: What is your favorite fiction or non-fiction work (film, book, TV show, album, poem, or play)? Why?

There’s a moment in the 2017 film ​The Florida Project ​where our young protagonist, seven-year-old Moonee, stands with a friend in front of a cow pasture.

See, ​she says triumphantly, gesturing to the grazing animals as if presenting prizes on a game show. I took you on a safari. ​Without hesitation, she runs toward the cows, laughing: ​Let’s go.

In Moonee’s world, ordinary cows are majestic creatures, and she wants nothing more than to chase them. She plucks small pleasures from the mundane, turning dilapidated pastures into exotic landscapes.

She pursues these things with a rare kind of love: pure, exuberant, fiercely determinate. ​The Florida Project encourages me to chase the small things in my life with immense passion, with a Moonee-esque determination to live breathlessly, unhesitatingly. This film beckons me to run forward to the cows, nudging me into the world as if to say: ​Let’s go.

University of Southern California, California: What is something about yourself that is essential to understanding you?

The sounds of my knife striking kale unnerves my cat asleep in the corner. He quickly runs over to examine the situation but becomes instantly uninterested when he sees green and smells bitterness. Unfortunately, my family has this same reaction every day of every week.

They question, “It’s bad enough that you’re going to eat kale, but do you really have to massage it?” I respond with a deep breath, during which I recall information from nutritionfacts.org. I begin to explain, “Well you see, it takes away the bitterness, because kale is composed of cellulose, so when you massage it with a strong acid–”but as I continue to delve into my rather scientific and oftentimes molecular rationale behind transforming myself into a masseuse to make a salad, everyone begins snoring. I guess no one has ever understood my immense love for the science behind cooking (and probably never will).

Sure, my family, friends, small, undiverse and traditional high school all look at me like I am crazy, but I guess that is because I am. I do not look at kale and think “dark green, bitter, disgusting plant.” Instead, I see proteins and anticarcinogenic properties--analyzing the anatomy of food seems to occupy my mind.

Cooking is an art, visual, creative and instinctive. My favorite nights are spent with knife in hand and sweet potatoes in the oven. Food is my artist outlet, and one of the few things to feed my soul (and my stomach, too).

Next, check out how to get letters of recommendation!

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How to Write a Stellar “Why This College?” Essay + Examples

What’s covered:, sample “why this college” prompts, faqs about the “why this college” essay.

• Common Mistakes to Avoid

Good “Why This College?” Essay Examples

• Brainstorming for this Essay
• Outlining Your Essay
• Where to Get Your Essay Edited

One of the most common college essay supplements will ask you to answer the question: “Why This College?” These essays are looking to see whether you’re a good fit for the campus community, and whether the college is a good fit for you and your goals. 

In this post, we’ll show you a couple examples of these prompts, go over good and bad sample responses, and break down how to ensure yours is one of the good ones. 

Let’s start by taking a look at real prompts that fit under the “Why This College?” archetype: 

Tufts: Which aspects of the Tufts undergraduate experience prompt your application? In short, ‘Why Tufts?’ (150 words)

Northwestern: Other parts of your application give us a sense for how you might contribute to Northwestern. But we also want to consider how Northwestern will contribute to your interests and goals. Help us understand what aspects of Northwestern appeal most to you, and how you’ll make use of specific resources and opportunities here. (300 words)

As you can see, these prompts are basically asking why you want to attend the school in question. Northwestern spells it out even further, and specifically asks how you’ll use their resources to achieve your goals.

Both prompts have word counts that are much shorter than that of the Common App, which is typical of supplemental essays. These two word counts are pretty representative, and you can expect the “Why This College?” essay length to be 100-400 words on average. That’s not a lot of space for a pretty important question, so it’s especially vital to use the word count wisely.

What are colleges looking for in the “Why Us” essay?

Colleges want to admit students who will not only enroll (to protect their yield), but also thrive on their campus. They ask this question to see whether you’re truly interested in the school and whether it’s the right place for you. You can write a strong response by citing specific ways the college can support your goals, as well as demonstrating your enthusiasm.

Which colleges have a “Why This College?” essay?

This is one of the most popular supplements among colleges. Here is a selection of top schools that ask this question:

• Northwestern
• Boston University
• University of Michigan

Check out our essay guides for these schools for more in-depth advice on how to write these essays.

What kind of writing style should I use?

This is a straightforward question that generally has a short word count, so you don’t need to use a narrative form at all. You can simply explain what you like about the school and why, but try to use varied sentence structure and organize the essay around your major goals. 

You can start your essay with a story if you want, however. For example, if you visited campus and experienced a really interesting course, or sat in on a meeting of a club you liked, this can make for a strong anecdote to begin your essay. Just make sure that whatever story you tell has some substance, and isn’t just a narration of how nice it was to walk around campus.

Can I copy and paste my essay for other schools?

Absolutely not. If your essay is general enough to apply to other schools, you know you need to rewrite it. The resources you mention should be highly specific to the college you’re writing about.

Common Mistakes When Writing the “Why This College?” Essay

The most common mistake students make is listing generic characteristics that could apply to any school. This negatively impacts your application, since it sends the message that you didn’t do your research, and aren’t truly interested in the school.

Here’s an example of something NOT to list in your “Why this college essay.” We’ll take the example of Tufts since we shared the prompt in the beginning.

