a narrative essay about my first day at school

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Essay on My First Day in School: Sample in 100, 200, 350 Words

• Updated on  
• Jan 23, 2024

Essay on My First Day in School: The first day of school is often considered an important day in every child’s life. It is a time of a mix of emotions, like nervousness, excitement, homesickness, feelings of shyness, and likewise. But did you know these feelings are responsible for making our day memorable?

As children, we all are like a blank canvas, easily dyed into any colour. Our first day in school is like a new world to us. As a child, we all have experienced those feelings. So, to make you feel nostalgic and refresh those special feelings, we have brought some samples of essay on my first day in school.

Quick Read: Essay on Best Friend

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay on My First Day in School in 100 words
• 2 Essay on My First Day in School Sample in 200 Words
• 3 Essay on My First Day in Day in School in 350 Words
• 4 FAQs 

Essay on My First Day in School in 100 words

It was a cloudy day when I took my first step into the compound of my school. I was carrying a new backpack that was filled with notebooks. Though the backpack was a bit heavy, instead of focusing on the weight, I was excited about the beginning of my journey on my first day in school.

My classroom was at the end of the corridor. As I entered my classroom, my class teacher introduced me to the class and made me feel welcome. Activities like reading, solving problems in groups, and sharing our lunch boxes slowly and steadily transformed the new student with a sense of belonging.

The whole day progressed with mixed excitement as well as emotions. As the bell rang, declaring the end of the school day, the school felt like a world of possibilities where the journey was more than textbooks.

To improve your essay writing skills, here are the top 200+ English Essay Topics for school students.

Essay on My First Day in School Sample in 200 Words

It was a sunny day and the sun was shining brightly. With my new and attractive backpack, I was moving through the school gate. It was my first day in school and I was filled with nervousness and excitement. From the tower of the building to the playground everything was bigger than life. As a school student, I was about to enter a new world. 

The corridor was filled with the echo of students. As I entered the classroom, wearing a mix of curiosity and excitement, my classmates and class teacher welcomed me with a warm smile. After a round of introductions and some warm-up activities, strangers gradually started tuning into potential friends. At lunchtime, the cafeteria was filled with the smell of delicious food. However, I hesitated before joining the group of students but soon enough, I was laughing with my new friends and sharing stories. The unfamiliar were now my friends and transformed my mixed emotions into delightfulness. 

The bell rang for the next class and I stepped out for new learning in my new academic home. My first day of school had many memorable stories, with old subjects and new introductions of knowledge. The day was spent learning, sharing and making new memories. 

Also Read: Essay on Joint Family in 500+ words in English  

Essay on My First Day in Day in School in 350 Words

My first day in school started by stepping onto the school bus with a bag full of books and a heart full of curiosity. It was like I was starting a new chapter in my life. After travelling a long way back, I stepped at the gate of my school. The school gate welcomed me with open arms and greeted me with a sense of excitement as well as nervousness.

As I entered the classroom, I found many new faces. Arranging my stuff on the seat, I sat next to an unknown, who later on turned into the best friend of my life. I entered my class with a welcoming smile, and later on, I turned everything in with ease. During our lunchtime, the cafeteria was filled with the energy of students. 

At first, I hesitated to interact with the children, but later on, I was a part of a group that invited me to join the table. At lunchtime, I made many new friends and was no longer a stranger. After having delicious food and chit-chatting with friends, we get back to our respective classrooms. Different subjects such as mathematics, science, and English never left the same impact as they did on the first day of school. 

The teacher taught the lessons so interestingly that we learned the chapter with a mix of laughter and learning. At the end of the day, we all went straight to the playground and enjoyed the swings. Moreover, in the playground, I also met many faces who were new to the school and had their first day in school, like me.

While returning home, I realised that my first day was not just about learning new subjects; it was about making new friends, sailing into new vibrant classrooms, and settling myself as a new student. The morning, which was full of uncertainty at the end of the day, came to an end with exciting adventures and endless possibilities. With new experiences, I look forward to new academic and personal growth in the wonderful world of education.

Also Read: Trees Are Our Best Friend Essay

My first day of school was filled with mixed feelings. I was nervous, homesick, and excited on the first day at my school.

While writing about the first day of school, I share my experience of beginning my journey from home. What were my feelings, emotions, and excitement related to the first day of school, and how did I deal with a whole day among the unknown faces, these were some of the things I wrote in my first day of school experience essay. 

The first day of school is important because, as a new student, we manage everything new. The practice of managing everything is the first step towards self-responsibility.

Along with studying my favourite subjects, I share fun moments and delicious foods with my friends in school. 

Parents are filled with emotions on the first day of their child. As school is the place to gain knowledge, skills, and experience, parents try their best to give their children the best academics they can.

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Deepika Joshi

Deepika Joshi is an experienced content writer with expertise in creating educational and informative content. She has a year of experience writing content for speeches, essays, NCERT, study abroad and EdTech SaaS. Her strengths lie in conducting thorough research and ananlysis to provide accurate and up-to-date information to readers. She enjoys staying updated on new skills and knowledge, particulary in education domain. In her free time, she loves to read articles, and blogs with related to her field to further expand her expertise. In personal life, she loves creative writing and aspire to connect with innovative people who have fresh ideas to offer.

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Narrative Essay on My First Day in School

Narrative essay generator.

Childhood memories are the treasures of our past, vividly painting the innocence, adventures, and joy of our early years. These memories, both sweet and bittersweet, form the mosaic of our identity, influencing who we become. This essay delves into the essence of childhood memories, exploring their impact and significance through a personal journey back in time.

