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don't write your college essay about video games

Before you write your college essay on video games

May 22, 2019 by Sara Nolan 2 Comments

Every year, I see a whole bunch of well-meaning students who want to write their college application essays about playing video games, their talent, bliss, hard-earned improvement over time, frustrations when they just can’t beat XYZ and– PSA , please rethink this college essay topic choice, friends.

Maybe the topic feels oh-so-right to you, and you’re perplexed why I (who am all about student choice) am handing the essay back to you to revise.

Yes, you can sometimes “lose all track of time” playing your favorite video games. And isn’t that exactly what Common App Prompt #6 is asking about?

Sure, the Common App want to know about your total absorption, such that the rest of life falls away ( who cares if it’s garbage pickup day?) , and all that matters is your passion. Right?

That is– until you’re stumped, stuck at Level 3 (Common App #6 asks, “Why does it captivate you? “ Because I need to get to level four, hello?) , and throw your controller at the wall. Maybe you call your cousin for help, the one who regularly locks himself in his room for three days straight with a jumbo size Mountain Dew – You-Ever-Even-Drink-Water (Common App #6 asks, “What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?”).

There has got to be more to your life and soul than this.

But shouldn’t you write your essay about what you love most? (Well, maybe!)

AND GAMING MAKES YOU FEEL ALIVE, you’ll argue! Yes, these video games are the most exciting thing to you since sliced bread (because, hey, when bread is already sliced, you can blindly pull two pieces out of the bag and put them right in your mouth!).

But it’s not a great idea to subject admissions readers to your level-upping problems and prowess. Maybe they’ll worry you’ll spend all your time at their school gaming too– versus, say, focusing on academics. Or maybe they will feel judgment about a student habit that doesn’t add a whole lot to the world.

I’m riffing here, and it has nothing to do with being for or against video games, generally. My job as college essay writing coach is to guide you toward the best topic for admissions purposes, and I say– your obsession with video games is unlikely to be a good topic.

I have had many bright, accomplished students with big goals– who devote hours weekly to their favorite video games, among other things they love. Most of us have some distraction we turn to for enjoyment or stress relief. It’s also exactly that– distraction, relief.

Reasons not to write about video games:

Rarely is there a good story in there (despite lots of action verbs). Your excellence at the game is likely only interesting to you (and fellow similarly obsessed folks: chat with them instead?). Any storyline belongs more to the games’ narrative than your life experience.
We rarely will learn enough about you as a person (vs as a player). The topic (prompt) is supposed to be an excuse to learn about you, a meaningful story, character trait, or value.
Honestly, the “obstacle” of beating a level or not is not that relevant, no matter how challenging. It’s virtual, just a game. You could be doing other stuff. Onward.
The writing is almost always predictable and cliched. Yes, of course you want to beat the game. Is that not why you play so much?

But when could you write about video games, if you were really, really sure this was the topic burning a hole in your heart?

If you can come up with a unique angle. Video games need to be merely a lens through which we learn about something else key to what makes you you, or vehicle to talk about something else you have lived through, or done.

Some Ways to Turn Your Obsession with Video Games into a better topic:

Hypothetical examples abound, friends:

You used a video gaming habit to help you overcome social anxiety–and it worked.
You came to an insight about something important you could do or create in real life from gaming–and you did it.
You developed important relationships through gaming you would never have found otherwise, ones that had relevance beyond the time you spent online.
You developed new video games yourself, and had real-world business experience.
You had a high stakes bet for a life-saving deal that was contingent on your beating a game–and you did.
You turned around an intense gaming habit and turned it into a new habit that added to your family or community.

All these possible topics give you something substantial to talk about from your real life. But these tweaks mean you are no longer answering Common App prompt #6.

AND I have never read a video game essay that worked well enough to keep (so I challenge you! Change my view!).

Still, descriptions of you playing the actual video games should be minimal. One sentence, maybe two.

So I advise: use your love of games as some needed down time from essay-writing (in doses, please!) but not as your topic. And if you’re the kind of person who does get so obsessed with games you “lose all track of time”– set a timer. Here’s one, the famed focus-enhancing pomodoro timer .

Help, I can’t tweak my topic on my own!

Need help figuring out if you can work your video game passion into a topic that tells us about you? Contact us for fast feedback! But be prepared for hard news. 🙂

We want to know what makes you you . Loving video games soooo much makes you like a whole bunch of other people– but doesn’t tell us a lot worth remembering.

And what your admissions reader wants is to read something memorable.

Reader Interactions

October 13, 2019 at 11:47 pm

Thank you for giving us – college applicants – advice by writing this article! Any information we can receive at this point is extremely crucial. I came across this article of yours when I was looking up college essays that talk about video games. You made some very good points throughout: I understood and agreed with most of them. However, I found it pretty intriguing how you said you haven’t read any gaming-essays that actually worked. (And it was really cute when you asked us to challenge your viewpoint!) Anyways, I am still planning on writing my essay on video games, only from a perspective different from the ones you talked about. Although I am a typical 5.0GPA/1600SAT student with multiple national championships, I spend A LOT of time playing video games… Especially MOBA and Battle Royale. There are so many things I gained from my gaming experience: meeting players from all over the world, developing in-depth relationships with them, establishing and leading groups/clans, help “noobs” learn, and etc. My favorite part about gaming is the strategic aspect: there are so many factors involved! The abilities of the in-game heroes you choose, teamwork, geographical factors, your opponents’ mentality/psychology, when to retreat and when to attack… Players need to put all of these things into consideration when coming up with an in-game strategy… Isn’t that pretty awesome? I wrote a ton of blogs with strategic plans of my own design (I uploaded the majority of them on WeChat, a Chinese social media app, which also gives me international experience!) some of them even got millions of reads, which I still can’t believe… Anyways, I am definitely not commenting JUST to tell you that I am confident in proving you wrong… I don’t think a lot of the other gamers had the same experience as me. However, I thought that it would be cool to share my perspective with you!

Sorry for this huge comment! Cheers! Samantha

October 14, 2019 at 6:46 am

I emailed you but of course I want to see this essay and I am sure my readers do too! Please share. 🙂

With heart SARA

Writing Your College Essay About Video Games

When you’re thinking about writing your college essay about video games, you’ll be at a crossroads…

How you write your essay –and how it sounds– can make or break your chances at college. It can be the difference between UCLA and UC Berkeley, or Cornell and trade school. That’s why writing your college essay about video games can seem especially scary.

The world of college essay writing is brutal. The probability you’ll make at least one mistake is near guaranteed. It may have you asking a few questions.

Is it okay to write about my college essay about video games?
How do I write my college essay about video games without sounding inappropriate?
Will the admissions officers judge me if I write my college essay about League of Legends? Will they even understand the lingo?
What if I don’t have anything else to write about in my college essay? What if all I have is video games?
Will being Asian American and writing about video games negatively impact my admissions chances due to stereotyping?

This can be scary, especially when it jeopardizes your chances of attending college.

However, I have some wisdom that, as an admissions consultant, I believe will help you overcome all the “what-if”s that come with choosing video games as your college essay topic.

Long story short: It’s okay to write your college admissions essay about video games. Period.

I’ll say that again.

It’s okay to write your college admissions essay about video games.

Trust me on this. When I worked as an admissions expert in the general Southern California area before founding PenningPapers, I was bombarded with questions like “is it okay to write my college essay about video games/sports/movies” all the time. I’ve helped many students get into their reach schools despite lower test scores and GPAs. The same pattern repeats itself.

Students who write to impress the admissions officers have okay-ish essays.

Students who open up in their college essays have stellar essays that make a significant difference in the admissions process.

I’ve come across apprehensive people, both students and controlling parents, who were absolutely terrified of having video games in their college essays. Nonetheless, it is absolutely critical that you drill this principle into your mind: most college essay topics are just fine. It is less about the topic itself, and more about how you demonstrate yourself as a valuable asset to the universities.

Remember: universities are screening for the best students. It’s capitalist, roughly speaking.

So, when a university asks “what are your hobbies and interests”, they are really trying to dig into your brain. They need to deconstruct you. That’s how they see value in you as a student. It’s how they determine whether to invest time, money, and professors in you.

Thus, the question is not “can I write my college essay about video games”. Rather, the right question is this: “how do I write a college essay about video games that show my value as a potential candidate”?

In this article, we’ll be covering exactly that. We’ll be discussing how to write your college essay about video games, and more importantly how to do so in a manner that gets you accepted anywhere. Well, okay. Not everywhere, but at least more places than you normally would.

Table of Contents

College Essay Red Flags

Demonstrating value as a candidate through video games, stereotypes, asian american identity, and other considerations in college essays.

When writing your college essay on any topic, regardless of whether it involves sports, mental health, video games, etc, you want the essay to be about you. Sure, you’re talking about video games in your college essay. However, the overarching objective of the college essay writing process is to show the admissions officers’ qualities about you. The games are secondary, and they should only serve to qualify traits and characteristics about you.

Something else you should consider is that there is more to video games than the actual game itself. There is also the culture, development process, and personal meaningful attachment that goes along with it. These should be leveraged in your application.

Think about people who enjoy basketball. The value-free proposition is that basketball fans love seeing people toss an orange circle around a court and place them in nets. This doesn’t tell us anything about people who enjoy basketball. However, if you account for the long history of rivalries, the friends made along the way, and the sense of camaraderie developed through rigorous team efforts, there is much more to a basketball fan that we can see.

Okay. Now let’s take a look back at video games.

There’s the video game in itself; that includes the controls, rules, and functions. Outside of that is the culture surrounding the game, and the community built around it. So, if you are in love with the Super Smash Bros community, you may say that the community plays an important role. How would this manifest itself in an essay? Let’s take an example college essay structure about Super Smash Bros.

College essay outline structure

“Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.” Common App Prompt 7

I’ve always had a love for the Super Smash Bros series.
More than just the game, I’ve shared many memories playing with friends who had the same interest.
The game has helped me wake up a competitive drive that I never knew I had before.
Strangely enough, it molded me into a more disciplined person –unlike with other games.
The inside jokes and silly moments pulled me through tough times I never knew I could have pulled through.
The last few years have been peppered with academic adversity, grit, and determination. It has made pursuing a major in business a rigorous journey.
However, Super Smash Bros played such an important role in both my personal growth –both through the game and the community it threw me in– that it is the topic I felt would make my college admissions story incomplete without it.