What NOT to write: I’m applying to Tufts because of its low student to faculty ratio, the strong math department, and its prime location in Medford, just a hop away from Boston. When I visited campus, the school already felt like home.

This example is bad because many schools have low student to faculty ratios and strong math departments. There are also a ton of schools in or near Boston, many of which have low student to faculty ratios and great math departments too, such as Boston College, Harvard, Northeastern, Boston University, etc. If your statements can apply to other schools, that’s definitely not a good sign (avoid things like location, weather, size, and ranking).

The student also uses an emotional appeal with the line “it felt like home,” which might sound nice, but it has no substance and can be written for any school. You should definitely avoid making any statements like these.

This example shows that the student really hasn’t thought much about their fit with Tufts, and that it probably isn’t their top choice. This will impact your application negatively, especially since Tufts is known for taking applicants’ demonstrated interest more seriously than other schools . So, if you show that you show little interest through your essay, you may end up waitlisted or rejected, even if your stats are excellent.

Another thing that this example gets wrong is that it doesn’t describe the student’s goals or interests at all. It’s important to not only talk about why you picked the school, but also how exactly those aspects will help you grow. Remember, this kind of prompt is two-fold: in addition to explaining why the school is a good fit for you, you want to show why you, out of the many thousands of applicants they get each year, are a good fit for them.

To summarize, the main mistakes to avoid are:

• Citing generic aspects of the school (location, weather, size, and ranking)
• Using empty emotional appeals
• Not describing your goals and interests

Now that we know what a bad example might look like, here’s an example of a rewrite to part of the Tufts essay:

What TO write: As a potential Applied Mathematics major, I hope to gain the tools to model political behavior. I’m especially interested in elections, and am looking forward to taking the course “Mathematics of Social Choice,” as the centerpiece of Social Choice Theory is voting. I would also love to take “Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos,” because it will teach me to use differential equations to predict chaotic behavior. 

This is a good example, as the courses listed are highly-specific to Tufts, as well as the student’s professional goals. We not only learned something about Tufts, but also the student. Keep in mind that this wouldn’t be a complete essay⁠—it’s just an example of good, specific resources to list, and how to connect them to your own interests. 

If you want an example of a complete essay, here’s this real student response for Boston University’s “Why This College?” prompt.

Prompt: In no more than 250 words, please tell us why BU is a good fit for you and what

specifically has led you to apply for admission.

Boston University’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) attracts me because of its support of interdisciplinary study among its wide array of majors. In fact, the CAS now offers a course that combines biology, chemistry, and neuroscience. As I hope to conduct medical research into brain disorders, I plan to pursue all three areas of study. These cross-disciplinary connections at BU will prepare me to do so.

CAS’s undergraduate research program would allow me to work with a mentor, such as Dr. Alice Cronin-Golomb or Dr. Robert M.G. Reinhart related to their research on neurological disorders. With them, I can advance the work I have already completed related to Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). In a summer class at our local university, my partner and I extracted data from fMRI and PET studies and inputted them into a coding program. We then created an indicator map, which we imported into another software program, AFNI, to display significant activity in the brain regions affected by DID. Seeing the representation of our data thrilled me because I knew it could eventually help people who live with DID. I want to experience that feeling again. Successfully analyzing these fMRI and PET studies and learning to code drives me to pursue more research opportunities, and this desire motivates me to study at a university that offers research opportunities to undergraduates. BU’s interdisciplinary approach to psychology and support for independent undergraduate undergraduate research will optimally prepare me for a career as a neurological researcher.

This student clearly outlines BU-specific resources (the interdisciplinary course and undergrad research program), plus how these resources align with their professional goals (to become a neurological researcher). They do “name-drop” professors, but since their work clearly relates to the student’s interests, it doesn’t look disingenuous, and shows that the student has done research on their fit with BU. The student also provides background on why they want to pursue research, and shows that they already have experience, which makes their interest in the undergrad research program more concrete.

The only thing missing from this essay is the student’s fit with BU in terms of extracurriculars and social life. “Why This College?” essays should also cover extracurriculars, as the residential college experience is about more than just class and homework. Admissions officers are also interested in how you’ll contribute to their broader campus community.

In general, these essays should be academic-leaning (especially if they’re under 250 words), but you should still address some social aspects of the college that appeal to you (we recommend about 70% academics, 30% social, with more or less focus on social aspects depending on the word count). Since the student probably already detailed their previous research in their Common App activities section, they could’ve just summarized their research background in one sentence, and used the space saved to talk about a specific social aspect of BU that interests them.

Here’s another sample essay, but for UPenn. This essay’s word count was much longer, so the student was able to really hone in on several specific aspects of UPenn.

Prompt: How will you explore your intellectual and academic interests at the University of Pennsylvania? Please answer this question given the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying (650 words).

Sister Simone Roach, a theorist of nursing ethics, said, “caring is the human mode of being.” I have long been inspired by Sister Roach’s Five C’s of Caring: commitment, conscience, competence, compassion, and confidence. Penn both embraces and fosters these values through a rigorous, interdisciplinary curriculum and unmatched access to service and volunteer opportunities.

COMMITMENT. Reading through the activities that Penn Quakers devote their time to (in addition to academics!) felt like drinking from a firehose in the best possible way. As a prospective nursing student with interests outside of my major, I value this level of flexibility. I plan to leverage Penn’s liberal arts curriculum to gain an in-depth understanding of the challenges LGBT people face, especially regarding healthcare access. Through courses like “Interactional Processes with LGBT Individuals” and volunteering at the Mazzoni Center for outreach, I hope to learn how to better support the Penn LGBT community as well as my family and friends, including my cousin, who came out as trans last year.