The Magic of Childhood

Childhood: a period of life where every day feels like a new adventure, filled with curiosity and wonder. My childhood was no different. It was a time when the smallest things felt like grand discoveries, from finding a caterpillar in the backyard to the first time I rode a bike without training wheels. These moments, though seemingly small, are monumental in the eyes of a child. They represent growth, learning, and the boundless joy of living.

A Journey Back in Time

One of my most cherished memories takes me back to my grandmother’s house, a quaint cottage nestled in the heart of the countryside. It was a place out of a storybook, surrounded by lush gardens and towering trees that whispered secrets with the wind. My summers there were filled with endless days of exploration, from the crack of dawn until the stars claimed the sky.

The Garden Adventures

The garden was a magical realm where imagination had no bounds. My cousins and I would embark on epic adventures, pretending to be explorers in a mystical land. We built forts out of branches and leaves, declaring them castles of ancient times. The garden was our kingdom, and in it, we were invincible. The laughter and shouts of our play still echo in my mind, a reminder of the carefree joy of youth.

Lessons Learned

Amidst the fun and games, childhood also presented its set of challenges and lessons. I recall a particular rainy day when our garden escapades led to a muddy disaster. Our clothes were stained, and the indoors became a canvas for our muddy footprints. The scolding that followed taught us the importance of responsibility and the consequences of our actions. Yet, even in that moment of admonition, there was love and the gentle guidance towards making better choices.

The Power of Friendship

Childhood is also a time when friendships are formed, bonds that often last a lifetime. I met my best friend under the most unusual circumstances, a mishap during a school play where a missed cue turned into a comedy of errors. Instead of embarrassment, we found laughter and a friendship that stood the test of time. It was through these friendships that I learned the value of trust, support, and the sheer joy of having someone to share life’s moments with.

As the years passed, the innocence of childhood gradually gave way to the responsibilities of adulthood. The endless days of play were replaced by schedules and commitments. Yet, the memories of those carefree days remain, a beacon of light guiding me through life’s challenges. They remind me to find joy in the simple things, to approach life with curiosity, and to cherish the bonds formed in the innocence of childhood.

Childhood memories are more than just moments of the past; they are the foundation upon which we build our future. They teach us lessons, shape our values, and influence our paths. As I reflect on my journey through childhood, I am grateful for the experiences that shaped me, the challenges that strengthened me, and the joy that filled my days. These memories are a precious gift, a reminder of a time of innocence and wonder that continues to inspire and guide me as I navigate the complexities of adulthood.

In the end, our childhood memories are a testament to the beauty of life, a collection of moments that remind us of who we are and where we’ve come from. They are treasures to be cherished, stories to be shared, and lessons to carry with us as we journey through life. For students participating in an essay writing competition, delve deep into your own reservoir of memories, and let the magic of your childhood illuminate your writing. Through your words, you have the power to transport your readers back in time, to relive the wonder, the lessons, and the joy of childhood.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Compose a narrative essay about a student's first day at a new school

Develop a narrative essay on a memorable school field trip.

Personal Narrative Essay: My First Day at School

First day of school. I was so exhilarated. On the night before the first day of school, I prepared everything for the next day. I chose a beautiful floral dress and practiced french braiding my hair.  I had been practicing and learning how to french braid for weeks.  When everything was ready, I climbed into bed. I was so excited that I could fall asleep. I kept twisting and turning, and my eyes just wouldn’t stay shut. It was like there was a string pulling my eyelids up, preventing me from ever closing my eyes. I don’t remember when I fell asleep, but it felt like I was awake for hours before I finally closed my eyes and drifted off.

On the morning of the joyous day, I woke up at the sound of my alarm. Before I even opened my eyes, I knew what day it was. I reached for my clock and turned off the blaring alarm. I walked toward my closet excitedly, knowing that I got to wear my favorite dress today. Then, I quickly got dressed, grabbed my supplies, and ran down the stairs to do my hair. When I got to the bottom of my stairs, I took a sharp right turn to my vanity. I sat down, grabbed a small section of hair, and started braiding. After about 10 minutes, two elastic bands, and a handful of bobby pins, I finished. I was more than satisfied with my hair. When I got to the dining table, I saw my favorite pancakes. Swiftly sitting down, I stabbed a pancake with my fork and munched down on it. It was so good. I quickly wolfed down my delicious pancakes and waited for my best friend, Gabby, to arrive.

Ding dong! I ran toward the front door, almost slipping on my socks. I fumbled with the lock as I tried to open the door. When I finally got it open, I saw my best friend and jumped joyfully.

“I’ll be right there!” I exclaimed as I swung my backpack over my shoulders and went to the front door. Then I wrapped my arms around my parents, giving them a tight hug.

When I got outside, Gabby and I started walking to school. Our conversations were endless. We could’ve talked for hours just about how fun school was going to be with each other. When we arrived at our classroom, we had to pause our conversations. Our teacher welcomed us in and led us to our seats. 

The day was going great. The teacher told us that we could choose where we wanted to sit, so I got to sit next to Gabby. Everyone introduced themselves to one another, and then we got organized for the rest of the school year. Out of all the things you do on the first day of school, getting organized is by far my favorite part. Everything was going great until 11:50 AM.

At 11:50, the bell rang for our second recess. Gabby 10 minutes later, Gabby says, “Can you stop following me?” I was taken aback. I couldn’t believe it. The first day of school and she tells me to stop following her? She was the only person I knew! I try not to present myself as weak and just laughed as if I ignored her comment.