Notice how in the example above we’ve demonstrated more about the person than the game itself?

This is the key to writing your college essay about video games. You need to make sure the essay reveals more about you as a person. In the example above, we talk about how the culture around Super Smash Bros, the inside jokes, the friends we’ve made along the way, and the community has molded you into someone more capable and determined. However, we also conclude with how this topic has a soft spot in your heart and makes up a great part of your experience. This helps the admissions office use your essays as a tool to understand you better and, more importantly, better understand why you deserve to attend their school.

Now, let’s talk about red flags when writing your college essay about video games.

For obvious reasons, there are certain video games that may not be appropriate to talk about in the college essay.

For instance, video games that clearly cover sexual abuse, child abuse, controversial topics, and questionable violence can make the college essay tread dangerous territory. There are exceptions. However, you want to make sure you are careful about which games you are covering specifically and what the underlying connotations are.

Another red flag that can come up with video games is the bad rep they get, especially in academic settings. It is often the case that students are told not to play video games if they don’t want to develop video game addiction. They may also want to avoid appearing like video games make them perform worse academically or pose a threat to their future performance at university.

People tend to be more accepting and understanding of video games in the modern era. However, the social stigma that comes with video game culture still lives on –especially in older audiences. Those who have a stigma against video games tend to believe “gamers” are…

unable to focus
inappropriate
prone to bouts of anger “gamer rage”
performing poorly in academics, or will be

It is important to dispel the bad impression of game culture as a whole when writing your college essay. You can do this subtly through subtext, or just dedicating one short paragraph specifying how you segregate yourself from the “toxic” side of gaming.

Some genres of video games also tend to attract a certain type of audience and, thus, cultivate an archetype of people in the community. For instance, Animal Crossing is often associated with people who take gaming casually. However, games such as the Doom series have received a bad reputation from social activist groups for their subtle jokes about social justice culture . This can also be lumped into the “gamer culture” in general.

Not every admissions officer is going to go into a deep dive into the types of video games that you play. However, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Make sure to do a background check on the video game that you will cover in your college essay, and ask yourself whether it would leave a good or bad impression on you if you were the reader.

This is the most important thing to consider when writing your college essay about video games.

We know we covered this briefly in the beginning, but we want to clarify this further. The goal of the college essay is not just to write about yourself, but also to provide the admissions officers with a tool to better understand you. They use this to measure how valuable of a candidate you will be for their school.

Think of the college admissions process as a capitalist format. Let’s say you own a university. Your goal is to create a space of higher learning that will fit the setting, create a haven of well-cultured and sociable students who feel welcome, and generate enough profit from said students to create a positive feedback loop. This requires you to accept students who would be the best fit for this sort of structure. Who would you like to spend your time, money, and professors on?

Someone who has an interest in video games.
Someone who has an interest in video games and shows how the video games influenced both their career path and their social group.

The second option gives us much more content. It helps us understand as admissions officers why they may be a great fit for the university. Although the topic is about video games, it still reveals to us that games played a big role in structuring their career path and how they make friends. We get to know more about the person, and not the game itself.

Thus, you may want to ask yourself this: how exactly do I want to look like in front of the admissions officers? Use those traits, and demonstrate how video games have nurtured that part of your personality.

This part is something that needs to be addressed very clearly.

Most universities will not directly discriminate against you based on your identity, race, or sex. However, there does exist very clear discrimination against certain groups. This includes specifically Asian and White students. This is because White and Asian students tend to perform higher in academic performance historically; so, to level the playing field, they will need to perform much better than average.

In terms of writing your college essay about video games, you may run the risk of being compared to the many other Asian Americans who will also write their essays on video games. When you have a topic similar or in the same vein as the rest, you effectively have to compete against everyone else who may have a better essay than you.

Remember: many people love video games. You’ll have to find a way to stand out amongst the rest of the applications. However, this will be especially true for students applying as Asian.

One last consideration you may want to, well, consider, is that it would be wise to talk to a college admissions essay editor. Writing your college essay about video games can be a fantastic idea, as long as you don’t fall into pitfalls that so commonly happen. We’ve seen both very strong and very weak college essays about video games. So, consider scheduling a free consultation with us . We can get back to you within 24 hours and provide you with feedback and advice on how to best improve your college essay. We’ve seen many college essays about video games, so we’ll know exactly how to make yours stand out amongst the rest to get you accepted.

2 thoughts on “Writing Your College Essay About Video Games”

This article helped me tremendously, I am very grateful you took the time to write and help many others like me. I would for you to someone else in your league to help me with my college essay. It is due on the 15th, so if you were to get back to me quickly, that would be wonderful.

Hi Azlan! Thanks for the response! It was a pleasure working with you!

Also, apologies! We sent an email but failed to respond in this article’s comment section. For all future applicants seeking services through the comment section, please feel free to request through this comment section or contact us with the link here! https://penningpapers.com/contact/

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Best Video Game Essay Topics for Students

Choosing the right essay topic is crucial, and for students who love video games, it’s an opportunity to combine their passion with academics. In this article, we’ll explore a variety of exciting and various video game essay topic ideas for students of high school and college. This blog includes argumentative, analytical, persuasive and other types of essays related to video gaming.

Video Game Essay Topics for High School Students

How Video Games Improve Problem-Solving Skills.
Understanding the World of E-sports.
The Importance of Balanced Gaming Habits.
Exploring the History of Gaming Consoles.
Video Games: Entertainment and Cultural Influence.
Gender Representation in Video Games.
Gamification in Education: Learning through Play.
Game Design and the Art of Video Games.
Tracing the Growth of the Video Game Industry.
Social Connections in Online Gaming Communities.
Video Games and Mental Health Benefits.
Exploring Careers in Game Development.
Ethical Choices in Video Games.
The Impact of Music in Video Games.
Making Video Games Accessible to Everyone.

Video Game Essay Topics for College Students

The Educational Value of Video Games in College Curriculum.
The Growth and Impact of E-sports in the Sports Industry.
Gaming Habits and Academic Performance: A College Study.
Game Engine Comparison: Unity vs. Unreal Engine.
Gender Representation in Video Games: A College Perspective.
Analyzing Game Narrative Structures in Popular Titles.
Moral Choices in Video Games: Implications and Outcomes.
The Psychology of Player Motivation in Gaming.
Virtual Reality in Higher Education: Opportunities and Challenges.
Career Prospects in Game Development: Paths and Insights.
Ethical Dilemmas in Video Game Content Creation.
The Role of Music and Sound in Video Game Immersion.
Indie Game Development: Innovations and Success Stories.
Video Game Preservation: Saving Gaming History.
AI in Gaming: Enhancing NPC Behavior and Gameplay.

Common Essay Topics Related to Video Games

The Influence of Video Games on Academic Performance.
Video Game Violence: Separating Fact from Fiction.
The History and Evolution of Mobile Gaming.
The Role of Gaming in Building Teamwork and Collaboration.
The Psychology of In-Game Rewards and Achievements.
Virtual Reality (VR) Gaming: A Glimpse into the Future.
Gaming and STEM Education: Learning Science through Games.
The Representation of Diversity in Video Games.
The Impact of In-Game Advertising on Players.
The Benefits of Gaming for Stress Relief and Relaxation.
The Importance of Responsible Gaming.
The Art of Game Mods: Customizing and Enhancing Games.
E-sports Scholarships and Opportunities for Students.
The Environmental Impact of Video Game Consoles.
Gamers for Good: How Gaming Communities Contribute to Charity.

Argumentative Topics for Video Game Essays

Do Violent Video Games Promote Aggressive Behavior in Players?
Should There Be Age Restrictions on Purchasing Violent Video Games?
Are Video Games a Viable Educational Tool in Schools?
Is Video Game Addiction a Real Concern, and How Should It Be Addressed?
Do Video Games Enhance Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking Skills?
Should Parents Be More Involved in Monitoring Their Children’s Gaming Habits?
Is E-sports a Legitimate Sport and Worthy of Recognition?
Does Playing Video Games Improve Hand-Eye Coordination?
Are Video Games a Form of Art, and Should They Be Treated as Such?
Should the Video Game Industry Be Regulated More Strictly for Content?
Do Video Games Have a Positive or Negative Impact on Social Skills?
Is There a Link Between Video Games and Obesity in Children?
Should Professional Gamers Be Considered Athletes and Eligible for Sports Scholarships?
Does Gaming Culture Foster Toxic Behavior and Harassment?
Can Video Games Help Alleviate Stress and Anxiety in Players?

Didn’t find any topic of your interest? No worries! We have listed 100+ Argumentative Essay Topics for Students here, you can go through the article and choose the best one as per your needs. This blog has various niche topics and can assist to find the best one for you.

Informative Video Game Essay Topics

The History of Video Games: From Pong to Present.
A Deep Dive into the World of E-sports.
How Video Games are Made: Game Development Explained.
Exploring Different Genres of Video Games: Action, RPG, Simulation, etc.
The Evolution of Video Game Graphics and Technology.
Iconic Video Game Characters and Their Impact on Pop Culture.
The Science Behind Gaming: How Game Engines Work.
Video Game Consoles: Past, Present, and Future.
The Importance of Storytelling in Video Games.
The Role of Sound Design and Music in Gaming.
The Influence of Video Games on Architecture and Design.
Video Game Streaming and Content Creation: A New Career Frontier.
The Psychology of Gaming: Why We Love Video Games.
The Cultural Significance of Video Game Events and Conventions.
The Rise of Gamification in Education and Training.

Compare & Contrast Video Game Essay Topics

These compare and contrast essay topics are chosen by our experts and are specifically related to video gaming. These are general and easy to write on.

