Demonstrating a love of reading is essential for college applications. Reading is, after all, the gateway to knowledge! Colleges want to admit students who are self-motivated to go on intellectual journeys without the guiding hand of a teacher. They want students who are passionate and inspired about specific topics, especially those oriented around a singular admissions hook. In 2024, the applicants who have distinguished themselves with a unique passion, pursuit, or cause stand the best chance of being admitted to a highly selective college. The books you write about on your application are an effective way of showcasing this hook, so don’t be afraid to put on your bookish hat!

The Books that Work in College Essays — and the Ones that Don’t!

Highlighting books in your college essays is not simply a matter of saying that you enjoyed The Great Gatsby or To Kill a Mockingbird and calling it a day. Admissions officers want to see that you’ve gone above and beyond the required reading at your school — or any school, for that matter. This means that even if Romeo and Juliet wasn’t assigned at your school in particular, writing about it won’t impress anyone because it’s so ubiquitous on required reading lists at high schools across the nation. Instead, write about (and ensure you’ve read!) books that reflect a college reading level and niche knowledge of a particular subject. 

If your hook demonstrates how you will revolutionize cancer treatment through your research, write about the book written by a researcher doing work that inspires you. If your ambition is to be the next great political orator, reference a little-known biography about your favorite politician. And if you’re applying as a humanities student, you better believe your future school would love to see some esoteric, deep cuts from the literary canon that the average college student has never even heard of!

Make Every Book Count in Your College Application

Does every book have to relate to your hook? Of course not. But considering there are only a few opportunities on your application to reference prior reading material, ensuring that every citation counts is essential! In the Columbia writing supplement, for example, one of the prompts requires applicants to list “a selection of texts, resources, and outlets that have contributed to your intellectual development outside of academic courses, including but not limited to books, journals, websites, podcasts, essays, plays, presentations, videos, museums and other content that you enjoy.” With only 100 words to give Columbia insight into the works that have most shaped you into who you are, there’s no room for non-competitive books to make their way onto this list!

Better yet, instead of name-dropping, demonstrate that you know what your books have to say. Work the themes and messages of your books into your essays (though not for the Columbia book prompt since Columbia strictly wants a list). Remember: the cardinal rule of writing compelling college application essays is show, don’t tell! 

A Note on Books Adapted Into TV Series and Movies

Are you a massive fan of the Harry Potter franchise? Does Game of Thrones provide endless entertainment on cold winter nights? We get it; book-to-movie and TV franchises have a special place in our hearts. But consider these books low-hanging fruit when included in your college application. No one will be surprised to learn that The Twilight Saga hugely influenced you. These books don’t demonstrate a love of reading. Maybe a love of pop culture, but that won’t get you into the school of your dreams! The same goes for nonfiction books adapted into films like The Wolf of Wall Street or The Glass Castle.

How Ivy Coach Helps You Develop a Robust Literary Diet Early On

Our team of former elite college admissions officers at Ivy Coach will help guide your child through a list of competitive books to read. We understand the importance of a robust literary diet in a highly competitive college application, and the earlier our clients come to us, the more impact we can have on this often-neglected part of the application. We provide personalized guidance and recommendations based on your child’s interests and goals, helping them develop a reading list that will impress admissions officers.

If you would like to optimize your child’s odds of admission to a highly selective college, fill out our complimentary consultation form and we’ll be in touch.