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Inspirational College Application Essay Decoded!

Updated: July 11, 2022

Published: October 29, 2021

AN-INSPIRING-APPLICATION-ESSAY-THAT-TOOK-OUR-BREATH-AWAY featured image

If you are applying to a college that requires a college application essay, you will undoubtedly want your college essay to leave a lasting impression on its readers.

Many colleges request a college application essay; some colleges will provide prospective students with the topic they want you to write about, while others will leave the choice up to you.

So, how do you write an inspirational essay? There’s no single right way to source college essay inspiration, but there are some recommendations that we’ve compiled here to help you along with your process.

What is a Personal Statement?

A personal statement, or college application essay, is an opportunity to share something about yourself through writing that the college admissions team won’t necessarily glean from your resume , transcript, or letters of recommendation.

It provides applicants with the space to share more about their personality and complement the other pieces of your application to offer a well-rounded picture of who you are.

Things to Note

Before you get started on your college essay, there are some important things to keep in mind . You’ll likely have been spending a lot of time compiling all the other components for your application, which may include transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, letters of recommendation, and more.

When it comes time to write your personal statement, be sure to:

Read the Directions Closely

Many prospective students and enrolled students will note that their college essay was the most challenging aspect of completing their college application. This is because it requires the most thought, time, and can also be somewhat open-ended. As such, it’s vital that students read the college essay guidelines and directions closely. In itself, the college essay is like a test for college admissions committees to see how well you can follow directions.

Avoid Clichés

There are many inspirational essay examples you can choose from to find ideas, but when using inspiration, avoid using clichés. While clichés exist for a reason because they are based in truth, many students will likely use them. To prevent your essay from getting overlooked, use your own words and voice to describe what you write about so that you can stand apart.

Once you have your essay drafted, be sure to plan enough time to proofread and edit your work. Even if you feel unsure of putting words on the page, write them down. You can spend time making it better with a second, third, and fourth look. The proofreading stage should also include an objective set of eyes (someone you trust) who can give you their honest opinion about your essay.

A Step-by-Step Guide

Your college essay isn’t going to write itself. You have to put in the work, but it can be overwhelming to know where to start.

Here’s a step-by-step guide that should help you start and finish your inspirational college essay.

Organize and Brainstorm

Before you get started on drafting your college essay, organize your thoughts. If you’ve been given essay prompts, dedicate at least 5-10 minutes to each prompt to think about what you may write about.

Choose Your Topic

Based on how much you come up with for each prompt, you can choose which prompt will suit your story the best. If you have an open-ended prompt, think about defining moments in your life, your passions, inspirations, achievements, and the like to come up with some ideas of what you can share.

Create an Outline

There will be a lot of details that you’ll want to add to your essay to convey your point(s). To keep the flow organized, begin by outlining what you will talk about. A clear starting point is a brief introduction with a hook sentence to grab the reader’s attention. Then, list where you will go next with main points and supporting evidence (anecdotes from your past, examples of your point, etc.). Finish up with a conclusion that reiterates your main point (topic/gist), and close out with something that leaves the reader thinking or feeling something strongly so that your essay lingers in their mind.

Once you have your outline sorted, you can get to drafting up your inspirational essay. While it’s difficult not to edit as you write, try to let everything out. You’ll have time to clean it up after, but allowing your train of thought to appear on the page may lead to something brilliant.

Many college essays will provide you with a maximum word count. Remain aware of this word count as you write.

Pro Tip: If you use Google Docs, go to Tools> Word Count> Select “Display Word Count While Typing.”

The chances are, you’ll probably find it easier to write more than less. To cut down your word count, read each sentence and ask yourself if that sentence or word is necessary to convey your point. Keep an eye on grammar and spelling. Even though you will use the word processor’s spelling and grammar review upon completion, it doesn’t always catch everything.

After you’ve edited down your college essay, read it over a few times, and entrust someone (or multiple people) to give you some feedback. Try not to take the feedback personally, as the people you allow to read your essay will likely have your best interest in mind, and they are just trying to help you write a better final product.

