Many students have the same self-defeating worry: “My life is normal, and there is no way I can stand out when I’ve had the same experiences as every other high school student.” 

Don’t worry! Admissions readers understand the constraints of a high schooler’s experience. In other words, they know you are “normal” and that you have no say in the matter! Admissions readers aren’t expecting essays from student astronauts or even student skydivers. Instead, they are looking for students who can demonstrate how they’ve used ordinary experiences to grow into extraordinary thinkers and citizens.

Your high school experience may seem like any other teenager’s, but how you perceive and reflect on those experiences will reveal your unique perspective and traits. Your college essays are not just about what happened; they’re about what happened next. What did you learn? And what did you do with that new knowledge? If you can’t answer both of these questions, then the experience might not be right for your essay. However, don’t dismiss your experiences until you’ve brainstormed! 

Below are the top five most common narratives that we see from students and the brainstorming questions that can get you from an ordinary story to extraordinary takeaways.

Top five most used Common App essay topics  — and how to make yours stand out

1. Family Dynamics

Many students have grown up in a close-knit family and would love to share how important their traditions, family-branded sense of humor, or trips have been to their growth. Focusing on describing the experiences might lean into the familiar — and it might make your essay more about your family than you! Consider these example brainstorming questions to transform your story into your best Common App essay topic: 

• Has your family’s dinner table political debates pushed you to volunteer for a local campaign? How does debating politics feel different now that you’ve knocked on doors and heard other people’s perspectives? 
• Has your family’s extensive travels sparked a passion for learning languages? How have those languages helped you broaden and/or help your community?
• Has living far away from your extended family translated into a desire to help older generations become more comfortable with technology so that they can stay connected? How have you acted on that desire?

The point? Find a unique aspect of your family that has pushed you to do something outside of your family. Read an amazing example of this in my interview article. 

2. School Challenges

Struggling with a specific subject or project isn’t unique. However, overcoming shyness to ask for help, finding your passion for a complex subject within the struggle, or learning a new strategy you’ve used in other challenges could translate into a compelling theme showcasing your intellectual curiosity and drive. Consider these ideas: 

• How did you pivot when your usual learning plan didn’t work? What was different about this challenge? What new strategies did you learn that you’ve used to continue challenging yourself intellectually? 
• What moment did the complex subject click for you? What was your realization? And how did that get you excited about learning more? What steps did you take beyond the classroom to explore the subject further? Who have you shared this new knowledge or these new skills with?

3. Extracurricular Activities

Winning the big game, shining on stage in your school play, or leading your school’s HOSA club are great narratives to share with your family and friends. But do admissions readers really want to read about another touchdown? No. So are extracurriculars out? Also, no. How you spend your time is your most valuable currency in high school! It’s also where you learn what kind of community member and leader you are! Consider these questions for fresh ideas: 

• What strength have you developed on the field/on stage/in your tournament that you’ve used in other areas of your life? 
• What successes in your extracurricular activities have surprised you? Why is that— and why were those successes so important to you? How have you expanded or even reshaped your goals based on those successes?
• What is your most valuable role in your community of friends and shared interests? What do you bring to that role that no one else could? How will you show up for your new community in college? 

4. Community Service

Writing about your volunteer work can be tricky; mission trips can be even trickier. Oftentimes, our volunteer work/mission trip is completed in a short period of time and is far away from our “real life” experience, so it is hard for readers to see the parallels. Also, if we are writing about a community, identity, or culture other than our own, we can fall into the trap of commenting on people’s lives that we don’t fully understand. To move beyond a familiar service narrative and avoid simplistic insights such as “I’m grateful for what I have,” you’ll need to be self-aware enough to name specific ways your perspective has shifted and, more importantly, how that new perspective informs new actions. 

The most essential brainstorming question to answer is: 

• “Has my service and empathy challenged my worldview enough to change how I act?”

Proving that shift with precise narratives of your growth, actions, and impact is key to standing out as a changemaker!

5. Personal Interests and Hobbies

Whether it’s playing piano, teaching yourself complicated knitting patterns, or learning to code iOS apps, hobbies make our lives interesting. But how can you grab an admissions reader's interest through your hobbies? Connect your passions with ambitious connections, diverse communities, or fresh perspectives! Consider these questions as examples to help you dig deeper: 

• Has your love of cooking helped you build community with others by learning their heritage recipes and celebrating their traditions? How has that culinary community broadened your understanding of the immigrant experience and what diversity and inclusion look like? 
• Has your love for piano turned into a passion for understanding the science of creativity and how technology can either expand or hinder our artistic expression? Who do you debate the role of AI in art with? How does questioning AI and art prepare you for an ever-evolving technological world? 
• In other words, how does your hobby help you connect with, question, and understand the world better? 

Admissions readers are excited to envision how you’ll transform your everyday college routine into bold conversations, deep learning, and change-making actions! Your common narratives can become remarkably uncommon if you pair them with curiosity and a bit of brainstorming to go beyond the familiar!

Need more help with brainstorming the best idea for your Common App personal statement essay? Check out our guide here.