challenging a belief essay example

Common Application Essay Option 3 Tips: Challenging a Belief

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The third essay option on the Common Application in 2020-21 asks a question designed to probe your beliefs and character. The current prompt reads: 

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Quick Tips: An Essay on Challenging a Belief

• You have lots of leeway with this question for a "belief or idea" can be almost anything you've ever questioned.
• Focus on the word "reflect"—your essay needs to be thoughtful and inward looking; avoid merely describing what happened.
• Show off college success skills such as your ability to ask questions, probe assumptions, test ideas, and engage in thoughtful debate.

The focus on a "belief or idea" makes this question wonderfully (and perhaps paralyzingly) broad. Indeed, you could write about almost anything that you've ever openly questioned, whether it be your school's daily recital of the Pledge of Allegiance, the color of your team uniforms, or the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing. Of course, some ideas and beliefs will lead to better essays than others.

Choosing an Idea or Belief

Step one in tackling this prompt is coming up with an "idea or belief" you have questioned or challenged that will lead to a good essay. Keep in mind that the belief could be your own, your family's, a peer's, a peer group's, or a larger social or cultural group's.

As you narrow down your options, don't lose sight of the purpose of the essay: the college to which you are applying has holistic admissions , so the admissions folks want to get to know you as a whole person, not just as a list of grades , awards, and test scores . Your essay should tell the admissions officers something about you that will make them want to invite you to join their campus community. Your essay needs to show that you are a thoughtful, analytical, and open-minded person, and it should also reveal something that you care about deeply. Thus, the idea or belief that you reflect upon shouldn't be something superficial; it should center on an issue that is central to your identity.

Keep this points in mind as you brainstorm your topic:

• The belief can be your own. In fact, your own belief can be an excellent choice for this essay option. If you are able to reevaluate and challenge your own beliefs, you are demonstrating that you are a student who has the self-awareness, open-mindedness, and maturity that are essential ingredients for college success.
• The belief or idea can take many forms: a political or ethical belief, a theoretical or scientific idea, a personal conviction, an entrenched way of doing things (challenging the status quo), and so on. Tread carefully, however, as some topics should be avoided and can send your essay into controversial or potentially risky territory.
• Your challenge of the idea or belief need not have been successful. For example, if your community believes in the value of killing snakes on Whacking Day and you ran a campaign to stop this barbaric practice, your efforts could lead to a good essay whether or not you were successful (if you were not successful, your essay might also work for option #2 on learning from failure).
• The best essays reveal something that the writer is passionate about. By the end of the essay, the admissions folks should feel that they have a much better grasp on what it is that motivates you. Be sure to explore an idea or belief that will allow you to present some of your interests and passions.

Break Down the Question

Read the prompt question carefully as it has three distinct parts:

• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea ; reflective writing is popular in higher education today, and to respond effectively to this prompt, it is important to understand what reflection is and what it isn't. Reflection is far more than summarizing or reminiscing. Your task with this question isn't simply to describe a time when you questioned or challenged a belief. To "reflect" upon something you did is to analyze and contextualize your actions. What were your motives? Why did you do what you did? What were you thinking at the time, and in retrospect, were your thoughts at the time appropriate? How have your questions and actions played a role in your personal growth?
• What prompted your thinking?  If you did the first part of the question effectively ("reflect"), then you've already responded to this part of the question. Again, make sure you aren't just describing what you were thinking and how you acted. Explain why you were challenging the belief or idea. How did your own beliefs and ideas motivate you to question challenge some other belief or idea? What was the tipping point that spurred your to question the belief?
• What was the outcome? This part of the prompt is also asking for reflection. Look back at the big picture and put your challenge in context. What were the results of challenging the belief or idea? Was challenging the belief worth the effort? Did good come of your action? Did you pay a heavy price for your challenge? Did you or someone else learn and grow from your efforts? Realize that your answer here need not be "yes." Sometimes we challenge beliefs only to learn later that the outcome wasn't worth the cost. You don't need to present yourself as a hero who changed the world through your challenge of the status quo. Many excellent essays explore a challenge that didn't turn out as planned. Indeed, sometimes we grow more from missteps and failures than we do from triumph.

A Sample Essay on Challenging a Belief

To illustrate that the belief or idea you questioned doesn't need to be anything monumental, check out Jennifer's response to Common Application essay option #3, in her essay titled Gym Class Hero . The idea that Jennifer challenged was her own—her self-doubt and insecurity that often hold her back from accomplishing her full potential. The sample makes clear that a good essay can emerge from seemingly small, personal beliefs. You don't need to be tackling the world's most challenging problems in your essay.

A Final Note on Essay Option #3

College is all about challenging ideas and beliefs, so this essay prompt engages a key skill for college success. A good college education is not about being spoon fed information that you will regurgitate in papers and exams. Rather, it is about asking questions, probing assumptions, testing ideas, and engaging in thoughtful debate. If you choose essay option #3, make sure you demonstrate that you have these skills.

Last of all, pay attention to style , tone, and mechanics. The essay is largely about you, but it is also about your writing ability. A winning application essay needs to have clear, crisp, engaging language, and it needs to be free of errors.

• The 2021-22 Common Application Essay Prompts
• Tips for Writing an Essay on an Event That Led to Personal Growth
• "Gym Class Hero" - a Common Application Essay Sample for Option #3
• Common Application Essay Option 2 Tips: Learning from Failure
• Common Application Essay Option 4—Gratitude
• Topic of Your Choice: Common Application Essay Tips
• College Application Essay - The Job I Should Have Quit
• 5 Tips for a College Admissions Essay on an Important Issue
• 2020-21 Common Application Essay Option 4—Solving a Problem
• Common Application Essay, Option 1: Share Your Story
• "Grandpa's Rubik's Cube"—Sample Common Application Essay, Option #4
• Common Application Essay Option 6: Losing Track of Time
• Common Application Essay on a Meaningful Place
• "Handiwork" - Sample Common Application Essay for Option #1
• Tips for the Pre-2013 Personal Essay Options on the Common Application
• Tips for an Application Essay on a Significant Experience

Dr. Jennifer B. Bernstein

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One of the Common Application essay prompts asks you to “reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?”

• Why Colleges Want to Read Essays on Your Experience Questioning or Challenging a “Belief or Idea” (which also gives you important hints about the types of underlying things you want to reveal about yourself in your anecdotes)
• What Not to Do in an Essay on a “Time When You Questioned a Belief or Idea” (to help you avoid falling prey to a common mistake)
• Essay Example by Cornell Admit

2020 UPDATE & Why Most Students Don’t Write About a Time They “Questioned or Challenged a Belief or Idea”

Most students don’t write their Common App essays on challenging a belief or idea.

But you’re not aiming to be like most students, right?

Consider what the Common App team points out in their 2020-2021 update on the essay topics:

“While students aren’t inclined to discuss a time when they challenged a belief or idea, members appreciate what those essays reveal about the students who write them .”

[Just FYI: Members are the colleges that use the Common App.]

It’s interesting to get this feedback from the Common App because it aligns with the patterns I’ve observed with my own students.

Many of my students have immediately dismissed this essay topic, especially when it used to be phrased this way: “Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?”

They felt they couldn’t write a Common App essay on this topic because they. . .

• never questioned or challenged a major belief or idea
• challenged a belief or idea but that didn’t necessarily involve taking some big action
• didn’t want to “rock the boat” in their essay.

However, I want you to notice the BIG change in the Common App’s phrasing of the topic.

The emphasis is no longer just on challenging a belief or idea.

Now you’re also invited to consider writing about a time when you  questioned  a belief or idea and asked to shed more light on your thinking (rather than just your action).

There are so many interesting possibilities for the “questioned or challenged a belief or idea” essay topic, so I want you to keep an open mind and see if it could be a good fit for you.

Why Colleges Want to Read Essays on Your Experience Questioning or Challenging a “Belief or Idea”

Why do schools that use the Common App say that they “appreciate” what essays a “time you questioned or challenged a belief or idea” demonstrate “about the students who write them”?

Let’s consider some possibilities.

REASON #1: Colleges value students who are open to exploring and respecting perspectives other than their own. Sometimes this involves questioning or challenging your own beliefs or ideas and sometimes it involves challenging those of others.

A significant part of the intellectual and social experience of college involves opening yourself up to new perspectives and getting to know people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Some of the most interesting discussions and learning experiences occur when there’s a range of beliefs or interpretations shared during class discussions, while working on projects, or in student organizations.

Remember that this essay prompt is asking you about a “time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea.”

That DOESN’T necessarily mean CHANGING them.

Questioning or challenging ideas or beliefs can also involve enlarging, developing, or refining them.

It could involve realizing that someone’s perspective (including your own) is limited and only applicable in certain circumstances.

REASON #2: Admissions officers are interested in your habits of mind, including your ability to engage in critical thinking.

Even if you’re writing about standing up against a significant injustice, you can’t just write an essay about squashing it.

You have to reveal how you grappled with the issues at hand and how best to address them.

Although the phrase “critical thinking” doesn’t appear in the wording of this Common App essay prompt, that’s one of the things admissions officers want to learn about when reading your essay.

The way you demonstrate your critical thinking in this essay is through your description of “what prompted your thinking.”

Let’s clarify what’s meant by critical thinking.

Wikipedia provides this definition of critical thinking . It involves:

“being inquisitive and curious,

being open-minded to different sides,

being able to think systematically,

being analytical, . . .and

being mature.”

In a previous version of this Wikipedia entry, I found this definition as well. Critical thinking. . .

“clarifies goals,

examines assumptions,

discerns hidden values,

evaluates evidence,

accomplishes actions, and

assesses conclusions.”

Someone who thinks critically doesn’t just take things at face value (even if they seem obviously wrong or bad).

They look beneath the surface to figure out the assumptions and values informing the information and situations they encounter. They also know how to evaluate evidence and consider what types of evidence are–and are not–being provided.

When you’re writing about “what prompted your thinking” in terms of challenging a particular belief or idea, you want to show evidence of these ways of thinking–of these ways of examining your beliefs and ideas and those of others. You definitely don’t have to demonstrate all of them.

REASON #3: The “challenged a belief or idea” essay is a great way to demonstrate your “intellectual vitality” that all colleges, not just Stanford, are looking for in applicants.

This reason combines the first two that we’ve covered but pushes them to the next level.

Let’s consider what the former director of Columbia University’s graduate nonfiction program has to say. In  To Show and To Tell: The Craft of Literary Nonfiction , Phillip Lopate points out:

“In the best nonfiction,. . .you’re always made aware that you are being engaged with a supple mind at work . The story line or plot in nonfiction consists of the twists and turns of a thought process working itself out ” (6).

Many students just don’t yet realize that “ follow[ing] a live, candid mind thinking on the page ” is extremely interesting and important for admissions officers (43).

Just as importantly, most students don’t know how to make their thinking processes spring to life in their writing. It takes time and lots of guidance to master the art of writing this way.

However, it’s this kind of writing that demonstrates the “intellectual vitality” that admissions officers are hunting for when they read your application material.

Many times it’s not the surface level of your narrative (in this case, the specific belief or idea you questioned or challenged) that matters most to admissions officers. It’s your process of thinking and acting.

What Not to Do in an Essay on a “Time You Questioned a Belief or Idea”

One of my former students wanted to focus on a time when he stood up for a student at his school who was being bullied (which involved challenging one of the bully’s core beliefs)

That was actually a good initial idea.

Even though it might seem like a cliched approach to responding to the essay prompt, it’s in the details–in the vivid anecdotes and insights–that you can stand out and make the essay your own.

However, this student had two friends who were constantly ripping his draft to shreds.

“More DRAMA!!!!”

“Don’t tell, SHOW!!!”

Those are the kinds of notes I’d see in the margins of his draft.

His friends eventually convinced him to create an essay that was so exaggerated that it was unbelievable and stripped his writing of his deeper, more significant thoughts and feelings about the situation.

Yes, your essay needs internal and external tension or conflict, but it doesn’t have to be blown out of proportion.

Nuance and subtlety often have more power than you realize.

Yes, you need to show, but you also need to tell.

I strongly recommend checking out these two articles , which reveal effective strategies to use in your Common App essays.

“Techniques Used in the Best College Application Essays”

“Two Elements of the Best Common Application Essays”

“Challenged a Belief or Idea” Essay Example by Cornell Admit

Background Info: One of my students who was accepted to Cornell Engineering wrote about  her experience challenging a Science Olympiad judge’s conclusion about the vehicle she created with her partner. 

Click here to read my article on how to successfully position yourself for engineering programs.

You can watch the video or read about her essay down below.

ESSAY STRUCTURE, MOODS, AND TONES: 

PARAGRAPH #1:

To generate immediate interest, she plunged readers right into the moment before the event, a great strategy for helping readers feel like they’re there with you. 

NEXT FEW PARAGRAPHS:  

Instead of jumping right into what happened during the event, she flashed back to the painstaking process she and her partner went through while preparing for the event.

She didn’t just tell admissions officers they’d spent all this time and energy on the project—she showed it through vivid, sometimes funny, examples about experimenting with various materials.

In this part of her essay, she was providing insight into her work ethic, attention to even the minutest details, ability to handle setbacks, and capacity to collaborate .

By this point, the student was in the middle of her essay, but the reader still didn’t know that she’s writing about a time she challenged someone’s idea or belief.

That’s totally fine!

You’re not writing an academic essay on challenging a belief or idea.

You’re immersing admissions officers in your world—taking them behind the scenes in your life—and, when the moment’s right, you can “tap” on the essay prompt.

SHIFTS IN MOOD AND TONE:

She started by creating an anticipatory mood , mixed the seriousness of preparation with a certain degree of humor , and then, after the flashback, gets to the serious part. She’s bringing readers back to the present moment to describe the engineering event itself and the judge’s decision. Because she so effectively described the process, readers feel the let down when something goes wrong.

Readers feel like they’re going on a journey.

That’s a good thing.

NEXT PARAGRAPHS:

The student then described how she and her partner were so taken aback by the results and how they tried to make sense of what happened.

