Choosing a Theme for Your College Essay – Brainstorming Questions

  • What are your favorite activities and hobbies?  Why do you enjoy them?
  • What are your talents and skills?  Why did you learn them?  Who taught you?
  • Who have been the most influential people in your life?  The most memorable?  The most interesting?  Who have you disliked the most?
  • What was your best day?  Worst?  Funniest?
  • How have you changed in the past four years?
  • What was the most memorable experience you had with your parents?  Brother or sister?  Best friend?  Teacher?
  • Of what accomplishment are you proudest?
  • What makes you special or unique?
  • What is your strongest quality?
  • What is something about you that is surprising or that other people would not expect?
  • What is a strong belief or philosophy that you hold?
  • What have you done over the past four summers?  Which summer was the most memorable?
  • What is the most difficult or challenging thing you have done?
  • When and how have you shown leadership?
  • What is the most pressing issue that our society faces?