Console Gaming vs. PC Gaming: Which Is Better?
Single-Player vs. Multiplayer Games: Which Do You Prefer?
Mobile Games vs. Console Games: Pros and Cons.
Classic Games vs. Modern Games: What’s Changed?
First-Person vs. Third-Person Shooter Games: Which is More Immersive?
Xbox vs. PlayStation: Comparing Gaming Communities.
Video Games vs. Board Games: Which Provides More Fun?
Old Game Graphics vs. New Game Graphics: A Visual Evolution.
RPGs vs. Action Games: Gameplay Differences.
Retro Games vs. Modern Games: Nostalgia vs. Innovation.
Open-World Games vs. Linear Games: Freedom vs. Guided Storytelling.
Strategy Games vs. Puzzle Games: Challenges in Gaming.
Video Games vs. Movies: Storytelling Approaches.
Online Shooters vs. Battle Royale Games: Teamwork vs. Solo Play.
Exclusive vs. Cross-Platform Games: Your Gaming Options.

Analytical Topics for Video Game Essays

Strategies for Success in Online Multiplayer Games.
Analyzing Game Elements in Role-Playing Games (RPGs).
In-Game Purchases and Their Impact on Player Progress.
The Design of Levels in Platformer Games: A Critical Look.
Difficulty Levels in Video Games: Effects on Player Experience.
The In-Game Economy: How It Works and Influences Players.
The Significance of Tutorial Levels in Game Learning.
Character Development in Video Games: Evolution and Influence.
Linear vs. Non-Linear Storytelling in Video Games.
Morality Systems in Games: Player Choices and Consequences.
AI and Machine Learning in Video Games: Advancements and Applications.
User-Friendly Game Interfaces: Design Principles and Importance.
Game Analytics: Measuring Success in the Gaming Industry.
Visual Design and Its Impact on Player Immersion.
Cultural Adaptation in Video Game Localization.

Persuasive Essay Topics on Video Gaming

Why Schools Should Use Video Games for Learning.
The Importance of Age Ratings in Video Game Sales.
Video Games: Tools for Enhancing Problem-Solving Skills.
How Video Games Can Improve Mental Well-being.
Debunking the Myth: Video Games and Real-Life Violence.
Promoting Diversity in Video Game Characters.
Parents’ Role in Monitoring Kids’ Gaming Habits.
Gamification in Education: Making Learning Fun.
Addressing Video Game Addiction as a Health Issue.
Teamwork and Cooperation in Multiplayer Games.
Ethical Game Development: Fair Monetization Practices.
The Need for More Research on Video Game Violence.
Combatting Toxicity in Online Gaming Communities.
Exploring E-sports Career Opportunities.
Making Video Games Accessible for Everyone.

Best Video Game Essay Topics in 2023

The Impact of Video Games on Society Today.
Gaming and Sustainability: How Can Gamers Go Green?
NFTs in Gaming: What You Need to Know.
Virtual Reality Gaming: The Next Big Thing.
Making Games Accessible for Everyone.
AI’s Role in Video Game Development.
Gaming Habits Post-Pandemic: What’s Changed?
In-Game Advertising: Friend or Foe?
5G Technology and Its Effect on Gaming.
Video Games and Mental Health: A Closer Look.
Augmented Reality Games in Learning and Fun.
Collectibles and In-Game Economies: Explained.
Gaming Across Cultures: Challenges and Solutions.
The Power of Online Gaming Communities.
E-sports: The Future of Competitive Gaming.

These gaming essay topics would surely help you select the best topic of your choice, all various topics are suggested by our qualified experts keeping in mind the capabilities of an average student. If you want to hire our assignment writer for your gaming essays, feel free to reach us and get your homework done by experts.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, can my passion for video games shine through in my college essay.

Video games have been a huge part of my life, teaching me about storytelling and even coding. Do you think this could make for a compelling college essay, or should I avoid it since it might not be seen as 'serious' enough?

Absolutely! Your passion for video games can definitely be a compelling topic for a college essay. The key is not the subject itself, but how you reflect on your experiences and what you've learned from them. It's all about presenting your story authentically and showing how video games have shaped you into the person you are today. Discuss how storytelling in games has deepened your understanding of narrative structure or how coding in the context of gaming has sparked a passion for technology. These are serious and relevant topics. For example, one of my students wrote an essay detailing how solving puzzles in video games enhanced their problem-solving skills, and it was very well received by admissions committees. Just be sure to focus on the personal growth aspect and what you've taken away from your experiences with video games, rather than merely describing your interest. Colleges are always on the lookout for students who are self-aware and able to learn and grow from their interests.

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Blog > Common App , Essay Advice > 4 Questions to Ask If You're Considering Writing Your College Essay About Video Games

4 Questions to Ask If You're Considering Writing Your College Essay About Video Games

Admissions officer reviewed by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University

Written by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University Admissions

Key Takeaway

The two main concerns I hear from students who are considering writing their college essay about video games are that the topic isn’t “academic” enough, and that the admission officer might think video games are a waste of time. I read many essays about video games as an AO for 8 years, and I found some compelling while others missed the mark. Here are four questions to ask if you are considering writing about video games.

A “no” to any of these questions doesn’t mean you can’t write about video games, but you might consider a different topic if at least some of these aren’t true for you:

Is this where I spend most of my time outside of school?

Your personal statement and supplemental essays don’t have to discuss the activity where you spend the most amount of time, but you should consider how many hours per week you spend on different activities. If video games (or any activity) is not at or near the top of this list, consider if there is another impactful activity you might write about that would offer greater insight into who you are.

Is playing video games something I do as part of a community, or solo?

Many gamers find a balance between solo play and playing with friends either in person or online. Some of the more effective college essays about video games discuss the game as engaging with a broader community. This was particularly true during peak COVID shutdowns.

Colleges are looking for students to join their social as well as academic community. Showcasing your community values, leadership, or organizational skills through a gaming community could make your essay more effective.

D o I have an unusually high level of achievement in gaming?

Colleges, especially highly selective ones, love to see students who have achieved success at high levels. This could look like debating in a national competition, winning a prestigious writing competition, or even being internationally ranked in a video game. The higher the impact and level of achievement, the more it pushes the admission office’s ratings of your file.

If you do have an unusually high level of achievement, spell it out for the admission officer! Students often make the mistake of assuming either that their achievement won’t be valued because it is in a video game, or that they can simply state their achievement without contextualizing it. Realize that your admission officer may or may not be familiar with the game, so you’ll want to give them some information to work with.

This could also come in the “additional information” section of the Common App. That’s a great place to add context to parts of your application that don’t fit as naturally in essays or your activities section.

D oes the school I’m applying to have an Esports program? If so, do I want to join?

If you are applying to a college with an Esports program, you already know the school and admission office places some value on competitive gaming. If you are interested in joining and writing a school-specific supplemental essay, you might even mention your intent to join in your essay. Beyond the essay, you might consider reaching out to the Esports coach to learn more about the program and how you might join.

So, do I recommend writing a college essay on video games?

Video games, like most topics, are fair game in your college essay. I think it can be tough to pull off a video game essay, though, given that there is so much nuance to games and you don’t know the level of familiarity your admission officer has.

Will your admission officer know anything about video games? Well, the average age of admission officers on my last campus was about 29. Most officers have some level of familiarity with video games, but you’ll want to make sure you are saying more about yourself than the game.

So, my advice is to focus on yourself, how you contribute to a community, or some extraordinary level of achievement you’ve had. If these don’t sound relevant to you, consider using a different topic.

Regardless of the topic you choose, you’ll want to make sure your essays are part of a larger cohesive narrative in your application. Your transcript and test scores provide the quantitative numbers the admission office needs. But your essays, activities section, and recommendations tell a story.

Create standout essays with some of our other resources. Start with our blogs on writing personal statements and supplemental essays .

If you really want to kick your essays into high gear, we offer an online course, the Essay Academy, where you will find hours of high-quality advice, dozens of examples of essays that worked, and key insights from top admissions offices around the US.

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107 Video Game Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Video games have become a popular form of entertainment for people of all ages. From action-packed shooters to immersive role-playing games, there is a video game out there for everyone. With such a wide variety of games to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide on a topic for an essay about video games. To help you get started, here are 107 video game essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your writing:

The impact of violent video games on children's behavior
The evolution of video game graphics over the years
The rise of esports and its influence on the gaming industry
The benefits of playing video games for cognitive development
The representation of gender and race in video games
The history of virtual reality gaming
The psychology of loot boxes in video games
The role of music in enhancing the gaming experience
The ethics of video game journalism
The impact of video game addiction on mental health
The cultural significance of video game franchises like Mario and Pokemon
The future of cloud gaming and streaming services
The role of storytelling in video games
The influence of video games on popular culture
The relationship between video games and education
The impact of video game censorship on creative expression
The portrayal of mental health issues in video games
The role of social media in video game marketing
The history of video game consoles
The impact of online multiplayer games on social interaction
The evolution of game mechanics in the survival horror genre
The representation of LGBTQ+ characters in video games
The influence of Japanese culture on video game aesthetics
The role of nostalgia in the popularity of retro gaming
The impact of microtransactions on player experience
The relationship between video games and violence in society
The role of artificial intelligence in game development
The impact of video game streaming platforms like Twitch
The representation of disability in video games
The influence of game design on player engagement
The evolution of mobile gaming
The role of virtual economies in online multiplayer games
The impact of video game sound design on immersion
The portrayal of mental illness in video games
The influence of Eastern philosophy on game narratives
The role of user-generated content in game communities
The impact of fan culture on video game development
The representation of indigenous cultures in video games
The influence of literature on game storytelling
The role of game difficulty in player satisfaction
The impact of video game piracy on the industry
The portrayal of war in military shooter games
The relationship between video games and sports
The influence of board games on video game design
The role of player choice in game narratives
The impact of virtual reality on therapy and rehabilitation
The representation of historical events in video games
The influence of film on game aesthetics
The role of gender stereotypes in video game marketing
The impact of game mods on player creativity
The portrayal of mental health professionals in video games
The influence of tabletop role-playing games on video game mechanics
The role of game mechanics in promoting teamwork and cooperation
The impact of game development crunch on industry workers
The representation of animals in video games
The influence of science fiction on game narratives
The role of player agency in game storytelling
The impact of game difficulty on player motivation
The portrayal of addiction in video games
The influence of mythology on game aesthetics
The role of puzzles in game design
The impact of game reviews on player purchasing decisions
The representation of mental illness in horror games
The influence of architecture on game environments
The role of game soundtracks in enhancing the player experience
The impact of game tutorials on player learning
The portrayal of robots and AI in video games
The influence of fashion on character design in games
The role of humor in game narratives
The impact of game localization on cultural representation
The representation of environmental issues in video games
The influence of psychology on game design
The role of game narratives in exploring complex themes
The impact of game communities on player engagement
The portrayal of mental health struggles in indie games
The influence of mythology on game storytelling
The role of player feedback in game development
The impact of game accessibility on player inclusivity
The representation of gender identity in video games
The influence of surrealism on game aesthetics
The role of morality systems in game narratives
The impact of game tutorials on player retention
The portrayal of mental health professionals in horror games
The influence of psychology on game narratives
The role of player choice in shaping game outcomes
The impact of game aesthetics on player immersion
The representation of LGBTQ+ relationships in video games
The role of environmental storytelling in game design
The impact of game streaming on player engagement
The portrayal of mental illness in puzzle games
The role of player feedback in shaping game development
The impact of game aesthetics on player perception
The representation of LGBTQ+ characters in horror games
The influence of film noir on game narratives
The role of environmental storytelling in shaping game worlds
The impact of game tutorials on player skill progression
The portrayal of mental illness in narrative-driven games
The influence of science fiction on game aesthetics
The role of player choice in determining game endings
The impact of game aesthetics on player emotional response
The representation of LGBTQ+ relationships in indie games
The influence of literature on game design
The role of environmental storytelling in immersive game worlds
The impact of game streaming on player community building
The portrayal of mental health struggles in interactive fiction games