Through these anecdotes she demonstrates her critical thinking skills . She didn’t just jump to the conclusion that the judge was wrong.

She described how, when she realized the problem was with a certain measurement, her partner didn’t want her to say anything about it. She feared speaking up against the authority figure and felt they might suffer some sort of other penalty.

However, even though my student felt kind of queasy about challenging the judge, she did it and the decision was changed in their favor.

She drew her essay to a close with some insights into how this process of learning to speak up for herself—something she hadn’t really done before—changed her life in other ways. It’s not like she’s now always challenging authority but she feels more confident.

Your Next Steps for Writing a Great Common App Essay

Click here to gain access to my complete set of articles on Common App essays and supplemental essays.

Blog post images in order of use: ©claireandy/unsplash.com

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Writing the Common App 2018-2019 Prompt #3: Challenging a Belief or Idea

• college application essays
• personal statement
• essay topic

With seven Common Application college essay prompts to choose from, which one should you choose?

Choosing Your Common App Essay Topic

More often than not, there will be a few application prompts that will jump out at you. Often, the prompts that catch your attention do so because they align with a story or value that’s core to your identity. Jot down the first thoughts that come to you as you browse these prompts. These can turn out to be great ideas off of which to expand your eventual essay topic.

Common App Prompt #3 Essay Prompt

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Analyzing the Essay Prompt: Why Colleges Ask

The core of this essay prompt is to understand your values and beliefs and your thought process. How did you come to have these beliefs or ideas? Why did you question your initial belief system? How did others react to that? Finally, how did you resolve those challenges?

Out of all the Common App essay prompts, this one best demonstrates a candidate’s critical thinking, which is a quality admissions officers want to see in a candidate. This prompt also demonstrates a candidate’s humility and willingness to admit being wrong. It can be difficult to articulate your thought process clearly, especially with very personal essay subjects, so this prompt could be challenging but worthwhile if done right.

The prompt also asks for the motivation behind your thinking. The essay should explore the values that triggered your challenge. There has to be a reason you adopted a new set of beliefs. By doing so, you’ll be able to write about the things that are important to you, how they came to be, and therefore paint a better picture of who you are to the admissions office.  

Remember, analytical and critical thinking is a skill many institutions want to help foster, mostly through discussion-based lectures and seminars. Choose this prompt only if you’re very clear about your values and arguments.

Common “Challenged a Belief” Essay Topics

1. religion.

Religious teachings are often subjected to challenge, and it’s up to your faith and understanding to defend or reject them. If you were raised in a religious family, it may have been the only set of values you knew at first. However, as you step out of the home into other settings, such as school or other communities, you may have been exposed to different cultures and religions. For many students, learning about new cultures or belief systems can reshape opinions or even reframe moral beliefs that don’t fully align with what you initially learned. Usually, when a religious teaching is challenged, this can have profound consequences on a person’s worldview, self identity, and future goals.

If this is a narrative arc that speaks to you, writing about your religion can be a great way to showcase how your own values system has changed over time and based on experience. Religion can be a touchy subject, but this topic can be very successful if you demonstrate self awareness and tolerance (toward yourself and others). Examples include encounters that caused you to doubt your faith or a potential clash of ideas in a classroom setting.

A. Essay Topic: Religious Beliefs

Excerpt from StanfordNerd

Sociology Major

Stanford University ‘22

“”Oh no, Michelle! Can you even eat those?” Celia’s mother exclaimed, seeing the two cheeseburgers on my plate. The beef patties and slices of cheddar cheese stacked between two tiny buns were definitely not kosher. Yet, they definitely looked delicious. I was at an impasse. My family ate only kosher food in our household and my friend’s mother knew of my dietary restrictions. After years of following th e scientific method in school, I deduced there was no solid evidence barring me from eating the adorably small cheeseburgers. I shrugged and bit into the slider.”

Unlock this Stanford profile to continue reading!

B. Essay Topic: Religious Beliefs

Banking & Finance Major Excerpt from Doodie123

Washington University in St. Louis ‘19

“Give us today our daily bread.”

Such words I would hear both at Sunday congregations and from occasion bread-lovers that show up at our family bakery. Propelled by the entrepreneurial mentality of my family, I started to develop a growing desire for success at a young age. However, this seemingly ambitious desire gradually transformed into a self-centered way of life as I began to yearn for a sumptuous lifestyle that ignored the welfare of others.”

Unlock this Wash U successful application file to read more!

2. Gender and Sexuality

Identity is a tough topic to tackle for anyone at any age—it requires a great deal of self awareness and maturity. When it comes to gender identity and sexuality, that can be an even trickier area to navigate because it can be so easily misunderstood or misinterpreted with unwarranted social stigma. Therefore, taking on this topic requires authentic and clear writing. You want to communicate your story clearly so that the points you want to highlight are the points that come across to the reader; a bad outcome would be for the reader to take away a muddied or the wrong conclusion.

Discovering or acknowledging an element of your identity can be an incredibly transformative process. It comes with a lot of self questioning, growth, and catharsis. The more you can convey the inner transformation in your writing with clear, concrete examples to help the reader understand what’s happening in the cocoon before the butterfly emerges, the more compelling your essay will be.

A. Essay Topic: Sexuality & Religion

Excerpt from sumiko05

Undeclared major

Princeton University ‘20

“I grew up in a devoutly Christian family. Every Sunday, we go to church, whether it was the first one in the woods of Connecticut or the last one, where my father now serves as priest. The main message of the church has always been love, first and foremost. Love of God for the world, love of humans for each other. The concept of pride—of being so proud of who I was that I proclaimed it to the whole world—has been a hard thing for me to grasp with regards to my sexuality.”

Continue reading her full Princeton University personal statement. 

B. Essay Topic: Sexual Orientation

Excerpt from ssssnown

Women’s Studies Major

UC Berkeley ‘20

“I never faced any gender-based accusations of being strong-minded, aggressive and competitive for speaking out my opinions before. But when I broke up with my popular boyfriend and began hanging out with a girl who identified as lesbian, people changed their attitudes abruptly.”

Unlock her successful UC Berkeley application!

3. Stereotypes

Ah the classic high school stereotypes of jock vs. nerd / theater geek vs. math genius / class clown vs. teacher’s pet. As a high schooler, you may have had your fair share of being on the intentional or unintentional receiving or giving end of the stereotype. And like most high schoolers, you probably wanted to challenge the framework despite playing into it at times. The high school label is one such trope, however, there are many other stereotypes and labels we put on one another—stereotypes about race, ability, socioeconomic class, introversion, etc. If you’ve ever felt boxed into a label (or done the boxing), this is a great topic to consider.

In order to be successful with this topic, be thoughtful and deliberate about how you want to structure this essay. Is the story about self discovery? Is it about righting a wrong? Is it about fighting the system? Choose a clear narrative framework and a clear conclusion (a takeaway for yourself; not necessarily what you think the takeaway should be) so that your main idea doesn’t get lost in trying to do too much.

A. Essay Topic: Stereotypes: Racial/Cultural

Excerpt from Laurenwilson

Political Science & Government Major

Brown University ‘21

“It was around 6:30 in the evening when I filed onto the train to go back to my host family’s apartment in Shibuya. As I untangled my earphones in my seat, I noticed a little girl, clutching her mother’s hand, gasp at the sight of my dark skin and box braids, as though she’s never seen anyone who looks quite like me before. A cause of great discomfort just a few weeks prior, I shook it off as a normal part of being a gaikokujin, or a foreigner, in Japan.”

View her full personal statement in her Brown profile!

B. Essay Topic: Stereotypes: Gender

Excerpt from athomp19

Biomedical Sciences Major

University of Pennsylvania ‘19

“Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the typical reactions of my peers, mostly male. As if there were speaking aloud, I hear, “Are you sure you don’t need help with that? You don’t want to get hurt!” I flash them my own look of mitigated contempt. Steeping beneath the weight of the bar, the corner of my mouth twitches as I perform the back squats flawlessly and effortlessly, only imagining the gawking expressions on their faces. Not bothering to cast another glance so I can get back to work, I continue to add more weight. That was just a warm up.

Continue reading her successful Penn personal statement.  

Formatting the Common Application Essay

How to start your essay.

There are a few ways you may want to format the essay for the most impact. You can start with the encounter or experience you had during which your belief was challenged. It can be an excerpted piece of dialogue or even just a blanket statement someone made. Use the event as the catalyst to talk about your belief shift.

Alternatively, you can start by discussing the set of values and beliefs you initially held. Describe to the reader what you’ve always known growing up, and then insert the incident that caused you to have second thoughts. Be specific about what you’re having doubts about. What are the questions you’re asking yourself? The more of a window you can provide the reader into your internal thought process, the better the reader can understand your mindset (and your critical thinking skills).

Lastly, you can lead with the values or beliefs you have now since the change. Reflect on a time you didn’t think this way and use the rest of the essay to write about the impetus for the change and why you no longer feel the same way.

How to Conclude Your Essay

Wrap up this Common Application essay with the outcome of your challenge. Were you able to change someone else’s mind, or at least make them a little open minded? Or, perhaps the change was more for yourself and personal growth. If appropriate, you can also discuss how you hope to continue the growth or change in college and beyond. How are you going to use this experience in the future? Feel free to tie this in with a field of study or extracurricular passion you hope to pursue in college.

No matter how you structure your essay, the important thing is to make sure you’ve done the following by the end of the essay:

Illustrate the shift—Use examples to accompany the internal shift in beliefs

Explain WHY—What led to this shift?

Don’t forget the outcome!—What was the reaction? Both your own and those of the people around you? How have you grown? How have you helped those around you grow? How will you apply what you’ve learned moving forward?

Get access to profiles in our database! Our  premium plans  offer different levels of profile access and data insights that can help you with your application process. Unlock any of our  packages  or search our  undergraduate profile database  to find specific profiles that can help you make an informed choice about where to apply!

About The Author

Frances was born in Hong Kong and received her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. She loves super sad drama television, cooking, and reading. Her favorite person on Earth isn’t actually a member of the AdmitSee team - it’s her dog Cooper.

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How To Answer Essay Prompt 3 In The Common App: Belief

Understanding the prompt: the essence of reflection and challenge.

The essay prompt, "Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?" requires a deep understanding of the essence of reflection and challenge. To successfully tackle this prompt, it is crucial to grasp the underlying concepts and objectives it entails.

Reflection is the process of thoughtful contemplation and introspection. It involves looking back on a particular experience, belief, or idea and examining it from various perspectives. In the context of this essay prompt, reflection refers to the act of critically analyzing a belief or idea that you once held or encountered. It requires you to delve into the reasons behind your questioning or challenging of that belief or idea, as well as the impact it had on your thoughts and actions.

Challenge, on the other hand, involves questioning or confronting a belief or idea that may be widely accepted or deeply ingrained. It requires courage, open-mindedness, and a willingness to explore different perspectives. Challenging a belief or idea entails examining its validity, seeking evidence or alternative viewpoints, and evaluating its implications.

Understanding the essence of reflection and challenge in this essay prompt is crucial because it sets the tone for your response. It emphasizes the need to go beyond a mere recounting of events and delve into the thought process, motivations, and outcomes of questioning or challenging a belief or idea. It encourages self-awareness, critical thinking, and personal growth.

By comprehending the essence of reflection and challenge, you can approach this essay prompt with a clear focus and a deeper understanding of its objectives. It allows you to craft a well-thought-out response that not only describes the time you questioned or challenged a belief or idea but also analyzes the underlying reasons and explores the impact it had on your thoughts and actions. So, let's dive deeper into the process of effectively answering this essay prompt.

Identifying a Significant Belief or Idea for Your Essay

In order to effectively answer the essay prompt about questioning or challenging a belief or idea, it is crucial to identify a significant belief or idea to focus on in your essay. This section will guide you through the process of selecting a belief or idea that holds personal significance and has had a profound impact on your life.

Choosing a Belief or Idea

Think about your own experiences, values, and beliefs. Consider a belief or idea that stands out to you as being particularly important or influential. It could be a belief or idea related to religion, politics, social issues, personal philosophies, or any other aspect of life that has shaped your perspective.

Reflect on beliefs or ideas that have provoked strong reactions or emotions within you. Consider those that have challenged your existing beliefs, made you question societal norms, or compelled you to think critically. Choose a belief or idea that resonates with you on a deep level and has had a lasting impact on your thoughts and actions.

Why the Belief or Idea is Significant

Once you have chosen a belief or idea, it is important to explain why it holds significance for you. Consider the reasons behind its importance in your life. Has it shaped your values, influenced your decision-making, or impacted your relationships? Reflect on the ways in which this belief or idea has guided or challenged you, and how it has contributed to your personal growth.

Personal Connection to the Belief or Idea

Examine your personal connection to the chosen belief or idea. Reflect on the experiences or encounters that have solidified your connection to it. Did you have a personal experience that challenged or reinforced this belief or idea? Has it been shaped by your cultural background, upbringing, or interactions with others? Understanding your personal connection to the belief or idea will add depth and authenticity to your essay.

By carefully selecting a significant belief or idea for your essay, explaining its significance, and exploring your personal connection to it, you will lay the foundation for a compelling and meaningful response to the essay prompt. So take some time to reflect on your beliefs and ideas, and choose the one that truly resonates with you.

Describing the Time You Questioned or Challenged the Belief or Idea

In this section, we will delve into the process of describing the specific time when you questioned or challenged the belief or idea you have chosen for your essay. By providing a vivid and detailed account of this experience, you can engage your readers and help them understand the context and significance of your actions.

Setting the Scene

Begin by setting the scene and providing relevant background information. Describe the time and place when this event took place. Was it during your school years, a particular phase of your life, or a specific event that triggered your questioning or challenging of the belief or idea? Paint a picture of the environment, the people involved, and any other relevant details that will help your readers visualize the situation.