CONSCIENCE. As one of the first people in my family to attend a four-year university, I wanted a school that promoted a sense of moral responsibility among its students. At Penn, professors challenge their students to question and recreate their own set of morals by sparking thought- provoking, open-minded discussions. I can imagine myself advocating for universal healthcare in courses such as “Health Care Reform & Future of American Health System” and debating its merits with my peers. Studying in an environment where students confidently voice their opinions – conservative or liberal – will push me to question and strengthen my value system.

COMPETENCE. Two aspects that drew my attention to Penn’s BSN program were its high-quality research opportunities and hands-on nursing projects. Through its Office of Nursing Research, Penn connects students to faculty members who share similar research interests. As I volunteered at a nursing home in high school, I hope to work with Dr. Carthon to improve the quality of care for senior citizens. Seniors, especially minorities, face serious barriers to healthcare that I want to resolve. Additionally, Penn’s unique use of simulations to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application impressed me. Using computerized manikins that mimic human responses, classes in Penn’s nursing program allow students to apply their emergency medical skills in a mass casualty simulation and monitor their actions afterward through a video system. Participating in this activity will help me identify my strengths and areas for improvement regarding crisis management and medical care in a controlled yet realistic setting. Research opportunities and simulations will develop my skills even before I interact with patients.

COMPASSION. I value giving back through community service, and I have a particular interest in Penn’s Community Champions and Nursing Students For Sexual & Reproductive Health (NSRH). As a four-year volunteer health educator, I hope to continue this work as a Community Champions member. I am excited to collaborate with medical students to teach fourth and fifth graders in the city about cardiology or lead a chair dance class for the elders at the LIFE Center. Furthermore, as a feminist who firmly believes in women’s abortion rights, I’d like to join NSRH in order to advocate for women’s health on campus. At Penn, I can work with like-minded people to make a meaningful difference.

CONFIDENCE. All of the Quakers that I have met possess one defining trait: confidence. Each student summarized their experiences at Penn as challenging but fulfilling. Although I expect my coursework to push me, from my conversations with current Quakers I know it will help me to be far more effective in my career.

The Five C’s of Caring are important heuristics for nursing, but they also provide insight into how I want to approach my time in college. I am eager to engage with these principles both as a nurse and as a Penn Quaker, and I can’t wait to start.

This student takes a creative approach to the essay, by using the Five C’s of Caring as a framework. This technique works especially well since these qualities relate to the student’s future career in nursing. In addition to emphasizing the student’s creativity and passion for nursing, having the Five C’s in all caps at the start of each paragraph gives this long essay a clear, easy-to-read format.

What really makes the essay stand out is the depth of the student’s fit with UPenn, and how they’re able to also share more about who they are. The student lists specific courses, research opportunities, technology, and student groups. We also learn that they are a first-generation student, are passionate about increasing access to healthcare (particularly for LGBTQ+ people, minorities, and the elderly), care about health education, and are a feminist who staunchly defends abortion rights (this controversial topic could be risky, but since UPenn is a very liberal school, this should be fine).

Overall, this essay paints a vivid picture of how the student would engage academically at Penn, and we also see clearly how the student would pursue their intellectual passions outside the classroom. Since this essay prompt focused on “intellectual and academic interests,” there was no need to address other aspects of UPenn beyond those supporting their various interests in healthcare.

See more “ Why This College?” essay examples to understand what makes a strong response.

Brainstorming for the “Why This College?” Essay

Now that we’ve gone through a couple examples, you might be wondering how to get started yourself. 

Here are three steps we recommend to get your essay underway:

• Reflect on your academic and career goals
• Research unique opportunities related to your academic and extracurricular interests
• Pick your top academic reasons for applying, and your top extracurricular/social reasons

1. Reflect on your academic and career goals.

The driver behind this essay needs to be you , and not the school itself. Anyone can write nice things about the college, but only you can explain why you would be a good fit for it.

Ask yourself:

• What do you want to major in, if you know? If you’re undecided, what are the subjects you’re interested in?
• Which career do you want to pursue, or what are the potential options?
• What do you want to get out of college? Any particular skills or experiences?

Once you have a clear idea of your college plan, then you can dig into how the college can support your plan.

2. Research unique opportunities related to your academic, career, and extracurricular interests.

You might be wondering where you can find all these specific courses, clubs, and other resources. The school’s website is a good place to start, or if you have a general idea of what you’re looking for, you can even use Google with the school name in your search, such as “Tufts orchestra.” 

Take a look at the website of your department/major and dig into the courses, fellowships, internships, and other resources. For course syllabi, you can visit the website of the professor who’s teaching the course; they’ll often post more detailed information than the online course catalog, including readings and concepts to be covered.

Clubs may have their own websites, but you can also try to find their Facebook groups or Instagram pages, which might be more current and even show events they’re hosting⁠.

If you can, try to speak with a current student. Your school counselor may be able to connect you with one, or you can also reach out to the admissions office to see if they can connect you. If not, speaking with an admissions officer is also great, or you can try to find day-in-the-life videos on YouTube.