Whether you are writing a research paper, a critical analysis, or a personal reflection on video games, these topics provide a diverse range of ideas to explore. From examining the psychological effects of gaming to analyzing the cultural significance of game narratives, there is no shortage of fascinating topics to delve into. So, pick a topic that interests you and start exploring the world of video games through the lens of your essay. Happy writing!

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Should Video Game Passion Be Shared on College Applications?

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My son is a strong student who got almost a perfect score on his PSAT but hasn't had a chance to take the SAT or ACT yet. His grades are all A's. So I think he has some good opportunities in terms of college choice, except for one thing: His only interest is video games. He doesn't have any extracurriculars, and he never went out on weekends, even before COVID. No school football games, no parties, no homecoming float, no school plays. Sometimes other kids will come over and play video games with him, but other times he will just play against other people online. We are talking about his college essay and he wants to write it about video games, and then for his activities list, he wants to list winning a video game tournament. Will it be a problem for him to highlight video games so prominently in his college application? I should add that he is not majoring in anything having to do with video games — he wants to major in education.

With excellent grades (although you didn't mention the rigor of the classes) and potentially high test scores, your son will certainly have college options. However, as you probably already know, the vast major of institutions — even large public universities — practice " holistic admissions ." This means that admission officials will look beyond the GPA and test results to see what else the applicant has accomplished. And, as you can imagine, an application that highlights just your son's prowess as a video gamer will probably work against him and will thus limit those options considerably.

Granted, there are folks out there — even in admission offices — who tout video games as a way to develop myriad skills or as a much-deserved stress-breaker for harried teens. But the fact that playing these games is your son's only extracurricular endeavor is going to be a greater negative than if his sole devotion were, say, volunteering at a community soup kitchen or leading the marching band. Yet any candidate who lists just one activity, however worthwhile it's perceived to be, is going into the potentially competitive selection process with a couple strikes against them.

It's fine for him to include winning a video game tournament on an Activities List . But if that victory isn't accompanied by other ventures outside of gaming, it will raise a red flag for admission officials. Likewise, while "The Dean" isn't quick to endorse an essay about gaming, of greater importance is how well your son writes and what, specifically, he writes about. More on that in a minute.

You say that your son wants to major in education. So how does he know this? Has he volunteered in a school? Tutored other students? Assisted a teacher? Even during these crazy times, he could test-drive his ambitions by providing online academic assistance to struggling elementary children or peers. Even better, he might design and present a summer Zoom class on a topic that will engage youngsters (yes, even video games, although that wouldn't be the ideal choice!).

I would also suggest that your son pursue a paying job that gets him out of the house and away from those controllers, if you're in a place where it's safe and pragmatic to do so. (Grocery stores and fast-food restaurants are hiring teens in many areas.) If working isn't practical or wise, it's time for your son to find an activity other than gaming that he can do at home. In fact, this "activity" could even be tied to his interest in video games ... as long as it's not more video games (e.g., he could read about a certain historical period that is featured in his games or teach himself graphic design/coding). Then, when it's time to write a college essay, he could amuse admission committees with a topic along the lines of "Coming Up from the Cave," which begins with his passion for gaming but then explains how it led him to new pursuits.

If, on the other hand, your son is skilled at eSports, that's a whole separate conversation. (You don't mention this, so "The Dean" is assuming that it's not the case, but I also know what's often said about those who ASSume!). Because I grew up in an era when Mr. Potato Head was considered a technological marvel, I never thought I'd live to see colleges recruiting eSport "athletes." Yet today over 200 schools not only field eSports teams but also offer scholarships. (These range from about $1,000 up to $25,000, but with most toward that lower end.) A Google search can provide an abundance of information or you can read more here . So if your son seems qualified to compete on a collegiate level and he contacts coaches and lands on their recruit lists, then his limited extracurricular life shouldn't be a negative after all.

Nonetheless, I'll give him the same advice that I would give to any prospective college athlete: "It will be clear from your application that you have achieved success in your sport. Yet, although a coach may advocate for you, it's ultimately the admission staff members who determine your fate. So you'd be smart to write your primary essay about something different, just to show them that you have other experiences, interests or ideas."

Hopefully, if you encourage your son to expand his horizons this summer, this will be true for him as well.

About the Ask the Dean Column

Sally Rubenstone is a veteran of the college admissions process and is the co-author of three books covering admissions. She worked as a Smith College admission counselor for 15 years and has also served as an independent college counselor, in addition to working as a senior advisor at College Confidential since 2002. If you'd like to submit a question to The Dean please email us at [email protected].

Share Your Thoughts

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Check out our forum to contribute to the conversation!

Sally Rubenstone

Sally Rubenstone knows the competitive and often convoluted college admission process inside out: From the first time the topic of college comes up at the dinner table until the last duffel bag is unloaded on a dorm room floor. She is the co-author of Panicked Parents' Guide to College Admissions; The Transfer Student's Guide to Changing Colleges and The International Student's Guide to Going to College in America. Sally has appeared on NBC's Today program and has been quoted in countless publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Weekend, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, People and Seventeen. Sally has viewed the admissions world from many angles: As a Smith College admission counselor for 15 years, an independent college counselor serving students from a wide range of backgrounds and the author of College Confidential's "Ask the Dean" column. She also taught language arts, social studies, study skills and test preparation in 10 schools, including American international schools in London, Paris, Geneva, Athens and Tel Aviv. As senior advisor to College Confidential since 2002, Sally has helped hundreds of students and parents navigate the college admissions maze. In 2008, she co-founded College Karma, a private college consulting firm, with her College Confidential colleague Dave Berry, and she continues to serve as a College Confidential advisor. Sally and her husband, Chris Petrides, became first-time parents in 1997 at the ripe-old age of 45. So Sally was nearly an official senior citizen when her son Jack began the college selection process, and when she was finally able to practice what she had preached for more than three decades.

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Video Games on College Application

Today, me and a friend argued for almost 4 hours about why video games would/would not look good on a college application. I personally DON’T play video games that much but i understand the basis of it. I DO play sports, I play soccer on a varsity level at my high school. My friend brought up some very valid points, especially on leadership and determination. I will list the points that we each make and I will let you guys decide if it would/wouldn’t help. Most of the times we were arguing about what sports had that video games didn’t…

Few Notes:

He plays very strategical online games.
He does use VOIP(Voice Over Internet Protocol I believe…) such as ventrillo to strategize.
He was sponsored to play DOTA, I forgot the full name but if you google the abbreviated name you can find out the longer name.
He is talking about competitive gaming, where results REALLY matter.

Why Gaming would look good on a college application. (His Arguments) 1.- Hours of practice (Sometimeas up to 18 hours a day(Breaks Of course!)) 2.- Leadership (Talking about Strategy over VOIP) – He says that there is more leadership in games than there are in sports since in sports its hard to communicate over the whole field… – He also says since you are shouting, and " therefore there is no way, you can lead without letting the other side know what you are doing." 3.- Teamwork (Accommodate for not only your own actions but your teams actions) 4.- Strategic thinking (Ways to counter an attack, Plan an attack) – Discussions before a game on what each person should do, etc… 5.- Must follow team training schedule (Competitive Online Gaming Of cource!) – Supposedly 1 person missing = no practice? 6.- Game is ever so slightly updating (New strategies or Game Updates) – Must think of ways to adapt 7.- Time management (Manage between school, games, eating, etc…) – Have to schedules your schedule to the team’s schedule.

Why Gaming would NOT look good on a college application.(My Arguments)

Way too much time spent in a virtual world. Sadly I can’t think of anymore. Which is why I decided to ask you guys…

Before you say start stating obvious reasons, compare the same reasons to sports (Or other games that do matter in a college application like chess).

if you like football, play football if you like chess, play chess if you want to be a leader, start a school club

nuff said

i understand that this is a controversial subject but the basis of both arguments is essentially the same. isn’t a sport simply a sort of “virtual world” as you described. football is a world on the field where two sides have opposite goals? the only difference is that your high school team has a football team not a gaming team. football requires physical training while video games require a different kind of training. There was a thread a while back about a guy asking if he should put his leadership position in his guild (he plays world of warcraft, a MMORPG) on his application because he actually had to do a lot of work organizing and communicating with many other players. Personally, i think its fine. You don’t HAVE to put video games on your application because it will sound like you ran out of other things to say, but if your positions were legitimate and you feel that you did a lot of work, i think you should definitely write it. Like I said, it’s essentially the same as sports except sports have more respect because it takes physical strength and more people watch it on tv. they’re both extracurriculars, does football help make you smarter? most will argue not necessarily, and the same is true with video games. they’re simply ways to express one’s self outside of academics. the only trouble is that adcoms will not know about the team work required in video games unless it is clearly explained.