Understanding Your Motivation

Next, delve into the motivations behind your decision to question or challenge the belief or idea. What drove you to critically examine it? Did you encounter conflicting information or experiences that sparked your curiosity? Did you feel a discrepancy between your personal values and the belief or idea? Explain the thought process that led you to take action and question the status quo.

The Process of Questioning or Challenging

Describe the specific steps you took to question or challenge the belief or idea. Did you engage in extensive research to gather evidence and different perspectives? Did you have conversations with others who held contrasting views? Did you seek guidance or mentorship to navigate through your doubts and uncertainties? Outline the process you went through to gain a deeper understanding and challenge the belief or idea.

By providing a clear and detailed account of the time when you questioned or challenged the belief or idea, you will enable your readers to fully grasp the situation and the thought process behind your actions. This section sets the stage for the subsequent sections, where you will explore what prompted your thinking and discuss the outcome of your actions. So, let's delve deeper into your reflection and journey of questioning or challenging the belief or idea.

Explaining What Prompted Your Thinking

In this section, we will explore the factors and influences that prompted your thinking and led you to question or challenge the belief or idea. By understanding the triggers and motivations behind your actions, you can provide a deeper insight into your thought process and engage your readers.

Identifying the Trigger

Explain the specific event, experience, or realization that served as the trigger for your questioning or challenging of the belief or idea. Was it a personal encounter, a significant life event, or a moment of introspection? Describe the circumstances surrounding this trigger and how it impacted your perspective.

Understanding Your Thought Process

Share your thought process and the internal dialogue that occurred as you began to question the belief or idea. What thoughts, doubts, or uncertainties arose? Did you engage in critical thinking, analyze different viewpoints, or seek out information to inform your perspective? Describe the cognitive journey you embarked on as you grappled with the belief or idea.

The Role of External Factors

Consider any external factors that played a role in prompting your thinking. Did societal changes, current events, or influential figures contribute to your questioning or challenging of the belief or idea? How did these external factors shape your perspective and influence the direction of your thoughts? Discuss the impact of these external influences on your thought process.

By explaining what prompted your thinking, you provide a deeper understanding of the triggers and influences that led you to question or challenge the belief or idea. This section sets the stage for the subsequent section, where you will discuss the outcome of your actions. So, let's delve deeper into the impact and consequences of your questioning or challenging of the belief or idea.

Discussing the Outcome of Your Actions

In this section, we will explore the outcome of your actions after questioning or challenging the belief or idea. By discussing the impact and consequences of your actions, you can provide a comprehensive understanding of the significance of your experience.

Immediate Reactions and Results

Describe the immediate reactions and results that occurred as a result of your questioning or challenging of the belief or idea. How did people around you, such as friends, family, or colleagues, respond to your actions? Did you encounter support, resistance, or indifference? Discuss any changes in relationships or dynamics that emerged from your actions. Additionally, consider any tangible outcomes or changes that occurred as a direct result of your questioning or challenging.

Long-term Impacts

Reflect on the long-term impacts of your actions. Did your questioning or challenging of the belief or idea lead to any significant shifts in your own beliefs, values, or perspectives? Did it inspire others to reconsider their own beliefs or ideas? Discuss any personal growth, increased awareness, or new insights that emerged from this experience. Consider how this experience has shaped your outlook on life and influenced your subsequent thoughts and actions.

What You Learned from the Experience

Reflect on the lessons you learned from questioning or challenging the belief or idea. What insights did you gain about yourself, others, or the world around you? Did this experience reinforce the importance of critical thinking, open-mindedness, or empathy? Discuss how this experience has contributed to your personal growth and development.

By discussing the outcome of your actions, you provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact and consequences of your questioning or challenging of the belief or idea. This section serves as a reflection on the significance of your experience and sets the stage for the concluding section, where you will summarize your journey and reflect on the broader context. So, let's delve deeper into the lessons learned and the significance of your experience.

In this final section, we will bring together the key elements of your essay and provide a cohesive conclusion to your reflection on the time you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. By summarizing your experience, reflecting on its significance, and connecting it to the larger context, you can leave a lasting impression on your readers.

Summarizing Your Experience

Begin by summarizing the main points and highlights of your journey of questioning or challenging the belief or idea. Recap the specific belief or idea you focused on, the time when you questioned or challenged it, and the outcomes of your actions. Provide a concise overview of the key moments and insights that defined your experience.

Reflecting on the Significance

Reflect on the significance of your experience and the impact it had on your personal growth and development. Discuss how this experience shaped your perspective, values, and beliefs. Consider the lessons you learned and the ways in which your understanding of the world has evolved as a result of questioning or challenging the belief or idea. Highlight the transformative nature of this experience.

Connecting to the Larger Context

Finally, connect your personal journey to the larger context. Reflect on the broader implications of questioning or challenging beliefs and ideas in society. Discuss the importance of critical thinking, open-mindedness, and the willingness to challenge the status quo. Consider how your experience contributes to a broader conversation or discourse on personal growth, intellectual curiosity, and social progress.

By summarizing your experience, reflecting on its significance, and connecting it to the larger context, you provide a well-rounded conclusion to your essay. This section leaves the reader with a sense of closure and a broader understanding of the importance of questioning or challenging beliefs and ideas. So, let's conclude your essay with a powerful reflection on your journey of growth and transformation.

Final Thoughts

Challenging our beliefs isn't just about re-evaluating an idea; it's a journey of self-discovery and growth. This reflection highlights that it's not just the beliefs we hold, but our willingness to examine them, that shapes our character. Life is filled with diverse ideas, and our growth lies in our ability to question, understand, and evolve. Remember, while beliefs shape us, our capacity to challenge them truly defines us. Stay curious and open to deeper understanding.

I hope you found this guide useful. Navigating campus life can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. Once you're accepted into college, hop onto MeetYourClass – your go-to platform to find roommates, friends, and your community. Connect with like-minded students, find your perfect roommate, and immerse yourself in campus culture. As you embark on your application journey, remember: your next chapter of friendships and experiences is just a click away. Best of luck, and we hope to see you soon on MeetYourClass!

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Keep reading, essay prompt: describe a life event which you feel has prepared you to be successful in college.

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College Essay Examples: Challenging a Belief or Idea (with Humility)

In this essay, a student we're referring to as The Graduation Speaker, answers Common Application prompt #3. ("Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?") His essay is a fantastic example of how to approach this prompt with humility, wit, and likability. He submitted this essay as his personal statement and received acceptance to Stanford, Yale, Dartmouth, Duke, and UCLA.

• College Essay Examples

Is your College Essay Cliché?

Applicants often choose to write about cliché subjects because they THINK the resulting essays present the kinds stories admissions officers want to read. To the contrary, jumping on an essay cliché bandwagon can make it nearly impossible for an admissions officer to distinguish you from your closest competition. In this video, CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor presents The Cliché Quiz.

Successful College Essay Examples: The Nature Painter

Many students find it helpful to familiarize themselves with successful college essays to better understand what it looks like (or sounds like) when it's done right. There are so many different ways to write a great college essay, so don't feel confined to any formula, structure, approach, or tone. In this essay, our student showcases his love of science and nature by explaining the importance of having the right tools, both as humans and in nature at large. He gained acceptance to Yale University, Stanford, Harvard.

College Essay Examples: How to Write About Another Person While Still Making the Essay About You

So you want to write your college essay about a person who is very important to you and has shaped the person you've become today, but you are nervous that the essay won't say enough about you as the applicant (after all, your grandma isn't applying to college, you are!). We totally get it. Tons of students run into this issue. That's why we're sharing one of our favorite essays, written by a student we're referring to as "What Makes a Woman." This student masters the art of writing about another person's struggles, while reflecting on her own obstacles, perceptions, and identity.

College Essay Examples: Pulling Your Reader in From the Start

So you're reading successful college essays and they sound awesome...but what's the use of a great essay if you don't understand which defining features make the essay sparkle? In this video, we will be exploring TWO successful college essay examples, both of which are great examples of how to pull a reader into your story using visuals, intrigue/suspense, and maybe a little bit of humor.

College Essay Examples: How to Incorporate Dialogue into Your Essay

One way to pull a reader into your essay from the very beginning is to start with dialogue. Many students don’t even consider adding an outdated adage from a parent or a hilarious crack from a high school coach to break up their prose, set the scene or build the profiles of their stories’ characters. And yet, dialogue is one of those devices that can give you a lot of bang for your buck, delivering a punch of personality or a wallop of context using just a few carefully culled utterances. Here is one successful example of how a student uses dialogue to immerse her reader in her essay. We call this applicant, "In The Car with Mom."

College Essay Examples: Writing About a Background, Identity, or Interest

Many students choose to respond to the Common Application's first prompt (listed below) for their personal statement. This student (who we're referring to as The Nike Jordans), is one of them. In her essay, she writes about her background in a way that invites the reader to step into her shoes in order to learn more about her character, outlook, and personality. She gained acceptance to Princeton, MIT, U Chicago, and Columbia, among others.

In this essay, a student we're referring to as The Graduation Speaker, answers Common Application prompt #3. ("Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?") His essay is a fantastic example of how to approach this prompt with humility, wit, and likability. He submitted this essay as his personal statement and received acceptance to Stanford, Yale, Dartmouth, Duke, and UCLA.

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Common App Essay Prompt #3: Challenging a Belief or Idea

The college admissions essay gives you the opportunity to share aspects about yourself not otherwise reflected through grades and test scores. Who are you? What are your values and dreams? Are you the type of person who will thrive in an academically and socially challenging environment as you transition into adulthood? The Common App Essay is the perfect place to show admissions officers what you’re made of.

To help you along, we’ve prepared a series of overviews to help you understand the various question prompts asked by the Common App . The following guide focuses on the Common App essay prompt #3! For additional resources regarding other Common App essay prompts and the college admissions process, generally, feel free to visit our  Resources Page  and view our proofreading services , including our Application Essay Editing Services , which are tailored to college essays like the Common App Essay.

Common App Essay Prompt #3

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

If you’re strongly considering tackling the third essay option, sit down and contemplate what is most important to you in life. How do you want to convey these values to your readers? On the surface, the admissions committee seeks to learn more about how you think, or even how you put your thoughts into action. However, at the heart of this question is a concept that has been trending in both the corporate and academic fields… thought leadership.

Admissions committees love creativity. Think about a time when you brought fresh ideas to a project or created something you were proud of. Have you started your own business? Have you ever taken a different stance on an issue and defended your position to a group? Innovators are compelled to improve the world around them (this includes projects, classes, activities, friends, and family life). For example, a successful applicant wrote about his work as a teaching assistant at a local elementary school. Students were having a tough time with math, and he persuaded the school’s administration to implement the use of a video game he created to help students learn fractions. Not only did the review committee see his strong interest in information technology and math education, but they were inspired by his commitment to changing the school for the better. Brainstorm how you have made a difference and find a way to boldly tell that story.

In today’s social and political climate, the media shines a light on issues (both locally and globally) that welcome a host of opinions and even organized efforts by people seeking social change. Activism is about individual participation and community engagement for a specific cause. If you have a story about how you have put your beliefs to positive action and community uplift, the admissions committee wants to hear it! A successful applicant wrote the story of how she was bullied at a young age and became involved in anti-bullying campaigns. She wrote letters and lobbied to legislators, arguing that there should be more strict laws around cyber-bullying. Her story captivated the committee and spoke to the young woman’s persistence and character. Make a list of experiences that have shaped who you are today, and write down what you have done to ignite change because of these experiences.

Transformation

In an essay-brainstorming session, an applicant was asked to create a mind map of what she was passionate about. She listed “roadblocks,” or things that have tried to hold her back from doing what she loves. Her essay evolved and was noted as a review-committee favorite. She shared her high school journey to becoming a plus-size model. It was an emotional story of how she handled rejection from mainstream modeling agencies and developed the courage to voice and challenge others when she was treated unfairly. This motivated her to encourage students with similar stories and aspirations to participate in her school’s annual fashion show, raising awareness of diversity and the problem of stereotyping. Some of the most powerful essays capture dynamic moments, and transformational leaders aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo. Dig deep and reflect on times when you wouldn’t accept things “as they’ve always been.” Write out what you did to communicate what you believed in words and in action.

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Harvard Common App Essay: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea.

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. what prompted your thinking what was the outcome.

This summer I flew down to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to attend the University of Alabama Honors Academy. For a week, I lived in the UA Honors College dorms and attended college-level classes and lectures. There were many fascinating lectures, but only one will stay with me for the rest of my life – in a very real sense, it has changed the way I look at the world, and my place and purpose in it.

It was the morning lecture on the second day of the program –Stephen Black, the Director of the University of Alabama Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility, was the speaker. He began by describing a conversation he once had with the late Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity. Fuller told him that he was proud of his life’s work, but that he was increasingly concerned with the success and legacy of his organization. “How could you be?” Mr. Black asked. “Habitat for Humanity has helped millions of people. It’s one of the most successful charities in the world.”

“It’s true that we’ve helped a lot of folks,” Fuller replied. “We’ve helped over four million people build homes over the years. But since I founded this organization in 1976, the rate of homelessness in America has increased , not decreased. Fewer people own homes now than they did then, and more people are living on the street. How can we look at that and say that we’ve been truly successful?”

Mr. Black looked around the room. “You know,” he said, “your generation is the most charitable, most service-oriented generation in history. No American generation has ever been so enthusiastic about volunteer work and community service … But the fact is, in today’s world, that’s just not enough. I hope that your generation can avoid making the same mistake that other generations have made – mistaking sympathy for empathy. And that starts with each of you as individuals.”

I’ve been turning that thought over in my mind ever since. Ours is the most sympathetic generation in history, but at the same time it is among the least empathetic. Sympathy identifies a problem. Empathy compels us to demand a solution. Sympathy eases pain. Empathy demands an end to pain. In the same way, charity treats the symptoms of a profound illness in society, but true empathy demands something greater. When we realize that the Third World is also part of our world, that “those poor children” are our children, that violence, poverty, and injustice are too often a result of our own ignorance and our own apathy, then we can no longer merely donate an hour of our time or a few dollars of our money and feel that we have done enough. The world will demand more of us, so we must demand more of ourselves.

