How to Brainstorm 7 Different Personal Statement Ideas

In this series of short exercises, I'll help you try to find your personal statement topic. In fact, by the end of this video, you should be able to have 7 great personal statement topic ideas that demonstrate your skills, qualities, values, and interests.
Grab your favorite drink, throw on your headphones, and let's do this.
0:00 Introduction
0:55 The Values Exercise
5:26 The "I Love" Exercise
7:43 The "I Know" Exercise
9:26 The Essence Objects Exercise
14:28 A Series of Random Questions
16:20 The Careers Exercise
18:08 The Identities Exercise
19:56 The Home Exercise
21:30 Uncommon Extracurricular Activities
22:22 How do these exercises lead to a Personal Statement?
23:25 Identify your Islands of Personality
25:01 The 7 paths to a Personal Statement
26:46 Closing words
🔗LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO 🔗
The Values Exercise:
www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/...
The Essence Objects Exercise:
www.collegeessayguy.com/cwiab...
✌️WHO AM I? ✌️
I’m Ethan (College Essay Guy) and my goal is to bring more ease, joy, purpose, and access to the college admission process. I wrote two Amazon bestsellers on college essays and each year my team and I reach more than 1MM students and counselors via www.collegeessayguy.com.
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✋ QUESTIONS? ✋
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[@lyndamcgee3582]

Love this! What kid can't sit through a 27 minute video if it will get them through the hardest part: getting started? I will absolutely be sharing this with my students!

[@melissadicorrado1166]

I have been procrastinating writing my law school personal statements for SO long, and then I came across your video. It was such a big step for me, realizing how much more I had to offer than what I had previously thought about. Seriously, thank you so much for being inspirational and supportive!

[@Collegeessayguy]

Thanks for watching!

[@michellerencher7682]

This is very helpful and practical info - such a great low-stress approach. Thank you Ethan! I have already shared it with my daughter and niece!

[@shreykabir]

ONE OF HTE BEST VIDEOS ON YT.... A HUGEEEEE THNX FOR THIS ONE.... I FINALLY KNOW WHAT TO WRITE IN MY ESSAY!

[@eyeonivy]

Thanks for being such a great help.

[@ThenDoThis]

you are so so helpful!! I am applying for fall 22 in the states:)

[@matrotrujillo9340]

After watching this video I had to leave a comment. I clicked on it thinking it wouldn't help (like the tens of other videos I had previously watched) but it made me come up with some great ideas. Thanks a lot. I 100% recommend this video.

[@Collegeessayguy]

Glad it helped!

[@atms04]

This is probably the single most underrated video on youtube! You're saving my life CEG👍

[@Collegeessayguy]

Awesome! Thanks for watching.

[@bableenkaur4274]

Thank you so much! I've been stuck on one block for so long and this opened so many ideas in my head. Helped me figure out what and who I want to be as a person. You're presence is very comforting and it helped me be vulnerable in my answers. :)

[@Collegeessayguy]

Glad I could help!

[@tinat5484]

This is a great way to come up with all the different aspects of your life, aspirations and values to connect back to an essay question rather than the other way around which is so much harder. This approach is so much more natural and hopefully in the end you have something authentic and not totally contrived. Thank you.

[@Collegeessayguy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@narfranarf]

Thank you so much! This really felt like the push I needed to get going. I loved the Career exercise, it helped me really understand myself and who I want to be in the future and how that correlates with who I currently am.

[@Collegeessayguy]

Love that! Thanks for sharing.

[@angelicabeckman8228]

Thank you for the webinar!

[@Collegeessayguy]

Thanks for being here. :)

[@4sphyxi4]

DUDE, I love you! Thank you for this video! LOL I was so stucked with no ideias with a weird personal essay, but now more than helpful, your video is FUN which is one of my islands! Hahaha!

[@Collegeessayguy]

Awesome! You're so welcome.

[@chill_nrg5349]

I find this super helpful in preparing me to write my graduate personal statement. I also learned a lot about myself in the process. Thank you!

[@Collegeessayguy]

Amazing! Thanks for chiming in.

[@successparody]

Thank you for making the most daunting part of a college application in a 27mins video walkthrough. Honestly, you're the best💖... Totally unrelated, I love the color of your eyes

[@Collegeessayguy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@amytimmins2457]

This was super helpful! Thank you so much!

[@Collegeessayguy]

You are so welcome!

[@hifiunicorn]

This was an insightful video that should be re-titled "how to figure out who you are and what path to take." 🙂

[@Collegeessayguy]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing :)

[@darmidida7647]

Thank you

[@madhuriagarwal2294]

This is the best video and advice/exercise.

[@Collegeessayguy]

Glad you think so!

[@zanmar6764]

An extremely useful video again.Every high schooler needs to watch all your videos

[@Collegeessayguy]

Thanks! We'd love if you could spread the word.

[@leighfitzpatrick2383]

Trying to help my son, this is so helpful! Thank you!!!

[@Collegeessayguy]

You're welcome!

[@holidayy26]

I just couldn't put the pen down after this one! Excellent video TYSM!!!

[@Collegeessayguy]

Glad it helped!