I personally wouldn’t recommend putting down video games. I do understand that there are professional gamers out there, but it gets into a region that would be alien to the admission officers, who focus on ECs, school and research. Video games may sometimes require the skills that you claim they do, but the operations of these skills are entirely different from real life. Video game allows a player to be anonymous and it requires mainly fast finger movement. so putting down video games will bring about a different perspective than they are used to, which might cause some skepticism

I’d like to know what kind of video games these are. If it really is as strategic as he says, maybe they might give him a chance if he explains it thoroughly.

I do a modest amount of gaming myself, but I think most admission committees would view gaming as wasting time on something that isn’t real, and gamers are solitary people who spend all their time in their rooms in some escapist fantasy. Both beliefs may be untrue, and there are a number of comparisons you can make between sports and video games, but I wouldn’t risk challenging these preconceptions in something as important as your college application.

Little off the topic ,but in korea video game is consider as sports lol It’s called E-Sport And it has definetely huge market. I’m personally watching Starcraft for 9 years, and I think it’s really fun to watch. Sometimes it’s better than watching football,soccer…etc. Popular players easily earn 6 figures. So it’s definetely big deal in Korea.

Xmas Writes “if you like football, play football if you like chess, play chess if you want to be a leader, start a school club nuff said”

Does that have anything to relate to this topic? I’m asking if it is a valid statement to put video games on your college application as a EC.

nooob you make some very valid points, I guess what I am asking is why are sports necessarily more looked at in college applications than gaming. Is it purely based on population, since more people play sports competitively than online games?

Cavalier - You write “I do a modest amount of gaming myself, but I think most admission committees would view gaming as wasting time on something that isn’t real”

I’m pretty sure my friend would argue why sports can count as EC and a online game can’t, and then he will go on and on about how online games require more leadership and teamwork than an actual sport. So i guess what I am asking is if gaming is a valid point, although less people are informed about competitive online gaming.

PS: Sorry for 3 posts, I’m just too anxious to reply to all your posts so fast!

My son just finished his essay with WoW as his main theme, I guess you’d call it. He spoke of the interpersonal aspects of the game and went into some detail about the expectations of your guildmates regarding performance and adherance to rules, etc and how that mirrors wider society.

He wanted to use this topic, and I felt that if he wrote well, answered the prompt etc, then he should go for it. I think gaming is pretty widely enjoyed, even by people in academia. If the candidate has good grades and test scores, the adcoms will know that he doesn’t just sit around and play computer games, you know?

I wouldn’t put gaming down as an extracurricular activity, but perhaps it would make an interesting “supplemental materials” answer - you know - those things that say “If there is something else you’d like us to know about you…”

I agree whole heartedly with mamacol on this one. I think it is PERFECT to add as a supplemental answer – even as the primary essay on the common app if done well. I do think there are some very valid skills in some of this gaming world and we cannot deny that it is a hugely lucrative field for those who develop these games. My daughter, a freshman, has a friend who has created a couple of different Apps for the iphone. one of which is VERY good and gives him 99 cents a download! the point being: I think just a random mention under EC’s probably isn’t enough to give the activity merit, but put in a larger context it could be very compelling. And that’s the magic word in admissions: Compelling.

I would not put down video games on your application because society has just not adapted to the way video games works yet. As captain of the tennis team and a former raiding guild leader (cool, I know), I would say that leading a guild is way more difficult than a team (our team is one of the best in state by the way). You deal with such a wide variety of ethics, morals, and personalities, that getting everyone on the same page and coordinating different aspects is very time-consuming, as well as characteristic of a leader in real life. I was actually considering doing my essay on WoW, until I quit playing, because it relates so much to my major, but I was worried that adcoms would think I am a freak (I’m applying to low Ivies/equivs).

For one of MIT’s questions I answered I play video games lol.

I wrote my main essay on my experiences in the video game industry. I used to be involved in just gaming, but I have started focusing more on the online journalism and game design aspects.

I think video gaming is a VERY VALID topic for college apps.

You are right that putting down video games indicates a different perspective. In fact, my entire main essay is about the different perspective I can bring to the campus (not stated that explicitly of course) having been involved in video games.

And there is definitely far more than fast-clicking to games, from massively multiplayer games to real-time strategy.

DOTA = A real-time strategy game (RTS). They can be thought of as super fast chess games.

To me, there is an advantage in challenging misconceptions in a college app. You want to make your admissions reader think “Hmmm, well I’d never thought of it that way.”

Yes!

Oh I’d say society has. Just look at some recent sales figures of video games.

DOTA isn’t as much finger movements more so as it is strategy. Now if you want to talk about ladder/melee in WC3, then you may have a point.

lol this is a funny topic. If he explains the video gaming thoroughly, it could be useful, but otherwise no. I personally think that is just too “nerdy”. I think colleges would want kids that would be involved in the community. They don’t want kids who are locked up in their dorms all day long, playing video games…

if they did MLG or WCG or were sponsored (which I think you said he was), I’d put it down. Definitely gonna have to explain its upsides thoroughly. DotA (which btw is a great song by Basshunter :D) stands for Defense of the Ancients.

Oh, btw, Halo 3 >>> WoW

This is definitely the downside to using video games in your college application. You will need to emphasize other things in other parts of your app to counterbalance this.

I think using video games as a main point in an essay is not looked upon highly. I do not think that being a guild leader in wow is the same as a sports captain/band section leader/class president, especially if your guild is not in the top __% nationally.

This is coming from someone who got very into WOW for a while as well as WC3. I was a guild leader of a few guilds in WOW and a few clans in WC3. In WOW before the new expansion, my guild pretty much cleared all 70 instances (through Black Temple/Hyjal if you know WOW). It does not take much brain power or skill to do this imo. It requires spending many hours per week on the game. I look back on the days that I played WOW as wasting my time, and nothing but. The colleges almost assume that a 17-18 year old plays a lot of video games, whether it be WOW or a game on the PS3. I do not think WOW is any different. Also, there is no way for them to make sure you were telling the truth when you said your guild was ranked number 5 nationally and you are the guild leader (which would be impressive), so I do not think they really care at all what you do in a virtual gaming life.

This of course is just my opinion. But I think colleges will either completely ignore your ‘leadership’ in video games or look down upon it, because they think that you are trying to make up for not participating in the opportunities within your community/high school.

I think your friend is stretching his argument…that’s my gut feeling.

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Extracurriculars.

Can Electronic Gaming Count as an Extracurricular?

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If you’re a current high school student, you don’t need us to tell you that electronic games are an extremely popular activity among young people today. From dedicated gaming consoles to elaborate computer games, to the simple but engrossing games that have become popular among smartphone users, everyone seems to be playing something.

Electronic gaming doesn’t always have the best reputation—there are many popular stereotypes about gamers, and not all of them are positive. However, the reality is that gaming is popular among students in an incredible range of different situations, including high schoolers contemplating the process of applying to competitive colleges.

If you’re one of these students, and you’ve invested considerable energy into your gaming pursuits, you may be wondering whether you’ll be able to include your gaming activities in your college application under the heading of extracurricular activities. The short answer is that it’s possible you can do so, but it depends on how you approach gaming and what you’ve gained from participating in that activity.

In this post, we’ll explore how gaming can count as a valuable extracurricular, and offer some advice on how to best present your gaming involvement and accomplishments when it comes time for you to apply to college.

A brief introduction to gaming and the eSports world

As we’ve mentioned, electronic games are extremely popular, and their popularity extends not only to teenagers, but to people of all ages, interests, and skill levels. Plenty of people play games casually and have fun doing so, especially given today’s proliferation of smartphones.

The terms “gaming” and “gamer”, however, are most commonly reserved for those whose interest in electronic games is on the more serious end of the spectrum. Gamers are people who have dedicated substantial time and energy to their gaming activities and who are committed to working toward certain goals, whether it’s a high score, a speed record for getting through a tough game level, or some other challenge.

You may have also heard the term “eSports” used when people are talking about competitive gaming. ESports usually refers to gaming competitions that are organized and that take place in front of an audience, whether this audience is observing physically or digitally. These competitions, which often focus on multiplayer combat-focused games that include elements of strategy and planning, have even spawned opportunities for people to become paid professional gamers.

If you’re in high school, you’re most likely not a professional gamer. However, if you’re interested in gaming, you’re likely also interested in competing with others in one way or another, discussing your interest with like-minded people, or even sharing your gaming experience through services like Twitch.

With all these possible avenues for engaging with your interest in gaming, you may find that you’re devoting a significant amount of time to that pursuit. If you’re preparing for college application season, it’s very reasonable to consider whether this investment of time and energy could be credited as one of your extracurricular activities.

Does gaming count as an extracurricular?

First, it’s useful to go over what constitutes an extracurricular activity. As we describe in the CollegeVine blog post What Counts as an Extracurricular? , in its most general sense, the category of extracurricular activities covers things you do that aren’t schoolwork, paid work, or time spent interacting socially with friends and family.

A typical extracurricular is an activity to which you devote an appreciable amount of time on a regular basis and in which you’re significantly invested. Extracurriculars could include hobbies, sports, clubs, volunteering, and many other types of activities.

Most importantly, for the purposes of the college application process, a high-quality extracurricular activity is one that is demonstrably valuable to you. This value could be personal, professional, or academic, among other categories, but either way, your activity needs to be something that has had a real impact upon you in your high school years.

The impact of your extracurricular activities can come in a variety of forms. Some activities teach concrete facts and skills that will be valuable to your future pursuits. Others help you develop less tangible personal characteristics that colleges nevertheless value, such as commitment, leadership skill, and achievement under competitive pressure.

Under these criteria, does gaming count as an extracurricular? The answer depends upon the nature of your involvement in gaming. If you casually play console games with friends now and then, or try a new phone game while you’re waiting in line at the grocery store, your gaming experience most likely doesn’t count as an extracurricular activity.

If your involvement in gaming is more substantial, there’s definitely a case to be made that it should be considered an extracurricular. Gaming offers the opportunity to put in hard work and dedication in order to succeed competitively in quantifiable ways. Multiplayer games can also involve a great deal of strategy, leadership ability, and commitment.

You might have used your interest in gaming as a springboard for creative personal projects, such as writing for a game review blog, creating art based on a game, or building a game of your own. You could also start a gaming club at your school or in your community. Independent projects like these reflect your ingenuity and ability to think creatively, so they’re valuable additions to your college application.