I’ve decided to do my part to meet that generational challenge – to understand people rather than feel sorry for them, to solve problems rather than treat symptoms, to act on empathy rather than feel sympathy. Whether I am organizing community service events through NHS, raising funds with the MSHS Nerdfighter Club to help build wells in Ethiopia, or simply trying to act more selflessly and responsibly in my daily life, I always find Mr. Black’s words in the back of my mind. It is easy to feel powerless before such great responsibility – I know that there are many days when I worry that despite all my efforts to the contrary, I will not succeed, that, to borrow from David Mitchell, “my life may amount to nothing more than one drop in a limitless ocean.”

“Yet what is any ocean, but a multitude of drops?”

• Essay written by Anonymous

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College 101

Common app 3: challenging beliefs.

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

It's pretty easy to think you already know everything. Yet beliefs can exist inside of you that you don't remember consciously making, like old files on a computer that somehow avoid being purged. Eventually, I had to do a little mental house-cleaning, if only because there's only so much space in my mind and I have a math test on Friday I would very much like to pass.

This leads me to the entire concept behind belief. Recently, on social media, a friend remarked (about an issue) that it was "just their beliefs." It doesn't really matter what the issue was, or what hinged on my friend's beliefs. What got me to thinking was the word itself.

"Belief" is one of those words we throw around without thinking about it. It tends to be the way people finish arguments rather than start them—when they stop thinking of an issue as opposed to analyzing them. This casual remark by my friend made me challenge the whole idea behind the word itself.

The first step was looking it up in the dictionary, and came up with "a feeling that something is good, right, or valuable." While on the face of it, this definition would seem to put everything to rest, it spurred more reflection on it. Namely, the one question we've all been asking since we learned how to speak: "Why?"

Specifically, why is this thought to be good, right, or valuable? For one thing, beliefs are not constant between cultures. They are not even constant in the same culture. If they were, no one would ever have to inform another that they thought or said something due to their beliefs. It would be known intuitively as everyone had the same ones.

What about any particular concept, idea, or action, would make it good, right, or valuable? "Right" is the most concrete of these words. While correctness is hard to determine, whether or not something is factually true has a whole subject devoted to it: science. I didn't think that science would tell me if something is "good," but "valuable," maybe. Living organisms have needs, and thinking ones have other needs. Fulfilling those demonstrates value.

Science is also intended to be predictive. The goal is to figure out how things will react in the future, and through that create things like self-driving cars or microwave burritos that don't burn the roof of your mouth. By predicting a course of action, i.e.: "This burrito is hot and could burn me," it can then figure out why and propose a solution.

I went back to the original post to see if my newly minted definition of belief would be valuable. As it turned out, this whole debate was on Star Wars . So science, or being predictive, rational, or much of anything didn't help at all.

Or so I thought. Because it didn't fall into these categories, I was able to look at it with clear eyes. The debate over it was just that: a debate. There was nothing predictive in either side. There was nothing concrete. An argument that people got pretty worked up for, and invoked their beliefs to settle, ended up being completely empty.

I was happy to challenge my definition of belief. Now that I know what it is, I can utilize it. My worldview can be a rational one, except when it's not. And when it's not, I'll know why. One thing, it's already saved me time arguing on the internet, and if that's not valuable, I don't know what is.

Why This Essay Works

The student takes the question in an interesting direction from the beginning. By challenging even the wording of it, the writer is looking for a deeper meaning. In many cases, words are taken as a given, and it's the rare person who really seeks what they mean. This is someone who doesn't take things for granted, and approaches even the wording of questions with strong critical thinking skills.

This is also an interesting journey into the psyche of the student. Most belief systems go unchallenged, and here the student's taking an offhanded debate over a movie as an invitation to construct one from the ground up. This shows that the writer is an introspective person, but also has a solid chain of logic to support their beliefs.

The final reveal—that this was entirely on the back of a movie debate—adds a little levity. Things were getting a little stiff, and just that bit of humor provides some relief. It's not a joke line, and that's important. A simple joke might not land, but that truth grounds the entire essay in reality and should give the reader a bit of a smile.

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Common Essay Application—Prompts and Examples

4-minute read

• 19th October 2022

Your test scores and extracurricular activities are important for your college application, but those don’t really show the admissions panel who you are; that is what the college admission essay is for. To make sure that your personality shines through, your choice of essay prompt will be vital. We can help proofread it once you’ve written it, but first let’s look at your choices for this year’s Common Application.

Prompt 1: Share Your Story

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

With this, you should engage the reader with your enthusiasm for a particular activity—however mundane it may at first appear—or allow them to connect with a background or identity that may be different from their own. Click to read an example answer to this question.

Prompt 2: Challenges and Obstacles

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

The transition to college can be daunting. An essay on this topic will help the admissions officer see your resilience and ability to learn from your own mistakes. Click to read an example answer to prompt 2. 

Prompt 3: Challenging Beliefs 

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

With this you can demonstrate your reflective skills: how you can weigh up opposing arguments, decide what is important to you, and compellingly justify your response. Click to read an example .

Prompt 4: Gratitude 

4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

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The requirement here is specifically for the cause to have been surprising , and therefore the officer will be looking for something unexpected but authentically joyful for you, so must be fully engaged by your description. Here’s an example !

Prompt 5: Personal Growth  

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

The rest of your application sets out the facts of your accomplishments, so this is a chance for the officer to understand the deeper impact on you of those or of other achievements or events. Here’s an example .

Prompt 6: What Captivates You?

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

The officer will want to be swept away by your passion for a subject. They will want to have their senses engaged in the same way that yours are, and fully understand how time may be lost to the activity or concept. Check out the example .

Prompt 7: Open-Ended Prompt

7. 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.

Responding to such an open-ended prompt has the potential to demonstrate your innovative skills—perhaps using a different format—or a passion that doesn’t naturally fit within any of the other prompts. Although the topic is down to you, it must still be personal; the one thing the admissions officer wants to learn about from your essay is you . Here’s a fun award-winning example . 

Once you’ve chosen your prompt and written your essay, don’t forget to get it proofread . You’ll have put a lot of time and energy into writing it and will want it to give the best impression. Upload a trial document today to see how we can help.

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223 Belief Essay Ideas, Topics, & Examples

Looking for belief essay ideas? Being a subject of numerous philosophical debates, the concept of belief is worth exploring.

🏆 Best Belief Essay Examples

⭐ personal belief essay topics, 💡 most interesting belief topics to write about, 📑 simple & easy belief essay titles, 📌 top belief topics to write about, 👍 exciting belief essay ideas, ❓ belief system research questions.

In your belief essay, you might want to focus of various philosophical approaches to the concept. Another idea is to compare religious and secular belief systems. One more option is to talk about your strongest personal beliefs and practices. Whether you have to write a high-school or a college assignment, our article will be helpful. Here you’ll find everything you might need to write a belief essay. Best personal belief essay topics and examples written by A+ students are collected below.

