What are some good brainstorming exercises?

• Narrative (Challenges-Based) here

• Montage (Not Challenges-Based) here

• Still need more? here

How do I decide on a topic? / Are there things to be wary of with topics?

• Narrative here

• Montage here

What if a topic is kind of cliche?

College Essay Guy's Quick Guide to Cliche Topics

Do I need to outline?

• Yes. here

How do I outline my essay?

• Narrative starts here

• Montage:

  • I Love/I Know

  • Essence Objects/Stuff in My Room

  • Skill/Superpower

  • Career

  • Identity

  • Home

  • Uncommon Extracurricular Activity

How does my outline turn into a draft?

• Narrative → here

• Montage → here

Narrative:

• How do I build a stronger beginning for my Narrative? → here

• What if my challenges aren't all that compelling? → here

• How do I better communicate what I did about my challenges? → here

• How do I improve the "What I Learned" part of my narrative / make it more insightful? → here

Montage:

• How do I build a stronger beginning for my Montage? → here

• What if my topic/thematic thread is unclear? → here

• What if my examples aren't that strong? → here

• How do I strengthen the values part of my montage paragraphs? → here

• How do I build better insights in my montage? → here

Both:

• How can I make X in my essay better?

  • Transitions → here

  • Ending → here

How do I make sure the essay is doing its job? And what is its job, anyway?

• Take The Great College Essay Test → here

• Polishing and Grammar → here

Where can I find great example essays? → here

Where can I find resources for other parts of the college application process? → here

For a few more thoughts on giving feedback in person, click here.

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