If you intend to pursue a career that’s related to gaming in some way, of course, your experience as a gamer is even more valuable, as it is a way to learn skills that are directly relevant to your intended career path. This doesn’t mean you have to dream of being a professional gamer or even a game developer—you might also be interested in digital art, computer programming, or other technology fields.

However, you’ll likely need to put in some effort to make your case for gaming as an extracurricular. There are many people in the world who still think of gaming solely as entertainment, and some of those people might be college admissions officers. You’ll have to demonstrate that your gaming experience has given you the opportunity to develop useful skills and advance your goals for the future.

Making gaming stand out on your application

Putting together a compelling college application isn’t just about what you did in high school; it’s also about how you frame and describe your accomplishments. With a little extra attention to how you address the time and effort you’ve put into gaming, you can help admissions officers better understand why gaming has been important to you and what you’ve gained from the experience. Here are a few suggestions to consider.

Be prepared to explain what gaming involves and why it’s a good use of your time.

Serious gaming is relatively new and unusual as a potential extracurricular for high school students. Guidance counselors, admissions officers, scholarship administrators, and others you encounter during the college application process may not be entirely familiar with what it entails, or may have inaccurate preconceptions about the gaming world.

To be on the safe side, don’t assume that those evaluating your applications will be knowledgeable about gaming. Come up with a concise way to describe your gaming activity and why it’s a valuable part of your background, and be prepared to use that explanation in essay questions, interviews, or other admissions-related situations.

You may also want to proactively address any doubts others may have about the value of gaming. Again, serious, organized, competitive gaming is a relatively new type of activity. Others may see it only as a form of entertainment, and not realize how much it can contribute to building valuable skills and laying the foundation for your future plans. It’s up to you to convince them otherwise.

Keep track of quantitative data about your performance.

When possible, it’s always a good idea to give colleges specific facts and figures that demonstrate your high level of performance in a particular field, be it academics, standardized tests, or extracurriculars. Gaming is no different.

Think about how you’re going to show that your hard work and dedication bore fruit in the field of gaming, whether that’s through your performance in gaming competitions, your rankings among other players, or whatever measure your game of choice uses. If your data can be independently verified—for instance, if your win in a gaming competition was covered by a media source—so much the better.

Of course, working hard and being dedicated don’t always result in winning prestigious awards or titles. However, whatever solid data you can offer about what you achieved in the world of gaming will be helpful in getting colleges to recognize it as a valuable extracurricular activity.

Seek out ways to distinguish yourself.

In order to have gaming-related accomplishments to list on your college applications, you’ll first have to find opportunities to set yourself apart. Entering gaming competitions or undertaking notable projects related to a game are great ways to differentiate yourself from the masses of people whose gaming involvement is more casual.

Your exact set of opportunities will depend upon your particular talents and what games you play, but there’s sure to be some way for you to show off the skill and dedication you’ve put into gaming. As we’ve mentioned, you should feel free to get creative—unusual and innovative projects may be particularly compelling to colleges, as they can serve as evidence of your original thinking.

Show that gaming is harmonious with your priorities and interests.

Just as with any extracurricular, gaming shouldn’t interfere with your academic and other important pursuits. High-quality extracurricular involvement is a necessity if you’re planning to apply to competitive colleges, but it can’t replace spending sufficient time on your schoolwork. If it appears that your gaming activities may have compromised your grades or otherwise distracted you from important tasks, that won’t reflect well upon you.

Similarly, gaming involvement is more likely to work in your favor if you’re interested in related fields. C olleges like to see depth as well as breadth when it comes to your activities. Gaming could be presented alongside other related activities to support your specialized interest in computer programming, for example.

Use your essay question(s) to offer a more detailed explanation.

You’ll have to submit at least one essay as part of essentially every college application, and competitive colleges often ask for more than one. Some essay questions on college applications directly ask about your extracurriculars; others are open-ended, but could potentially take on extracurriculars as topics.

Either way, essay questions can give you the opportunity to talk about your gaming experiences in greater detail on your college application. If so, this can be a great opportunity to demonstrate how gaming has positively affected your life, personal development, and/or career development.

You’ll need to be able to talk about your gaming in a mature and nuanced way. What do you enjoy about it? What good things does it add to your life? How does it support your future plans and aspirations? A compelling essay on this topic can do a great deal to persuade colleges of the value of your gaming involvement.

Good Example of a Gaming Extracurricular

Now that you have the above tips, you may be wondering what a good example of a gaming extracurricular actually looks like. Let’s take a look at a hypothetical situation: say there is a student called Mandy who loves Minecraft and spends several hours a week playing with friends. She also loves programming, and took AP Computer Science as a freshman. By combining her two passions, she started to code plugins for Minecraft servers using her knowledge of Java.

This would be a good example of a gaming extracurricular, as Mandy has taken her gaming interest a step further an fused it with an academic—and potentially even professional—interest. She might list the activity on her Common App list as such:

Programmed plugins for Minecraft servers

Independently programmed 4 public plugins using Java
Responded to ~20 weekly user support requests
Averaged 2,000 downloads for each plugin

In this case, quantifying the activity through downloads, number of support requests, and number of plugins demonstrates the reach of the extracurricular. This listing also shows that Mandy is capable of providing “customer service” and working with people, as she is responding to support requests. In your own activities list, aim for a similar level of specificity, and be sure to share the soft skills gained.

For more information

Are you one of the many high school students interested in the ever-growing field of computer science and technology? Check out the following posts from the CollegeVine blog for our guidance on related topics.

Extracurriculars For Aspiring Computer Science Majors
Introduction to the New AP Computer Science Principles Course
The Ultimate Guide to the New AP Computer Science Principles Exam & Performance Tasks
A Guide to STEM Scholarships

Want access to expert college guidance — for free? When you create your free CollegeVine account, you will find out your real admissions chances, build a best-fit school list, learn how to improve your profile, and get your questions answered by experts and peers—all for free. Sign up for your CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your college journey.

How to Write an Effective Essay on Video Games

Writing an effective essay on video games requires a good understanding of the topic, strong writing skills, and the ability to analyze and present your ideas clearly. Whether you're a passionate gamer exploring your favorite titles or a cultural critic examining the industry's impact, a well-crafted essay can offer valuable insights and engage readers. If you need assistance with essay writing services at Ukwritings , they can help. Ukwritings is an essay writing service that provides professional writing assistance to students on various topics, including video games. Their team of experienced writers can help you craft a compelling and well-researched essay. Here are some tips to help you craft a compelling essay on video games.

Choosing a Focused Topic

The video game industry is vast, covering a wide range of genres, platforms, and themes. Rather than attempting to write about video games in general, narrow your focus to a specific aspect or angle. This will allow you to delve deeper into the topic and provide more meaningful analysis.

For example, you could explore the impact of a particular game or franchise, analyze the representation of certain groups in video games, or examine the evolution of game mechanics over time. A focused topic will help you develop a clear thesis statement and maintain a cohesive structure throughout your essay.

Conducting Thorough Research

Gather information from reliable sources, including books, academic journals, industry reports, and reputable online publications. Look for sources that provide in-depth analysis, historical context, and expert opinions. Avoid relying solely on user reviews or fan sites, as they may lack objectivity or present biased perspectives.

Consult a variety of sources to gain a well-rounded understanding of your topic. Take notes, highlight key points, and organize your research in a way that will help you support your arguments and provide strong evidence.

Developing a Clear Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement should be a concise and focused statement that outlines the main argument or perspective you will explore in your essay. It should be specific, debatable, and supported by evidence from your research. A strong thesis statement will guide the development of your essay and help you maintain focus throughout the writing process. For example, instead of a broad statement like "Video games are influential," you could propose a more specific thesis, such as "The open-world design of the Grand Theft Auto series has significantly influenced the gaming industry's approach to storytelling and player agency." Crafting a clear and compelling thesis is crucial, especially if you're writing the essay for college admissions or scholarship applications, where college essay services can provide valuable guidance to help you stand out.

A strong thesis statement will guide the development of your essay and help you maintain focus throughout the writing process. For example, instead of a broad statement like "Video games are influential," you could propose a more specific thesis, such as "The open-world design of the Grand Theft Auto series has significantly influenced the gaming industry's approach to storytelling and player agency."

Organizing Your Ideas Effectively

Structure your essay in a logical and coherent manner. Begin with an engaging introduction that captures the reader's attention and provides context for your topic. Use body paragraphs to present your main points, supporting each one with relevant examples, facts, and analysis. Finally, conclude your essay with a strong summary that reinforces your thesis and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

Consider using subheadings to organize your essay into distinct sections, making it easier for readers to follow your line of thought and navigate the content.

Analyzing and Critiquing

An effective essay should go beyond simply describing or summarizing information. Analyze and critique various aspects of your topic, such as game design, narrative elements, societal impact, or cultural representation. Offer your own insights and opinions, but support them with evidence from your research and careful analysis.

Encourage critical thinking by examining different perspectives, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and exploring the broader implications or consequences of the subject you're discussing.

Considering Multiple Perspectives

Video games can be viewed from various angles, including artistic, cultural, technological, and psychological perspectives. Acknowledging and exploring different viewpoints will add depth and complexity to your essay, demonstrating your understanding of the topic's nuances.

For example, when discussing the representation of women in video games, you could examine the issue from a feminist perspective, exploring how certain games perpetuate harmful stereotypes or objectification. However, you could also consider the perspective of game developers, who may face challenges in creating diverse and authentic female characters while appealing to a broad audience.

Using Examples and Evidence

Strengthen your arguments by providing specific examples and evidence from video games themselves. Describe key scenes, gameplay mechanics, or design choices that support your points. You can also use quotes from developers, critics, or industry experts to bolster your analysis.

Concrete examples and evidence make your essay more engaging and help readers better understand the points you're making. They also lend credibility to your arguments and demonstrate your familiarity with the subject matter.

Maintaining Objectivity

While it's important to express your opinions and insights, aim to maintain objectivity and avoid biased or overly subjective language. Present different viewpoints fairly, and acknowledge potential counter-arguments or limitations to your arguments.

By maintaining a balanced perspective, you demonstrate your ability to think critically and consider multiple sides of an issue. This approach also makes your essay more persuasive and credible, as readers are more likely to trust an objective analysis.

