Here are a few places that helped me when I was trying to understand what a good college essay looks like: University writing centers – lots of schools publish real sample essays with notes on why they work. Scholarship foundations – many share winning essays publicly, and they’re super clear and personal. HelpWithEssay – their editors sometimes share anonymized examples when you ask for guidance, and seeing those made it way easier for me to understand tone + structure. They explain why certain choices work, not just “here’s a good essay.” Answer from shadowhollowx on reddit.com
Reddit
reddit.com › r/applyingtocollege › are there any websites where i can find examples of good college essays and not just tips on how to write a good one?
r/ApplyingToCollege on Reddit: Are there any websites where I can find examples of good college essays and not just tips on how to write a good one?
July 7, 2023 -
Most websites and books are about how to write a good one without providing any examples. I feel like I’d find examples of good ones to be more help than the former. If anyone is aware of these websites, any links would be greatly appreciated
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Here are a few places that helped me when I was trying to understand what a good college essay looks like: University writing centers – lots of schools publish real sample essays with notes on why they work. Scholarship foundations – many share winning essays publicly, and they’re super clear and personal. HelpWithEssay – their editors sometimes share anonymized examples when you ask for guidance, and seeing those made it way easier for me to understand tone + structure. They explain why certain choices work, not just “here’s a good essay.”
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Johns Hopkins has long highlighted "Essays that worked", which are examples of really good essays that were submitted by some of their admitted students. https://apply.jhu.edu/college-planning-guide/essays-that-worked/
Ten Successful Harvard Application Essays - College Essays - College Confidential Forums
For those who are looking for examples of what makes a good essay, here are ten that were just published in Harvard’s newspaper. Also, the NYT publishes essays every year that somehow relate, even tangentially, to the subject of money/finances/economic class. More on talk.collegeconfidential.com
Are there any websites where I can find examples of good college essays and not just tips on how to write a good one?
Here are a few places that helped me when I was trying to understand what a good college essay looks like: University writing centers – lots of schools publish real sample essays with notes on why they work. Scholarship foundations – many share winning essays publicly, and they’re super clear and personal. HelpWithEssay – their editors sometimes share anonymized examples when you ask for guidance, and seeing those made it way easier for me to understand tone + structure. They explain why certain choices work, not just “here’s a good essay.” More on reddit.com
The Best College Application Essays You've Ever Heard That Actually Worked
i’d really like to think mine succeeded. i wrote about how the roads i live off of are named after my great grandparents and my connection to my family. I connected that to my experience with grief and love towards my family More on reddit.com
You DO Have an Amazing Essay Inside You. Here’s My Step-by-Step Guide to Finding YOUR Amazing Personal Essay (2022 Updates)
There's one thing that still confuses me. If our essays are so much about our vulnerable selves, values, beliefs -- is uniqueness still not a metric? It sounds a lot like what differentiates a "good" essay from a "bad" essay is how genuine and thoughtfully one can write about oneself, rather than how unique and interesting one's character is. Is THAT what makes certain applicants stand out from others? Or are you implying that these type of "strip me to the core" essays will naturally make those with a unique character shine? Obviously, the harsh reality is that not everyone's "true self" is interesting enough for a top university. I assume this post implies this, as pessimistic as it sounds. Only in that case would I understand why "genuinity" and "letting the AOs know about your character" are the decisive factors. I know we're all high school students, and the typical high schooler is very limited in terms of experience, but then again, selective students only select a small minority. If so many students articulate their struggles through a sports season (a very cliché topic) so thoughtfully and genuinely, then who does the AO pick? Is the problem that students are just bad at personal reflection? More on reddit.com
How important is writing style in a college essay?
Though admissions officers are interested in hearing your story, they’re also interested in how you tell it. An exceptionally written essay will differentiate you from other applicants, meaning that admissions officers will spend more time reading it. · You can use literary devices to catch your reader’s attention and enrich your storytelling; however, focus on using just a few devices well, rather than trying to use as many as possible.
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College Essay Examples | What Works and What Doesn't
How do I structure a college application essay?
