Are you applying to several colleges and are wondering a good way to organize all of your college essay information? Check out Ethan Sawyer's sample spreadsheet as an example (on the right) ! (Click File > Make a Copy so you can have an editable version.) Then, from the Common App (or the application system for your school of choice), copy and paste ALL of the essay topics you will be required to write on tab 2, including word count.
Step 2: Brainstorm essay topics.
Then, map out all of your potential topics to those essays in a Google Doc or piece of paper. (Up to you!) Once you've finished with those, its time to...
Step 3: Play the Overlapping Game and identify your super topics.
Look over your required essay prompts and then all of your potential topics and settle on essay topics that a.) communicate important info about who you are but that b.) are also elastic and work for several prompts.
Pro tip: it might help to outline a few drafts before deciding.
Step 4: Write your Super Essays.
Write your first draft! Don't believe it's possible? To the right is a video of me analyzing an essay that worked for dozens of prompts . It's one of my favorite essays.
*Be sure to adapt your essay to the word count and prompts for each school.
Tips for creating a creative college essay