U.S. News has compiled several college essay examples that helped students get into school. Shared by admissions staff or referenced from admissions websites, these essays stand out, they say ...

You’ve been brainstorming ideas for your college essays and above all other contenders, you find yourself coming back to the same topic, one you know well and love dearly: Harry Potter.

For example ... hundreds of essays about a short but rewarding experience. The sheer number of works written about these experiences made them a cliché in the college admissions community.

When Jeffrey Wang was a high-school senior in Connecticut in 2014, he wasn't sure what to write about for his college application essay. He thought about writing his essay on a subject he enjoyed ...