What to Write Your College Essay About If You’re Boring — and Still Make It Count

If you find yourself struggling with what to write in your college essay and feel like you’re nothing special or particularly interesting, here are some tips to help you craft an engaging and memorable essay, even if you’re on the boring side.

1. Embrace Your “Boring” Side

Firstly, don’t feel like you need to be exciting or extraordinary to write a good college essay. What makes an essay compelling is authenticity and sincerity. Be true to yourself and embrace your perceived ‘boring’ aspects. For instance, if you’re a fan of reading books or playing chess, there’s nothing boring about that. It’s how you structure your experiences and show how these ‘boring’ things have shaped your character and outlook on life that makes it interesting.

2. Focus on Personal Growth

Another angle is to focus on personal growth and how you have evolved over time. Even if you’re not an adventure-seeker or a star athlete, you still have stories of growth and learning from mundane activities. It could be a pivotal conversation with your family, learning a new skill, or conquering a fear. These experiences demonstrate your capacity for growth and resilience.

3. Telling a Story

We all have stories to tell that are unique to us. Even if you don’t think your life is particularly exciting, there are still stories within it that are meaningful to you. It could be a journey to a far-off place, a journey of self-discovery, or a small everyday routine that you hold sacred. The key is to tell these stories in a way that brings out their emotional depth and resonates with the reader.

4. Finding the Connective Thread

An engaging college essay isn’t just about what you’ve done; it’s about what you can offer to your college community. Look for patterns in your experiences that show how you connect with others or how you contribute to your school or community. Even if you’re not an adrenaline junkie, you still might possess valuable skills that make you an asset to any institution.

5. Reflect on Your Passion for Learning

Learning is never boring, especially when it’s about something you care about. Reflect on what subjects intrigue you and why they do so. Show how you are constantly eager to explore new horizons and the joy of intellectual pursuits in your field of interest, even if it’s not considered ‘exciting’.

Remember, the college essay is about presenting yourself in a genuine and honest manner, focusing on what makes you unique and valuable as an individual. It’s not about writing a flawless piece of writing but about presenting your voice in an engaging and memorable way that shows the admissions board who you are beyond just your grades or achievements. So embrace your boring side, tell your story, and show the admissions board what makes you unique and valuable as an individual learner and potential member of their institution.

Related Questions:

Q: How do I make my college essay stand out even if I am not an exciting person? A: The key is authenticity and sincerity. Embrace your stories and experiences, even if they are perceived as ‘boring’, and present them in a way that shows your character, growth, and potential contribution to the college community.

Q: How do I reflect my passion for learning in my college essay? A: Discuss what subjects intrigue you and why they do so, emphasizing how you eagerly pursue intellectual pursuits despite the perceived excitement level of the subject matter. Show how learning is a continuous journey of exploration and growth for you.