3. Pick your top academic reasons for applying, and your top extracurricular/social reasons.

Once you’ve done your research and found specific opportunities to cite in your essay, pick your top 1-3 academic reasons and top 1-3 extracurricular ones, depending on the word count. Going back to the Tufts essay, the good example we gave actually was already 65 words, and it was only able to mention two courses. 

Keep in mind that you not only have to describe resources specific to the school, but also how they’ll contribute to your goals. This personal aspect is just as important as the actual opportunities, so be sure to allot space to describe why exactly these resources make the school a good fit for you.

When it comes to academic reasons, you are free to list anything from special programs to unique majors to specific courses and professors. We want to caution you against “name-dropping” professors, however⁠—unless their work actually fits with your established interests and professional goals. Otherwise, it might seem like you’re being disingenuous.

We also want to reiterate that you should be sure to not only talk about academics in your essay, but also extracurriculars (unless the prompt asks you to focus only on academics, or if the word count is unusually short, i.e. 150 words or fewer). Again, college isn’t just about what you do in the classroom. Admissions committees want to be sure that accepted students will also contribute to the college community. 

Outlining Your “Why This College?” Essay

Once you’ve identified your goals and the resources to support them, it’s time to start writing. An easy format/outline for your essay would be:

• Introduction to your main goals and the why behind them (great spot for an anecdote). 
• Your first goal and how the school can support it.
• Your second goal and how the school can support it.
• Conclusion where you look towards the future and reaffirm how the college can get you there.

You can adjust the length of the essay by adding or subtracting the number of goals you write about. As noted above, r emember to include extracurriculars when sharing how the college can support your goals. You should plan to spend about 70% of your space on academic reasons, and 30% on extracurricular reasons.

Some students choose to use a more unconventional format, like the Five C’s of Caring essay above, and that works too if you want to show off your creative writing skills. Some examples include a letter to the school or a schedule of your day as a student at the college. These unconventional formats can be harder to pull off though, so only go that route if you’re confident in your writing. The letter format can be especially tricky since it’s easy to sound cheesy and overenthusiastic.

Regardless of the format you choose, remember these two things that your essay should do. It should:

• Reveal more about your goals and interests.
• D escribe how the school can help you develop your interests and reach your goals, by naming highly-specific and unique campus resources, both academic and extracurricular.

If your essay checks both of those boxes, you’re well on your way to making your candidacy more compelling to admissions officers!

Where to Get Your “Why This College?” Essay Edited

Do you want feedback on your “Why This College?” essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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Best Personal Essay Examples

What inspires you essay.

722 words | 3 page(s)

My passion for international relations is, as I reflect upon it, both profoundly connected to my character and an avenue through which that character may develop and evolve. From when I first began taking in the news, I was drawn to “the bigger picture”; it struck me early how any national event carried impacts affecting other nations and cultures, and this made even the most ordinary news items alive to me. Long before I would explore history and come to see the dynamics of international relations as having forged our past, I had a visceral sense of greater meaning. We live in our own worlds, certainly, and our concerns usually center on what is nearest to us. At the same time, however, there was an instinctive awareness in me that larger forces are in play always, and that nothing occurring within those worlds happens in a limited way. In a very real sense, then, my passion for international affairs is based on a conviction that we all live internationally. Today’s world is increasingly a globalized one, of course, but this only supports my feeling that tides of politics, societies, and commerce worldwide are crucial influences on each one of us, just as all we do in some way influences the interactions.

This passion then encouraged me to move in directions enabling me to enlarge my understanding and my abilities. In my eyes, there can be no more encouraging study than international relations because the subject inevitably encompasses virtually every aspect of culture and progress. My strong interest in history has only emphasized this belief in that, the more I learn about the interactions of nations in the past, the more I perceive the complexity in those occurring today. Studying history is for me no removed investigation into a dead past; it is a vital means of entering into arenas of powerful forces engaged in vast conflict and world-changing alliances. I see the currents of the past as I see how they reflect what commands attention internationally today. For example, as I read about Hitler’s rise to power and how this single individual shaped the destinies of many nations, I am able to relate the impact to other leaders of the past and present, and of widely diverse types. If Hitler fascinates me, as he does, so too am I drawn to those world leaders who have impacts of other kinds. I turned, in fact, from studying Hitler to reading Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom, and the contrast helps me to comprehend how the natures of individual men and women generate ideas which shape the world we all share.

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I mentioned earlier that international relations is for me an opportunity to develop, and I believe this because the sheer scope of the study tends to bring out different aspects of myself as a student and as a person. Regarding the former, I am ambitious; there is no “standing still” because there is always another challenge to meet, and this excites my personal nature as well. Then, I find that each effort I make – as happens in international affairs – influences others. My football and athletics activities translate to more energy for focus in study, just as that foundation of physicality is valuable in debating, another pursuit I enjoy very much. The debating in turn fuels my interest in gaining more knowledge because, in the thick of an exciting debate, I want my mind as prepared as my reflexes. Biographies and autobiographies, particularly of world figures, engage me emotionally as they broaden my awareness. I have as well been fortunate enough to travel a great deal, and this is a privilege that has further enlarged my appreciation for the virtually endless range of interests the world provides. I deeply feel that the best course to take is to, “Aim for the moon; even if you miss you will land somewhere amongst the stars.” My own aim has been set for that moon since I first had any understanding of who I was and where I wanted to go. It is, I suppose, ironic, but I have come to believe absolutely that the surest way of reaching the moon and the stars is through studying, in every sense of the word, international relations and the ways in which we all create the world around us.