College Essay Inspiration

You’ll want your personal statement to be considered an inspirational college essay. To make this vision a reality, remember to:

Be passionate
Be specific
Be yourself

Some topics that make for inspirational college essays include stories about:

Overcoming a challenge
Learning something new
Making a significant life change
Sharing an epiphany
Expressing your interests and reasoning

Your Story is Important

Whether you believe it or not, your personal statement and story is important. No two people have the same life circumstance or outlook as another, so sharing your truth with a college admissions team can be the root of inspiration, and ultimately, admission.

Believe in yourself and your words, and take the necessary time to prepare, edit, and write your very own inspirational essay for college. The truth is that it can be all the difference to granting your acceptance into the college of your dreams.

73 Inspiration Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best inspiration topic ideas & essay examples, ⭐ good research topics about inspiration, 👍 simple & easy inspiration essay titles.

Inspiration Theories in the Bible The dynamic theory holds the view that inspiration is a supernatural act or fact and it is the work of the Lord God not the work of man or any other thing.
My Inspiration for Reading She has since revealed to me that I was her first audience and my opinions mattered a lot. There was a time I wanted to write children’s books like my aunt. We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
Special Places to Relax & Find Inspiration Museums are places where you get to feel and experience our cultural wealth in a manner that is hard to copy in the physical world.
W. Somerset Maugham as the Story Writing Inspiration Maugham’s dedication to the topic and material of his writing and his ability to find a way through otherwise pessimistic situations appear to be motivating to the author of the essay.W.
Inspiration of “Diamonds” Song by Rihanna Sia wrote the song for Rihanna, who holds the song’s copyrights and worked on it a year prior; therefore, the song is owned by an independent contractor.
The Italian Town Siena: Continued Inspiration for Urban Designers In the area of urban planning, Siena is the medieval of a medieval city and constantly rivalled Florence in urban structures.
Why Is Samsung Considered a Design Inspiration? The reimagined camera is one of the key features of the Samsung smartphone that reflects the inspirational design. Samsung employs the horizontal integration strategy in the production of its smartphones and other products.
Robert Kiyosaki as an Inspirational Leader He worked as the third mate on a tanker for half a year but decided that the job was not for him and returned to the army.
3D Animation: Main Inspirations and Personal Experience I have read that an understanding of the underlying story and a keen interest in storytelling is essential to build a good animation. This I have found that a number of institutes in the country […]
Inspirational Speech: The Last Lecture by Randolph Pausch The Last Lecture by Randolph Pausch is a good example of an inspirational speech that prompts the listeners to reevaluate their views on life, death and relations between people. The introduction of his speech contained […]
Fashion Source of Inspiration It needs to be said that experimentation is a critical part of the process, and some colors may have to be slightly changed.
“Rust Red Hills” by Georgia O’Keeffe Used for Inspiration The aesthetics and experience of art inspire modern artists and impact the emergence of new works created under the influence of past works.
Searching for the Source of Inspiration: The Image of a True Leader Indeed, as a spiritual leader, Jesus can be considered the epitome of inspiration and an eternal, perpetual source of wisdom due to His compassion and empathy for each and every one of the members of […]
The Catholic Doctrine of the Inspiration of Sacred Scripture For example, there is the doctrine of the Bible, the doctrine of God, the principle of man, the doctrine of salvation, the doctrine of the Church, etc.
The Source of Inspiration of Langston Hughes He wrote numerous poems, books, plays, and stories throughout his life, and many of them reflect the challenges of being Black in the United States in the early Twentieth century. His struggle is defined by […]
Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa as a Source of Inspiration In both Mona Lisa and Instafamous, Lisa del Gioconda is at the center of the composition. However, in Mona Lisa, it is Da Vinci’s gaze that determines how she is depicted and perceived, while in […]
Art Inspiration and Production The memes of the recent times increasingly use their platform to lambast and make fun of existing properties and the culture of the past.
Inspiration From Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Sox) That is beside the requirements outlined in the act on how organizations should implement and comply with each section of the act to adhere to the law.
Inspiration From Sarbanes-Oxley Act The benefits of adopting the act form the specific area of study, leading to the question of, what benefits inspired corporate entities to adopt the Sarbanes-Oxley Act?
Engineer Career and Inspirations Leonardo was the first to design a glider in the history of humanity and that glider, designed in the fifteenth century, has much in common with a glider of the twenty-first century.
