The #1 Storytelling Trick to Instantly Improve Your College Essay
"The cursor blinked at me mockingly. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, paralyzed by the weight of expectation. I typed a sentence, then erased it. Typed another, then erased that one too. Each attempt felt as lifeless as the last. ‘What if I just start with, “Ever since I was a kid…”?’ I considered, only to shudder at the thought. I knew I was doomed to blend in with the thousands of other applicants—until I stumbled upon a storytelling secret that changed everything."
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Every year, thousands of students struggle to write an engaging college essay—one that doesn’t sound like a school assignment, one that actually grabs an admissions officer’s attention.
The problem? Most essays start too slow.
Admissions officers are reading hundreds, sometimes thousands, of essays in a season. If your opening sounds like a generic introduction—“I have always loved science,” or “A challenge I faced was…”—they’re already tuning out.
But there’s a simple fix. One powerful storytelling trick can immediately make your essay more compelling—and it’s the same technique used in movies, novels, and even viral TikToks.
It’s called starting In Medias Res, which is Latin for “in the middle of things”. Once you learn to use this writing technique, your storytelling (and college personal statement) will never be boring again.
Let’s dive in.
The Trick: Start in the Middle of the Action (In Medias Res)
Most students think they need to introduce themselves in their college essay the same way they would in a formal English paper—with background information, a clear thesis, and a structured setup.
But college essays aren’t research papers. They’re personal stories.
That’s where In Medias Res comes in.
What does it mean?
In Medias Res is a Latin term that means “in the middle of things.” Instead of easing into your story with background details, you drop the reader straight into the most interesting moment.
Think about your favorite movies. They don’t start with a character listing their hobbies or explaining their childhood in chronological order. Instead, they throw you right into the action and let you piece things together as you go.
For example:
The Hunger Games doesn’t open with Katniss explaining how her family struggles to survive. It starts with the Reaping—one of the most intense, life-changing moments of her life.
Spider-Man doesn’t begin with Peter Parker listing his interests. He’s in the middle of discovering his powers, and we’re right there with him.
Your college essay should do the same.
Instead of starting with:
❌ “I have always loved music.”
Try:
✅ “The audience fell silent. My fingers hovered over the piano keys. I took a deep breath and began to play.”
Instead of:
❌ “I have been passionate about science since I was a child.”
Try:
✅ “The test tube cracked in my hands. A deep blue liquid spilled onto the lab bench. I froze—had I just ruined my entire experiment?”
See the difference? The first versions tell the reader what’s happening. The second versions show the moment in real time, creating curiosity, emotion, and engagement.
This technique is simple, but it instantly makes your essay more compelling. And the best part? You don’t have to change your whole essay—just how you introduce it.
Now, let’s break down exactly how to use this trick in your own writing.
How to Apply This Trick to Your Own Essay
Now that you know the power of starting in the middle of the action, let’s walk through how you can use this trick to transform your own college essay. Follow these three simple steps:
1. Identify the Most Exciting or Pivotal Moment
Think about the story you want to tell in your essay. Instead of starting with a broad statement like “I love science” or “Soccer has taught me valuable lessons,” ask yourself:
What was a moment of real action, conflict, or discovery?
What experience changed me or taught me something?
Where was I feeling something deeply—excitement, frustration, fear, determination?
For example, if you’re writing about how debate helped you find your confidence, don’t start with “Debate changed my life.” Instead, think of a specific moment:
Your first debate competition, where your hands were shaking as you delivered your argument.
A high-stakes match where you had to think on your feet.
The first time you won a debate and realized you had a voice worth hearing.
Once you’ve picked the moment, you’re ready for the next step.
How to Apply This Trick to Your Own Essay
Now that you know the power of starting in the middle of the action, let’s walk through how you can use this trick to transform your own college essay. Follow these three simple steps:
2. Start With an Action, Thought, or Dialogue
Instead of easing in with background details, immediately pull your reader into the moment.
You can do this by starting with:
🛠 An action: What were you physically doing?
🧠 A thought: What was running through your mind?
💬 Dialogue: What was being said in the moment?
Example Transformations:
Essay about a passion for robotics
❌ Weak opening: “I’ve always loved engineering and problem-solving.”
✅ Stronger opening: “The robot wasn’t moving. With only seconds left, I scrambled to rewire the circuit, my hands shaking.”
Essay about overcoming stage fright
❌ Weak opening: “Public speaking has always been a challenge for me.”
