Using famous (or not-so-famous) quotations in your college essay is a bit risky because it's easy to unintentionally cross over into cliché territory. Additionally, when you’re limited by a maximum word count, you want those words to highlight you, not some former politician, author, advocate, or celebrity. 

 

Occasionally, though, a college will turn the tables by sharing a quotation of their own and asking for your reflection or interpretation. 

 

Let’s consider a few examples.

 

Example 1: Amherst College

Please respond to the following quotation. It is not necessary to research, read, or refer to the text from which the quotation is taken; we are looking for an original, personal response to this short excerpt. Remember that your essay should be personal and not simply an argumentative essay. (Maximum: 300 words.) 

“Difficulty need not foreshadow despair or defeat. Rather, achievement can be all the more satisfying because of the obstacles surmounted.” -Attributed to William Hastie, Amherst College Class of 1925, the first African-American to serve as a judge in the United States Court of Appeals.”

 

Example 2: University of Virginia 

Rita Dove, UVA English professor and former U.S. Poet Laureate, once said in an interview that “…there are times in life when, instead of complaining, you do something about your complaints.” Describe a time when, instead of complaining, you took action for the greater good. (Maximum: 250 words.)

 

Example 3: Dartmouth College

“Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away,” observed Frida Kahlo. Apply Kahlo’s perspective to your own life. (Maximum: 250-300 words.)

These examples make it evident that when a college uses a quote within an admissions prompt, it is often because that specific quote reflects something important about the institution, its mission statement, history, or values. 

 

Here are a few suggestions for approaching this type of essay: 

 

1.) Read the quote carefully. Do a little background research on the quote and the individual it is attributed to. If you misunderstand the quote or take the words out of context, it can throw off your response. Make sure you understand what is really being asked. 

 

2.) As you begin brainstorming a response, recognize that quote should merely serve as a lens through which you share more about yourself, your identity, and why you would be a good fit at that particular school. A great response does not necessarily have to refer back to the quote or the author (in fact, in most cases, it shouldn’t!) This essay is about you. In some cases, topics you may have written about for another college’s supplement (example: on topics such as community and belonging or an extracurricular activity) may be reworked to create this essay. Instead of focusing so much on the quote, think about what you really want to share about yourself, and how you can bridge this connection to the prompt. 

 

3.) In some cases, a prompt may contain a quotation that you vehemently disagree with. While higher education is a place for thoughtful discourse, you should be cautious about creating an argumentative response unless you are explicitly asked to do so. Use this as an opportunity to share more about yourself and your life. 

 

Here is an example of a successful response to Dartmouth’s prompt, which features Frida Kahlo’s quote:

 

The Indian community in Portland is small, and the Malayalee community even smaller. Portland is a majority white city, founded as a white separatist state, and the remnants of that are still present, despite its progressive image. When I wanted to put up an art installation featuring Kerala around my Southeast Portland neighborhood, something really surprised me.

 

Usually people are pretty nice around the neighborhood, but when I went to get permission to use public spaces—more as a courtesy than a requirement—I was met with backlash. Some of my neighbors claimed I needed permits, while others simply didn’t understand the point of a public art installation with a subject matter so far from their own experience. I could tell a lot of them felt uncomfortable with images of brown people around the neighborhood.

But I had worked on the large portraits for this installation for over a year, and I wanted to see my vision realized. So, my friends helped me put the portraits up one night in the pitch dark while everyone was sleeping. They even helped me set up security cameras in case someone tried to deface one of the artworks. Once the installation was up, my neighbors acted differently. They seemed to be impressed with my skills as an artist and decided they liked the artwork. 

 

Most importantly, they started asking me questions about the people and places depicted with genuine interest, something I’d never experienced before. Other nonwhite residents also approached me to express their appreciation for how the installation disrupted the image of an all-white community. I’m proud that my artwork created a dialogue, which I hope will ultimately lead to more inclusive attitudes in my home city. I believe this change, and all change, is possible one small action at a time. 

 

This essay never references Frida Kahlo, and the prompt itself is not mentioned. Yet, this student does a wonderful job of addressing Frida Kahlo’s quote through the lens of their own lived experiences. “Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away,” illustrates the concept of change as a constant. This applicant told a compelling story, focusing on how they have contributed to positive change in their community, and finishing with the sentence, “I believe this change, and all change, is possible one small action at a time.” If you were given this prompt, you could write about a way that you have contributed to change or a way your life has been impacted (either positively or negatively) by change.

 

There are two important takeaways here:

 

1.)  Focus on the central theme of the quote (in this case, that’s change as a constant.) 

2.)  Tell a story about your life (ideally, something that isn’t covered in other parts of your application.) 

 

The “quotation essay” is an opportunity to share about yourself, while illustrating your ability to think critically.