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"what Inspires Me to Make Art"

My friend and I sat on her floor one day and pondered our life’s worst possible scenarios. We began with the best and slowly eliminated key factors: dream job, beautiful husband, tropical location, happy smiley children, millions of dollars coming down from the sky with no particular explanation, happiness. As we neared the worst case we arrived at: lonely, ugly, and dirty lives. My worst-case scenario was to live in a tiny apartment not in a city. There would be one window looking out over someone else’s small patch of dying grass. Every wall in the house would be painted the same dull color that could have once been blue or green or white or brown. Now it all just looks like an unhealthy grey. My friend winced. But I had already resolved this situation. “I'll draw all over the walls and write stories on tiny sheets of paper and roll them up and drop them out the window for someone to find and enjoy,” I said. “I’ll live in a dream world where everything is imagination so nothing can ever go wrong.” So this was no longer my worst possible situation because no matter how far into any kind of a hellish failure I placed myself, I was left with one thing: My creative mind. “I’ll be the woman trapped all day in the toll booth whose job is utterly pointless and lonely since EZpass came around,” I decide. “Instead of dwelling on my life’s sad situation, I’ll watch and think about each person who passes by. I’ll write stories inspired by the fleeting glimpses of commuter’s faces on their way to work” and with that small glimmer of creative expression and freedom I have raised myself out of the worst case scenario. If I see something meaningful and I notice, and ponder and analyze, I become an artist with my mind and those thoughts become art, even if I never tell a soul. If I write about what I have observed I become an artist with words and the words become art. If I see something beautiful and I draw it, I become an artist with my hand, and the beautiful thing becomes art. To be an artist is to notice the world as it moves around me. I’ve heard it said that artists see the same things that the rest of the world sees, only they see them better. The small mind’s definition of art is a beautiful drawing; the larger picture is that there is art in everything seen with the intention of beauty. And it is possible to find beauty in ugliness, or decay. An artist is someone who can see the artistic potential, the beauty, in anything. Good lawyers practice the art of law. They play with the way we see what we see in a crime or a disagreement, they’re looking at it differently, perhaps seeing better, than someone who doesnt practice this art. Anything done in a fine careful way can be called an art and anyone who does it can be called an artist. When I feel pointless I create something- any silly thing. By creating it I can remember that I matter, that without me this little creation could not be. No matter where or how I end up it will be impossible to reach that worst case scenario that I searched for that day with my friend. Because I am an artist and, though the best case scenario does involve paintings, movies, clay, discussions, pencils and paper, none of those things are necessary to existing in a world where everything I see and do and am is beautiful and meaningful and art. What inspires me is everything, and everything, when looked at in the context of an answer to a specific question can easily look like one thing; art. Art inspires me to do art. And I don’t mean art as in Renaissance masterpieces but art as in smiles and dirt, light and air, stories and telephone conversations. Not what these things look like when they are photographed, filmed or painted; but what these things look like as they happen, as they exist. I do art because art is how I see the world. I exist inside it and see it everywhere and that is why I have no choice but to capture, describe, record, listen to, appreciate, and be inspired to make it.

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Join the discussion.

This article has 4 comments.

Favorite Quote: "the world is your exercise-book, the pages on which you do your sums. it is not reality, although you can express reality there if you wish. Your are also free to write nonsense, or lies, or tear the pages." - Illusions: adventures of the reluctant messiah by Richard Bach

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Essay on Who Inspires You the Most

We all are surrounded by different types of people and things around us. Among these many of them give us some beautiful lessons of life and thus become inspirational figures for us. I think you all would be having someone in your life that inspires you in every moment of life.

Short and Long Essay on Who Inspires You the Most in English

In the short and long essay below I have described my own experience about someone that inspires me the most in my life. I think this will give you a clear idea about the topic. It might be an aid for the students in writing an essay, competitive exams, projects, and assignments.

10 Lines Essay on Who Inspires You the Most (100 – 120 Words)

1) Everyone has one person that inspires them to take every decision in their life.

2) My mother is the person in my family who inspires me the most.

3) She supports everyone and is the backbone of our family.

4) Her selfless and unconditional love for family inspires me to be like her.

5) I want to be helpful, multi-tasking, strong, and kind like her.

6) Her life and work motivated me at every step of my life.

7) She taught me to be brave and work hard to achieve all my dreams.

8) She works happily all day without complaining and hesitating.

9) She dedicated her life to keeping everyone happy.

10) I love my mother and wanted to become strong like her.

Short Essay on Holiday (200 – 250 Words)

Introduction

Inspiration is necessary for motivating us in our life. Inspiration helps in boosting ourselves to do things that are important to achieve what we desire in our life. We can be inspired by anything either it is a person, activity, or thing. Many of us want to become like the person who inspires us the most.

Inspiration helps in changing our lives

We all desire to be successful in our lives and thus we do continuous effort for the same. Inspiration is something that energizes us in the path of success. It motivates us and helps us in doing our best. Everybody has someone in their life that is the greatest inspiration for them. It can be someone from our family or the world outside. It is the characteristics and outstanding qualities of the people that make them be an inspiration for us. Our inspiration makes us enthusiastic about achieving our goals in life. It helps in enhancing our creativity that makes us different from others. It inculcates motivation in us that keeps us reminding about our aim in life.

