How to Write a Great College Essay Introduction 

When it comes to college essays, the introduction is your chance to make a solid first impression on admissions officers who may only spend a few minutes reviewing your entire application. To ensure your essay stands out, focus on crafting a compelling and engaging introduction that captures the reader’s attention from the start.

our opening should raise questions and pique the reader’s curiosity, encouraging them to continue reading to discover the whole story. By striking a balance between providing enough information to hook the reader and leaving room for intrigue, you can draw the admissions officer into your essay and entice them to give your application more attention.

Remember, the more engaged the admissions officer is with your essay, the more opportunity you have to showcase your unique qualities and demonstrate why you would be a valuable addition to their college community. So, as you write and revise your introduction, look for ways to make it more captivating, unexpected, and thought-provoking, setting the stage for a memorable and impactful essay.

Start with a surprise

One way to grab your reader’s attention is to begin your essay with an unexpected or surprising statement. This can be a startling fact, a thought-provoking question, or a bold assertion challenging a common assumption. By starting with a surprise, you create intrigue and encourage your reader to keep reading to learn more.

Example

I have a confession to make: I love spreadsheets. Yes, you read that right. While most people might find them dull and uninspiring, I see spreadsheets as a canvas for creativity, a tool for solving complex problems, and a way to make sense of the world around me.

In this example, the writer begins with a surprising confession – a love for spreadsheets – which is likely to catch the reader off guard. By starting with this unexpected statement, the writer creates a sense of intrigue and sets the stage for an essay that challenges common perceptions about what is considered interesting or creative.

Start with a vivid, specific image

Another effective way to begin your essay is to paint a vivid, specific picture in your reader’s mind. This can be a descriptive scene, a powerful memory, or a striking visual image. By starting with a concrete, sensory detail, you draw your reader into your essay and create a sense of immediacy and engagement.

Bad Example

Science has always been an essential part of my life. From a young age, I was curious about how things worked and loved learning about the natural world. I spent countless hours reading science books, watching documentaries, and conducting experiments in my backyard. Through these experiences, I developed a deep appreciation for the power of scientific inquiry and how it can help us understand and improve the world around us.

While this introduction expresses the writer’s interest in science, it lacks a vivid, specific image to draw the reader in. The descriptions of reading books, watching documentaries, and conducting experiments are general and could apply to many students. As a result, the introduction feels broad and uninspired, needing more immediacy and engagement of the excellent example.

Good Example

The biting cold nipped at my fingertips as I fumbled with the tiny gears and screws, my breath forming pale clouds in the frigid garage air. I had been hunched over my father’s old radio for hours, determined to bring it back to life. As I carefully soldered the last connection and powered on the device, the room suddenly filled with the crackling sound of a distant station. At that moment, I realized that my love for tinkering with broken things was more than just a hobby – it was a way of understanding the world around me, piece by piece.

In this example, the writer begins with a vivid, sensory description of a specific moment – working on an old radio in a cold garage. By providing concrete details like the “biting cold,” “tiny gears and screws,” and “crackling sound,” the writer creates a clear and engaging picture in the reader’s mind. This image then serves as a launching point for exploring the writer’s passion for problem-solving and understanding complex systems.

Avoid clichés

When writing your introduction, avoiding overused phrases, quotes, or ideas that have become clichés is essential. These can make your essay feel generic, unoriginal, and lacking in authenticity. Instead, strive to find a fresh, unique angle or perspective that sets your essay apart.

Bad example

Life is like a game of chess. Every move has consequences, and we must think carefully about our strategies and tactics. Growing up, I learned this lesson the hard way. I faced many challenges and obstacles, but I never gave up. I always picked myself up, dusted myself off, and kept moving forward. Through these experiences, I discovered my inner strength and resilience, and I know these qualities will serve me well in college and beyond.

This introduction is filled with overused metaphors and phrases, such as “life is like a game of chess,” “learned this lesson the hard way,” “picked myself up,” and “dusted myself off.” These clichés make the writing feel unoriginal and predictable, failing to capture the reader’s attention or provide insight into the writer’s unique experiences and perspectives.

Good example

I still remember the day I found my voice. It wasn’t a sudden epiphany or a dramatic moment of self-discovery. Instead, it was a gradual process that began with a simple decision: to stop pretending. For years, I had worn a mask of perfection, hiding my struggles with anxiety and self-doubt behind a façade of achievement and success. But as I sat in my room one evening, staring at a blank page in my journal, I realized that I was tired of living a lie. I picked up my pen and began to write, pouring out my deepest fears and insecurities. With each word, I felt a weight lifting from my shoulders, a sense of liberation and authenticity that I had never experienced before.

In this example, the writer avoids clichés and focuses on a specific, personal moment that marked a turning point in their life. By describing the “quiet, gradual process” of finding their voice and the “façade of achievement and success” they had previously maintained, the writer creates a sense of depth and complexity that draws the reader in. The vivid image of the writer sitting in their room, staring at a blank page, and finally beginning to write adds a layer of immediacy and authenticity to the introduction.