The rest of the day was fine after the second recess. When I got home after school, my mom asked how my first day was. I told her it was great except for when Gabby told me to stop following her. My mom was taken aback as well. Being the great mom that she was, she discussed this situation with me.

“Is there anyone else that is nice that you could be friends with?” my mom asked.

I thought about who was in my class. “Oh, there is this one girl that is also new. I think I could be friends with her since she doesn’t have any friends yet either.”

“That’s great! Tomorrow, you should try to talk to her.”

The next day, I approached the other new student during recess. Her name was G.. 

“Do you want to sit on the swings together?” I asked.

“Sure,” she replied. Then, we ran to the swings together.

We sat on the swings every day since that day. G. and I started to bond as we hung out together during recess every day. We started inside jokes and conversations just flowed smoothly like a stream.

G. is my closest, most trusted friend, and I give all the credit to my mother. She encouraged me when I was timorous, and she comforted me when I was disconsolate.

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My First Day At School Essay

There's a first time for everything. Moments turn into memories. We all cherish the first time we did something or achieved something, or maybe even won our first competition. The moments you love become your happy memories. Here are some sample essays on my first day at school.

100 Word Essay On My First Day At School

My first day at school is a very happy memory and I will always love to revisit it. It was a different experience altogether. From the comfort zone of my home, I was suddenly put into a completely new atmosphere – My Preschool. It looked so crowded and noisy. I still remember, on my first day, I was crying and so the memories of the morning are very blurry.

My parents comforted me and gave me my favourite chocolate ice-cream. I entered the classroom, and it immediately cheered my mood up. The classroom was very colourful, filled with small benches and a lot of toys and swings.

The teacher came after a few minutes. She was very friendly. After an hour, we all grouped together, and played several fun games and did many activities together. It was a very amazing day.

200 Word Essay On My First Day At School

I still remember my first day at preschool. I was very excited and nervous. Being a 5-year-old kid, it had been so hard for me to leave my home and settle in a completely new place for almost an entire day, but I was a tough kid. I was also very excited to wear my uniform. I reminded Mummy to iron my uniform many times until I checked myself and was sure of it.

My Day At School

When I entered the school with my parents on my first day, I was surprised with the fact that there were so many children of my age, some were happy and laughing, running on the ground. While a few were very scared and crying, their parents and teachers were trying to calm them down.

I was having mixed feelings, but once I entered class, I was elated with joy. The classroom was coincidently painted with my favourite colour—Sky Blue.

In my first lesson, I was taught the alphabet. But since I already knew them, the teacher called me out to recite it in front of the class. I nervously went ahead and did it. Everyone clapped for me. It was a very nice moment and made my first day of the school an unforgettable memory for me.

500 Word Essay On My First Day At School

My first day at school was an unforgettable memory for me and gave me a gift I cherish to this date. It was a cozy and comfortable evening in April when I was informed with the news that I have been admitted to Mount Libra Zee School.

I didn’t know how to react. I have seen my sister going to school daily, sometimes she was happy about it, but sometimes she was very reluctant to go and made silly excuses to avoid school. My parents had also brought a very cute school uniform. I liked it and was excited to wear it. But I still had no idea about how the first day of school was going to be.

How My First Day At School Started

The next morning, I dressed up very early in excitement. I ate my breakfast and Mummy packed a small tiffin box for me. At 8 o'clock, I went to the school in my father’s red car.

When I Reached My School

The school building was huge. It was painted with cartoons. I got happy when I saw my favourite cartoon characters, Tom & Jerry painted on the walls too. My father left me at the school gate to a peon after instructing him about my class. The peon picked me up very gently and started walking through the endless corridors. I could see the huge playground in the middle of the school building. It had all kinds of swings in it. For a moment, I wanted to run away to my favourite Merry-Go-Round, but I dropped that temptation and was dropped in front of my class by the peon.

My Classroom

The class had 15 chairs, all painted with cartoon characters. The wall had ABCs and numbers painted on it. It was a very cheerful and colourful environment. My eyes immediately glanced through the students already sitting there. They all were lost in their world. Some were sobering, while some were making drawings with crayons.

After a few minutes, our teacher came. She asked each of us our names and hobbies, and then she introduced herself to us. Then, she asked everyone to name the animals and birds painted on a picture board. We all begin singing the names. It was very fun. She was impressed with us and gave us candies at the end of the lesson.

After 2 hours, a bell rang for lunch. I took out my tiffin and started feasting on my sandwiches. A boy came to me, and said that sandwiches are his favourite. I knew his name by now, Ansh. I quickly offered him one and he was very happy. We soon became friends and chatted endlessly about Spider-Man, Iron Man and Tom and Jerry.

After learning that his favourite cartoon was also Tom and Jerry , I instantly knew I got my first school friend. 14 years forward, Ansh is still my best friend, and I am always thankful to him for making my first day at school a very fond memory.