• Omnism: Belief in All Religions The practice of omnism has been in here for a while, but the definition of the term is quite young. In Japan, an omnism religion is called Kokyo was formed in the 1800s, and the […]
• “Confessions of Faith” Written by Cecil Rhodes In particular, the author argues that the citizens of the British Empire have a right to rule different regions of the world.
• Cultural Belief System: Experiences and Traditions In most communities, the belief systems form the basis for validity of governance systems in the community as well as the acceptable laws governing behavior in the society.
• Kant’s Categorical Imperative vs. Kierkegaard’s Notion of Faith The reason of why Kant’s ideas are preferable to me is that the categorical imperative allows to define what actions are obligatory and which ones should be forbidden and to choose the way that is […]
• Faith and Materialism in Matthew 6:24-30 Due to simplicity, readers do not have to refer or infer to the original text in Greek or to the bible dictionary to get the meaning of the complex words in the text.
• Ecologies of Faith in the Digital Age and Surviving and Thriving in Seminary Therefore, based on this powerful technique, I believe that embracing the concept of spiritual growth through the use of the online platform will enable me to learn from the online community as well as to […]
• “The Ethics of Belief” by William K. Clifford On religious beliefs, Clifford advises that belief matters are private and that people have the right to choose whichever religion to believe.
• The Faith Concept and Types The concept of faith, types of faith and the criticism of faith are the key areas explored in this paper. The most common type of faith in the world is the religious faith.
• The Importance of Perseverance and Self-Belief Of course, I was fluent in Spanish, which was my native language, but I faced a problem in the USA – I needed to learn English to feel comfortable and free.
• Christian Faith and Scientific Disciplines It is believed that the introduction of philosophical naturalism to scientific thinking led to the development of the natural sciences. In contrast to the natural sciences, the social sciences focus on particular people and communities […]
• Religion in Moliere’s Tartuffe: True Faith Versus Hypocrisy Notably, he uses religion as the major instrument of his influence as it is easy to become a mentor and guide through the hazards of the world.
• Christian Ministry and Personal Faith Moreover, should we want to focus on the Christian Ministry, and any other ministry for that matter, I think we have to get back to the basic teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and this […]
• Human Experience and Development Of Religious Belief In an analysis of the role of the human experience in the development of religious beliefs, it is necessary also to note that the relation between human experience and religion is the exact background to […]
• “Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?” by Gettier In addition, the article reveals that the concepts of ‘the right to be sure that’ and ‘has adequate evidence for’ only work if the element of ‘justified true belief’ is not introduced in an analysis.
• Mary Rowlandson’s Strong Faith, Captivity and Restoration Her strong faith helped her to endure her captivity and ultimately be restored to her family. Rowlandson’s faith in God gave her the strength to endure this difficult situation.
• Relationship Between Psychology and Christian Faith Truly, I have realized that sincerity is found in Jesus discipleship and the study of persona, but the varying aspects guiding the honesty are the belief in Christ and analytical thinking.
• The Circle of Life: Belief of Native Americans He shows the weakest and frailest infants being at the base of the hill while the oldest were on the top.
• Critique of Health-Belief Model by R. Davidhizar The primary objective of concept analysis is to examine the main idea critically to identify the themes of the design. The concept of health-related behavior is used in the field of breast cancer to enlighten […]
• Faith and the Future: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Jews can gloat and say that they are the chosen people but this is not a wise decision to make because they will be threatened on all side and in fact since two thousand years […]
• Health Belief Model: Description and Concepts The concept is based on a person’s sufficient motivation to affect an issue, the existence of a threat, and the realization that the benefits are worth the cost.
• Adam’s Apples: Testing of Faith Adam, on the other hand, is skeptical and eager to confront the vicar, seeking to prove that Ivan’s miserable life is a sign of God’s hatred.
• Change in Belief System Their life experiences, friends, and exposure to reality are some of the factors that contribute to such shifts in belief and attitude towards diverse occurrences in life.
• Without Faith, There Can Be No True Virtue? It relates to the author of integrity and the dishonest virtue that occurs where there is no faith in God even if the qualities of an individual are the best.
• Ethics and Faith in the Movie “Crimes and Misdemeanors” In this motion picture, he seems to support the defeat of the religious as seen through the death of the most religious person in the story – Ben.
• Faith Integration in the Hebrew 11 Passage The examples of people leading by their example and convincing others to accept the Christian faith as the [path to salvation are incredibly inspiring, which is why the specified part of the Scripture has a […]
• Human Belief in Myths and Legends However, suppose one understands the meaning and the reasons for their creation, which in most cases are similar regardless of the area of origin of the legend.
• The “Dynamics of Faith” Book by Paul Tillich Relying on the study of Dynamics of Faith, Paul Tillich would analyze the “dynamics of faith” present in The Plague’s Fr.
• God’s Healing Is Not Influenced by Level of Faith For example, in response to the courage that the woman with the flow of blood demonstrated, Jesus said that the faith she had made her whole.
• The Relationship Between Faith and Charity The word church in the Apostles’ Creed, similarly to the Bible, refers to the people of God, the holy society made up of individuals who profess faith in the Father, the Son, and the Holy […]
• The Role of Faith in the US-Middle East Foreign Policy Moreover, the belief that the US was the nation assigned the role of fulfilling God’s promise to his people and the whole of humanity encouraged them to contribute to the well-being of settlers and natives […]
• Reason and Faith in Christianity It should be stressed that the two entities of theological justification are seen to be reason and faith. People must have both the right justification and faith in order to believe, as those are the […]
• Faith Integration: 1 Peter 5:1-4 The Bible verse can be applied to corporations that may take advantage of vulnerable consumers. Such an approach is detrimental to the consumers and the organizations.
• Pascal’s Wager: Belief in God as a Rational Choice It is one of the favorite tools of religious preachers who try to appeal to famous names and a kind of logic to convince people to enter their faith. The second argument against Pascal’s wager […]
• Evangelism in Daily Life: Sharing the Christian Faith The main Bible statement for Evangelism is “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes”.
• How Christianity Faith Influenced Mathematics Christianity displays God to have qualities of order due to the fashion and timeline of creation. Divisive interpretations between Christianity and science challenge the interconnectivity of both fields.
• “Midsommar” and Sublime Nature of the Belief The work’s title hints at the central theme that follows the plot’s narrative the power of belief in the higher force in the world.
• Faith and Transformational Teaching The authors say that being deeply and comprehensively trained in the field being taught is the path to success as a teacher.
• Perception of Faith: Perspective and Science I became kinder, more righteous, and wiser as I began to deepen my understanding of the Nature of things. I first noticed the influence of the gospel when I had to make a difficult decision.
• The “Your Grown-Up Faith” Book by Kenneth Parker The author shows the importance of the spiritual path in avoiding the traps of pseudo-spirituality and mysticism. The Youth’s Way is a challenging stage of doubts and searches for a place in the world and […]
• The Jewish Belief of Heaven and Hell in Comparison to New Testament The Old Testament Sheol is both the plan of dead souls in the direct and the state of the fallen soul in the figurative sense.
• Shintoism as a Faith Indigenous to the Japanese Currently, no central authority exists in Shinto, and practitioners employ a diverse number of ways to practice their faith Though the exact date of the creation of Shinto is not known, the variation of the […]
• Personal Reflection on Integrating Faith and Work The relevance of a Christian’s positive view of the sociocultural practices of other people is biblically supported by the story of creation.
• Augustine on Instructing Beginners in Faith The main thesis of this book is how to provide relevant instructions to the new converts. Therefore, improvements should be made to help in addressing the situation in most of the Christian conventions.
• Aspects of Belief of Jainism When learning about religions and philosophies, I find that origins or backgrounds are essential in interpreting the context and content of a religion.
• Christian Faith: Influence on Learning He discusses science and how humans are the products of the world they are endowed with feeling and thought, which are beyond natural.
• “Faith and Learning” by David Dockery The main feature of this perception of the literary text is that the reader should not look for the secret meaning of the writer.
• Preaching: Communicating Faith in Age of Skepticism Keller provides six approaches to preach Jesus from all of Scripture that are appropriate to both the message and the context of a given chapter to assist avoid these pitfalls.
• “Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism” Book by Tim Keller In his book, Timothy Keller underlines the centrality of the gospel as one of the major means to connect an individual and the Church and establish fair and effective relationships.
• Faith and Other Areas of Human Development From my point of view, there is undoubtedly a certain kind of connection between the development of faith and other areas of human development.
• Evolutionary Ethics vs. Belief in God In addition, the disadvantage of the evolutionary theory is that moral and ethical norms cannot be determined only to a biological degree.
• Spiritual Formation Reflection: Integrating Faith and Learning This strengthened understanding of the mutual necessity of faith and learning in becoming closer to God is a crucial result of this course for me.
• Philosophy of Religion: Approaches to Faith and Church The epistemology in this work is not based on avid socialism but a specific definition of concepts and their application to religion.
• Integrating Faith While Caring for Pediatric Patients: The Concept of Health The key points that the paper discusses are the need to care for patients, the desire to offer emotional support to them, the responsibility of personal sacrifice, and the call to be committed to the […]
• The Experience of Faith The major concern in religion is that the relationship between faith and spirituality is a frequently debated subject among all Christians.
• “The Ethics of Belief” by Clifford and “The Will to Believe” by James Belief in God is a momentous decision, and the benefits of yielding to religious faith outweigh the potential risks of error.
• Faith and Justice in the City. Seek for Justice It is crucial to have the same law and the same treatment to a foreign person and for a native-born, as equal treatment is one of the main aspects of justice, promoted in the Bible.
• How Faith Leaders Are Divided Over Equality Act The Vatican refuses to bless same-sex marriages saying that this is not in accordance with the canons of the Roman Catholic Church since marriage is a union of a man and a woman.
• Public Health Theories. Health Belief Model For example, it is difficult to understand the relationship between perceived severity of HIV and perceived benefits of engaging in positive sexual health behaviors.
• Discussion of Miracle and Faith in Medicine Thus, one of the most interesting concepts tackled in the topic readings is the evaluation of scientism as a means of explaining the phenomena of death, illness, and morality.
• Identity Formation: Faith Overview As a result, I made a commitment and took the responsibility for my decisions, which was a long process. Undoubtedly, my faith was helpful in the process of my identity formation in other areas as […]
• Islamic Belief Is Comprehensive The central theme of Islam as carried in all beliefs is peaceful co-existence and respect for other people’s religion.
• Spiritual Growth: The Sense of Spirituality and Faith In the read story, the author mentioned two basic methods of development, which consist in the sense of spirituality and faith.
• Religious Belief and Buying Behavior The main categories to be assessed are religious affiliation and religious dedication in respect to Hinduism and Islam. According to the research, religious affiliation and religiosity play a vital part in shopping conduct.
• Faith and Gods in Ancient Civilizations Thus, it was important for the people of Ancient Greece, Rome, and China to have faith and praise the gods they chose.
• Role of Faith in Social Work The first lesson of this book is that social work should be multifaceted to meet the specific needs of people, and it should consider the opportunities that every person has.
• Faith Integration and Strategic Management At the Adult and Teen Challenge Ohio organization, which seeks to offer support and encouragement to women struggling with substance addiction, the focus on the search of a spiritual core as the key source of […]
• Faith Integration: Opportunities and Threats Adult & Teen Challenge Ohio presently operates in Columbus, OH, yet the organization may expand in the future to embrace larger markets and address the needs of a more diverse range of clients. It is […]
• Analytical Processing, Religion Belief & Science In order to test validity of the difference, it may be necessary to conduct an investigation on analytical processing skills of individuals in science and in religion.
• Health Belief and Precautionary Adoption Process Models The agreement to change depends on the susceptibility of the risk. The study established that the construct of risk perception among the parents played a crucial role in determining the completion of the vaccination process.
• Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity in Health Care The universal Christian community believes in the power of prayer in healing and the clergy offer prayers and spiritual nourishment to the sick.
• Faith Diversity: Healing Prospects Muslims believe in the effect of the evil eye, jinns or magic, and it is this effect that results in illnesses with a supernatural cause.
• Reason, Motivations, and Belief for Conducting Cyber Attack The end is beneficial to the threat source and detrimental to other users. In fact, activities of cyber attackers make the Internet both a blessing and a curse.
• An Ethical Dilemma – Religious Belief Versus Medical Practice In the first step, the ethical dilemma is between the principle of beneficence in the treatment of meningitis and the principle of autonomy with respect to the decision of the parents.
• Religion: The Canons as a Standards to Measure One’s Faith The authority of God in the New Testament cannot be exclusively attributed in the writing of the twenty-seven books that make up the New Testament as is the case with the Old Testament or Hebrew […]
• Religion: Christians’ Belief in God So, in essence, he might take such turbulent times as a test of faith since the belief in the existence of God lies within the affirmation that God is in all things that we encounter.
• Modality of Family Faith and Meanings and Relationships in Family Life The theme of this study is to investigate two broad categories of modalities of faith in family life: first, what they value or seek, and how they relate to God or to others and the […]
• Acting in Good Faith: Contract and Agency Law To start with the validity of the contract should be analyzed; and in this case, the two contracting parties had agreed mutually to reduce the amount to a nominal amount of $150.
• “Strength in the Unfeigned Faith” To the extent of questioning the incarnation of Jesus Christ, I become skeptical in basing my belief on the knowledge of this world.
• Christian Faith and Work With Service Members In their article, Kick and McNitt discuss the importance of faith in providing help to the military members, veterans, and their families.
• Faith-Based Organization Services as the Best Means to Prevent HIV and AIDS in Southern Cameroons The HIV/AIDS issue was complicated by the fact that at the moment of this research, there was no cure and the only way of addressing the infection spread was through prevention and ensuring that people […]
• Belief and Evidence Between Religion and Science Therefore, they base their hopes on the belief that all will be well with them, and they will wake up to continue with their daily activities.
• “Faith-Sharing” by Fox and Morris The three concepts that I have learned from the text include the meaning of faith, the motivation for faith sharing, and the appreciation of the meaning of faith sharing.
• “Ferguson and Faith” by Leah Francis In this way, the religious activists may raise public awareness about the topical social issues in relation to the spiritual dimensions of human life, and engage people “in conversation about the theological imperative” in the […]
• Four Apostles’ by Albrecht Dürer: Protestant Faith Protestantism emerged in Europe at the beginning of the 16th century as the opposition to the Roman Catholic Church and based on the belief in personal faith and the connection to God.
• Spiritual Belief Is the Integral Parts of Human Beings In other words, the fact of the existence of the universe proves the idea of God responsible for the creation of such ideal objects and things.
• Reason and Religious Belief. An introduction to The Philosophy of Religion’ by M. Peterson The chapter reveals that God is imperceptible to the senses of a man, and unconditionally pervades all the reality known to man. Therefore, it is challenging to reconcile the concept of God with evil and […]
• The Chinese Belief on Death and Dying These distinctions are visible due to several cultures act of subjecting to an influencing experience of death in the African perspective, the keeping with the nature of the Bible or its times, the people from […]
• Discovering Faith: The Search for Truth and Certainty The author starts his article with “truthseekers” using reason and faith as tools to find the truth. As opposed to both extremes- Fundamentalist Protestantism and Christian apologetic- Taylor argues that it is wrong to ridicule […]
• Creationism as a Religious Belief The evolutionary scientists believe that the positions taken by creation scientists on the origin of the earth and life forms are irreconcilable to theirs.
• Aquinas and Faith: Theological Theories Aquinas asserts that true faith should believe in what has been revealed by God The agreement that characterizes faith is being wholehearted and not timid. Through revelation one accepts the propositions in faith that God […]
• Martin Buber: Two Types of Faith The first type of faith is expressed in the continuity of the nation which one is born in and he is a member.
• Voluntaristic Faith: Readings by Clifford and James Faith, according to the readings of Clifford and James is a strong belief inscribed in the mind of an individual that that what they think is right.
• Ethics of Belief: Term Discussion For instance, in the above example of taking your friends to a restaurant, you have to follow epistemic norm and the moral norm almost becomes obligatory.
• ”The Believers”: An Analysis of Belief & Faith Thus faith involves a process and belief is only a part of the process by way in which you acquire faith faith being the ultimate expression of belief.
• Martin Luther: Justification by Faith Alone The basis of the doctrine of justification by faith is the doctrine of grace as undeserved favor of God to fallen humanity.
• Islamic Faith and Ritual Practice In the Islamic faith, rituals, known in their religion as ibadat, meaning acts of obedience, service, and worship to God, form the foundation on which the whole faith is anchored.
• Vedic Hinduism, Classical Hinduism, and Buddhism: A Uniting Belief Systems The difference between Vedic and Classical Hinduism is fundamentally approach towards life rather than beliefs or reformation and the progression from the former to latter is not clear in terms of time.
• Ethics and Combination of Religious Faith, Ethical and Aesthetic Beliefs It is essentially described by the existence of pleasure and in living an aesthetic life to the maximum one has to aim at maximizing the given pleasures.
• Islam: a Restatement of Israeli Faith He did not have formal training or wisdom to have made any editorializing or modification to the word of God hence Muslims believe that the Koran is the pure and unadulterated word of God as […]
• Cherokee Indian Belief: Gateway to Modern Civilization The Cherokee learned the art of combat war from the Europeans and they used the same tactics later on to attack their neighbors in the frontiers.
• The Christian Faith in Geisler’s and Feinberg’s “Introduction to Philosophy: A Christian Perspective” In spite of all this reason vs.revelation debate, there is an underlying determination that is made apparent in the book: this is the determination to overcome any kind of rationalist thought or idea and discount […]
• Islam: Connection of Belief With a Traditional Life Knowledge of the bases of Muslim doctrine is rather variously at various layers of the population and in the different countries of traditional distribution of Islam.
• The Conditions in Formulating a Reasonable Belief 2 Both ideas make sense, and the goal of this review is to compare the opinions of James and Clifford to strengthen an understanding of the connection between beliefs, evidence, and sentiments.
• Faith and Critical Reason Issues My understanding of faith is close to the definition suggested by Tilley, who argues that faith is the relationship between the person who has faith and that “which one has faith in”.
• Mahāyāna Awakening of Faith and Chinese Culture To support this argument, it is possible to read through the Awakening and note the parts that might have been influenced by the situation in China at the time.
• Cardiac Surgery vs. Faith Healing However, I believe that it is our duty as true Christians to forego any other interventions, including operations, since it has already been proven that it is wrong to go against God’s will.
• Core Values in Personal Belief System These are my core values and include happiness, family, friends, pleasure and financial security and stability. In conclusion, I agree that values are important to my life.
• Belief Systems in Generation X and Millennials As the purpose of the project consists in analyzing various belief systems pursued by Generation X and Millennials, it is purposeful to represent photos, statistics, and graphs uncovering the percentage characteristics in terms of the […]
• Reformation Theology as the Source of Religious Faith The three major teachings from Martin Luther regarding reforming the church include the fact that faith in God’s gift of forgiveness is very essential and is the only way through which individuals could win salvation […]
• Faith Development in Adolescents I believe my input was valuable for the patient and her faith development as she carved some of the spiritual pillars that would be helpful in her adulthood.
• Religious Belief and Academic Content It should adapt to the overall situation and change the nature of the speeches to reflect that the people’s righteousness was the cause of the good times and that their perseverance would help them overcome […]
• Faith and Excellent Systematic Knowledge In the context of a specific parish, one will need to encourage the promotion of parishioners’ education to ensure that they are aware of the key market principles.
• Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith is one of his writings that discusses religion that is close to the author.
• Philosophical Views: Faith vs. Science It is important to look at some of the philosophical views and philosophers that supported the concept of faith, science or both.
• Morality, Faith, and Dignity in Modern Youth The blistering evolution of society combined with the appearance of new opportunities resulted in the significant deterioration of moral and values which determine the nature of human actions.
• Mindfulness in a Faith-Based Education Setting The College’s overall strategy for the following years is to continue promoting education in faith to form the staff around the Lasallian values, improve their appreciation of these values, use the Lasallian principles as a […]
• Testing a Person for His Faith and Devotion to God Suffering is usually perceived as a negative experience since it is commonly believed that it is a punishment for the sinner.
• The Faith and Ethics Course: Attaining Ethical Maturity In Christian context, the Bible is the principle guide to ethical conduct and all actions should be in conformity to it.
• Faith and Ethics Role in Religion We will discuss two of the characteristics of the ethics of Jesus, that is, His new concept of love and the value of the individual person and how they can be incorporated in our own […]
• Christian Faith: Ancient Religion For example, ity teaches that Jesus is the son of God, he is the way to salvation, and he was sent by God to save the world from sin.
• Islamic Faith: Teachings and Practices Ahmed elaborates that Muslims in Middle East, India and Pakistan are keen and aware of the distinctions between the two factions.
• Religious Studies: The Rahman Discussion and His Faith in Islam Yes, Rahman believes in the teachings of the Quran because they are the basis of all his writing. He cites from the Quran that this day will be the Day of Decision.
• Religious Studies: Shinto’ Belief System This differs significantly from a vast majority of current belief systems such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and the Hindu religion wherein some form of the profession of faith is necessary to be considered a member […]
• Faith, Justice, War – and Human Rights in the Realm of the Present-Day World Quran: The Most Ancient and Sacred Islamic Book as the Basis for the Laws on Human Rights Considering the Issue from a Different Perspective: The Fifteen Postulates Security of life and property: bi-al haqq and […]
• Ushpizin: An Unshakable Jewish Faith This is a Jewish film owing to the title, language, setting, themes and even the actors involved in the film. The level of concern that they have for the Sukkot festival is indicative of their […]
• The Main Problems of “Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief” by John Frame One of the best ways to solve this problem is to approach it from the point of view of God’s love for mankind.
• “Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief” by John M. Frame The book goes further to analyze God’s will and power. Christians should use this book in order to establish the best relationships with their God.
• Integrating Faith and Learning Kotter and Keller provide that marketing management is the process of formulating and organizing marketing strategies to control the organizational activities as well as allocate the marketing resources.
• ‘Belief in Action: The Salvation Army, a Global Not-for-Profit Organization’ Strategic planning goes through a process from setting the mission, objectives, situation analysis, strategy creation, execution and finally control so as to achieve positive results and an effective plan of action.”Strategic planning is inextricably interwoven […]
• Rational Approach to the Issue of Belief In spite of the fact, objecting the position of Clifford, the person can support James’s views, and objecting the position of James, the person can discuss Clifford’s ideas as relevant, it is possible to provide […]
• The Individual, Faith, and Society Hobbes managed to overcome all the political and social havocs that affected his life and which were the major things that shaped the way he was thinking.
• Empowerment Through Art: A Biographical Study on Faith Ringgold But the key lies in knowing that the sickness is real, and her art strives to inform the masses of just that.
• Faith and Grace as the Peculiarities of Religion Analyzing the opinions of different researchers, it is possible to consider faith as a set of the moral principles caused by the personal experience of God, while grace is a gift given by God in […]
• Analyzing the Inculturation Process of Specific Historical Moments in the Development of the Christian Faith Inculturation refers to the process of going against the culture or societal values in the process of developing faith. This paper seeks to analyze the inculturation process of specific historical moments in the development of […]
• W. K. Clifford, ‘The Ethics of Belief’ Clifford provided an opinion in opposition to theism where his statements can be put in three points; there is inadequate evidence to believe that there is existence of God, it is incorrect forever, all over, […]
• Relationship Between Christian Faith and Science For this reason, science and faith are integral fields of knowledge that enhance understanding of the universe and human existence in the society; thus, theology should allow faith to correlate with science and seek understanding […]
• Cross-Cultural Psychology: Similarities and Differences in Belief Systems and Behavioral Patterns These similarities and differences in cultural backgrounds have led to emergence of cross-cultural psychology, a study on the interaction between diverse human culture, belief systems and behavioral patterns.
• Belief, Doubt and Modern Mind With the efforts to try and find solutions to one of the greatest mysteries, the ancient societies tried to come up with different suggestions that became a foundation for the creation of religion and religious […]
• Philosophy of Religion: Argument According to Pascal’s Wager on the Belief in God In the philosophical argument presented by the book, Pascal’s Wager, by Jeff Jordan with regard to the existence and work of God, it emerges that people’s belief in God is often enhanced by self-interests rather […]
• Belief Without Prior Evidence This is one of the main points that one can make in response to William Clifford’s essay The Ethics of Belief.
• “The Ethics of Belief” by William Clifford While advancing his idea that there can be no justification for people to be blinded with irrational beliefs to such an extent that they grow deaf to the voice of reason, Clifford resorted to the […]
• An Individual’s Belief is a Private Matter In Clifford’s article “The Ethics of Belief”, the author argues that individuals’ beliefs are not private matters. In the story of the ship, had the ship not capsized, the owner would have achieved his aims.
• Faith and Family: Video Review The significance of a family as a building block of the community is enormous because it is important for each individuals to have a feeling of connection.
• Blind Faith vs. the Rational Approach However, the novelty of the approach wears off quickly, since the only original idea of the presuppositional apologetics is that Christian religion is the only rational explanation for everything that happens in the world.
• The Ethics of Belief: Based on Evidence or Inquiry In his essay The Ethics of Belief, William Clifford argued that every form of belief had to be based on some evidence or inquiry.
• Families of Faith East and West, Their Cosmologies, Core Beliefs and Practice Christians believe in the presence of the Holy Spirit in the church and that God is the creator and the savior of mankind.
• Historical Background of Islamic Faith The fundamental goal of this pillar is to ensure sharing among the Muslims. Muslims believe that the purpose of sexual relations is to beget children.
• Buddhism: Analysis of the Religion’s Faith and Practices This includes the name of the religion followers, the history and origins of the religion including the founders, the name of the Supreme Being or God, as well as the name of the place of […]
• Criticism of “Our Faith in Science” The authors imply that scientific methods can help to prove the positive effect of Tenzin Gyatso’s practices in order to tell about this phenomenon to the international community.
• Belief in Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” This is the beginning of his disbelief and loss of faith in good. This is the main factor which points to the weakening of the society in general.
• Religion: Reason and Faith Judaism According to Anon, this is one of the religions that have their origin in the covenant of Abraham with God.
• What is Theology – Faith and Reason in Theology Paul Ricoeur specialized in philosophy and of relevance to this paper are his thoughts on the effect of the past on the present.
• The Belief in God The existence of God is justified in the sense that existence in the mind as a concept limits the idea of God already in the minds of people.
• Corporate Ethics in the “Business Through the Eyes of Faith” He concludes that prosperity and profitability in business should not be equated to God’s approval and favor, rather it should be perceived as due reward for diligence and discipline in the course of running the […]
• Utopia Is The Belief Of The Perfect Place On Earth
• What is Socrates Belief about the Pursuit of truths by the Critical Methods of Inquiry
• The Enlightenment of the Personality Disorder and the Belief of the Flat Earth Concept
• The Use of Belief, Faith and Struggle in The Road, a Novel by Cormac McCarthy
• What Does the Evidence Reveal About Belief in the Afterlife in New Kingdom Egypt?
• The Evolution of Awareness and Belief Ambiguity During the Process of High School Track Choice
• Understanding Fundamentalist Belief Through Bayesian Updating
• The Verification Principle Offers no Real Challenge to Religious Belief
• What Is Superstitions As A Belief Or A Way Of Behaving
• The Elements of Belief in the Horror Film Rosemary’s Baby
• Use Self Belief To Shape Your Own Destiny
• Why the Distinction Between Knowledge and Belief Might Matter
• Which Is Better, True Belief and Knowledge
• Weakly Belief-Free Equilibria in Repeated Games with Private Monitoring
• The Diversity of the Christian Belief under a Single God
• Universally Rational Belief Hierarchies
• Using the Health Belief Model to Understand Pesticide Use Decisions
• Why Alfred Hitchcock is Not Dead Contrary to Popular Belief
• The Importance of Compassion in My Life and Belief as a Ocean Lifeguard
• Toward an Economic Theory of Religious Belief and the Emergence of Law
• The Use and Belief in Superstitions in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
• William Clifford, Blaise Pascal And William James ‘ Arguments Of Belief
• The Hindu Belief In Respect For All Living Creatures
• The Influence of Human Conduct on Belief in God Essay
• The Influences of the Mexican Cultural Belief of Death in Pedro Paramo
• The Relationship between Belief in God and Grammatical Habit
• The Problem Of Education Is Teaching Individuals The Belief
• Witches and Devil Belief from Europe to America
• Time, History, and Belief in Aztec and Colonial Mexico
• The True Puppeteer : Is It A False Belief Or An Idea Of Human
• The Relationship Between Belief Systems and Political or Social Hierarchy in South and East Asia
• Why The Government Is Allowed Their Own Personal Belief
• Witches This Was Necessary To Combat The Devil Witch Authorities Belief
• The Positive and Negative Effects of Mongol Practice and Belief
• The Sociological Challenges To Religious Belief
• Using System Dynamics to Investigate How Belief Systems Influence the Process of Organizational Change
• The Similar Belief in Gods of the Ancient Greek and Roman Religions
• The Three Generations of My Family and the Belief on the Idea of Having Children Out of Wedlock
• The Role of Communication in Attitudes, Belief Systems and Self-Motivation
• The Spiritual Belief Of Demon Possession And Epilepsy
• The Unethical and Unscientific Climate Change Denial in The Ethics of Belief by William Clifford
• The True Reason and Aspects Behind One’s Belief
• Understanding the Puritan Belief of Mary Rowlandson
• Toy Manufactures Has Enforced The Belief Of Children
• How Is a Belief System Different From an Ideology?
• What Is the Difference Between Belief and Belief System?
• How Many Belief Systems Are There in the World?
• What Is Belief System in Psychology?
• Did Athenian Democracy Erode Popular Belief in Divination?
• What Are the Characteristics of Belief System?
• How Does Social Media Influence Religious Beliefs?
• What Was the First Belief System?
• Can Belief Make Things Happen?
• How Do Values and Beliefs Influence Changes in Culture?
• What Are the Elements of Belief System?
• Are Religious Beliefs Associated With Nature or Nurture?
• What Beliefs Does Descartes Doubt?
• How Did Superstitious Belief Influence People?
• What Is the Difference Between Self-Belief and Self-Esteem?
• Can Beliefs Be Morally Wrong?
• Why Is It Important to Have a Sense of Belief?
• What Is the Difference Between Knowledge and Justified Belief?
• Is Science a System of Beliefs?
• What Was Machiavelli’s Belief on Power?
• Do Implicit Attitudes and Beliefs Change Over the Long-Term?
• Are Thoughts and Beliefs the Same?
• Do Different Cultures Have Different Moral Beliefs?
• Is There a Difference Between Religion and Belief in God?
• How Do Religious Beliefs Affect Decision Making?
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How to Write the “Overcoming Challenges” Essay + Examples

