Last Updated on 07/20/2026 by Ethan Sawyer
What This Post Covers + Key Takeaways
- The Values Exercise is a structured brainstorming activity developed by College Essay Guy that helps students identify 5-10 core values—like curiosity, family, equity, or craft—to serve as the thematic backbone of their college essays.
- The exercise involves choosing from a master list of 100+ values, narrowing them through a series of elimination rounds, and then exploring which moments and experiences in your life most clearly reflect each value.
- Understanding core values before writing is important because strong college essays are not just about what happened, but about what the writer believes and cares about—and the values exercise helps students articulate that before they sit down to draft.
- The exercise helps students avoid the common trap of writing a topic-focused essay—one that describes an activity without revealing the writer’s inner life—by grounding every draft in the values it’s meant to express.
The Values Exercise is a signature brainstorming framework developed by College Essay Guy. It’s designed to help students build a deeper sense of self through reflection and to bridge the gap between life experiences and the core principles admissions officers prioritize.
WHAT DO I VALUE?
Exercise: Select 10 values you connect with most. Of those 10, choose 5. Then your top 3.
These values become the foundation of your application and essays. You’ll want them clearly illustrated throughout your application, so a reader can develop a strong sense of who you are and what you bring to a campus and community.
Once you have them, you’ll want to use them in conjunction with other exercises such as the
- Essence Objects Exercise
- 21 Details Exercise
- Everything I Want Colleges To Know About Me Exercise
- Feelings and Needs Exercise
to develop content for your personal statement and supplemental essays.
For a how-to guide to writing your college essay, head here.
For guidance on a ton of supplemental essay questions, check out our CEG Supplemental Essays page.
And if you want to see a bunch of college essays that illustrate the authors’ values, head here.
Download a Printable Version of the Values List
| – Personal Development – Recognition – Accountability – Inspiration – Music – Helping Others – Peace – Diversity – Expertise – Vulnerability – Global Awareness – Hunger – My Country – Sleep – Productivity – Intuition – Culture – Healthy Boundaries – Second Chances – Listening – Family – Excitement – Travel – Adventure – Laughter – Entrepreneurship – Wonder – Health And Fitness – Love – Close Relationships – Humility – Art – Responsibility – Grace |
– Autonomy – Loyalty – Courage – Self-love – Ritual – Purpose – Privacy – Freedom – Quiet – Compassion – Cooperation – Growth – Authenticity – Practicality – Nature – Objectivity – Leadership – Wisdom – Respect – Strength – Flexibility – Financial Stability – Empathy – Belonging – Equity – Resourcefulness – Decisiveness – Competence – Collaboration – Spirituality – Social Change – Honesty – Mindfulness |
– Safety – Wealth – Creativity – Knowledge – Inclusion – Curiosity – Gratitude – Faith – Communication – Interdependence – Efficiency – Stability – Humor – Truth – Order – Excellence – Religion – Beauty – Meaningful Work – Trust – Self-expression – Fun – Rationality – Democracy – Self-control – Balance – Adaptability – Success – Independence – Variety – Community – Patience – Challenges |
How to cite this exercise
Ethan Sawyer/College Essay Guy (2016, July 1). College Essay Guy’s Values Brainstorming Exercise. College Essay Guy. https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/the-values-exercise