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Home — Essay Samples — Education — First Day of School — First Day of High School Essay – 150 Words

About My First Day at High School

• Categories: First Day of School High School

About this sample

Words: 170 |

Published: May 14, 2021

Words: 170 | Page: 1 | 1 min read

Works Cited

• Chen, X., & Wu, B. (2019). Traditional Chinese Cultural Values and Personality Traits Among Chinese International Students. Journal of International Students, 9(2), 487-503. doi:10.32674/jis.v9i2.239
• Cohen, E. G. (1994). Designing Groupwork: Strategies for the Heterogeneous Classroom. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
• Delpit, L. (1995). Other People’s Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom. New York, NY: The New Press.
• Du, X., Li, Y., & Zhang, L. (2016). Confucianism, Education, and Schooling: A Brief Introduction. In Y. Li & X. Du (Eds.), Chinese Education in Global Contexts: Research and practice in China and the UK (pp. 1-20). London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan. doi:10.1057/978-1-137-58078-6_1
• Gay, G. (2000). Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research, and Practice. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
• Hofstede, G. (2001). Culture’s Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions, and Organizations Across Nations (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
• Kao, G. (1995). Asian Americans as Model Minorities?: A Look at Their Academic Performance. American Journal of Education, 103(2), 121-159. doi:10.1086/444120
• Ogbu, J. U. (1988). Minority Education and Caste: The American System in Cross-Cultural Perspective. New York, NY: Academic Press.
• Su, C., & Kuo, B. (2019). The Impact of Western Education on Chinese Students’ Cultural Identity. Journal of International Students, 9(2), 601-622. doi:10.32674/jis.v9i2.266
• Zhou, M. (2002). The Limits of Racial Domination: Plebeian Society in Colonial Mexico City, 1660-1720. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

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• How to write a narrative essay | Example & tips

How to Write a Narrative Essay | Example & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

A narrative essay tells a story. In most cases, this is a story about a personal experience you had. This type of essay , along with the descriptive essay , allows you to get personal and creative, unlike most academic writing .

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Table of contents

What is a narrative essay for, choosing a topic, interactive example of a narrative essay, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about narrative essays.

When assigned a narrative essay, you might find yourself wondering: Why does my teacher want to hear this story? Topics for narrative essays can range from the important to the trivial. Usually the point is not so much the story itself, but the way you tell it.

A narrative essay is a way of testing your ability to tell a story in a clear and interesting way. You’re expected to think about where your story begins and ends, and how to convey it with eye-catching language and a satisfying pace.

These skills are quite different from those needed for formal academic writing. For instance, in a narrative essay the use of the first person (“I”) is encouraged, as is the use of figurative language, dialogue, and suspense.

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Narrative essay assignments vary widely in the amount of direction you’re given about your topic. You may be assigned quite a specific topic or choice of topics to work with.

• Write a story about your first day of school.
• Write a story about your favorite holiday destination.

You may also be given prompts that leave you a much wider choice of topic.

• Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself.
• Write about an achievement you are proud of. What did you accomplish, and how?

In these cases, you might have to think harder to decide what story you want to tell. The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to talk about a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

For example, a trip where everything went according to plan makes for a less interesting story than one where something unexpected happened that you then had to respond to. Choose an experience that might surprise the reader or teach them something.

Narrative essays in college applications

When applying for college , you might be asked to write a narrative essay that expresses something about your personal qualities.

For example, this application prompt from Common App requires you to respond with a narrative essay.

In this context, choose a story that is not only interesting but also expresses the qualities the prompt is looking for—here, resilience and the ability to learn from failure—and frame the story in a way that emphasizes these qualities.

An example of a short narrative essay, responding to the prompt “Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” is shown below.

Hover over different parts of the text to see how the structure works.

Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took my first philosophy class.

Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was something quite different.

A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired, buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will, we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves. By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the most interesting ones.

The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways than one—to look at things with an open mind.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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If you’re not given much guidance on what your narrative essay should be about, consider the context and scope of the assignment. What kind of story is relevant, interesting, and possible to tell within the word count?

The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to reflect on a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

Don’t worry too much if your topic seems unoriginal. The point of a narrative essay is how you tell the story and the point you make with it, not the subject of the story itself.

Narrative essays are usually assigned as writing exercises at high school or in university composition classes. They may also form part of a university application.

When you are prompted to tell a story about your own life or experiences, a narrative essay is usually the right response.

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

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Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). How to Write a Narrative Essay | Example & Tips. Scribbr. Retrieved June 27, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/narrative-essay/

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My First Day in School Essay | Essay on My First Day in School for Students and Children in English

February 7, 2024 by Prasanna

My First Day In School Essay: My parents got me admitted to Mount Valley School. At that time, I was six years old. I still remember my first day at school. My mother woke me up early in the morning and after my bath and breakfast, I got dressed in my brand new school uniform. I was very excited.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Short Essay on My First Day in School 200 Words for Kids and Students in English

Below we have given a short essay on My First Day in School is for Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. This short essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 6 and below.

My sister studied in the fourth class in the same school and my father took us there by car. The school compound was full of boys and girls. We went straight to the principal’s office and he asked my name and gave me a chocolate. After that, my father left for his office.

I was led to my class by the peon. My class teacher turned out to be a very sweet and kind lady. She made me comfortable and introduced me to the rest of the class. My classmates also proved to be quite friendly and welcomed me to the class. They told me about the timetable and various subjects and teachers.

During the recess, I met my sister in the canteen. We ate the lunch that she had carried from home. I told her about my day till then and how I had already made many friends, At 1:30 pm, the classes got over. Mother, who had come to pick us up, met us at the school gate and we left for home.

On the whole, it was a very pleasant and interesting experience. I will always remember my first day at school.

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First Day of School Essay

500 words essay on first day of school.

The first day of schools is not easy for anyone. Even if you are not shy, it is still tough for the first day. When people say the first day of school, the mind usually goes back to our first day in class nursery. But, that is not the same as everyone. When a person transfers to a new school, their first day of the new school is also a new experience. Thus, the first day of school essay will tell us about it in detail.