What’s covered:.

• What is the Overcoming Challenges Essay?
• Real Overcoming Challenges Essay Prompts
• How to Choose a Topic
• Writing Tips

Overcoming Challenges Essay Examples

• Where to Get Your Essay Edited

While any college essay can be intimidating, the Overcoming Challenges prompt often worries students the most. Those students who’ve been lucky enough not to experience trauma tend to assume they have nothing worth saying. On the other hand, students who’ve overcome larger obstacles may be hesitant to talk about them.

Regardless of your particular circumstances, there are steps you can take to make the essay writing process simpler. Here are our top tips for writing the overcoming challenges essay successfully.

What is the “Overcoming Challenges” Essay?

The overcoming challenges prompt shows up frequently in both main application essays (like the Common App) and supplemental essays. Because supplemental essays allow students to provide schools with additional information, applicants should be sure that the subject matter they choose to write about differs from what’s in their main essay.

Students often assume the overcoming challenges essay requires them to detail past traumas. While you can certainly write about an experience that’s had a profound effect on your life, it’s important to remember that colleges aren’t evaluating students based on the seriousness of the obstacle they overcame.

On the contrary, the goal of this essay is to show admissions officers that you have the intelligence and fortitude to handle any challenges that come your way. After all, college serves as an introduction to adult life, and schools want to know that the students they admit are up to the task. 

Real “Overcoming Challenges” Essay Prompts

To help you understand what the “Overcoming Challenges” essay looks like, here are a couple sample prompts.

Currently, the Common Application asks students to answer the following prompt in 650 words or less:

“The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”

For the past several years, MIT has prompted students to write 200 to 250 words on the following:

“Tell us about the most significant challenge you’ve faced or something important that didn’t go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?”

In both cases, the prompts explicitly ask for your response to the challenge. The event itself isn’t as important as how it pushed you to grow.

How to Choose a Topic for an Essay on Overcoming Challenges

When it comes to finding the best topic for your overcoming challenges essays, there’s no right answer. The word “challenge” is ambiguous and could be used to reference a wide range of situations from prevailing over a bully to getting over your lifelong stage fright to appear in a school musical. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind when selecting an essay subject.

1. Avoid trivial or common topics

While there aren’t many hard-and-fast rules for choosing an essay topic, students should avoid overdone topics.

These include:

• Working hard in a challenging class
• Overcoming a sports injury
• Moving schools or immigrating to the US
• Tragedy (divorce, death, abuse)

Admissions officers have read numerous essays on the subject, so it’s harder for you to stand out (see our full list of cliché college essay topics to avoid ). If events like these were truly formative to you, you can still choose to write about them, but you’ll need to be as personal as possible. 

It’s also ideal if you have a less traditional storyline for a cliché topic; for example, if your sports injury led you to discover a new passion, that would be a more unique story than detailing how you overcame your injury and got back in the game.

Similarly, students may not want to write about an obstacle that admissions committees could perceive as low stakes, such as getting a B on a test, or getting into a small fight with a friend. The goal of this essay is to illustrate how you respond to adversity, so the topic you pick should’ve been at least impactful on your personal growth.

2. Pick challenges that demonstrate qualities you want to highlight

Students often mistakenly assume they need to have experienced exceptional circumstances like poverty, an abusive parent, or cancer to write a good essay. The truth is that the best topics will allow you to highlight specific personal qualities and share more about who you are. The essay should be less about the challenge itself, and more about how you responded to it.

Ask yourself what personality traits you want to emphasize, and see what’s missing in your application. Maybe you want to highlight your adaptability, for example, but that isn’t clearly expressed in your application. In this case, you might write about a challenge that put your adaptability to the test, or shaped you to become more adaptable.

Here are some examples of good topics we’ve seen over the years:

• Not having a coach for a sports team and becoming one yourself
• Helping a parent through a serious health issue
• Trying to get the school track dedicated to a coach
• Having to switch your Model UN position last-minute

Tips for Writing an Essay About Overcoming Challenges

Once you’ve selected a topic for your essays, it’s time to sit down and write. For best results, make sure your essay focuses on your efforts to tackle an obstacle rather than the problem itself. Additionally, you could avoid essay writing pitfalls by doing the following:

1. Choose an original essay structure

If you want your overcoming challenges essay to attract attention, aim to break away from more traditional structures. Most of these essays start by describing an unsuccessful attempt at a goal and then explain the steps the writer took to master the challenge. 