[@AliyaKaldybayeva]

I really don't understand why this video has not so many views and comments. Asome!! Thanks a lot!!

[@Collegeessayguy]

Thank you too!

[@harinachiappansubramanian9206]

Hi CEG, what is your opinion on the best college essay question? I heard from other yt videos and some of my friends that some common app prompts should not be chosen like 7. And prompts like 3 are challenging to do and very few people do it, so it will make you stand out better. what are your thoughts on this? thanks

[@Collegeessayguy]

I recommend writing a great essay, and selecting Prompt 7 in Common App: "Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design."

[@harinachiappansubramanian9206]

@@Collegeessayguy I see... so how can I ensure that my essay is on the right path given that there are no restrictions in this question

[@agirlnameddejanae]

Hi, question, do you read and/or edit personal statements?

[@Collegeessayguy]

Unfortunately, I'm swamped this time of year and unable to provide feedback on everyone's essay. I recommend working with Prompt. They provide essay feedback relatively quickly. Here is their link: prompt.com/ceg/ In the meantime, check out these two blog posts. They are often helpful for revising an essay. The Great College Essay Test: www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/tgcet Revising Your Essay in 5 Steps: www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/5-steps-revising-your-college-essay If you're interested in one-on-one help, fill out the form on this page and we'll get back to you soon! www.collegeessayguy.com/college-essay-review-services

[@AmikYoungDon]

Hi Sir, is your book College Essay Essentials suitable for Law School Admission?

[@Collegeessayguy]

Hi there! Some of it is, yes. I recommend checking with the schools you're applying to to get a better idea of how their application may differ from other schools. Hope this helps!

[@hollygarner1949]

"Personal Statement" is a specific term for a UCAS applicaton. Does this refer to American applicatons?

[@Collegeessayguy]

College essay and personal statement are also often used synonymously here in the US.

[@jasurbekabiyirqulov293]

suuuuuuuuuupppppeeeeeeer✨✨✨✨✨

[@Collegeessayguy]

Thanks!

[@magieann256]

My name is Magie and i'm from Uganda i have been really struggling with the statement to apply to study abroad but with this woow , i have been struggling with getting topics to write on but this is really amazing. One thing i would love to request is there any way i can get your help to look through my statement and receive feed back on it

[@Collegeessayguy]

Hi there! Thanks for writing in. We have a few options for getting 1:1 college essay support: 1.) If you're looking for 1-on-1 help with your college application and essays, please submit a request form at this link and our team will be in touch with you soon to share more details about our 1:1 support and how to schedule a call to learn more: www.collegeessayguy.com/college-essay-coaching 2.) If our packages are out of range, we are offering asynchronous reviews of college essays/applications with our Complete Application Review service, which you can learn more about and sign up for here: students.collegeessayguy.com/complete-application-review Lastly, we always have free and pay-what-you-can courses. We recommend starting with our two signature essay courses here: www.collegeessayguy.com/college-essay-courses Happy writing, CEG Team

[@dmh8002]

Hi Ethan, my child is a trauma survivor and when it came to your question of "I know a lot about..." it caused an emotional response. Can you please contact me off-line with suggestions? This student is very bright and academically talented, but is also trying to heal from the pain of the trauma. Thank you very much.

[@Collegeessayguy]

Hi there! Thanks for bringing this up. Feel free to send us an email at [e-mail] for more help/resources. :)

[@dmh8002]

@@Collegeessayguy Thank you

[@tassie1928]

26:38 I was legit crocheting my cardigan, and hearing that I was like, really?

[@Collegeessayguy]

Ha! Thanks for watching. :)

[@tassie1928]

@@Collegeessayguy THANK YOU for making such helpful videos, without your videos I legit wouldn't have been able to start writing my essays. Thank you!!!!!

[@johnsy4306]

What chess videos do you love? If you haven't seen Dan Heisman, you should! :)

[@Collegeessayguy]

GM Hikaru's channel is pretty rad...and agadmator too. :) Thanks for the rec!

[@johnsy4306]

yes, agadmator is pretty cool. Dan Heisman is the BEST chess coach there is for lower rated

[@johnsy4306]

My ONE claim to chess fame...I was the one who introduced Susan Polgar to Wesley So which eventually wound up with Wesley moving over to the States. Also, Wesley and his (now estranged) fatheronce had dinner at my house waaay back when he still lived in the Philippines

[@Collegeessayguy]

@@johnsy4306 Whaaat!

[@johnsy4306]

@@Collegeessayguy Seriously! I'll tell you about it when we meet at some convention some day.

[@nguyenlean9088]

like 1000th for you

[@Collegeessayguy]

Thanks!

[@taylorturner5561]

😢🎉 0:02

[@Collegeessayguy]

Thanks for watching!

[@baurtalip7913]

🤓

[@Collegeessayguy]

You got this.

[@shrutiriya8872]

Can you please review my essay?

[@Collegeessayguy]

Thanks for writing in. Unfortunately, I'm pretty swamped this time of year and unable to provide feedback on everyone's essay. Our friends at Prompt may be able to help you out though! Here is a link: prompt.com/ceg/

[@dudemarina]

I’m writing my essay the day before my deadline 🫡

[@Collegeessayguy]

You got this.