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A college essay is a vital part of a student's college application process. It is essential to have a good structure, with ideas that smoothly transition between paragraphs. Although some students may have a strong introduction and body paragraphs, they could struggle to tie ideas together cohesively in the conclusion.
If you are a student who is currently in this situation, this post is here to help you! Keep reading to see some college essay conclusion examples, along with a brief explanation of why each conclusion is a good one. Each exemplar has been taken from the Clastify website. The conclusion of each essay is provided in this post, but click on the links in blue if you want to read the full example college essay.
College Essay Conclusion Examples
Example 1
A cow gave birth and I watched. That experience helped me to become the powerful, strong-minded, and passionate young woman I am today. In pursuing a doctorate I hope to encourage and guide other women to be their own best self and show through my actions and story that there is no one version of womanhood that is "right", perhaps influencing a new generation. Read the whole essay here.
This is a good conclusion because it wraps up the main theme of the essay, which is how the student embraced their femininity even though they did not fit the stereotypical definitions of femininity. It also uses a callback technique in which the student uses the phrase "A cow gave birth and I watched" in both the introduction and conclusion, thus giving the essay a well-rounded ending and showing how the student has maintained a smooth flow to the essay. The student has also made a brief note of their personal growth and how they wish to use their newfound knowledge to help other women by pursuing a doctorate and becoming an OB/GYN.
Example 2
With these goals in mind, I set out to embody them. I spent less time on academics in favour of more time for friends, family, and a wider community. I began to prioritise my physical and mental well-being. But I took the first important step inside that gym two years ago.
Right before the teacher moved on to the next name, I raised my hand determinedly.
"Actually, my name is pronounced Ady." Read the whole essay here.
This is a good conclusion because it shows the personal growth that the student went through, from being embarrassed by their unique ethnic name to realizing how it embodied the love and culture of their family. The conclusion shows how the student's mindset shifts from that of embarrassment to that of appreciation for family, friends, and personal well-being. The student also uses a flashback technique to give the essay a strong ending by referring to the introduction of the essay where they were nervous in class as the teacher was calling out names for attendance. The student then talks about how they corrected the teacher, showing personal growth as the introduction portrayed the student as shy whereas the conclusion portrayed them as confident.
Example 3
My new aspiration is to combine these two selves. Now, l'm always delicately balancing between being careful yet comfortable. Firm yet friendly. Humble yet honest. Looking ahead, I want to chart a path that honors my desire for both discipline and spontaneity. In college, I look forward to surrounding myself with people who both ground me and hold me accountable. I want a place I'll feel happy calling home, regardless of what I'm wearing. Read the whole essay here.
This is a good conclusion as the student has realized that they need to have a combination of both discipline and spontaneity. This shows personal growth as the student used to be shy but started to change their behaviour to fit in with their peers. However, the student soon realized that this newfound fame led to them being arrogant and less courteous to others than before. The student's conclusion effectively shows how they identified their mistake and tried to be a better person, and also outlines how they want to uphold these values at college. This is important as it shows admissions officers good qualities and personal introspection on behalf of the student.
Example 4
Through my time in college and beyond, there's no doubt that l'll keep myself busy going from an Economics seminar to volunteering at the library, and then from dance practices to working on my own startup. But I'll make sure to enjoy each moment; rather than trying to fit 30 hours into a day, I'll fully appreciate the 24 hours I have. Read the whole essay here.
This is a good conclusion as it shows the student's personal growth and a new understanding of themself. The student's conclusion shows the contrast between their old self who always rushed through activities and focused more on the end result rather than the process of getting there, and their new self who focuses on the relationships and memories made along the way rather than just pursuing goals recklessly. The student's conclusion effectively references this as they mention that college will still keep them busy, however, they will make sure to enjoy activities at leisure rather than cramming their schedule or "trying to fit 30 hours into a day".
Example 5
So now the uncomfortable story that was the uncomfortable answer to an uncomfortable question comes to an uncomfortable ending. And, like all great uncomfortable answers, I never really answered the main question. I don't have the answers to why people do the hateful things they do. But by wearing my turban proudly every morning, by answering questions when they come up, by being willing to talk about everything that is wrong, I become a personification of what is right. My solution to the systemic problem starts with me. Read the whole essay here.
This is a good conclusion because the student's repetition of the word "uncomfortable" highlights the discomfort they felt due to discrimination based on their religion, as outlined in the introduction and body of the essay. However, even though the student faced challenges, their conclusion still shows that they are proud of their religion and identity, and are not afraid to use their voice to spark social change, as seen by the statement "My solution to the systemic problem starts with me." This also references the body paragraphs where the student used their voice to bring attention to Sikhs having to cut their hair to join the army, thereby showing a smooth flow of the essay from the body to the conclusion.