A Genius and His Muse: The Essence of Inspiration The incredible diversity of the relationship “schemes” between a genius and his muse leads to a following idea: in the image of his woman an artist finds what he needs himself.
Art Appreciation. Inspiration of an Artwork The inspiration from the works of the Italian Renaissance artist such as Leonardo and Botticelli brought the idea of works that can fit within the same context.
Renaissance as an Inspirational Era in Europe The development of crafts and trade, the rise of the role of cities, as well as political events in Western Europe in the XII and XIII centuries entailed significant changes in the whole way of […]
Anatomy of Leadership and Inspiration This is instrumental in ensuring that there are development and improvement in the lives of people. Division of labor will ensure the change in the organization is sustained.
Emotionally Intelligent Leadership Through Motivation and Inspiration Leadership, on the contrary, demands that a leader should be able to make positive changes in the society and seek positive solutions to problems in the society.
Edvard Munch’s Inspirations and Approach His art bears a distinctive imprint of psychological anguish and often resorts to the controversial themes related to sexuality, illness, and the origins of the supernatural.
Leadership: Providing Purpose, Motivation and Inspiration Purpose refers to the goals that the leader and the organization in general seek to fulfill. As such, a leader must understand and assist the subordinates to meet their personal goals.
Stylistics: Poetry’s Spirit and Inspiration However, this process is impossible without inspiration, some kind of an insight which helps to understand the idea which comes in the head of a poet and to put it into words. The name of […]
Charismatic vs. Inspirational Leadership The other characteristic of the followers of charismatic leaders is the willingness to be subordinates. Showing concern for followers is important in inspirational and charismatic leadership since it helps the leaders to win the trust […]
Inspiration and Inerrancy of the Bible The evidences of the fact that the Bible is the authoritative source of the Word of God are given in the biblical text itself.
Inspiration and Hope in the “Gone with the Wind” Gone with the Wind is a captivating love story that is set in the civil war era in America, which is a re-enactment of a literal work by the same name.
Where Creativity and Inspiration Originate The different disciplines of art can also be used to define humanity with religion and history being a factor, with science and technology embracing the entirety of the human nature and hindering its raw creativity […]
Thomas Jefferson as the Greatest Teacher and Source of Inspiration In his notes on the state of Virginia he attacked slavery and thought that it was duty of the state and society to release slaves.
For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology
Inspiration, Innovation, and Invention: Three Impossible Paradigms
Difference Between Motivation Satisfaction Inspiration and Manipulation
The Most Effective Source of Inspiration
Beowulf and Jesus: Sacrifice and Inspiration
Intense Personal Memories and Reflections as an Inspiration to Poets
Inspiration and Influence: What’s the Difference
Food Sensitivities: Inspiration, Not Deprivation
Inspiration: How to Discover What Inspires You in Life
The Contrast Between Individual Inspiration and the Influences of Age
Inspiration and Trust: The Moral Catalysts for True Loyalty
Modeling Inspiration for Innovative NPD: Lessons From Biomimetics
Inspiration vs. Perspiration: How to Overcome Creative Block
Different Ways of Inspirations: Passive and Active Inspiration
The Problems and Assess the Validity of the Concept of Inspiration in Scripture
Dante Alighieri and the Love for Beatrice Portinari as His Inspiration
Inspiration and Perspiration Factors in Economic Growth: The Former Soviet Union Area Versus China
Passion and Motivation as Parts of Inspiration
Culture and Motivation: Business, Employee Inspiration
Inspiration Throughout Life: Energized, Hopeful, and Engaged
Leadership, Creativity and the Arts as a Source of Inspiration
Design-Thinking, Inspiration, and Ideation
Inspiration From the Biggest Loser: Social Interactions in a Weight Loss Program
Answering the Call: Inspiration for Teachers
Inspiration and Education Achieved Through Poetry
Three Kinds of Inspiration: Rational, Emotive, and Serendipitous
Inspiration: The Most Important Leadership Trait, Fueled by Passion and Purpose
Getting Inspiration From Historical Sources of Fashion
Art: How Key Historical Events Serve as the Inspiration
Inspiration From Games and Entertainment Artifacts: A Rising Paradigm for Designing Mechanisms and Algorithms in Robotics
Leadership, Inspiration, and Motivation
Inspiration, Inerrancy, and Authority of the New Testament
Psychology: Ideas, Inspiration, and Attitudes to Change
Inspiration for Integration: Labor Market Policies for Refugees
Biblical Authority, Inspiration, and Inerrancy of the Bible and the Pote
Inspiration: Creativity and Context
Live Now: In-The-Moment Inspiration
Inspiration: Art Forms Increasing Culture
Entrepreneurial Drive Beyond the Need for Achievement: A Point of Difference Entrepreneurial Drive, Inspiration, and Motivation
Inspiration Prompts, Motivation Drives Professionalism
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Home / Essay Samples / Life / Emotion / Inspiration