Editing and Proofreading

After completing your initial draft, take the time to review and revise your essay. Check for clarity, coherence, and logical flow. Ensure that your arguments are well-supported and that your writing is free from grammatical errors, typos, and inconsistencies.

Consider having someone else read your essay and provide feedback. A fresh pair of eyes can help identify areas that need improvement or clarification.

By following these tips, you can craft an effective and engaging essay on video games that showcases your knowledge, analytical skills, and writing abilities. Remember, the key is to provide insightful analysis, use concrete examples, and present your ideas in a clear and organized manner. With dedication and attention to detail, you can create a compelling essay that contributes to the ongoing discussion around this influential medium.

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Should I mention video gaming in my college application?

Over the past 4 years I've been almost fully responsible with running the ins and outs of a guild of players in an online game.

It's been nearly a full time job to manage literally hundreds of people ranking from the new members all the way up the chain. We are one of the top guilds in the US and this has been through almost my own effort the entire time. I've interviewed many candidates personally before relegating this duty to another person.

Is this a suitable skill to include in my college application? If so, how could I use it? The experience of running this guild of players has given me valuable leadership insight that I feel is important to highlight.

Definitely! It sounds like this is a big part of your life that demonstrates your organizational skills and leadership potential. My first recommendation would be to write an essay centered around this experience and what you learned from it. This is a great subject for a college essay because it shows that you're a person with unique interests who is passionate and driven even outside of a controlled academic environment. If you don't end up writing your college essay about it, you should at least include it as an extracurricular activity or add a description of what you did in the additional information section. Anything that takes up this much of your time and demonstrates this level of dedication is exactly what you should be including in your application.

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Apr 1, 2021

Interesting College Essay Topics: Video Games & Esports Part 1

Updated: Jul 12, 2023

I'm a nerd, let's get that out of the way. I grew up immersed sci-fi, fantasy, movies, television shows, anime, video games, board games, tabletop games, and even read certain textbooks for fun (still do, looking at you A Modern History of Japan: From Tokugawa Times to The Present ). My childhood pre-dated critically and commercially acclaimed comic book movies, the ability to make a living by streaming video games online, and the widespread adoption of video games for everyday audiences (think mobile phone games, or the Nintendo Wii in the mid-2000s). To put it simply, it's a lot easier to openly embrace nerdy culture now than it was during my childhood.

The social stigma and ostracization of being a "nerd" led me to hide many of my hobbies and interests from friends and family for most of my life. Sadly, I still hear echoes of these feelings in students I work with today. It's not uncommon to hear a student say, "It's easier to just say nothing than try to explain my interests, hobbies, or passions." This breaks my heart, and for this reason I've become more open about my nerdy side and encourage students to do the same.

So what does all this have to do with the college search and application process? As an admission officer and a college counselor, I've read too many essays and applications focusing on students telling me what they think I want to hear. What they don't realize is that the thing I want to read about is an authentic, introspective, and self-aware portrait of who they are as a person. Families tend to reinforce this censorship of a students personality, often both knowingly and unknowingly. We all see the stories of the 4.0 GPA, 1550 SAT, honor society student and that's what has become the standard of success. What most families don't see, but I have, is the student with an average GPA and test score that can successfully articulate why they actually participate in extracurriculars; explain their values; describe what problems they want to solve in the world; and write a unique essay that reflects who they are as a person, not just what they've accomplished. I've read thousands of essays by this point in my relatively young career, and the handful that have stuck with me had nothing to do with the students' grades, test scores, or accomplishments.

So, over the next few blog posts, I want to write about a topic that seems to grow more common each year I work with students and families: video games. It's a tale as old as the ~1980s: a parent is concerned because their student is spending too much time playing video games and not engaging with the world. I'll be the first to concede that not all students who play video games should be writing a college essay about them, and sometimes video games are just a temporary escape from the stress of life (same as movies, television, books, and any number of other hobbies). However, I'm going to posit the idea that there are a lot of students out there who have a true passion for video games and, with a little introspection, can turn that passion into a powerful asset for their college application.

During this multi-part college essay blog series, I'm going to review a few different ways to tackle the topics of video games:

The Personal Impact of Video Games

Artistic, Emotional, or Developmental Impact of a Single Player Game ( You Are Here )

Impact of a Competitive Multiplayer Game

Impact of a Social or Cooperative Multiplayer Game

The Impact of Video Games on a Student's Professional or Academic Path

Video Games as a Catalyst for Pursuing a STEM Education

Video Games as an Interdisciplinary Collaborative

As a reader, I want you to keep in mind two more universally understood concepts into which we can distill these essays:

An introspective look into how a form of culture has shaped a student's ideas, beliefs, values, and personality.

An introspective look into how a student began a journey to help shape others through the act of creation or innovation.

Yes you, the person reading this blog!

I want you to stop everything that you are doing (including reading this blog) and sit silently thinking about something for at least 30 seconds:

I want you to think about a piece of culture that helped make you who you are today. This can be a piece of music, a movie, a book, a video game, a family tradition, or even a story passed down generation to generation.

Let's go.

Ok, now that we've all had our small serving of guided mediation for the day, let's continue forward. I will start by sharing what first came to my mind:

The year is 1999, I'm wandering up and down the stacks at my local Movie Gallery. I'm still young, only seven, but trips to Movie Gallery have become significant to me because they mean either a new video game in which I can escape reality OR a new movie that will create a short, but much-needed, moment of "family time" in the household. As I lurk through the copious VHS tapes and video game cartridges, a holographic shine catches my young eye and I am introduced to an unknown movie called Princess Mononoke. On the cover, a young man clashes holographic pearly swords with an unknown enemy and in bold letters at the top it reads:

One of Roger Ebert's Top 10!

"The Star Wars of Animated Features"

-New York Post

Now that's a lot for a seven-year-old. As much as I'd like to claim I was some young cinephile and the prospect of an animated film on "Roger Ebert's Top 10" motivated my selection, that would be a lie. The selection process was much simpler: I like Star Wars, the blades on the front of the tape shined like light sabers, the cover mentioned Star Wars and animated films, thus I thought I had discovered a Star Wars animated movie. I had no idea that this movie would become my favorite film of all time and a defining cornerstone of the person I would grow to be.

Now I don't want to give away much of the movie, as I believe every person should at least give it a chance (Disney has bought the rights for physical distribution and HBO Max has it available for streaming). The film focuses on a young prince from a small village of a disenfranchised ethnic minority. He is magically cursed defending his village from a monster and must be excommunicated and travel westward to find peace between an expanding industrious humanity and a spiritually rich forest full of ancient animals (the most literal man vs. nature theme one can think of). It is a film that deals with coming of age themes, confronting stereotypes, the relationship of humanity and nature, the idea of early religion, themes of racism, sexism, disenfranchisement, environmental issues, the all-consuming power of greed, discovering compromises between opposing ideologies, determination, grit, bravery, and sacrifice. Good and evil are not so clear-cut, rather they are ambiguous and exist on a spectrum with a tremendous amount of overlap (much like life). As a child being raised by a single mother, perhaps one of the most important aspects of the film was the multitude of strong, smart, and capable female characters which defied the "damsel in distress" archetype seen in most children movies. Growing up, this film became an integral piece in forming my sense of ethics, morality, values, and who I wanted to be in the world.

I present this exercise because I could easily write a book about the impact this movie has had in my life. More often than not, proper guidance, support, and an attentive ear can shepherd students to discover or expand upon their own piece of cultural media that has helped shape them in some way.

If any of this sounds remotely interesting, look into the rest of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's filmography [aside from Princess Mononoke , I'd also highly recommend the 2003 Academy Award Winning Best Animated Feature Spirited Away ). Many critics hail Miyazaki as the "Walt Disney of Japan," but I think this is underselling his works (not to mention the problematic nature of forcing a comparison of an Eastern animator to a Western animator to give him legitimacy to international audiences....).

Artistic, Emotional, or Developmental Impact of a Single Player Game

The story begins during a global pandemic. A single father and daughter are attempting to escape Austin, TX as society begins to collapse into chaos. The plan fails, the father is injured, and the daughter is killed. Fast forward 20 years: the father is weathered, downtrodden, and hides his deep-seated emotional trauma and guilt behind a gruff persona who uses survival as a justification for his extreme, violent, and criminal actions. Once a construction worker, he now works as a smuggler bypassing government quarantine measures to transport goods for payment. His life is devoid of joy, filled with savagery, and ultimately without any hope for a brighter future. This all changes when he is tasked with smuggling a 14-year old girl out of Boston to a research facility in Colorado, because her immune system might hold the secret for a vaccine. So begins an extended journey across the United States, where the father must confront his repressed guilt for his daughter's death, come to terms with his history of violence, and restore his faith in the possibility of a brighter future.

No, I'm not describing the newest Oscar-nominated drama or popular indie film from SXSW. This isn't the description of the hottest new post-apocalyptic young adult novel sweeping the nation. This is a rudimentary description of The Last of Us (2013), arguably one of the most critically and commercially acclaimed single-player video games of the past decade, developed by the gaming studio Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment on their popular PlayStation videogame consoles. The game is emotionally powerful, performances are sublime (both voice acting and motion capture), Guastavo Santaolalla (Brokeback Mountain, Babel, Making a Murderer, Jane the Virgin) composes a harrowing and heartfelt soundtrack, and the writing is top-notch from beginning to end. In fact, HBO is currently developing a The Last of Us television series written by Neil Druckman (writer/director of the video game) and Craig Mazin (HBO's Chernobyl) starring Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones, Narcos, The Mandalorian) and Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones, Hilda). When I think of a game that can create a personal impact on a person through storytelling, it's hard to think of a better example than The Last of Us.