A Thrilling Experience

The first day of school is a thrilling experience. You are entering an unknown territory and you don’t know anyone there. While it might scare some, for some it is quite exciting. You get to learn about new things on the first day.

Moreover, the first day gives us a new perspective on things. Things we don’t often notice, we might notice on our first day of school. It is because we are very aware of our surroundings on our first day.

Nonetheless, it is an exciting experience for all. If you are a four-year-old joining school for the first time or a senior going to a new school for the first time, everyone usually remembers their experience and cherish it forever.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

My First Day of School as a Senior

My father has a government job which requires him to shift a lot. Even though we stayed in the same place, my father moved from one place to another. After being in the same school for 8 years, my father finally got a permanent posting.

This meant that we had to move to a new city and join a new school. I was very nervous to move to a new city and even more to join a new school. My present school has all my friends whom I cannot stay apart from.

Nonetheless, when we moved to the new city, I became friends with my neighbour . On my first day of school, I joined the fifth standard. The teacher introduced me and I went to sit in my seat.

Many children sitting beside me started talking to me. They were being friendly and cordial. Thus, all my nervousness went away. Upon talking with them, I realized that they are very welcoming.

Some of them also shared their lunch with me. My neighbour also came to meet me during the recess and we played on the swings. On the first day, only the feeling of being an outsider went away. I enjoyed my first day a lot and came back home smiling.

Conclusion of the First Day of School Essay

Thus, the first day of schools is not easy. It is equally difficult for little children as well as teenagers. It is not easy to enter a place with unknown faces, but it is definitely not impossible. We all need to come out of comfort zone someday, so it serves as a great way of reminding us of this fact.

FAQ of First Day of School Essay

Question 1: Is the first day of school memorable?

Answer 1: The first day of school whether for the first time or in a new school is memorable for everyone. It is a life-changing day for students as they enter into an unknown place without the support of anyone, all by themselves.

Question 2: Does the first day of school determine the rest of our school days?

Answer 2: Not at all. Our first day can be good or bad, but it does not determine anything. There are good days and bad days in life; it is upon us to take the journey forward happily without letting anything discourage us.

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My First Day of High School Personal Narrative Essay

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          I woke up this morning and it was harder to get out of bed than usual. I tossed and turned all night because my anxiety was at an all-time high. I had nightmares because of the scary movie I watched the night before, and spicy food usually leads to my comfort in sleeping at night. I also had a million questions racing through my mind.  What should I wear? What should I pack in my backpack? A million questions are an understatement but they were still going through my mind at 4 in the morning. I finally fell asleep around 5:45 and my alarm started going off at 6. Well, it’s time for me to kick start my day, whether I like it or not.

          I always dreamed of what my first day of high school would be like. Would I make a lot of friends? Would I trip and fall in front of the whole class? Would I somehow be summoned to the geek squad? I couldn’t let those thoughts cloud my mind. I had to prepare myself for one of the most important days of my life.

          I ate a bowl of cereal, Captain Crunch of course, and then brushed my teeth. I packed my notebooks, folders, calculator, and make-up and headed out the door. I had to take the train to school. I hate taking the train. The crowded train, the messy station, the strangers with their hands in your face asking for money...I am not a fan. I can’t take the bus though, my school is on the other side of the city which is far away from bus stops.

          I get to the school building and it doesn’t look the same as orientation day. The lawn was glistening in the sun, the fountain was shooting water in pretty designs, and students were in a joyous mood on orientation day. Today, it is the complete opposite and makes me question whether I want to step foot in the door. I hesitantly open the door to begin my first day in high school.

          My first class wasn’t too bad. I had to listen to my English teacher discuss the importance of themes and plots, but otherwise, it was a pretty easy-going class. I did notice a guy who caught my attention and I must say, he may have increased my interest in this class. I don’t think I would get tired of admiring that eye candy. My other classes that followed after were pretty much the same (a few eye candies in those as well). Not too many cliques were joining yet from what I noticed, but then again, lunch didn’t start yet. Thinking about all of this made me wonder where I would sit during lunchtime. I was hoping I wouldn’t feel singled out and would find a decent table to sit at and enjoy my lunch. Hopefully, though, it will be some good food getting served today.

          I ate a pepperoni pizza and had an orange soda to wash it down. I’m grateful for the food not tasting horrible so I wouldn’t have that in my mind for the rest of the day. I still didn’t manage to find any new friends to sit with, but I’m just happy I found a table to sit at. It would have been tortured if I had to sit in a classroom to eat lunch, or an empty hallway with the possibility of some kids walking past and laughing.

          My first day at school was almost over and I felt a tap on my shoulder in Chemistry class. It was a girl named Samantha asking if she could share my textbook with me because hers didn’t get shipped yet to her house. I told her yes and invited her to scoot her chair next to mine. We made small conversations and connections with similar interests. When the class bell rang, we exchanged numbers to hang out after school. I felt like my day couldn’t go any smoother and was eager for school to be finished. I just had one more class to get through and I would be done for the day.

          Once the last bell rang, I was eager to get home and tell my childhood friend how my day went at a brand new school. I knew Charlie was going to have an "I told you so” moment, but I didn’t care. I was just excited to speak to a familiar voice and vent out my feelings that I endured all day. I wondered how his day went at his brand new school as well. I guess before I know it, I would find out if he made friends easily and if he’s excited about the classes he will be taking.

          I got on the same train line that I took to school and headed back home. The train ride was more pleasant going home than it was going to school. There were hardly any people on the train, and I was sitting pleasantly in a window seat most of the ride home.