Inspiration fills us with positivity

We all are aware that failure is a part of success. We all need to have courage and a strong mindset to face these failures in life. It is sad to state that many of us become sad or hopeless after facing failures in life. Inspiration is a positive energy that helps in getting rid of the hopelessness and depression in our life. It inculcates positivity in us and adds enthusiasm again in our life.

Conclusion Inspiration helps in changing the way of our thinking and doing things in our life. It is necessary to have an inspiration to bring light into our dark lives.

Long Essay on My Real Inspiration in My Life (1000 Words)

Every day in our life we get inspired by something or by different people in our life. Despite being inspired by many we all have somebody in our lives that inspires us the most. This choice may differ from person to person. We all are heading forward in our life to become successful. It is only the inspiration that makes a great difference in our thoughts and helps us achieve our goals and get success.

What is Meant by Inspiration?

Inspiration is the inculcation of a spirit that motivates a person to do something in his/her life. It is most important for everyone in our lives. This inspiration changes the way we think about our life. It helps in moving forward in our life by removing all the life hurdles in a positive way. This also helps in making us believe in our own power and capability.

When we observe some good qualities in others we want to do the same in our life. It changes our perspective of living. This can only happen when we get inspired by people or thing that makes us think positive as well as motivate us for doing something. We need it most when we are depressed or sad by some failure or great loss in life. It is the inspiration only that makes us strong again to fight the battle of our life. Inspiration is that idea that can change the lives of many people.

My Biggest Inspiration

I have been inspired by a number of people and instances in my life. Inspiration to me is like a catalyst that awakens my power and ability to work. The biggest inspiration in my life is none other than my family and the person I admire the most is my father. He is the one who has inspired me from my childhood. His qualities like hard-working nature, discipline, sacrifice, and sympathy inspire me a lot. I want to work and become like him always in my life but every time some or the other thing is missing.

A Light on My Father’s Life – A Great Inspiration for Me

He was born in a farmer family and his father died at a very young age. There was no one to give him financial support for his studies. He had a keen desire to study and therefore he somehow managed to complete his primary studies in the village itself. After returning from school my father used to help his mother with the fieldwork. Later he lived with his relatives and completed his higher studies. He had to undergo different kinds of problems and sufferings but he managed to survive with all types of adversities.

He had a goal that he will not return to his village bare-handed. He was a Hindi-medium student but used to learn different English words from the boards and pamphlets he saw on the way to the university. He made a lot of effort to make himself ready for different interviews. He had been a student of Hindi-medium but his fluency in English speaking is superb. It is the result of his efforts and hard work. I always get an inspiration from the life of my father. He has provided me whatever I needed. He never wants me and my sisters to face the situation that he had been through.

What about Him Inspires me a Lot?

My father has a good habit of reading books whenever he is free from his office works. He has his own library of books. My father always teaches us to never become afraid of any situation in life. Sometimes my father has been harsh with me but it is because he never wants me to be down in my life. He has a lot of expectations from me and my sisters. The way he manages every work in life gives me a great lesson. He teaches me every day and is good at all subjects. Whatever he does not know he reads and then explains it to me. Once I was very ill and therefore I could not prepare well for my exams. I was much worried about this but my father gave me the courage to give my best and leave the results on God.

He has supported me many times whenever I have been in any stressful situation. The way my father struggled in his life to get out from the clutches of poverty and become self-dependent in his life encourages me to do something big in my life so that I can make my father proud of me. Whenever I am discouraged, the words of my father make me again ready to fight and win in any type of situation. This thought always revolves in my mind that when my father could make his way through such an adverse situation then why cannot I, after getting every kind of facility. This helps me to gather sufficient courage and enthusiasm and easily face every difficulty in my life. I always want to be a reason for the smile on the face of my father.

Is Inspiration Really Important in Life?

Inspiration is that igniting spark that can help us to achieve whatever we want in our life. It is necessary for making us better and successful in our life. It is a thought that can change the life of many. It can come into us at any time when we get inspired by people or certain instances in our life. It is most important as this brings positive energy within us to do something in our life. Inspiration is necessary for changing our way of thinking. When our thinking is directed in a positive way, our actions themselves take their direction and thus help us in achieving greater heights in our life.

We are known by our thoughts and actions. Inspiration is an idea that can mold our thoughts and bring a change to our actions that may surely lead us towards success. I am very blessed to have my father in my life as my best friend and a great source of inspiration to me.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

Ans . Motivation and Inspiration Day is celebrated on 2nd January since 2002.

Ans . Inspiration is the force that makes us do something good in our life.

Ans . The synonyms of inspiration are creativity, innovation, imagination, encouragement, etc.

Ans . The person who inspires us is called as inspirer or influencer.

Ans . When we are inspired we do feel motivated to do something that may lead us to success.

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What Motivates Me as a Student

Table of contents, pursuit of knowledge: a lifelong adventure, personal growth and development: unleashing potential, future aspirations: building a path, inspiration from role models: guiding lights.

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What Inspires You: 15 Answers to This Interview Question

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Job interviewers ask many questions. Most are easy to answer, but others have us stopping to think. These are the questions that you need to prepare for in advance… or else you and the interviewer may be sitting there in silence, and someone else may end up getting the position you want.

One of the most frequent questions employers ask, regardless of the field you are interviewing for is some version of, “ What inspires you? ” Today, we are going to look at why this is an important question and what type of answer will allow you to have the best chance of satisfying the questioner.