Example 6
My identity as an American-European has definitely played a key role in shaping my interests and passions, leading me to deepen my knowledge of the two lands I come from. I truly believe that studying European affairs at your college would be a great opportunity for me, which would enable me to both balance my two identities and to offer my unique perspective on current issues the two regions are facing. Read the whole essay here.
This is a good conclusion as the student has succinctly summarized the information from the body paragraphs on how their dual identities have helped them find their interests in European Affairs, and has also used this opportunity to connect their personal interests to the college's values. This shows admissions officers why the student would be a good fit for the college, which could help increase their chances of being admitted. There is also a good flow from the body to the conclusion as the student has provided various in-depth examples and anecdotes in the body, and the conclusion has efficiently described how the student's past experience will help them in their future journey.
Example 7
This growth fostered a new interpretation of life, which I use to this day in developing new projects. 1 never consider "how things were" when I dive into the ocean of coding. For it's not about throwing a stencil anymore, it's about making one, one that changes with time, with people, with technology. I no longer, merely, arrange characters on a computer screen, following gray-haired rules. Now, I challenge what others deem impossible; allowing me to take a blade of grass and transform it into the sword of a warrior. Read the whole essay here.
This is a good conclusion since the student reinforces how they broke away from the mindset of always following the norm and accepting things the way they are without questioning anyone. The anecdote provided by the student in the body paragraphs shows when the student started to realize they wanted to break away from the stencil and embrace their own ideas, which leads to the conclusion in which the student wants to use their coding skills to solve similar problems in future. This shows admissions officers the student's personal growth as well as a curious mind, which is crucial in college settings, for example when pursuing research or tackling a difficult course.
Example 8
My closet is more than just a storage space, in fact, it represents the beginning of a journey towards cultural integration and self-discovery as well as a culmination of my academic journey. Sure, maybe clothes don't directly define us, however in my case, they exemplified not only my past, but also my present and future, as I continue to navigate the complexities of my cultural identity and personal growth, while closing the door of this principal chapter. Read the whole essay here.
This is a good conclusion as the student is reflecting on their identity based on articles of clothing in their closet, thereby showing self-discovery which is relevant to the prompt. Each of the body paragraphs describes a piece of clothing in-depth as well as the cultural identity associated with that piece of clothing. The student's elementary school soccer jersey represents Canadian culture, while their traditional Jalabiya represents Arab culture. Finally, the student's 2023 senior jacket represents an amalgamation of the two cultures, thus showing the "hyphenated identity" of the student. The conclusion ties together the student's different identities and offers a view into the future, as the student "continue[s] to navigate the complexities of [their] cultural identity and personal growth".
Example 9
Slowly, these insights have been settling in my mind. The world's most important questions are too often the hardest to understand, but conquering them is not impossible. Combining the large and the small, the clear and the abstruse, can happen, but only through time, and through something more than a single moment. My experiences have shaped my understanding of the world, thanks not to eureka, but to something more complex, and more shaping: the place where two streams flow together, and ideas converge. Read the whole essay here.
This is a good conclusion as the student has shown self-realization as they have come to learn that life does not have "Eureka" moments, but instead has confluence where multiple ideas converge to form the bigger picture. In the body paragraphs, the student explains the problems with turtle eggs being eaten or poached along the coast of Mexico, along with why marine biologists think this is a problem. However, the student's conclusion is reflective as they discuss how eating turtle eggs is bad from the viewpoint of marine biologists, but good in the viewpoint of the locals. This highlights the issue of confluence, as told by the student, where we need to see multiple ideas to see the bigger picture, as eating turtle eggs could be bad or good depending on the person analyzing the situation.
Example 10
Whether as an industry executive, talent agent, or entertainment activist, I want to empower promising singers, composers, musicians, and other artists to use their true potential for projects that match their inspirations and aspirations. Just as Adele's performance is the combined work of an entire orchestra, I know that the work ahead of me will not be the result of an individual effort I made on a local level, but a coordinated endeavor like the one I fight for. Read the whole essay here.
This is a good conclusion because the student shows how they want to use their experience as a "leader, singer and planner" to help other budding artists and musicians avoid the challenges that the student faced. This shows a commitment to fostering social change, which is a good thing to show admissions officers who want to see how students can contribute to their college communities. The student's conclusion also outlines how they intend to collaborate with others through the phrase "a coordinated endeavor like the one I fight for". This emphasis on collaboration is important for admissions officers to see as collaboration is often required at college in tasks such as group assignments or presentations.
We hope this post has provided you with some useful examples of college essay conclusions. Good luck with your college applications!
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