I was home before I knew it and speaking to Charlie on the house phone. I found out he made plenty of friends during lunchtime and felt that his classes would be easy. Charlie hardly ever has to study for a test, so I will take his word for it with regards to his classwork. Once I got off the phone, I let out a big sigh of relief and plopped on top of my bed. Even though I would have to do this all over again tomorrow, I’m glad I got through my first day at school.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 3 great narrative essay examples + tips for writing.

General Education

A narrative essay is one of the most intimidating assignments you can be handed at any level of your education. Where you've previously written argumentative essays that make a point or analytic essays that dissect meaning, a narrative essay asks you to write what is effectively a story .

But unlike a simple work of creative fiction, your narrative essay must have a clear and concrete motif —a recurring theme or idea that you’ll explore throughout. Narrative essays are less rigid, more creative in expression, and therefore pretty different from most other essays you’ll be writing.

But not to fear—in this article, we’ll be covering what a narrative essay is, how to write a good one, and also analyzing some personal narrative essay examples to show you what a great one looks like.

What Is a Narrative Essay?

At first glance, a narrative essay might sound like you’re just writing a story. Like the stories you're used to reading, a narrative essay is generally (but not always) chronological, following a clear throughline from beginning to end. Even if the story jumps around in time, all the details will come back to one specific theme, demonstrated through your choice in motifs.

Unlike many creative stories, however, your narrative essay should be based in fact. That doesn’t mean that every detail needs to be pure and untainted by imagination, but rather that you shouldn’t wholly invent the events of your narrative essay. There’s nothing wrong with inventing a person’s words if you can’t remember them exactly, but you shouldn’t say they said something they weren’t even close to saying.

Another big difference between narrative essays and creative fiction—as well as other kinds of essays—is that narrative essays are based on motifs. A motif is a dominant idea or theme, one that you establish before writing the essay. As you’re crafting the narrative, it’ll feed back into your motif to create a comprehensive picture of whatever that motif is.

For example, say you want to write a narrative essay about how your first day in high school helped you establish your identity. You might discuss events like trying to figure out where to sit in the cafeteria, having to describe yourself in five words as an icebreaker in your math class, or being unsure what to do during your lunch break because it’s no longer acceptable to go outside and play during lunch. All of those ideas feed back into the central motif of establishing your identity.

The important thing to remember is that while a narrative essay is typically told chronologically and intended to read like a story, it is not purely for entertainment value. A narrative essay delivers its theme by deliberately weaving the motifs through the events, scenes, and details. While a narrative essay may be entertaining, its primary purpose is to tell a complete story based on a central meaning.

Unlike other essay forms, it is totally okay—even expected—to use first-person narration in narrative essays. If you’re writing a story about yourself, it’s natural to refer to yourself within the essay. It’s also okay to use other perspectives, such as third- or even second-person, but that should only be done if it better serves your motif. Generally speaking, your narrative essay should be in first-person perspective.

Though your motif choices may feel at times like you’re making a point the way you would in an argumentative essay, a narrative essay’s goal is to tell a story, not convince the reader of anything. Your reader should be able to tell what your motif is from reading, but you don’t have to change their mind about anything. If they don’t understand the point you are making, you should consider strengthening the delivery of the events and descriptions that support your motif.

Narrative essays also share some features with analytical essays, in which you derive meaning from a book, film, or other media. But narrative essays work differently—you’re not trying to draw meaning from an existing text, but rather using an event you’ve experienced to convey meaning. In an analytical essay, you examine narrative, whereas in a narrative essay you create narrative.

The structure of a narrative essay is also a bit different than other essays. You’ll generally be getting your point across chronologically as opposed to grouping together specific arguments in paragraphs or sections. To return to the example of an essay discussing your first day of high school and how it impacted the shaping of your identity, it would be weird to put the events out of order, even if not knowing what to do after lunch feels like a stronger idea than choosing where to sit. Instead of organizing to deliver your information based on maximum impact, you’ll be telling your story as it happened, using concrete details to reinforce your theme.

3 Great Narrative Essay Examples

One of the best ways to learn how to write a narrative essay is to look at a great narrative essay sample. Let’s take a look at some truly stellar narrative essay examples and dive into what exactly makes them work so well.

A Ticket to the Fair by David Foster Wallace

Today is Press Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, and I’m supposed to be at the fairgrounds by 9:00 A.M. to get my credentials. I imagine credentials to be a small white card in the band of a fedora. I’ve never been considered press before. My real interest in credentials is getting into rides and shows for free. I’m fresh in from the East Coast, for an East Coast magazine. Why exactly they’re interested in the Illinois State Fair remains unclear to me. I suspect that every so often editors at East Coast magazines slap their foreheads and remember that about 90 percent of the United States lies between the coasts, and figure they’ll engage somebody to do pith-helmeted anthropological reporting on something rural and heartlandish. I think they asked me to do this because I grew up here, just a couple hours’ drive from downstate Springfield. I never did go to the state fair, though—I pretty much topped out at the county fair level. Actually, I haven’t been back to Illinois for a long time, and I can’t say I’ve missed it.

Throughout this essay, David Foster Wallace recounts his experience as press at the Illinois State Fair. But it’s clear from this opening that he’s not just reporting on the events exactly as they happened—though that’s also true— but rather making a point about how the East Coast, where he lives and works, thinks about the Midwest.