Table of Contents

What is Inspiration?

Inspiration is the act of feeling so enthusiastic about someone or something that you put all you have into making it successful.  Inspiration creates an atmosphere that allows you to go from apathy to enthusiasm in a heartbeat. Inspiration is what keeps you moving ahead despite the obstacles that inevitably appear.

Inspiration allows you to see beyond what is and opens up the entire realm of possibilities . You can say that a person who feels inspiration puts their very essence into whatever they are doing.

Why Do Employers Ask This Question So Often?

Knowing what inspires a person can tell someone a great deal about you as a person. Your answer reveals what you value most in life. It tells what drives you to succeed and what energizes you . People who are inspired have an internal drive to succeed, yet they are not as competitive .  They don't strive to beat the competition, but rather help inspire others.

People who are inspired set and achieve higher goals . They are more optimistic, have a higher belief in what they can accomplish, and have a greater sense of self-esteem. Inspired people are not happy staying where they are or following only tried and true methods. They often see paths to success that are hidden from others. 

How to Answer What Inspires You

Maybe the reason you want a job is for the money, but that is not what an interviewer is looking for. They want someone who will give their all and keep coming back. Let's explore some general ways you can successfully answer this question and give a few examples.

Keep your answers short and to the point , explain how your inspiration helps you surpass your comfort zone, and always look for a way to explain how this inspiration will help you achieve in the position you are applying for.

If you can't answer this question at the moment, think about what interests and passions you have. Next, think of the things you are good at that could bring added value to the team. Then, try to tie these together. That is a good place to start.

Answer #1. Learning new things.

Even if you are educated in a certain area, every business has its own method of going about things. Your willingness to step out of your comfort zone and admit you don't know everything appeals to those in charge.

Explain how learning new things helps you feel like you are expanding your mind and adding to your ability to approach situations in a new way. This, in turn, allows you to see possibilities where it appears there were none.

Answer #2. Reaching your goals.

“I love the feeling of achievement I get when I have worked toward an important goal and finally achieved it because it allows me to see my ability in a greater light.” Explain how you don't like to simply work without knowing where all that effort will end up.

People who have goals are much better at overcoming obstacles and continuing even when external influences put pressure on them. When you have a purpose, you can measure your progress, which gives you a chance to change tactics and adapt to what circumstances you are presented with.

Answer #3. Coaching others.

One thing many employers look for is someone they can see becoming a leader within the company. You don't have to be a supervisor to coach others. Describe how you like to discover how another person's skills can help a project grow. Explain that you like the feeling of seeing someone grow and become their best self.

This means you will encourage coworkers, help them achieve their goals, and won't spend unnecessary time competing against them. It shows you are willing to be a team player who can step up and lead should the need arise.

Answer #4. Finding ways to solve problems or overcome obstacles.

Too often, people are willing to quit when the going gets hard. Explain that you welcome challenges because they help you grow. Challenges force you to try new approaches and think outside the box.

Meeting a challenge and mastering it gives you a sense of your own inner strength and resilience, traits you find admirable in others. Finding a solution to a problem forces you to not only dig deep inside for solutions within your knowledge base but also to look outwardly for new information.

Answer #5. C oming up with new, creative ideas .

Company leaders know that a company will not grow if it keeps doing the same thing without changing. If coming up with new, creative ideas is what inspires you, you are an asset to the company. You will want to find ways to help the company grow and become better than the competition.

You can help them come up with new products or services that will appeal to a younger generation that is ready for something innovative. You find opportunities to create more with fewer resources and get work done quicker and in a more efficient way.

Answer #6. Nature as inspiration.

Many people find inspiration in nature. To stand out, you need to provide an answer that is unique. “I find inspiration in nature because I see everywhere how nature survives no matter what circumstances it is given. It is strong, yet gentle. Nature adapts and doesn't sit around complaining about misfortune.

When I see forests become revitalized after a devastating fire, it gives me hope and encourages me to keep going forward.” You could also mention that you find inspiration in the little things that others may overlook. This could be a flower growing through concrete or the way a homeless animal keeps her babies alive in spite of a lack of proper food and care. 

Answer #7. Understanding people.

In any environment, the ability to get along with those you work with is a positive trait. In fields such as customer service or sales, understanding people is essential. The same is true about social work. Explain how you enjoy meeting and talking with people from all walks of life.

You enjoy learning about various cultures and trying to understand how individuals think and feel. Explain how this helps you adjust your actions to fulfill their needs and helps you get on the same page as them.

Answer #8. The internal wish to grow beyond what you are.

People need to grow internally in order to grow outwardly. Mentioning the internal need to grow, improve, and become a better person than you currently are will tell the employer that you are a person who isn't content with staying still.

You will welcome the opportunity to learn new skills, will seek ways to invent opportunities, and will help others also grow. Wanting to grow is admitting that you know you are not perfect, but you are willing to work on those imperfections and become your best self.

Answer #9. Music as inspiration.

 “When I immerse myself in music, it helps calm my mind. Music blocks out distractions and allows me to focus on what is most important at the moment. This allows me to give my best.” Music creates pathways within the mind that are often underdeveloped. It opens up the mind and allows creativity to flow.

Certain types of music have been proven to increase intelligence. Knowing you are in a peaceful state of mind allows the employer to understand you know how to handle stress and not allow it to stop you.

Answer #10. Reading inspires .

