Some students already have an idea or two about what to write, and others are unsure. Either way is fine. As we begin brainstorming, all I ask is that you approach it with an open mind. Even if already you have a few ideas, that’s great, but don’t get locked into them - be open to exploring some new ones that might hold more potential. If you don’t have any ideas on where to begin, relax and know that everything will come together so long as you actively engage in the process.
Remember, our focus is on what colleges might what to know about you - don’t get sucked into the “what do colleges want to hear?” thinking.
Go to the Essays Folder in CounselMore (in FILES tab) and open Brainstorming Starter Questions.
Complete the 12 Starter questions to get your thoughts flowing. Write 1-2 sentences. Be detailed!
The best ideas are going to be ones that show something meaningful about you. Sure, the family vacation in Hawaii might have been in a fantastic setting, but it may not have illustrated a particular quality that meaningful lesson. You’re going to need a lot of ideas, so spend a good amount of time reflecting on this next exercise.
When you are finished with the exercise, move on to Step 2-2.