Introduction
Every year, over 1.4 million students submit their college applications through the Common App, each hoping to stand out in a sea of nearly 10 million submissions. That’s a lot of stories—and even more pressure to write something memorable. For many students, the hardest part isn’t writing the essay itself. It’s figuring out what to write about in the first place. Picking the right topic can feel like choosing the one perfect puzzle piece from a thousand nearly identical ones.
Imagine a student named Maya who’s convinced her life isn’t interesting enough. She hasn’t climbed Everest or cured a disease—just spent a summer helping her little brother learn to read. But through the right brainstorming techniques, she realizes that moment reveals her patience, values, and sense of responsibility. That’s the kind of authentic story colleges love.
In this guide, we’ll walk students and parents through how to brainstorm Common App essay ideas using expert-backed strategies, creative exercises, and relatable examples that make the process easier—and more meaningful.
What Topic Should My Common App Essay Be About?
When students ask, “What topic should my Common App essay be about?” they’re often looking for a magic formula. But the reality of the situation is, the story you tell matters far more than the prompt you choose. Colleges aren’t searching for the most dramatic or unusual experience, instead, they’re looking for real insight into who you are.
Try to imagine a student. Let us call him Jordan. Jordan once got stuck in an elevator for 30 minutes. It wasn’t life-threatening, but during that time, he calmed down a panicked stranger, made small talk with others, and reflected on how he handles pressure. That small, real moment said a lot about his maturity and empathy.
Admissions officers want to learn three key things from your essay:
- Who are you as a person beyond grades and test scores?
- How have you grown from your experiences?
- Are you honest and reflective in your writing?
As Heath Einstein, Dean of Admission at TCU, says:
“Write about what you know.”
It’s not about impressing colleges—it’s about expressing who you are through a story that only you can tell.
Understanding the Prompts and Trends
The 2024–25 Common App essay prompts remain the same as last year—and that’s a good thing. Students can still choose from seven prompts covering themes like personal growth, identity, overcoming obstacles, and lessons learned from gratitude or curiosity. There’s even an open-ended option that allows for complete creative freedom. These prompts haven’t changed because they continue to do what they’re meant to: invite meaningful, personal storytelling.
But with tools like ChatGPT becoming more common—used by 1 in 5 teens for schoolwork—colleges are becoming more cautious. They’re looking more closely at essays for signs of genuine voice and personal experience. A polished essay isn’t enough anymore—it needs to feel real.
Imagine a student named Leila who considered having ChatGPT write her first draft. But when she read it back, it felt like it belonged to someone else. She scrapped it and wrote about a quiet, unexpected moment at her grandmother’s kitchen table. That version? It sounded like her—and that made all the difference.
The Best Brainstorming Techniques for Common App Essay Ideas
A. The “Backwards Brainstorm” Method
Recommended by College Essay Advisors, this technique flips the typical process: focus on your story first, not the prompt.
Here’s how it works:
- Skim all the prompts—just once.
- Put them away. Don’t let them limit your thinking.
- List personal stories or key life moments that feel important to you.
- Match one story to a prompt only after you’ve chosen it.
Story example: Lucas couldn’t pick a prompt but kept thinking about the time he helped his dad restart their small family business. Only after he outlined the story did he surprisingly discover that it fit Prompt #2—overcoming a challenge.
B. Values-Based Brainstorming
Created by Ethan Sawyer’s College Essay Guy, this approach helps uncover that which truly matters to you.
Try these exercises:
- 5-Minute Values List – Write down 15–20 values that define who you are. Good and powerful examples include loyalty, creativity, resilience).
- Values Podcast – Pretend you’re hosting an interesting podcast about your life. What incredible stories would you share?
- Full Body Brainstorm – Walk around while thinking to activate creative juices.
Story example: Sarah’s “podcast episode” idea led her to remember tutoring her neighbor with dyslexia—something that revealed her deep value of compassion.
C. Mind Mapping and Visual Techniques
Begin with one very broad topic and branch out on a computer screen or a piece of paper.
Example:
Central idea: Curiosity
→ Inventing a Do It Yourself robot
→ Visiting science museums close to home as a child
→ Asking plenty of questions, around 100, in class
These branches can lead you to meaningful, and honestly, quite surprising stories.
D. “Lovestorm” Family Brainstorming
Invite your supportive family into the process. Remember though, no editing allowed.
Focus on:
- Unique personality traits
- Special or quirky life experiences
Story example: During a family brainstorm, Amina’s cousin reminded her of the time she organized a surprise birthday for their grandmother. It showed leadership and empathy—perfect essay material she never would’ve thought of on her own.
Each of these methods helps uncover the stories that make you stand out—not because they’re flashy, but because they’re honest.
How to Pick a College Essay Topic
Choosing a college essay topic is really not about finding the flashiest experience. Rather, it’s about choosing a story that reflects who you are. The best topics often come from genuine reflection, not unending searches.
Instead of asking the ever so cliché question “What will impress colleges?”, try asking yourself:
What molded me?
What do I care about deeply?
What story can only I tell?
Take Mia, for example. She thought about writing on her Model UN trip abroad but realized the real turning point was when she translated for her aunt at a hospital back home. That story showcased her empathy, growth, and cultural identity—far more personal and impactful.
Quick, focused brainstorming (about 1–2 hours) is often more productive than weeks of overthinking. Once you find a story that reveals your values, growth, and individuality, you’re on the right track. If a topic feels like it belongs to you, chances are it’s the one.
