1.4 Picking a Topic
First, are any topics off-limits?
There’s no official banned list. But a few categories are worth knowing about:
Common topics (sports, piano, debate, tutoring) are harder to stand out with… not impossible, but harder. Same goes for anxiety/mental health essays, which can often be described in the Additional Information section instead. (More on that here.)
Potentially stigmatized topics (fandom, fashion, video games) can work, but you might have to spend some portion of your word count pushing back against stereotypes (i.e., why video games aren’t a waste of time, or why fashion isn’t superficial). And this is precious space you might rather use showing your values or ways you’ve grown.
Potentially polarizing topics (religion, politics) tend to work best when you’re not trying to convince anyone. Focus on the values anyone can relate to that your engagement reveals: curiosity, collaboration, service.
For now, stay open to other possibilities.
Where to start
Your topic can come from almost anywhere. Here are a few places to start:
- Something you love or know a lot about (animals, food, gaming, music)
- “Essence objects” (items in your room: books, posters, collections)
- A skill or “superpower” (listening, noticing patterns, solving problems)
- A possible future path (lawyer, chef, doctor, engineer)
- An identity or role you play (older sibling, teammate, translator, leader)
- A place where you feel at home (a gym, kitchen, stage, workplace)
- An uncommon activity or interest (hiking, beatboxing, coding, thrifting)
Here’s a video with 7 ways to generate ideas for your personal statement:
I’d recommend watching it.
Evaluating your topic
As you consider a potential topic, ask yourself:
- Is it elastic? Do you have a lot to say about this topic? Can it stretch to connect to a range of values?
- Is it uncommon… in some way? Either because the topic itself is unusual, or you sense you can write about it in an unusual way?
- Does it show admission nutrients? Things like intellectual curiosity, service, leadership/initiative, collaboration, consistent engagement.
Two quick tests
The Jellyfish Test
Quick test for elasticity—The Jellyfish Test: Pick a topic. In two minutes, connect it to as many of your values as you can. If you hit 7+, it’s probably elastic enough. If not, try another topic.
The Uncommon Connections Test
Quick test—The Uncommon Connections Test: Take a common topic (say, soccer). Spend 2 minutes writing the cliché version (discipline, hard work, perseverance). Then spend 3-4 minutes finding the unexpected version—what does soccer connect to that we wouldn’t expect? Geography? Data? Culture? If you can find 3-5 surprising angles, you can probably execute it in an uncommon way.
Not sure what I mean by that? Check out the video above.
A great topic is elastic, uncommon in some way, and points toward at least a few admission nutrients. If you’ve got that, you’ve got a winner. 🏆
A quick word on momentum
Hey, if you don’t have a topic you love yet, I say keep moving. Why?
- There’s no perfect topic. You’re looking for something that might show your skills, values, and interests… not a unicorn.
- Your topic will almost certainly evolve. Most students start somewhere and let it shift as they’re drafting. That’s totally normal.
For now, pick something that might work, or hey, don’t pick yet… and let me show you what the outlining process looks like.