You can stand out by choosing a challenge you’re still working on overcoming, or focus on a mental or emotional challenge that spans multiple activities or events. For example, you might discuss your fear of public speaking and how that impacted your ability to coach your brother’s Little League team and run for Student Council. 

You can also choose a challenge that can be narrated in the moment, such as being put on the spot to teach a yoga class. These challenges can make particularly engaging essays, as you get to experience the writer’s thoughts and emotions as they unfold.

Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need to have succeeded in your goal for this essay. Maybe you ran for an election and lost, or maybe you proposed a measure to the school board that wasn’t passed. It’s still possible to write a strong essay about topics like these as long as you focus on your personal growth. In fact, these may make for even stronger essays since they are more unconventional topics.

2. Focus on the internal

When writing about past experiences, you may be tempted to spend too much time describing specific people and events. With an Overcoming Challenges essay though, the goal is to focus on your thoughts and feelings.

For example, rather than detail all the steps you took to become a better public speaker, use the majority of your essay to describe your mental state as you embarked on the journey to achieving your goals. Were you excited, scared, anxious, or hopeful? Don’t be afraid to let the reader in on your innermost emotions and thoughts during this process.

3. Share what you learned 

An Overcoming Challenges essay should leave the reader with a clear understanding of what you learned on your journey, be it physical, mental, or emotional. There’s no need to explicitly say “this experience taught me X,” but your essay should at least implicitly share any lessons you learned. This can be done through your actions and in-the-moment reflections. Remember that the goal is to show admissions committees why your experiences make you a great candidate for admission. 

Was I no longer the beloved daughter of nature, whisperer of trees? Knee-high rubber boots, camouflage, bug spray—I wore the g arb and perfume of a proud wild woman, yet there I was, hunched over the pathetic pile of stubborn sticks, utterly stumped, on the verge of tears. As a child, I had considered myself a kind of rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees, who could glide through tick-infested meadows and emerge Lyme-free. I knew the cracks of the earth like the scars on my own rough palms. Yet here I was, ten years later, incapable of performing the most fundamental outdoor task: I could not, for the life of me, start a fire. 

Furiously I rubbed the twigs together—rubbed and rubbed until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers. No smoke. The twigs were too young, too sticky-green; I tossed them away with a shower of curses, and began tearing through the underbrush in search of a more flammable collection. My efforts were fruitless. Livid, I bit a rejected twig, determined to prove that the forest had spurned me, offering only young, wet bones that would never burn. But the wood cracked like carrots between my teeth—old, brittle, and bitter. Roaring and nursing my aching palms, I retreated to the tent, where I sulked and awaited the jeers of my family. 

Rattling their empty worm cans and reeking of fat fish, my brother and cousins swaggered into the campsite. Immediately, they noticed the minor stick massacre by the fire pit and called to me, their deep voices already sharp with contempt. 

“Where’s the fire, Princess Clara?” they taunted. “Having some trouble?” They prodded me with the ends of the chewed branches and, with a few effortless scrapes of wood on rock, sparked a red and roaring flame. My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame. 

In the tent, I pondered my failure. Was I so dainty? Was I that incapable? I thought of my hands, how calloused and capable they had been, how tender and smooth they had become. It had been years since I’d kneaded mud between my fingers; instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano, my hands softening into those of a musician—fleshy and sensitive. And I’d gotten glasses, having grown horrifically nearsighted; long nights of dim lighting and thick books had done this. I couldn’t remember the last time I had lain down on a hill, barefaced, and seen the stars without having to squint. Crawling along the edge of the tent, a spider confirmed my transformation—he disgusted me, and I felt an overwhelming urge to squash him. 

Yet, I realized I hadn’t really changed—I had only shifted perspective. I still eagerly explored new worlds, but through poems and prose rather than pastures and puddles. I’d grown to prefer the boom of a bass over that of a bullfrog, learned to coax a different kind of fire from wood, having developed a burn for writing rhymes and scrawling hypotheses. 

That night, I stayed up late with my journal and wrote about the spider I had decided not to kill. I had tolerated him just barely, only shrieking when he jumped—it helped to watch him decorate the corners of the tent with his delicate webs, knowing that he couldn’t start fires, either. When the night grew cold and the embers died, my words still smoked—my hands burned from all that scrawling—and even when I fell asleep, the ideas kept sparking—I was on fire, always on fire.

This essay is an excellent example because the writer turns an everyday challenge—starting a fire—into an exploration of her identity. The writer was once “a kind of rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes,” but has since traded her love of the outdoors for a love of music, writing, and reading. 

The story begins in media res , or in the middle of the action, allowing readers to feel as if we’re there with the writer. One of the essay’s biggest strengths is its use of imagery. We can easily visualize the writer’s childhood and the present day. For instance, she states that she “rubbed and rubbed [the twigs] until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers.”

The writing has an extremely literary quality, particularly with its wordplay. The writer reappropriates words and meanings, and even appeals to the senses: “My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame.” She later uses a parallelism to cleverly juxtapose her changed interests: “instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano.”

One of the essay’s main areas of improvement is its overemphasis on the “story” and lack of emphasis on the reflection. The second to last paragraph about changing perspective is crucial to the essay, as it ties the anecdote to larger lessons in the writer’s life. She states that she hasn’t changed, but has only shifted perspective. Yet, we don’t get a good sense of where this realization comes from and how it impacts her life going forward. 

The end of the essay offers a satisfying return to the fire imagery, and highlights the writer’s passion—the one thing that has remained constant in her life.

“Getting beat is one thing – it’s part of competing – but I want no part in losing.” Coach Rob Stark’s motto never fails to remind me of his encouragement on early-morning bus rides to track meets around the state. I’ve always appreciated the phrase, but an experience last June helped me understand its more profound, universal meaning.

Stark, as we affectionately call him, has coached track at my high school for 25 years. His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running. When I learned a neighboring high school had dedicated their track to a longtime coach, I felt that Stark deserved similar honors.

Our school district’s board of education indicated they would only dedicate our track to Stark if I could demonstrate that he was extraordinary. I took charge and mobilized my teammates to distribute petitions, reach out to alumni, and compile statistics on the many team and individual champions Stark had coached over the years. We received astounding support, collecting almost 3,000 signatures and pages of endorsements from across the community. With help from my teammates, I presented this evidence to the board.

They didn’t bite. 

Most members argued that dedicating the track was a low priority. Knowing that we had to act quickly to convince them of its importance, I called a team meeting where we drafted a rebuttal for the next board meeting. To my surprise, they chose me to deliver it. I was far from the best public speaker in the group, and I felt nervous about going before the unsympathetic board again. However, at that second meeting, I discovered that I enjoy articulating and arguing for something that I’m passionate about.

Public speaking resembles a cross country race. Walking to the starting line, you have to trust your training and quell your last minute doubts. When the gun fires, you can’t think too hard about anything; your performance has to be instinctual, natural, even relaxed. At the next board meeting, the podium was my starting line. As I walked up to it, familiar butterflies fluttered in my stomach. Instead of the track stretching out in front of me, I faced the vast audience of teachers, board members, and my teammates. I felt my adrenaline build, and reassured myself: I’ve put in the work, my argument is powerful and sound. As the board president told me to introduce myself, I heard, “runners set” in the back of my mind. She finished speaking, and Bang! The brief silence was the gunshot for me to begin. 

The next few minutes blurred together, but when the dust settled, I knew from the board members’ expressions and the audience’s thunderous approval that I had run quite a race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough; the board voted down our proposal. I was disappointed, but proud of myself, my team, and our collaboration off the track. We stood up for a cause we believed in, and I overcame my worries about being a leader. Although I discovered that changing the status quo through an elected body can be a painstakingly difficult process and requires perseverance, I learned that I enjoy the challenges this effort offers. Last month, one of the school board members joked that I had become a “regular” – I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Just as Stark taught me, I worked passionately to achieve my goal. I may have been beaten when I appealed to the board, but I certainly didn’t lose, and that would have made Stark proud.

While the writer didn’t succeed in getting the track dedicated to Coach Stark, their essay is certainly successful in showing their willingness to push themselves and take initiative.

The essay opens with a quote from Coach Stark that later comes full circle at the end of the essay. We learn about Stark’s impact and the motivation for trying to get the track dedicated to him.

One of the biggest areas of improvement in the intro, however, is how the essay tells us Stark’s impact rather than showing us: His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

The writer could’ve helped us feel a stronger emotional connection to Stark if they had included examples of Stark’s qualities, rather than explicitly stating them. For example, they could’ve written something like: Stark was the kind of person who would give you gas money if you told him your parents couldn’t afford to pick you up from practice. And he actually did that—several times. At track meets, alumni regularly would come talk to him and tell him how he’d changed their lives. Before Stark, I was ambivalent about running and was on the JV team, but his encouragement motivated me to run longer and harder and eventually make varsity. Because of him, I approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

The essay goes on to explain how the writer overcame their apprehension of public speaking, and likens the process of submitting an appeal to the school board to running a race. This metaphor makes the writing more engaging and allows us to feel the student’s emotions.

While the student didn’t ultimately succeed in getting the track dedicated, we learn about their resilience and initiative: I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Overall, this essay is well-done. It demonstrates growth despite failing to meet a goal, which is a unique essay structure. The running metaphor and full-circle intro/ending also elevate the writing in this essay.

Where to Get Your Overcoming Challenges Essay Edited

The Overcoming Challenges essay is one of the trickier supplemental prompts, so it’s important to get feedback on your drafts. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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108 Belief Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Belief Essay Topic Ideas & Examples: Exploring the Depths of Human Faith

Beliefs shape our identity, influence our actions, and provide meaning and purpose to our lives. They can be deeply personal or widely shared, encompassing religious, philosophical, political, or cultural perspectives. Writing an essay on beliefs allows us to delve into the complexities of human faith, understanding how it impacts individuals and societies. To inspire your exploration, here are 108 belief essay topic ideas and examples.

Religious Beliefs:

• The role of religion in shaping individual identity.
• The impact of religious beliefs on personal happiness and fulfillment.
• Analyzing the connection between religious beliefs and moral values.
• The role of rituals and ceremonies in religious practices.
• The significance of religious symbols and their interpretation.
• Exploring the concept of faith and its importance in religious contexts.
• The relationship between religious beliefs and the afterlife.
• The influence of religious beliefs on social and political issues.
• Comparing and contrasting religious beliefs across different cultures.
• The impact of religious beliefs on attitudes towards science and technology.

Philosophical Beliefs:

• The significance of personal philosophies in guiding life choices.
• Analyzing the connection between philosophy and morality.
• The role of reason and logic in shaping philosophical beliefs.
• Exploring the concept of free will and its implications on belief systems.
• The relationship between philosophy and religion in shaping worldviews.
• The impact of philosophical beliefs on ethical decision-making.
• The influence of philosophical beliefs on political ideologies.
• Examining the concept of truth and its interpretation in different philosophical traditions.
• The role of skepticism and doubt in challenging existing belief systems.
• The connection between philosophical beliefs and the pursuit of knowledge.

Political Beliefs:

• The influence of political beliefs on individual values and actions.
• Analyzing the connection between political ideology and social justice.
• Exploring the role of political beliefs in shaping public policies.
• The impact of political beliefs on attitudes towards globalization.
• The relationship between political beliefs and economic systems.
• The connection between political beliefs and attitudes towards immigration.
• The influence of political beliefs on environmental policies and sustainability.
• Examining the role of political beliefs in shaping international relations.
• The significance of political beliefs in promoting social equality and inclusivity.
• The impact of political beliefs on attitudes towards human rights.

Cultural Beliefs:

• The role of cultural beliefs in shaping individual and collective identities.
• Analyzing the impact of cultural beliefs on gender roles and expectations.
• Exploring the concept of cultural relativism and its implications on belief systems.
• The influence of cultural beliefs on attitudes towards marriage and family.
• The connection between cultural beliefs and artistic expressions.
• The impact of cultural beliefs on attitudes towards education and learning.
• Examining the role of cultural beliefs in promoting social cohesion.
• The significance of cultural beliefs in shaping dietary choices and food practices.
• The influence of cultural beliefs on attitudes towards aging and death.
• The connection between cultural beliefs and perceptions of beauty and body image.

Personal Beliefs:

• The role of personal beliefs in shaping individual goals and aspirations.
• Analyzing the impact of personal beliefs on decision-making processes.
• Exploring the connection between personal beliefs and self-esteem.
• The influence of personal beliefs on attitudes towards risk-taking.
• The significance of personal beliefs in promoting mental well-being.
• The impact of personal beliefs on attitudes towards relationships and love.
• Examining the role of personal beliefs in cultivating resilience and perseverance.
• The connection between personal beliefs and attitudes towards personal growth.
• The influence of personal beliefs on attitudes towards material possessions.
• The significance of personal beliefs in shaping attitudes towards failure and success.

Controversial Beliefs:

• Analyzing controversial beliefs and their impact on social dynamics.
• The role of controversial beliefs in fostering critical thinking and debate.
• Exploring the connection between controversial beliefs and social progress.
• The influence of controversial beliefs on attitudes towards marginalized groups.
• Examining the role of controversial beliefs in shaping media narratives.
• The significance of controversial beliefs in challenging societal norms.
• The impact of controversial beliefs on freedom of speech and expression.
• The connection between controversial beliefs and social activism.
• The influence of controversial beliefs on attitudes towards authority.
• The role of controversial beliefs in promoting empathy and understanding.