The 5 D’s of College Essays
Plenty of students wonder if they should write about something dramatic to stand out among the crowd, but that can actually backfire. Admissions counselors frequently warn against establishing dependence on the “5 D’s”, you know, the five career killer topics of college essays:
- Death
- Divorce
- Disease (including depression)
- Drugs
- Dating
These topics are deeply personal and sometimes unavoidable, but they’re also overused and hard to write about in a way that highlights your individuality. For example, if Ravi writes about his parents’ divorce, he might spend too much time on the event itself and not enough on how he grew from it.
If you do touch on one of these themes, the key is to shift the focus from the event to your growth, values, and resilience.
Before choosing a topic, reflect on:
- What shaped me?
- What do I care about?
- What story can only I tell?
And remember, quick, focused brainstorms help you move past surface-level ideas and into stories that truly reflect who you are.
What Is the Most Common College Essay Topic—and Should You Avoid It?
Some of the most common college essay topics are:
- Championing the big game
- Going on a mission trip – very common indeed
- Moving to a new school
These aren’t bad topics by default—they’re just very popular and often told in a generic way. What matters isn’t the topic itself, but how you tell the story.
Take Eric, who wrote about his soccer injury. At first, it sounded like every other “comeback” essay. But when he focused on a single moment—sitting on the bench, cheering for a teammate who took his spot—it turned into a story about humility and growth.
The key is to zoom in on small, personal details. Instead of summarizing the whole experience, spotlight a moment that reveals something about your values or personality.
Remember:
“It’s not the topic, it’s what you say about it.”
A cliché topic told with honesty and depth can still leave a lasting impression.
Common Brainstorming Challenges (And Real Solutions)
A. “I’m Too Boring”
Many students worry their life isn’t exciting enough. But according to Wow Writing Workshop, most successful essays come from everyday moments, not dramatic events.
Example: Jenna thought she was boring—until she wrote about her habit of organizing her bookshelf by emotion. That very minute (small) detail revealed her introspective nature and love for structure.
B. Topic Overwhelm
Spending weeks brainstorming doesn’t lead to better ideas. Sorry, the only thing you’ll find is just burnout.
Tip: Limit brainstorming to 1–2 focused hours. Choose a few ideas and start writing. You’ll find better clarity as you go.
C. Idea Generation Problems
- 47% of students struggle to generate ideas
- 46% procrastinate until the last minute
Try this to work smarter, not harder:
- Free writing: Set a timer for only 10 minutes and write anything that comes to mind
- Morning journaling: Capture thoughts before your brain is in “editing” mode
- Read sample essays: Notice patterns, tone, and story structure
D. Avoiding Clichés
It’s okay to write about a common experience but only if you focus on how it shaped you.
Example: Instead of writing about winning a debate, Noah wrote about the moment he lost and realized the true power of listening.
Reminder: Your voice, your personality, your you-ness matters more than your vocabulary. Speak like yourself—and you’ll stand out.
What Admissions Officers Really Look For
When admissions officers read your Common App essay, they’re not just skimming for good grammar or fancy words. They’re asking three core questions:
- Who is this student?
- Will they add something meaningful to our campus?
- Can they write clearly and authentically?
Think of the essay as your chance to pull up a chair and speak directly to the committee—no test scores, no transcripts, just your story.
Elizabeth Heaton, a former University of Pennsylvania admissions officer, puts it this way:
“No one gets in because of a great essay… but they can be rejected for a bad one.”
That doesn’t mean your story has to be groundbreaking—it just has to be real.
For example, Marcus wrote about teaching his younger sister to ride a bike. A simple story, but it showed patience, leadership, and love. That’s what admissions officers remember—not the topic, but the person behind it.
How Parents Can Support (Without Taking Over)
Parents often want to help—and that’s a good thing—but too much involvement can unintentionally drown out a student’s authentic voice. Many parents worry the essay won’t be “good enough,” leading them to rewrite or over-edit.
Instead, the best support is emotional, not editorial.
Think of Clara’s mom, an awesome mom who sat with her beloved daughter during brainstorming sessions. And no, she did not critique, but reminded her of moments she’d forgotten such as organizing a food drive in 8th grade. That silent encouragement helped Clara reconnect with her values, values she couldn’t come up with on her own.
Here’s how parents can help:
- Ask reflective questions instead of providing edits
- Help recall meaningful family events/experiences and traits
- Remind students that their unique voice matters most
Authenticity beats perfection every time.
A Timeline for Stress-Free Brainstorming
Many students wait until September—or later—to start their college essay. That’s like packing for a trip the morning of your flight. Starting early makes everything smoother.
A student named Jay began in July. He thought he had “no good stories,” but with just a few structured weeks, he found one in the most unexpected place: helping his little brother fix a Lego castle. That moment became the heart of his essay on patience and leadership.
Here’s a simple, low-stress timeline:
- Week 1: Explore values, do a “lovestorm” (list what you love), and create mind maps.
- Week 2: Outline 2–3 potential essay topics.
- Week 3: Pick one and begin drafting your story.
Just a few hours a week can save you months of stress later.
Conclusion: Final Thoughts on Brainstorming Common App Essay Ideas
There’s no such a thing as the perfect college essay topic. Really, there isn’t. There is only the one that’s perfect for you. Notice the difference please. Whether it’s about baking bread with your funny grandma or failing your first driving test, what matters most is how honestly and thoughtfully you tell the story.
A student once wrote about collecting rubber ducks. Strange? Maybe. But the essay revealed their creativity, humor, and resilience. And guess what? It worked.
So start early. Don’t wait for inspiration to strike like lightning. Instead, use the tips above, reflect, explore, and trust the process.
Parents and students: Begin brainstorming today. The story doesn’t have to be perfect, only yours.