Nail Your
Essay Topic
Welcome to this video series of 12 simple yet powerful exercises to help you discover what’s already within you — your BEST essay topic. As you follow along, step by step, you’ll uncover what’s ready to be revealed. AND have that all-important foundation for the Personal Statement, the most important college application essay to get RIGHT.
When it comes to what to write about, most seniors fall into one of two categories:
Some have been thinking about their topic since freshman year (or even earlier!)
Others have no idea or feel completely overwhelmed by what to write about
And they’re not alone!
A quick video workshop to help high school seniors choose their best college essay topic
(usually NOT what they are thinking!)
The kicker? Writing the essay often isn't the hardest part — it's knowing WHAT to write about that stumps seniors. After all, nobody wants to invest hours into drafting, revising, and fine-tuning an essay without being 100% positive it's the best topic for them, right?
Let’s fix that.
In this mini-video workshop, you’ll not only brainstorm ideas (adding to a list you may have already started), but you’ll also make space for brand-new topics to emerge — ones you may not have even considered before!
By the end of the workshop, you’ll finally narrow down your options once and for all as you choose exactly which story is the one you want to tell.
Ready to get started?
Let’s dive in! 🤿
Here’s how this will work.
Completing all the videos and each of the exercises takes 60 - 90 minutes total..
Remember, your first ideas are often NOT your best. Being creative and allowing new ideas to flow takes time. And getting to your best topics is worth it! A stellar essay can be the difference between an acceptance — or a rejection — letter from your favorite schools.
Plus, the essay is the ONE aspect of your application you can most impact NOW. So let’s make the most of it!
I invite you to do the entire mini-workshop in one session. That’s exactly how my Complete Your Essay in a Weekend workshop seniors do it on Friday evening.
By completing everything at once, you’ll prime your idea pump and keep the ideas flowing … without having to restart it all later. Trust me, the ease of doing the entire workshop in one sitting is worth it.
Or, if you plan to do this in two sessions, watch Videos 1 and 2 first. Then schedule a time on your calendar when you’ll do the rest later. (Many of the videos are only 2 or 3 minutes long!)
Ready to watch your first video? It’s as easy as 1-2-3.
Read the “Notes” on the right for an overview.
Click the video name or image under “Workshop Videos.” That will open the video in a new window.
When you’re done, click the green “Status” button and update your progress to “Complete”. That way, if you need to come back later, you’ll know exactly where you left off.
Ready to go? I’m excited to partner with you as you Nail Your Best Topic.
Grab 6 or 7 sheets of paper and a pen and…
Let’s do this! 🚀
Video 1:
Chart Your Course Right from the Start
Let’s begin your Discover Your Best Essay Topic adventure!
Envision the “future you” who has already chosen your clear topic. You’re relaxed and confident, ready to start the writing process that will wrap up with an acceptance letter from your dream college.
Ahh…feels great, doesn’t it?!? ✨
In this video, I’ll introduce you to a neat resource to quickly and strategically plan out this entire journey so that you start with the end in mind. Think of this as a personalized roadmap. After all, you wouldn’t head to your new dorm next year without a map to guide you to campus, right?
Of course not!
Start the video on the left, and you’ll create your very own, custom-tailored map for your topic discovery journey.
Video 2:
Avoid These Common Pitfalls in Uncharted Topic Territory
Have you ever wondered what makes an essay topic compelling—or downright forgettable?
In this video you’ll discover how to:
Avoid the #1 rookie mistake seniors regularly make when choosing their essay topic
Navigate the single, most overlooked key to assessing your topic's value — something most students miss
Swap stress for ease with 3 essential tips that’ll keep you in your Growth Zone and out of fight/flight/freeze mode
From understanding the nitty-gritty of the Common Application to mastering your emotional game, this video is your roadmap to college essay success!