Sample College Admissions Essays - Sample Essay 1 - Sample Essay 2

Aug 25, 2026

Collection of two sample college admissions essays created by Sara Dorsch & College Visions, presenting personal reflections on resilience, identity, and growth. Essay 1 centers on caring for a grandmother with Alzheimer’s and learning to “push through” challenges, translating that mindset into athletics, nonfiction writing, and mathematics while adapting practical support as conditions worsen. Essay 2 explores self-discovery through discussions of religion, moving toward agnosticism, confronting family expectations, and adjusting relationships as the narrator finds a voice.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time12 min

AccessFree to download

Sample Essay Number 1

Family resilience and caregiving

Applying lessons to academics and setbacks

Sample Essay Number 2

Spark of self-discovery through religion

Transition to agnosticism and telling family

SAMPLE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ESSAYS Created by Sara Dorsch & College Visions [www.collegevisions.org](www.collegevisions.org) SAMPLE ESSAY NUMBER 1 She struggled to find the seat belt buckle, her left hand frantically pushing down on different places on the seat. She giggled nervously, but graciously smiled to hide her panic. After a few failed attempts, my mom pressed the button for her. The seat belt snapped back into place. Gram had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease when I was about eight years old. The progressive disease hindered her ability to use silverware, remember facts, and put on a seatbelt. As Gram began to “lose her words”, where she knew what she wanted to say but could not say it out loud, I witnessed my family endlessly guessing words so that she could finish telling her story. As time went on, Gram remembered fewer words, but every time she spoke, we all continued to throw out random ones, even though it became increasingly difficult to do so. This small example caused me to realize my family’s value of pushing through. Despite Gram’s condition getting progressively worse, we were still determined to guarantee that Gram had the best life that she possibly could. In my own life, I see how I have adopted my family’s notion of pushing through, from running crosscountry to pursuing both nonfiction writing and math. Cross country would be impossible without this mentality. After the first mile, my legs begin to ache, each breath is harder, and doubt creepsin whether I can keep up with the next girl. Telling myself that I can maintain the pace and keep going stems from the lesson of pushing through even when times are difficult, or in the case of cross country, pushing through even when one wants to stop. My intent of combining nonfiction writing with mathematics has also forced me to push through people’s judgements and warnings of not being able to find employment. My determination has allowed me to curtail people’s questions of whether I am interested in STEM or the liberal arts, and has enabled me to find a way to engage in both subjects. My mother and I continued to push through every Saturday morning when we visited, with more tasks and responsibilities to take care of each time. But, as each stay got longer, each conversation with Gram got shorter. Eventually, she was not able to speak at all. The conversations then turned into ones with my grandpa, where we would talk about the weather, the Patriots game, and the neighborhood gossip so that he could also have the best life. My family’s value of pushing through and taking on the heartbreaking challenge of caring for Gram has allowed me to take on a similar mentality when I face obstacles in my own life. Not only has caring for Gram taught me the lesson of pushing through, but also the importance of growing and changing. As my family witnessed Gram’s condition worsening, we changed with her. We purchased sippy cups so that she could drink without causing a spill, we coached her as she grappled with taking her daily pills, and after long and tireless debates, hired Cathy who came in several times a week to fold laundry and get Gram dressed. Adapting to the countless problems that came with Alzheimer's disease allowed us as a family to learn and change for the better. I see those changes reflected in changes I have made in my personal life. When I tackle adversity head on and struggle through the process, I know it often leads to self growth. My determination and adaptability have become the two most important strengths that I utilize as I continue to face new challenges in my life. SAMPLE ESSAY NUMBER 2 Narcissistic. Selfish. Egotistical. Three adjectives used to describe me, and from who I used to think was the most credible source, my mother. In the ninth grade, an unintentional conversation about religion with a few of my friends ignited the spark that set me on the journey to self-discovery. As we talked about different beliefs,

FAQs

What theme drives Sample Essay Number 1?

The essay focuses on learning to “push through” while caring for a grandmother diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and carrying that resilience into the narrator’s own challenges.

How does Sample Essay Number 2 begin the narrator’s self-discovery?

An unintentional conversation about religion with friends in ninth grade triggers a realization that leads the narrator toward agnosticism.

What emotional shift occurs after the narrator comes out as agnostic?

The narrator feels a weight removed after releasing the truth, but also faces disappointment and deterioration in relationships that requires adjusting to a new reality.

Aug 25, 2026

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