There are no set rules for how to structure a college application essay, but these are two common structures that work: · A montage structure, a series of vignettes with a common theme. · A narrative structure, a single story that shows your personal growth or how you overcame a challenge. · Avoid the five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in high school.
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College Essay Examples | What Works and What Doesn't
How do I write about myself in a college essay?
Most importantly, your essay should be about you, not another person or thing. An insightful college admissions essay requires deep self-reflection, authenticity, and a balance between confidence and vulnerability. · Your essay shouldn’t be a résumé of your experiences but instead should tell a story that demonstrates your most important values and qualities.
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College Essay Examples | What Works and What Doesn't
Videos
How to Write an Awesome College Essay on a Common Topic
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3 FREE Tools for Writing College Admissions Essays - YouTube
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I Read 10,000+ College Essays...Here Are 10 Things I Learned - YouTube
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Watch THIS Before Starting Your Common App Essay - YouTube
Shemmassian Academic Consulting
shemmassianconsulting.com › blog › college-essay-examples
14 College Essay Examples From Top-25 Universities (2025–2026) — Shemmassian Academic Consulting
March 10, 2025 - This school year, the REU program has offered me a year-long job, and despite my obligations as a high school senior preparing for college, I couldn’t give up this offer, and so during this school year, I will be able to further both my research and interest in nanotechnology. Need inspiration for your Common App personal statement? Click below for instant access to 25 full-length example essays including advanced breakdowns of why they resonate with admissions committees.
U.S. News
usnews.com › home › education › best colleges
College Essay Examples: How to Write Your Story
July 14, 2023 - READ: How Colleges Choose Which Students to Admit. Each spring on his admissions blog, Graves shares an enrolling student's essay and why it was strong. The essay excerpted below, shared with the permission of the University of Georgia, uses descriptive word choice and gives the admissions office deep insight into the student's life, their love for writing and their connection to their family, Graves says. It was chosen as an example "to show our applicant pool how to express themselves through similes, sensory language (words that capture the senses of the reader), and emotion," Graves wrote on the blog.
Johns Hopkins University
apply.jhu.edu › home › college planning guide › essays that worked
Essays That Worked | Johns Hopkins University Admissions
January 4, 2023 - We share essays from previously admitted students—along with feedback from our admissions committee—so you can understand what made them effective and how to start crafting your own. Read More Essays That Worked · Our interactive workshops—on topics like the college search process and essay preparation—will help you build your strongest application when you’re ready to apply.
Papersowl
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College Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas | PapersOwl.com
Free essay examples about College ✔️ Proficient writing team ✔️ High-quality of every essay ✔️ Largest database of free samples on PapersOwl
CollegeVine
blog.collegevine.com › common-app-essay-examples
21 Stellar Common App Essay Examples to Inspire Your College Essay | CollegeVine Blog
March 23, 2023 - Ultimately, this essay is successful due to its satisfying ending. Because readers experience the student’s struggles with them, we also feel the resolution. The conclusion of this essay is a prime example of the “Same, but Different” technique described in our article on How to End Your College Essay.
The Princeton Review
princetonreview.com › college-advice › application-essay-topics
Popular College Application Essay Topics (and How to Answer Them)
This essay should make you and the reader smile. Just like Prompt #2, the accomplishment or event you write about can be anything from a major milestone to a smaller "aha" moment. Describe the event or accomplishment that shaped you but take care to also show what you learned or how you changed. Colleges are looking for a sense of maturity and introspection—pinpoint the transformation and demonstrate your personal growth.
Noplag
noplag.com › free-essays
Free Essays & College Essay Examples | Noplag
100000+ FREE College Essay Examples, Free Essays on any Subject, Style and Academic Level. Only A+ Grade Essays in our Database. Get ideas for your paper!
College Confidential
talk.collegeconfidential.com › college essays
Ten Successful Harvard Application Essays - College Essays - College Confidential Forums
September 3, 2021 - For those who are looking for examples of what makes a good essay, here are ten that were just published in Harvard’s newspaper. Also, the NYT publishes essays every year that somehow relate, even tangentially, to the s…