Inspiration Essay Examples

The person who inspired me the most: my mother.

Throughout our lives, there are individuals who leave an indelible mark on our hearts and minds, shaping our perspectives and values. For me, that person is none other than my mother. This essay delves into the profound influence my mother has had on my life,...

The Role of a Teacher: Shaping Minds, Inspiring Futures

Teachers hold a pivotal position in society as they shape the minds of future generations. This essay delves into the multifaceted role of a teacher, highlighting their impact on education, personal development, and the broader community. From imparting knowledge to fostering critical thinking, teachers play...

You Are Braver than You Believe, Stronger than You Seem, and Smarter than You Think

One fine day in April, as the shimmering, coppery sun, glowed through the pearly clouds, a ragged, quivering mass of bones staggered across the humongous and towering building. Yes you got that right, that petrified little soul was me. An innocent soul deprived off all...

An Inspiring Person Who Gained Success

There are many different ways that people define success, which makes in an exciting prospect, because you can then achieve it in many aspects of your life. In my opinion, success isn’t just about how much money you make, or how popular you are. Success...

My Inspiration to Build a Career in Engineering

As a female student, I have always received endless criticism on why I want to pursue a career in engineering. My response is that I want to use innovation and management to resolve societal challenges, improving environmental quality regardless of my gender. The range of...

The Movie Dangal: an Inspiration to All

The movie Dangal is inspired by the Phogat Sisters who are women wrestlers. The three musketeers: Geeta, Babita and Rita; have indeed showed the world that strength is not limited to males only. Talking about Ritu who is the eldest sister amongst the siblings is...

The Role of Inspiration in Worker’s Performance

Inspiration is empowering, motivating and instigating the workers to perform to their best limit. Inspiration is a basic component of representative commitment and authoritative achievement. While representatives need inward inspiration, the PR officer is additionally in charge of making a motivational culture where representatives can...

My Inspiration to Take a Course on Climate Change, Management & Finance

Climate change has received increasingly wider attention from scholars and practitioners in recent years. It does not only affect our day-to-day life, but has also been integrated into many relevant matters, such as ecosystem valuation, energy systems and policy. Climate finance is personally considered as...

Speech in 50th Anniversary of Mlk’s Historical Speech

Thank you everyone for joining our “National Action to Realize the Dream” rally, here today in the same place where our hero delivered his historical speech “I Have a Dream”, and allowing me to speak to you on this 50th anniversary of MLK’s inauguration. Many...

My Ambition to Become a Professional Financial Investment Banker

I believe the most important element in regards to being a successful student and achieving desired grades to advance to a higher level in life, is not just about having a good work ethic and being consolidated to a subject, it’s also one's interest and...

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