Mention how reading allows you to imagine possibilities that you never would have considered previously. Not only does reading open up the world of the imagination, but it helps you learn new information, gives you examples of inspiring people and situations and helps you grow in a variety of ways.

Explain how reading allows you to access things you might never have the opportunity to encounter in your everyday life. It helps you become focused and creates a calm environment.

Answer #11. People who beat the odds.

Find someone who, by society's standards, had every reason to fail but didn't stop dreaming and working toward their goals. Explain how their resilience, ability to overcome obstacles without giving into self-pity, and their resourcefulness in finding solutions inspire you.

You could also show examples of people who showed courage in the face of danger and found the strength to continue.

Answer #12. Remaining true to values.

Employers want employees with integrity and the ability to stand up against things that might cause them to falter. Talking about how you find inspiration by reading about, hearing about, or seeing a person stand up and stick with what they believed in even if it meant enduring great pain, and even death.

People like Nelson Mandela are good examples. So are lesser-known people who put their careers on the line to bring notice to corruption. Show that you have a strong inner character that can't be swayed from what you believe is right.

Answer #13. Name a person who inspires you.

This can be someone that you personally know and admire that the interviewer wouldn't know. For example, you might say “I admired my grandmother. She was widowed at an early age and left to raise fourteen children on a mountain farm. She did so without complaint.

She learned things that women weren't normally taught, like fixing farm equipment and she saw that every one of her children got an education. Yet you never remember her complaining and she always seemed to have the time to comfort a crying child and feed everyone. Name the traits you feel she embodied and explain how you want to do the same.

Answer #14 . Creating a winning environment where everyone is inspired to succeed.

Talk about how you believe a good working environment can only be achieved if everyone is inspired to become their best. Talk about how you love to help people learn things like relaxation techniques and mindfulness so they can become focused.

When you show your belief that everyone can succeed, you exhibit your ability to work well with others, lead a team, and understand how to motivate.

Answer #15. Finding a way to make the world a better place.

No, you understand you can't change the whole world, but you can change parts of it. Explain how looking for ways to ease the pain of others and help them achieve a better life is important to you.

Talk about how you want to strive to find ways to save our environment, find all homeless animals homes, or make it possible for everyone to afford medical treatment. If you can relate the causes you worked on, that will gain you points.

Final Thoughts on Answering the Interview Question “What Inspires You?”

Inspiration is essential for rising above your current status and enjoying the work you do. Employers will continue to ask what inspires you, or some version of this question, in order to determine if you will be a good fit in their work environment.

Prepare in advance with your answers and try to tie the answer in with the company's values . Above everything, be honest . It is only with honesty that the interviewer can sense the passion a topic brings for you.

For more motivational ideas, try listening to some of these podcasts . Inspiration is a personal thing and what inspires you can change throughout life, but in the end, it is what keeps you from becoming bored and apathetic . Share what inspires you with others, and your passion will also grow.

College Essay: How My Mother Inspires Me

I remember my childhood fondly: looking out the window at a beautiful lake, watching the latest Nickelodeon cartoons on a big flat screen TV, driving an ATV through a muddy forest, and eating snacks from a huge  stainless steel  fridge.  

That’s all true – but none of those things were mine. All of them belonged to kids of rich white people whose homes my mother had to clean.  

My mother came to the United States from Mexico in her early twenties, looking for a superior way of life than what she had living on the outskirts of Morelos, Mexico. In the U.S., she took the only jobs she could get – cleaning other people’s houses. She did that day after day, week after week, year after year, to support me and my three younger siblings.  

The lake view was from a house that my mom had to clean to pay our rent. The flat screen TV belonged to the child of the woman whose windows my mom had to clean to pay our electric bill. The ATV I loved to drive in the woods and the fridge where I got snacks belonged to a kid I met when I helped my mom clean his mother’s house every Saturday to buy a week’s groceries.  

When I started to feel sorry for myself because I didn’t own these amenities, I would think of my beautiful mother. As I saw her do backbreaking work, day in day out, sacrificing herself for me and my siblings – giving up any life of her own – I would think, “My mom doesn’t deserve to suffer like this. I need to do more. I need to sacrifice too.”    

So  I gradually gave up sports and friends to help around the house and care for my younger brothers and sister. And our frequent moves to cheaper housing meant adapting to new  schools  multiple times, saying goodbye to old friends and trying to make new ones.  

It wasn’t always easy, but whenever I thought, “Why me? Why does my life have to be difficult?” I thought about my mom. Even with my learning disability (ADD) and  d epression, I pushed forward, just like I saw my mother do with her suffering.   

I pushed forward dealing with frustration, asking for extra help from my teachers and holding in my thoughts and feelings. I knew the only way I could do more and be successful was by working harder on my academics. I remember my body enduring long nights of trying to complete and understand my school material.  

Through all of these difficulties, my mom has been my greatest inspiration. She’s been my biggest fan and supporter. She’s taught me by her example that I need to sacrifice for others and for myself to persevere in the face of adversity. The things I learned from her example will make me a more determined student in college and a contributor to my college community. My goals for the future are to get a college degree, establish a career and to become a greater contributor to society by giving back to my community, the Mexican-American community.  

With my determination to succeed in college, the pinnacle of my success will be when I will walk upon the stage, smiling cheek to cheek, receiving my degree that I worked hard for, and then gazing out into the crowd to find my mother applauding with tears running down her face.  

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