✅ Stronger opening: “‘Next up, we have—’ My stomach dropped. My name had just been called. I clutched my speech, heart pounding.”
Essay about a personal challenge
❌ Weak opening: “Moving to a new country was difficult for me.”
✅ Stronger opening: “I stood in the cafeteria, tray in hand. Everyone around me spoke in rapid English, laughing at jokes I didn’t understand.”
Each of these stronger openings immediately places the reader inside the experience. They create questions—What happens next? Did they succeed? How did they handle it?
That’s exactly what you want your essay to do.
3. Weave in Background Information Later
One of the biggest worries students have when using this technique is, “But won’t the reader be confused?”
Here’s the key: You don’t need to explain everything up front.
Once you’ve pulled the reader in with your opening scene, you can naturally introduce background information in the next paragraph.
For example, after the robotics competition opening, you might write:
"That competition was the moment I realized I loved problem-solving under pressure. I had joined the robotics club as a shy freshman, unsure if I’d even like it. But that day, when I finally got the robot to move, I knew I had found something I wanted to pursue."
Now, you’ve seamlessly introduced context without a boring opening.
Try It Yourself!
Take a look at your current essay draft (or if you haven’t started, brainstorm your topic). Ask yourself:
✅ Does my opening line hook the reader?
✅ Can I start with a more exciting moment instead of an explanation?
✅ Would this grab someone’s attention if they were skimming through a pile of essays?
If your current introduction feels slow or generic, rewrite it using In Medias Res.
Next, let’s look at some common mistakes and how to avoid them! 🚀
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Using In Medias Res is one of the easiest ways to make your college essay more engaging—but only if you do it right. Here are three common mistakes students make and how to avoid them.
❌ Mistake #1: Starting Too Late in the Story
Some students get excited about diving into the action and end up starting too far into the moment, leaving the reader confused.
🔴 Weak Example:
"I hit the buzzer just as the final second ticked down. The crowd erupted in cheers."
Wait—what buzzer? What game? Who are you playing against?
✅ Stronger Example:
"The score was tied, and there were five seconds left on the clock. I gripped the basketball, scanning for an opening. Three seconds. Two. I took the shot."
👉 Fix it: Start in the middle of the action, but make sure you provide just enough context so the reader isn’t lost.
❌ Mistake #2: Forgetting to Follow Through
A strong opening is great, but the rest of your essay needs to deliver. Some students start with an exciting moment but then immediately shift into a dry, lifeless explanation.
🔴 Weak Example:
"The roller coaster crept up the track, my stomach twisting. But I’ve always been interested in physics, and that’s why I want to major in engineering."
The transition is too abrupt—it doesn’t connect the thrilling moment with the deeper meaning.
✅ Stronger Example:
"The roller coaster crept up the track, my stomach twisting. I thought about the forces at play—the tension in the chain, the pull of gravity. Most kids were screaming. I was calculating."
👉 Fix it: Use the action-packed opening to set up a theme or insight about yourself. Don’t abandon the momentum—keep the energy flowing into the body of the essay.
❌ Mistake #3: Forcing Drama That Doesn’t Feel Authentic
It’s tempting to start with something overly dramatic just to grab attention, but if the moment isn’t truly meaningful to you, it will feel forced.
🔴 Weak Example:
"I was dangling off the edge of the cliff, my fingers slipping. Okay, maybe I wasn’t actually in danger, but it sure felt like it when I was taking my math test."
Admissions officers will see through exaggerated or gimmicky openings like this.
✅ Stronger Example:
"I stared at the math test in front of me, my mind blank. For the first time all year, I had no idea how to answer the question."
👉 Fix it: Pick a real moment from your life—one that shaped you in some way. Authenticity is what makes your essay memorable, not artificial drama.
Final Thought: Make Your Essay Stand Out
At the end of the day, your college essay is your chance to tell your story in a way that’s fresh, engaging, and unforgettable. Starting in the middle of the action immediately draws the reader in, but the key is to use it strategically and authentically.
✅ Find a moment that truly represents you.
✅ Start in the action, not with background information.
✅ Keep the momentum going—don’t drop the energy after the first paragraph.
Now, take a look at your essay. Does your opening grab attention and make the reader want to keep going? If not, try rewriting it using In Medias Res. This simple trick might just be the difference between blending in and standing out in a sea of applications. 🚀