Essay Type: Smoothie

Personality

  • You have a strong set of core values that have existed for as long as you can remember, even if you weren't able to recognize them or express them as a kid.
  • You worry that you are not “outstanding” at any subject—that you are a jack of all trades, master of none.
  • You're a natural leader who has a talent for getting things done. You're also able to interact with a wide variety of people, even if you're more comfortable with some groups than others.

Your Essay

The "Smoothie" essay is a multifaceted narrative that combines multiple stories from your life into a cohesive blend. Like its namesake, this essay type mixes distinct flavors to create a rich and satisfying whole. Best for “well-rounded” students, this essay type lets you showcase the different sides of your interests and how they come together to define who you are.

In constructing a Smoothie essay, you should select 3-4 different stories from your life and connect them with a common theme. This is the essay where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts—the key to success lies in your ability to weave these stories together through a framing theme that adds depth to your narrative.

What is a “framing theme”? It should tie all your experiences together and serve as the foundation of your essay, both starting and ending the essay. Often, a framing theme comments on how a specific idea or belief of yours has evolved over time. There should be a clear picture of progression in the different stories, with each story exploring a different aspect or level of your framing theme.

Smoothie essays are not easy to write, but they certainly pay off if done right! This essay type is special as you can share stories that range from funny, to intellectual, to serious, all in one place. You can show off all the experiences that have shaped you and write an essay guaranteed to be uniquely yours.

How To Start

You should start your essay by brainstorming a list of “tidbits” about yourself. You can find prompts for them here. Then, you should pull 3-4 of the tidbits and find a framing theme that connects them all. We also recommend thinking of a hook and a conclusion to frame the essay and make it compelling from the very first word, before coming up with a paragraph-by-paragraph outline.

If that sounds like a lot, Essay Cafe's Smoothie Generator can help. We'll give you a list of framing themes to experiment with and suggest personalized essay ideas based on your experiences. You'll get a detailed essay outline in minutes, instead of hours.

Example

See an example essay here.