Discover Your Core Values

Your college essay isn't about listing achievements — it's about revealing who you are. Sort the values below to find the 3–5 that feel most authentically like you, then connect them to your story.

Why values are the foundation of a great essay

Admissions readers review thousands of essays. What makes one memorable isn't a dramatic story — it's a student who clearly knows who they are. When your essay is grounded in a genuine core value, it creates a through-line that makes every paragraph feel intentional and real.

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Authentic voice

Essays grounded in real values sound like you — not like what you think admissions officers want to hear.

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Coherent narrative

A clear value ties your story, your growth, and your future goals into one cohesive arc.

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Meaningful fit

Knowing your values also helps you identify colleges where you'll genuinely thrive — not just get in.

How this works

1. Sort your valuesTap 👍 to prioritize values that feel most like you. Tap 👎 to set others aside. Take your time — there's no right answer.

2. Refine over a few daysEmail your results to yourself and come back. Values that feel essential after sleeping on them are the ones worth writing about.

3. Email or bookmark your resultsOnce you have 3–5 core values, email yourself a restore link or bookmark the page to come back anytime.

All Values

👍 prioritize · 👎 set aside · ↩ undo

👍 Prioritizing

👎 Setting aside for now

Don't see a value that fits you? Type it in — it'll be added to your 👍 list automatically.

Common questions

How many values should I pick? ▾

Start by prioritizing 8–12 that resonate, then narrow to 3–5 over a few days. The best essays are grounded in 1–2 core values explored with real depth — not a laundry list. Aim for values you can connect to a specific story, not ones you think sound impressive.

What if I don't see a value that fits me? ▾

Use the "Add your own value" field at the bottom of the sorter. Type in any word that feels true to you — it'll be added to your list and saved just like the others. The goal is to find language that actually fits you, not to pick from a pre-approved list.

Will my progress be saved? ▾

Your progress is automatically saved in your browser as you sort. Use the Email my results button to send yourself a link you can return to from any device — it encodes your exact selections into the URL so nothing is lost.

Does the order of my top values matter? ▾

Not mechanically — but if you notice you consistently return to the same 2–3 values, those are probably the ones worth writing about. The order in the sidebar reflects when you added them, which can itself be a useful signal about what came to mind first.

Can I use this tool with my college counselor? ▾

Absolutely. Email yourself the link and forward it before your session. It's a great way to start a conversation about which values feel most authentic and which experiences might anchor your essay. If you're working with a MyEdAdvisor counselor, share it ahead of your next meeting.

Is this only useful for the Common App personal statement? ▾

No — knowing your core values is useful for supplemental essays ("Why this school?", "Describe a community you belong to"), scholarship essays, and even college interviews. Once you've done this work, you'll draw on it throughout the entire application process.