( UPDATE 2023 : For those interested, HBO has premiered The Last of Us (2023) beginning with the first episode on January 15, 2023. The premiere of the show received a staggering 4.7 million viewers and within two days of release reached nearly 10 million viewers. The show is also looking to be critical success with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 99%, 9.4/10 on IMDb, and a 95% positive ration among Google users. Needless to say, as a fan of television and video games I'm very pleased to see such an amazing story be brought to life for a larger audience. I've added an additional photo below to showcase Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as their respective roles in the show compared with their characters in the image below. )

When writing about the artistic, emotional, or developmental impact of a video game, the essay is going to focus on bridging the experience of a video game with its personal impact on a student. In this scenario, it is important to remember that the video game is not the star of this essay. Instead, a student needs to dig deep and find a meaningful connection with the video game and how it has helped them grow and develop as a person. Even then, a student will need to go a step further and not only talk about how this development is connected to a video game, but how they have adopted, adapted, and integrated those thoughts, lessons, and beliefs into their everyday life . This is the time when a student will need to provide evidence of this personal impact through examples in their life: academics, extracurriculars, life lessons, meaningful hobbies, important relationships with friends/family, etc. Lastly, the student needs to be mindful of how their growth and experience will impact their future, especially when thinking about their participation on a college campus, and their academic, professional, and life goals.

By the end of this essay, the student has displayed their way of thinking, level of introspection, journey in forming their beliefs/values, and ultimately connected the video game to how they live their life and what they hope to accomplish. Here are some suggestions for outlining this type of essay:

What is the history of the student with the video game?

When did the student make this connection?

What was going on in the student's life at this time?

Why did this particular video game affect them on a personal level?

How has the video game impacted them on a personal level?

How has a student taken this impact and integrated it into their life, beliefs, value system, etc.?

Moving forward, how has and how will the student take agency of this impact and affect the world around them (e.g. their school, community, family, friends, clubs, organizations, etc.).

I hope that after reading this students feel a little more empowered to be vocal about their passions and families feel a little more comfortable with the prospect of their student writing about the personal impact a video game might have had on them. In part 2, we'll take a look at how a student can take their experience from competitive multiplayer games and turn them into an interesting essay topic.

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on this blog post series and receive free monthly newsletters about higher education and college admissions news and advice. As always, if you have questions or a topic you'd like to hear more about, please don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.

With all my support,

Sawyer Earwood

Independent College Counselor

Co-Founder of Virtual College Counselors

[email protected]

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"Video games have cultivated my creative thought pr..."

UC San Diego

2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

0 - 350 words

Video games have cultivated my creative thought process. When I was a toddler I invented a game I would play with my brothers. It was nothing along the lines of Hide-and-Seek or Tag, but rather, it was meant to mimic a role-playing video game. It was called "Guy" and came with its own story, leveling system, and narrative story. While seemingly impossible to translate the mechanics of a video game into real life, the "Guy" trilogy provided hundreds of hours of fun to pass hot summer days and escape the harsh reality of our parents arguing and eventual divorce.

This thought process translated into my educational career. have always thought of a tough class or test as a video game. This mostly due to my excessive amounts of video games I played as a child through middle school (especially 7th grade). Each year comes bigger and "stronger" challenges, bigger and stronger bosses to defeat. My senior year will have me face the most powerful boss yet; full AP course load on top of heavy club involvement and community college classes.

Many thought of this "secret boss" as an impossible challenge; something that could never be beaten. No one from my school has ever attempted to take on such a challenge, let alone defeat it. That is probably what excites me about it. In a game, messing around with lower level enemies is fun for a while, but gets boring when it is too easy. The thought of a challenge so great and difficult makes the victory even more rewarding. Stormy skies, heavy rain, and epic boss battle music; I'll take that over a peaceful village any day. In the future, I seek to use this thinking to drive research. I think of abstract physics concepts like secret door and levels that need to be proven true or just a myth in the game. One day, I can make my own discovery of a secret "cheat code' that can help everyone who plays a little game called life.

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Can I mention video game in personal essay?

I wonder if video games thing is taboo for college admissions. Can I briefly mention it in my personal essay and how it helped me to adapt to my new environment? I'm not trying to make it the main point of my essay , I just wanna show some adaptations I went through

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COMMENTS

Before you write your college essay on video games
Change my view!). Still, descriptions of you playing the actual video games should be minimal. One sentence, maybe two. So I advise: use your love of games as some needed down time from essay-writing (in doses, please!) but not as your topic. And if you're the kind of person who does get so obsessed with games you "lose all track of time ...
Interesting College Essay Topics: Video Games & Esports Part 2
Independent College Advising. It's a tale as old as the ~1980s: a parent is concerned their student is spending too much time playing video games. However, with a little introspection, a passion for video games can be a powerful asset for their college application. In part 2, we take a look at competitive online gaming experiences.
Writing Your College Essay About Video Games
When writing your college essay on any topic, regardless of whether it involves sports, mental health, video games, etc, you want the essay to be about you. Sure, you're talking about video games in your college essay. However, the overarching objective of the college essay writing process is to show the admissions officers' qualities about ...
100+ Video Game Essay Topics for Students
Choosing the right essay topic is crucial, and for students who love video games, it's an opportunity to combine their passion with academics. In this article, we'll explore a variety of exciting and various video game essay topic ideas for students of high school and college. This blog includes argumentative, analytical, persuasive and ...
Can my passion for video games shine through in my college essay?
9 months ago. Absolutely! Your passion for video games can definitely be a compelling topic for a college essay. The key is not the subject itself, but how you reflect on your experiences and what you've learned from them. It's all about presenting your story authentically and showing how video games have shaped you into the person you are today.
Interesting College Essay Topics: Video Games & Esports Part 4
Welcome to part 4 of our blog series about video games and esports in the college application process. If you've already read part 1, feel free to skip to the new material focusing on competitive multiplayer games.If you haven't read part 1, I highly recommend reading that post first, as I tackle some foundational ideas about how a single piece of culture can affect a person's values.
4 Questions to Ask If You're Considering Writing Your College Essay
The two main concerns I hear from students who are considering writing their college essay about video games are that the topic isn't "academic" enough, and that the admission officer might think video games are a waste of time. I read many essays about video games as an AO for 8 years, and I found some compelling while others missed the ...
107 Video Game Essay Topic Ideas & Examples
To help you get started, here are 107 video game essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your writing: The impact of violent video games on children's behavior. The evolution of video game graphics over the years. The rise of esports and its influence on the gaming industry.
Interesting College Essay Topics: Video Games & Esports Part 3
Independent College Advising. It's a tale as old as the ~1980s: a parent is concerned their student is spending too much time playing video games. However, with a little introspection, a passion for video games can be a powerful asset for their college application. In part 3, we take a look at cooperative online gaming experiences.
Should Video Game Passion Be Shared on College Applications?
Find out whether to mention video games on college applications at the College Confidential blog. Read the rest of the blog to learn more about extracurriculars! ... Then, when it's time to write a college essay, he could amuse admission committees with a topic along the lines of "Coming Up from the Cave," which begins with his passion for ...
Video Games on College Application
Game is ever so slightly updating (New strategies or Game Updates) - Must think of ways to adapt 7.-. Time management (Manage between school, games, eating, etc…) - Have to schedules your schedule to the team's schedule.. Why Gaming would NOT look good on a college application. (My Arguments)
21 Stellar Common App Essay Examples to Inspire Your College Essay
Common App Essay Examples. Here are the current Common App prompts. Click the links to jump to the examples for a specific prompt, or keep reading to review the examples for all the prompts. Prompt #1: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without ...
Can Electronic Gaming Count as an Extracurricular?
A typical extracurricular is an activity to which you devote an appreciable amount of time on a regular basis and in which you're significantly invested. Extracurriculars could include hobbies, sports, clubs, volunteering, and many other types of activities. Most importantly, for the purposes of the college application process, a high-quality ...
How to Write an Effective Essay on Video Games
Analyzing and Critiquing. An effective essay should go beyond simply describing or summarizing information. Analyze and critique various aspects of your topic, such as game design, narrative elements, societal impact, or cultural representation. Offer your own insights and opinions, but support them with evidence from your research and careful ...
Should I mention video gaming in my college application?
If you don't end up writing your college essay about it, you should at least include it as an extracurricular activity or add a description of what you did in the additional information section. Anything that takes up this much of your time and demonstrates this level of dedication is exactly what you should be including in your application ...
Is it a good idea to write about video games for my common app essay
r/ApplyingToCollege is the premier forum for college admissions questions, advice, and discussions, from college essays and scholarships to SAT/ACT test prep, career guidance, and more. ... I want to talk about how video games helped make friends at a new school where I knew no one and how it helped me develop some leadership skills. I also ...
Interesting College Essay Topics: Video Games & Esports Part 1
During this multi-part college essay blog series, I'm going to review a few different ways to tackle the topics of video games: The Personal Impact of Video Games. Artistic, Emotional, or Developmental Impact of a Single Player Game (You Are Here) Impact of a Competitive Multiplayer Game. Impact of a Social or Cooperative Multiplayer Game.
For my college admissions essay is mentioning video games out ...
Sort by: [deleted] • 10 yr. ago. Video games is absolutely not out of the question. Admissions officers so often read the same thing over and over again; they'll advise you not to pick an overly done topic, like childhood memories at a summer home or something like that. So many kids are going to write about their instruments, but if you have ...
How to Write a College Essay Step-by-Step
Step 2: Pick one of the things you wrote down, flip your paper over, and write it at the top of your paper, like this: This is your thread, or a potential thread. Step 3: Underneath what you wrote down, name 5-6 values you could connect to this. These will serve as the beads of your essay.
An Essay Involving Video Games? : r/ApplyingToCollege
r/ApplyingToCollege is the premier forum for college admissions questions, advice, and discussions, from college essays and scholarships to college list help and application advice, career guidance, and more. ... When you say a common essay topic, do you mean video games themselves or my exact topic. Also, do you have any examples or ...
"Video games have cultivated..." UC Prompt 2 Essay That Worked
UC San Diego. 2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. Video games have cultivated my creative thought process. When I was a toddler I invented a game I would play with my brothers.
How to Create a Video Essay for Your College Application
The challenge is to focus on your presentation and choose your words wisely. 1. Choose a topic. Next, decide on the topic of the video. Some schools may invite you to discuss a particular topic, and others will want the video essay to serve as a personal introduction in place of an interview. If the video serves as an interview, include the ...
Can I mention video game in personal essay? : r/ApplyingToCollege
If you're talking about like quickly getting good at new games or characters, idk that sounds a bit off to me. If you do, limit it to a sentence or two, it should not be a main focus of your essay. 1. Reply. Award. Share. I wonder if video games thing is taboo for college admissions.