Module Content

A few quick contextual notes:

• This can be one of the hardest things to teach. Why? It kinda' takes a Spidey Sense to know which topics are likely to work, and that Spidey Sense isn't something you can develop in 5 minutes. Your counselors (and I) have developed this sense by reading hundreds (or thousands) of essays over many years.

• There's no perfect way to decide on a topic and— to be honest— I kinda' like it that way, as this whole personal statement process is, in my opinion, more art than science. Speaking of "my opinion" ...

• Bias alert: What I'm about to share is based on my own experience and does not represent the opinions of every counselor or admission officer, so take it with a grain of salt.

Qualities That Can Help an Essay Stand Out

I believe a montage essay (i.e., an essay that is not about challenges) is more likely to stand out if the topic or theme of the essay is:

• X. Elastic (i.e., something you can connect to variety of examples, moments, or values)

• Y. Uncommon (i.e., something other students probably aren't writing about)

For clarity, here are some quick definitions and examples:

For montage essays ...

• X. Elastic topics kind of depend on how much you (the author) know about your topic. For example, a very elastic topic for me, Ethan, would be "games" (since I play them a lot and can connect games to pretty much anything), whereas "Australian History" would not be a very elastic topic for me (since I don't know much about it). So I may want to choose something more like games over Australian History for a personal statement topic.

• Y. Uncommon topics are things that other students aren't likely to be writing about. Common topics include things students write about a lot, like mission trips, sports, or music. Click here for a non-exhaustive list of common and uncommon personal statement topics.

Important note: These aren't binary; they're on a spectrum. In other words, it's not like every topic is either SUPER ELASTIC or NOT ELASTIC or SUPER COMMON or SUPER UNCOMMON.

In fact, the reason we labeled them "X" and "Y" above instead of "1" and "2" is that you can kinda' put these on a graph, with X and Y axes.

For those like me who are visual learners (or math nerds), that might look like this:

And an essay topic that's closer to the top right corner (more uncommon + elastic) might be more likely to stand out than an essay that's in the bottom left corner (more common + not elastic).

Quick side note: This is a guideline, not a rule. While it might be easier to stand out with a topic that is elastic (because you'll know a lot about it) and uncommon (because the reader may not have seen your topic before) ... you can still write a great essay with a very common topic—more on this later.

But given these distinctions ...

Quick self-assessment: Where do you think your essay topic lands on the spectrum of possible topics?

If you're unsure, the checklist of questions below might help.

For montage, ask ...

• How elastic is your topic?

  • Quick 1-Minute Test: Take a look at this Values List. How many values can you connect your topic to in one minute?

• How uncommon is your topic? Where does it sit on the Common vs. Uncommon spectrum?

  • Remember, an uncommon topic isn't always better—great essays can be written on all sorts of topics—but it can help you to stand out.

  • If you really want a list of common topics—and in case you missed it—here's a non-exhaustive list of common and uncommon personal statement topics. Spoiler alert: Many of the most common topics are extracurricular activities.

• Considering writing about mental health challenges in your college application? 

  • Read this step-by-step guide first—it'll help you think through if (and how) to do it. 

  • Additionally, check out the FAQ below for more information

Deeper Dive: Connecting the 7 Montage Types to the Roles/Identities Framework

Let’s talk about how these ideas can become an essay that’s even more rich and layered.

Remember, the montage approach involves selecting a theme and connecting that theme to different sides of yourself.

But want to know how you can bring even more depth to your topic?

Weave in your roles and identities.

Here’s what I mean: Consider that, no matter what theme you choose (whether it’s a “superpower” or uncommon activity), you’ll be demonstrating different roles or identities… whether you mention them explicitly or implicitly. 

An example of an essay that explicitly names roles is the Boy Scouts/Hiking Essay. In this example: the main theme (i.e., topic) is Boy Scouts/Hiking, but at the end of the essay the author names the roles he has developed explicitly: “When I’m hiking, I’m not merely a hiker; I’m a historian, a conservationist, and a teacher all in one.”

Another example is the builder and problem solver essay. In this essay, the student explicitly names her identities in the first sentence: “Since childhood, I have been an obsessive builder and problem solver.

But your roles/identities need not be explicitly named. 

In the Magic essay, for instance, the author shows he is a magician, experimenter, inventor, explorer, chef, adventurer, and scientist. But these roles are all implied.

In the Laptop Stickers essay, the author shows she is a designer, art appreciator, sister, activist, and entrepreneur. Again, these roles are implied.

To repeat: You do not need to explicitly name the roles/identities in the essay. 

But a great personal statement will often show a variety of roles and identities. 

Ask yourself: Which topic might help me show a few of my roles/identities?

In case you missed it, you can go here in the tool to learn how to create an outline.

Glimpsing the Matrix: Seeing Roles and Identities… Everywhere

Consider that, in almost every sample essay you’ve read thus far, you’ve been witnessing roles and identities. And once you start to see them, it can be hard to unsee them.

And bringing more awareness to your own roles and identities can bring richness and depth to your personal statement.

Here’s how you might use the Roles and Identities framework to any of the montage paths you’re considering, with links to sample essays:

1. “I Love/I Know” Approach: Pick something you know or love (ex: food), use the jellyfish exercise to connect that thing to values (ex: determination, experimentation, family), and don’t necessarily name the roles explicitly. Example: Food essay

2. “Essence Objects/My Room” Approach: Pick a meaningful object or set of objects (ex: the items on my desk), use the jellyfish exercise to connect those objects to values (ex: creativity, family, social change), and name a few roles explicitly (ex: philosopher, historian, economist, etc.). Example: My Desk essay

3. Skill/Superpower: Pick a skill or superpower (ex: building and problem-solving), use the jellyfish exercise to connect to values (ex: initiative, determination, curiosity), and name the roles explicitly (ex: “Since childhood, I have been an obsessive builder and problem solver”). Example: Building and Problem Solving essay

4. Career: Pick a future career (ex: endodontics) and use the jellyfish exercise to select values that will serve you in that career (ex: curiosity, meticulousness, helping others). Then write paragraphs describing how you developed the qualities, and show but do not name the roles explicitly (ex: maker, designer, tinkerer) and don’t reveal the career until the end. Example: Endodontics essay

5. “Identity” or “Identities” Approach: Try finding “one identity to rule them all.” In other words, review the roles/identities you selected above and ask: Is there one identity that sort of encapsulates them all? Ex: Does each identity somehow tie back to your role as… an adventurer? Then share all the ways you’ve embodied this identity in life (and reveal a range of values along the way). Example: the Adventurer essay. 

6. “Homes” approach: Pick a few places you feel at home, then connect each one to some of your values. When writing, you might make a few of the roles implicit (ex: mediator, athlete) and a few explicit (ex: problem solver, changemaker). Example: the Soccer, Programming, Yoga essay

7. Uncommon Extracurricular Activity: Pick an activity you do but not many other people do (ex: medieval blacksmithing). Connect to values (ex: creativity, flexibility, peace). Name a role at the end (ex: innovator). Example: the Medieval Blacksmithing essay

You can also combine these approaches: 

• I know + Career: In the “Magic” essay, the student combines something he knows/loves (magic) with values that will one day serve him in a future career (neuroscience).

• Identity + Home + Career: In the “Mom vibe” essay, the student describes how playing the role of “mom” (identity) in different places (homes) has led her to develop skills that will serve her as she pursues pediatrics (career).