The Top 10 Offbeat College Essay Topics To Consider


Applying to colleges used to be as easy as filling out the application, taking a standardized test, and getting in. Now, students have to write essays, submit portfolios, and create resumes. Students cannot just write any essay, it has to have an offbeat topic and be absolutely perfect. The perfection is relatively easy to do with some serious editing and revising, but creating the offbeat topic can take time. Here are some ideas to consider:


  1. What does it mean to be “inside the box”?
  2. Who would play you in a movie about your life?
  3. How do you feel about Mondays?
  4. Could you live in a tiny house?
  5. What idiom do you live?
  6. My favorite day of the week (not the weekend) is:
  7. Describe what it means to live in the ‘now’.
  8. Looking back on history, what scientific discovery is the most important to you?
  9. Create a top ten list.
  10. Pick your favorite book and explain why someone should not read it.

Know How to Write a College Admissions Paper


These quirky ideas are all about showing that you can think and be creative. When you answer the questions, the admissions officers are looking for your ability to clearly express yourself. They have seen every possible answer, so your odds of impressing them with utter uniqueness is rather low. But, as long as you can write clearly and with an appropriate voice, there is nothing wrong with offering quirky answers.


Follow the Instructions and Meet the Requirements


Most of the questions you receive will come with additional instructions and a word limit. It is of utmost importance that you do not exceed the word count requirement. Admissions representatives do not have the time to read more than what they have assigned. Some of the schools get hundreds or thousands of applications for each opening potential opening.


Make Sure Your Application Gets Read


There is not even a guarantee that your essay will be read. If your application, resume, portfolio, or test scores do not pass the requirements for admissions, no one will need to take the time to read your essay. It does not matter how much time you spent on it or how many revisions you made; you must have the other requirements for admission met prior your essay being read. However, if you do meet the minimum requirements and your ancillary materials are exceptional, you can expect that at least one person will look at your handiwork.