Scientific Beliefs:

• The impact of scientific beliefs on attitudes towards the natural world.
• Analyzing the connection between scientific beliefs and evidence-based thinking.
• Exploring the role of scientific beliefs in shaping technological advancements.
• The influence of scientific beliefs on attitudes towards health and medicine.
• The significance of scientific beliefs in promoting environmental conservation.
• The connection between scientific beliefs and attitudes towards climate change.
• Examining the role of scientific beliefs in shaping educational curricula.
• The impact of scientific beliefs on attitudes towards animal rights and welfare.
• The connection between scientific beliefs and attitudes towards genetic engineering.
• The influence of scientific beliefs on attitudes towards the origin of life.

Historical Beliefs:

• The role of historical beliefs in shaping cultural identities.
• Analyzing the impact of historical beliefs on nationalistic ideologies.
• Exploring the connection between historical beliefs and historical revisionism.
• The influence of historical beliefs on attitudes towards war and conflict.
• The significance of historical beliefs in shaping collective memory.
• The impact of historical beliefs on attitudes towards colonialism and imperialism.
• Examining the role of historical beliefs in shaping political ideologies.
• The connection between historical beliefs and attitudes towards immigration.
• The influence of historical beliefs on attitudes towards human rights.
• The role of historical beliefs in promoting intercultural understanding.

Literary and Artistic Beliefs:

• The significance of literary and artistic beliefs in shaping cultural movements.
• Analyzing the connection between literary and artistic beliefs and social change.
• Exploring the role of literary and artistic beliefs in challenging societal norms.
• The influence of literary and artistic beliefs on attitudes towards censorship.
• The connection between literary and artistic beliefs and the pursuit of beauty.
• Examining the impact of literary and artistic beliefs on self-expression.
• The role of literary and artistic beliefs in promoting empathy and understanding.
• The significance of literary and artistic beliefs in shaping collective memory.
• The influence of literary and artistic beliefs on attitudes towards social justice.
• The connection between literary and artistic beliefs and the imagination.

Media and Technology Beliefs:

• The impact of media and technology beliefs on attitudes towards information consumption.
• Analyzing the connection between media and technology beliefs and political polarization.
• Exploring the role of media and technology beliefs in shaping public opinion.
• The influence of media and technology beliefs on attitudes towards privacy.
• The connection between media and technology beliefs and the digital divide.
• Examining the impact of media and technology beliefs on online communities.
• The role of media and technology beliefs in shaping media literacy.
• The significance of media and technology beliefs in promoting digital citizenship.
• The influence of media and technology beliefs on attitudes towards artificial intelligence.
• The connection between media and technology beliefs and social media activism.

Environmental Beliefs:

• The impact of environmental beliefs on attitudes towards sustainability.
• Analyzing the connection between environmental beliefs and environmental policies.
• Exploring the role of environmental beliefs in shaping consumer behavior.
• The influence of environmental beliefs on attitudes towards climate change.
• The connection between environmental beliefs and attitudes towards resource conservation.
• Examining the impact of environmental beliefs on attitudes towards animal rights.
• The role of environmental beliefs in promoting environmental education.
• The significance of environmental beliefs in shaping attitudes towards eco-friendly practices.

These belief essay topic ideas and examples provide a starting point for your exploration of the intricate tapestry of human faith. Remember to approach each topic with curiosity, open-mindedness, and respect for diverse perspectives. By delving into these beliefs, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, need help with challenging beliefs essay topic.

Hey all, I'm currently working on an essay that asks to write about a time when I challenged a belief or idea. Can anyone give me some examples or advice on how to approach this topic? I'm not sure what kind of beliefs to discuss and how personal I should get.

Hi, I understand that finding the right topic for the "challenging beliefs" essay can be a little daunting, but I'm here to help! The best approach is to think about instances in your life where you felt strongly about something and took action in response to your beliefs. These can be personal or societal. Remember that the scenario you choose should showcase your thought process, depth of understanding, and individual growth.

Here are some examples to help you brainstorm:

1. Standing up against a stereotype: If you've ever experienced a situation where you or someone you know was being unfairly stereotyped, and you took a stand against it, this could make for a compelling essay. For instance, you may have promoted a more inclusive environment at your school by educating others about the dangers of stereotypes and creating a club that promotes diversity.

2. Challenging traditional gender roles: If you've faced gender-based expectations or limitations, you might write about how you challenged these norms by participating in an activity, pursuing a career ambition, or joining a club typically dominated by the opposite gender. This could showcase your determination and courage, as well as your commitment to breaking down barriers.

3. Addressing an ethical dilemma: Another possible angle to consider is discussing a time when you faced an ethical dilemma and stood up for your beliefs. This could be dealing with academic dishonesty in school, navigating a tricky situation at a part-time job, or advocating for fair treatment of a marginalized group within your community. The key is to show how you handled the situation thoughtfully and ethically, even if it wasn't an easy decision.

4. Overcoming personal limitations: You could also choose to write about a self-imposed belief, such as an insecurity or perceived limitation that you've actively worked to overcome. For example, if you used to believe you were a poor public speaker but joined the debate team to improve your skills, your essay could demonstrate personal growth and resilience.

In terms of how personal to get, aim for a balance between vulnerability and professionalism. Sharing a genuine and thoughtful story is crucial, but make sure not to overshare, or to focus solely on the negatives. Emphasize the positive outcomes and growth that resulted from challenging the belief. Good luck, and remember to be genuine and reflective in your essay!

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Challenging Conventional Morality: a Critical Examination of Social Norms and Ethical Standards

This essay about challenging conventional morality argues for the necessity of reevaluating established ethical norms to foster societal progress. It discusses how historical, cultural, and religious influences shape these norms, which may become rigid over time. By exploring philosophical theories and the impact of social movements, the essay highlights the dynamic nature of morality and the importance of adapting moral standards to reflect contemporary understandings of justice and human rights.

How it works

In the intricate fabric of human interactions, established morality serves as a compass, shaping our perceptions of right and wrong and influencing societal standards. Yet, the assumption that this moral framework is unassailable or unchanging warrants a thorough reevaluation. Questioning the established norms of morality is not merely an intellectual exercise; it is essential for the progressive evolution of societal ethics.

Established morality consists of beliefs and standards broadly endorsed within a society at any particular time, shaped by cultural, historical, and sometimes religious influences.

These norms provide structure and predictability, essential for any community’s functioning. However, these standards can become rigid and may not align with evolving understandings of justice and human rights.

The endeavor to question and redefine conventional morality is underscored by understanding its transient nature. Historical analysis shows that moral norms believed to be definitive have been reevaluated and reformed in light of new ethical understandings and societal shifts. Consider the historical acceptance and subsequent rejection of practices such as slavery, gender discrimination, and criminalizing same-sex relationships in many societies. These examples demonstrate that moral standards are dynamic and subject to change following significant societal reflection and upheaval.

Critically examining established morals often starts with scrutinizing their ethical foundations, driven by philosophical inquiry and practical consequences. Philosophical figures like Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill have provided frameworks, such as deontological ethics and utilitarianism, which help critique and assess the validity of accepted norms. Kant’s principle of universalizability, for instance, challenges actions to be applicable universally, revealing potential biases or exclusions in accepted moral norms.

Additionally, the concept of moral relativism and the exploration of different cultural ethics have added complexity to understanding conventional morality. Moral relativism suggests that there are no absolute truths in ethics; moral judgments are rooted in specific social, cultural, and personal contexts. This perspective encourages embracing a broader array of moral views, fostering greater tolerance and understanding across diverse cultures. However, it also poses challenges in forming a cohesive framework for universal rights, as moral views vary significantly across cultures.

Social movements and activism play critical roles in questioning and transforming outdated moral views. Historical movements like the civil rights movement in the U.S., global feminist movements, and the LGBTQ+ rights advocacy have effectively challenged and redefined previously accepted moral norms. These movements emphasize the power of collective action and moral bravery in driving ethical reform and promoting social justice.

Opponents of questioning established morality argue that it could lead to moral ambiguity or relativism, potentially threatening social harmony and stability. They fear that without a common moral framework, subjective preferences could disrupt the collective good. While these concerns are valid, history shows that moral systems are adaptable, capable of evolving and settling into new norms that are often more inclusive and compassionate.

In summary, questioning and redefining conventional morality is vital for moral advancement. It involves balancing critical examination with the need to maintain societal stability. As societies progress, their moral frameworks must also evolve, embracing new definitions of ethical living in a complex, interconnected global community.

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PapersOwl.com. (2024). Challenging Conventional Morality: A Critical Examination of Social Norms and Ethical Standards . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/challenging-conventional-morality-a-critical-examination-of-social-norms-and-ethical-standards/ [Accessed: 19 May. 2024]

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PapersOwl.com. (2024). Challenging Conventional Morality: A Critical Examination of Social Norms and Ethical Standards . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/challenging-conventional-morality-a-critical-examination-of-social-norms-and-ethical-standards/ [Accessed: 19-May-2024]

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Essay About Beliefs: Top 5 Examples and 8 Prompts

To write an essay about beliefs, you need to know the different beliefs people hold; continue reading this article for examples and prompts to help!

Beliefs are a person’s perception of what they believe to be true. However, not everybody’s belief system is accurate. Beliefs are not necessarily religious or spiritual. It can also be political, philosophical, or societal. Our beliefs are formed early based on our environment – what we are told, heard, observed, and experienced. Below are essay examples to help you understand other writers’ viewpoints about beliefs.

1. Christianity Beliefs in The Exorcism of Emily Rose by Penny Silva

2. a personal believe that god does not exist by lauren trauscht, 3. my beliefs by patrick of shrewsbury, massachusetts, 4. irrational beliefs by vincent bridges, 5. my ethical beliefs by blanche allen, 1. your thoughts about the definition of belief, 2. what influenced your belief on a certain subject, 3. an experience that shaped your beliefs, 4. thoughts about the role of religion, 5. your personal political beliefs, 6. your stand on gender identity, 7. opinions about the connection between social media and suicide, 8. the belief system of millenials.

“This means that she believes it is a fact that if there is a God, there is a devil, and if there is a devil, there is God.”

Silva’s essay discusses the movie “The Exorcism of Emily Rose,” – a film based on the true story of Anneliese Michel. It’s about a court case concerning the death of a girl. She was either possessed by a demon or was suffering from a severe mental illness.

Viewers of the movie are free to believe what they think happened to Emily as it demonstrates the apparition of both the devil and the However, divine. Silva believes that it’s a must-watch if one wants to understand the accurate interpretation of the works of evil.

“…how could anybody keep up on the Bible for thousands and thousands of years? The stories in there had to have gotten mixed up… if there is a God, then who created God? ”

Trauscht’s many questions about a divine existence lead him to believe there is no God. The author shares these reasons in a simple essay about his beliefs.

“ I have no stronger link to anything else in this world than my family… This belief … was something that was one hundred percent infused in me through my parents.”

The author grew up a family-oriented person, and there’s nothing more important to him than his family. He believes he is today because his parents influenced his life. His belief made him a better person.

“I can always distract myself from negative, judgmental thoughts by simply telling myself, “STOP!” Then replace my blaming, complaining, or excusing with something positive. Wisely choosing the thoughts that occupy my mind and avoiding automatic, negative thoughts that undermine my self-esteem will also help.”

Bridges shares his experience with irrational beliefs that made him think negatively, which affected his behavior and self-esteem. He also talks about how he overcame his irrational beliefs when someone believed in him until he finally started to believe in himself, turning the negative thoughts into positive ones.

Looking for more? Check out these essays about religion .

“In a way, ethics are like a set of rules that govern human behaviors and serve as a basis for right conduct principles.”

Allen argues that we have a different understanding of ethics and how we use it in our everyday lives. He says fairness is one of the ethics he applied in his life. Before concluding, he considers the good and bad effects. He believes ethics should be used to reach a fair decision.

8 Writing Prompts on Essay About Beliefs

After reading the examples above, you now better understand what beliefs are. Below are prompts that can help you in writing your essay.

If you want to properly convey your reasons why you believe in a topic, here is a guide on how to write an argumentative essay .

Since all of us may have varying ideas about the definition of beliefs, you can write an essay about your understanding of what belief is all about. You can also provide answers to the following questions: Is belief something you unconsciously developed or something you consciously made? Do you agree that some of your beliefs may not be authentic? 

Many factors can influence why we think what we think. This includes our environment, what we hear and see, and our observations and experiences. 

Pick a particular belief you have and relay to your readers how you came to consider it as fact. You can also talk about something you didn’t believe before, then tell your audience how you came to support it.

If a particular experience forced you to develop a belief about something consciously, you could explore it via your essay. For example, you grew up not believing in God, but due to a near-death experience where you were forced to pray and were saved, you finally accepted that there is an existing God. 

Or, if you previously believed in God but suffered a painful death of a loved one, you start to question His existence. There are so many experiences out there that may have contributed to what we believe in today. Feel free to write them all down.

You might have heard adults complaining about the morality of the youth today. Does the decreasing interest of young people in religion have to do with moral degeneration? Explain your thoughts about the relationship between religion and morality. 

Your political beliefs have to do with what you consider a prosperous country. “Success” can be defined as a booming or not-so-great economy, but one where the citizens are happy, safe, and accessible. Discuss why you favor a particular political system, including aspects that you want to change.

Gender identity is an ever-controversial subject that still divides many groups today.

However, it also has many subtopics you can focus on. For example, some parents would let their minor children undergo procedures and treatments to change their sex, believing they are supporting their child’s decision. Do you agree with the parents’ beliefs, or would you instead want the parents to wait for the child to be of legal age before undergoing such a procedure?

If you want to expand your knowledge on diversity, here are 21 essays about diversity for students and writers .

With social media’s popularity, cyberbullying also increased. Research found that children and people below 25 years old cyberbullying victims are twice more likely to present suicidal behaviors and self-harm. The same study also found that bullies or perpetrators risk experiencing suicidal ideation and self-harm. What is your opinion on this matter, and do you believe that social media has to do with it? Do parents also have liability on this matter?

During challenging times, more people seek God. However, during the pandemic, millennials in the US-led the shift away from religious organizations. If you belong to the Gen Z or millennials, what’s your stand on this matter? 

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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