Every year, TOP universities in the US publish several excellent essays from admitted freshmen to help you unlock new ideas for writing essays.

We have collected 6 published freshman paperwork for the class of 2027 with detailed comments from admissions officers.

Below is an explanation of the content of four of these excellent samples of applications:

Admissions Officer Comments:

      Ellie's essay skillfully uses the theme of "entropy-entropy" as an extended metaphor. Through it, we see a reflection of who she is and who she aspires to be. Many students write about what they hope to achieve in the future, such as a major, career, influence, or lifestyle. While this may tell us something about who they are, these types of essays only let us know the outcome of who the applicant hopes to be, not the specific path to becoming a certain kind of person.        

      Ellie's essay tells us something about the desired outcome and doesn't omit her self-reflective process in the process. Through this analogy, we learn a lot about who she is: she's willing to learn from her mistakes, to be bold, to embrace the unpredictable, and to push for change in the status quo. These traits inspire Ellie and ultimately allow us to get to know them better and understand how well they match up with the school.

Admissions Officer Review:

In Pablo, the act of packing up and going on a pilgrimage becomes a metaphor for the way human beings gain experience on life's journey and what we can learn from it.

As we travel with Pablo through the different stages of his life, we gain insight into his character and values. We learned that Pablo was determined in the face of challenges and committed to his own personal growth. His willingness to embrace change and excitement about the path ahead demonstrates his optimism and desire for the future. Students at our university are always up for a challenge and love to embrace the new and different. Through his essays, Pablo paints a vivid picture of someone who is eager to step out of his comfort zone and make him feel at home in our community filled with forward thinkers.

Admissions Officer Comments:

Kashvi's essay encapsulates a heartfelt journey of self-discovery and the invaluable lessons of his 10-year-old dog, Rock. Through their companionship, Kashvi teaches us valuable lessons about responsibility, friendship, patience and unconditional love. Their relationship exemplifies true friendship, built on reciprocity of trust and mutual learning. Through Kashwi's reflections on Rock's influence, we gain insight into his values and personal growth. This article provides insight into his true emotions and allows us to truly connect with Kashwi as an individual.

Admissions Officer Review:

Maddie's (Maddie) essays detail her intellectual journey through her love of the Greek classics. They incorporate details that reveal the roots of her academic interests: storytelling, literary devices, and translation.

As the essays develop, Maddie's intellectual curiosity grows. We learn about her interest in gender studies and how she actively sought connections between gender studies and her love of the classics by seeking out texts by women and non-binary authors. Maddie's connection to classical studies opportunities at Hopkins helps us understand how she imagines her academic journey here. It also helps us imagine the contributions she will make to how academics understand gender dynamics in Classics. This paper emphasizes the intersectionality of Maddie's interests and the unique academic perspective she will bring to our community.