In his opening paragraph, Wallace states that outright: “Why exactly they’re interested in the Illinois State Fair remains unclear to me. I suspect that every so often editors at East Coast magazines slap their foreheads and remember that about 90 percent of the United States lies between the coasts, and figure they’ll engage somebody to do pith-helmeted anthropological reporting on something rural and heartlandish.”

Not every motif needs to be stated this clearly , but in an essay as long as Wallace’s, particularly since the audience for such a piece may feel similarly and forget that such a large portion of the country exists, it’s important to make that point clear.

But Wallace doesn’t just rest on introducing his motif and telling the events exactly as they occurred from there. It’s clear that he selects events that remind us of that idea of East Coast cynicism , such as when he realizes that the Help Me Grow tent is standing on top of fake grass that is killing the real grass beneath, when he realizes the hypocrisy of craving a corn dog when faced with a real, suffering pig, when he’s upset for his friend even though he’s not the one being sexually harassed, and when he witnesses another East Coast person doing something he wouldn’t dare to do.

Wallace is literally telling the audience exactly what happened, complete with dates and timestamps for when each event occurred. But he’s also choosing those events with a purpose—he doesn’t focus on details that don’t serve his motif. That’s why he discusses the experiences of people, how the smells are unappealing to him, and how all the people he meets, in cowboy hats, overalls, or “black spandex that looks like cheesecake leotards,” feel almost alien to him.

All of these details feed back into the throughline of East Coast thinking that Wallace introduces in the first paragraph. He also refers back to it in the essay’s final paragraph, stating:

At last, an overarching theory blooms inside my head: megalopolitan East Coasters’ summer treats and breaks and literally ‘getaways,’ flights-from—from crowds, noise, heat, dirt, the stress of too many sensory choices….The East Coast existential treat is escape from confines and stimuli—quiet, rustic vistas that hold still, turn inward, turn away. Not so in the rural Midwest. Here you’re pretty much away all the time….Something in a Midwesterner sort of actuates , deep down, at a public event….The real spectacle that draws us here is us.

Throughout this journey, Wallace has tried to demonstrate how the East Coast thinks about the Midwest, ultimately concluding that they are captivated by the Midwest’s less stimuli-filled life, but that the real reason they are interested in events like the Illinois State Fair is that they are, in some ways, a means of looking at the East Coast in a new, estranging way.

The reason this works so well is that Wallace has carefully chosen his examples, outlined his motif and themes in the first paragraph, and eventually circled back to the original motif with a clearer understanding of his original point.

When outlining your own narrative essay, try to do the same. Start with a theme, build upon it with examples, and return to it in the end with an even deeper understanding of the original issue. You don’t need this much space to explore a theme, either—as we’ll see in the next example, a strong narrative essay can also be very short.

Death of a Moth by Virginia Woolf

After a time, tired by his dancing apparently, he settled on the window ledge in the sun, and, the queer spectacle being at an end, I forgot about him. Then, looking up, my eye was caught by him. He was trying to resume his dancing, but seemed either so stiff or so awkward that he could only flutter to the bottom of the window-pane; and when he tried to fly across it he failed. Being intent on other matters I watched these futile attempts for a time without thinking, unconsciously waiting for him to resume his flight, as one waits for a machine, that has stopped momentarily, to start again without considering the reason of its failure. After perhaps a seventh attempt he slipped from the wooden ledge and fell, fluttering his wings, on to his back on the window sill. The helplessness of his attitude roused me. It flashed upon me that he was in difficulties; he could no longer raise himself; his legs struggled vainly. But, as I stretched out a pencil, meaning to help him to right himself, it came over me that the failure and awkwardness were the approach of death. I laid the pencil down again.

In this essay, Virginia Woolf explains her encounter with a dying moth. On surface level, this essay is just a recounting of an afternoon in which she watched a moth die—it’s even established in the title. But there’s more to it than that. Though Woolf does not begin her essay with as clear a motif as Wallace, it’s not hard to pick out the evidence she uses to support her point, which is that the experience of this moth is also the human experience.

In the title, Woolf tells us this essay is about death. But in the first paragraph, she seems to mostly be discussing life—the moth is “content with life,” people are working in the fields, and birds are flying. However, she mentions that it is mid-September and that the fields were being plowed. It’s autumn and it’s time for the harvest; the time of year in which many things die.

In this short essay, she chronicles the experience of watching a moth seemingly embody life, then die. Though this essay is literally about a moth, it’s also about a whole lot more than that. After all, moths aren’t the only things that die—Woolf is also reflecting on her own mortality, as well as the mortality of everything around her.

At its core, the essay discusses the push and pull of life and death, not in a way that’s necessarily sad, but in a way that is accepting of both. Woolf begins by setting up the transitional fall season, often associated with things coming to an end, and raises the ideas of pleasure, vitality, and pity.

At one point, Woolf tries to help the dying moth, but reconsiders, as it would interfere with the natural order of the world. The moth’s death is part of the natural order of the world, just like fall, just like her own eventual death.

All these themes are set up in the beginning and explored throughout the essay’s narrative. Though Woolf doesn’t directly state her theme, she reinforces it by choosing a small, isolated event—watching a moth die—and illustrating her point through details.

With this essay, we can see that you don’t need a big, weird, exciting event to discuss an important meaning. Woolf is able to explore complicated ideas in a short essay by being deliberate about what details she includes, just as you can be in your own essays.

Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin

On the twenty-ninth of July, in 1943, my father died. On the same day, a few hours later, his last child was born. Over a month before this, while all our energies were concentrated in waiting for these events, there had been, in Detroit, one of the bloodiest race riots of the century. A few hours after my father’s funeral, while he lay in state in the undertaker’s chapel, a race riot broke out in Harlem. On the morning of the third of August, we drove my father to the graveyard through a wilderness of smashed plate glass.

Like Woolf, Baldwin does not lay out his themes in concrete terms—unlike Wallace, there’s no clear sentence that explains what he’ll be talking about. However, you can see the motifs quite clearly: death, fatherhood, struggle, and race.

Throughout the narrative essay, Baldwin discusses the circumstances of his father’s death, including his complicated relationship with his father. By introducing those motifs in the first paragraph, the reader understands that everything discussed in the essay will come back to those core ideas. When Baldwin talks about his experience with a white teacher taking an interest in him and his father’s resistance to that, he is also talking about race and his father’s death. When he talks about his father’s death, he is also talking about his views on race. When he talks about his encounters with segregation and racism, he is talking, in part, about his father.

Because his father was a hard, uncompromising man, Baldwin struggles to reconcile the knowledge that his father was right about many things with his desire to not let that hardness consume him, as well.

Baldwin doesn’t explicitly state any of this, but his writing so often touches on the same motifs that it becomes clear he wants us to think about all these ideas in conversation with one another.

At the end of the essay, Baldwin makes it more clear:

This fight begins, however, in the heart and it had now been laid to my charge to keep my own heart free of hatred and despair. This intimation made my heart heavy and, now that my father was irrecoverable, I wished that he had been beside me so that I could have searched his face for the answers which only the future would give me now.

Here, Baldwin ties together the themes and motifs into one clear statement: that he must continue to fight and recognize injustice, especially racial injustice, just as his father did. But unlike his father, he must do it beginning with himself—he must not let himself be closed off to the world as his father was. And yet, he still wishes he had his father for guidance, even as he establishes that he hopes to be a different man than his father.

In this essay, Baldwin loads the front of the essay with his motifs, and, through his narrative, weaves them together into a theme. In the end, he comes to a conclusion that connects all of those things together and leaves the reader with a lasting impression of completion—though the elements may have been initially disparate, in the end everything makes sense.

You can replicate this tactic of introducing seemingly unattached ideas and weaving them together in your own essays. By introducing those motifs, developing them throughout, and bringing them together in the end, you can demonstrate to your reader how all of them are related. However, it’s especially important to be sure that your motifs and clear and consistent throughout your essay so that the conclusion feels earned and consistent—if not, readers may feel mislead.

5 Key Tips for Writing Narrative Essays

Narrative essays can be a lot of fun to write since they’re so heavily based on creativity. But that can also feel intimidating—sometimes it’s easier to have strict guidelines than to have to make it all up yourself. Here are a few tips to keep your narrative essay feeling strong and fresh.

Develop Strong Motifs

Motifs are the foundation of a narrative essay . What are you trying to say? How can you say that using specific symbols or events? Those are your motifs.

In the same way that an argumentative essay’s body should support its thesis, the body of your narrative essay should include motifs that support your theme.

Try to avoid cliches, as these will feel tired to your readers. Instead of roses to symbolize love, try succulents. Instead of the ocean representing some vast, unknowable truth, try the depths of your brother’s bedroom. Keep your language and motifs fresh and your essay will be even stronger!

Use First-Person Perspective

In many essays, you’re expected to remove yourself so that your points stand on their own. Not so in a narrative essay—in this case, you want to make use of your own perspective.

Sometimes a different perspective can make your point even stronger. If you want someone to identify with your point of view, it may be tempting to choose a second-person perspective. However, be sure you really understand the function of second-person; it’s very easy to put a reader off if the narration isn’t expertly deployed.

If you want a little bit of distance, third-person perspective may be okay. But be careful—too much distance and your reader may feel like the narrative lacks truth.

That’s why first-person perspective is the standard. It keeps you, the writer, close to the narrative, reminding the reader that it really happened. And because you really know what happened and how, you’re free to inject your own opinion into the story without it detracting from your point, as it would in a different type of essay.

Stick to the Truth

Your essay should be true. However, this is a creative essay, and it’s okay to embellish a little. Rarely in life do we experience anything with a clear, concrete meaning the way somebody in a book might. If you flub the details a little, it’s okay—just don’t make them up entirely.

Also, nobody expects you to perfectly recall details that may have happened years ago. You may have to reconstruct dialog from your memory and your imagination. That’s okay, again, as long as you aren’t making it up entirely and assigning made-up statements to somebody.

Dialog is a powerful tool. A good conversation can add flavor and interest to a story, as we saw demonstrated in David Foster Wallace’s essay. As previously mentioned, it’s okay to flub it a little, especially because you’re likely writing about an experience you had without knowing that you’d be writing about it later.

However, don’t rely too much on it. Your narrative essay shouldn’t be told through people explaining things to one another; the motif comes through in the details. Dialog can be one of those details, but it shouldn’t be the only one.

Use Sensory Descriptions

Because a narrative essay is a story, you can use sensory details to make your writing more interesting. If you’re describing a particular experience, you can go into detail about things like taste, smell, and hearing in a way that you probably wouldn’t do in any other essay style.

These details can tie into your overall motifs and further your point. Woolf describes in great detail what she sees while watching the moth, giving us the sense that we, too, are watching the moth. In Wallace’s essay, he discusses the sights, sounds, and smells of the Illinois State Fair to help emphasize his point about its strangeness. And in Baldwin’s essay, he describes shattered glass as a “wilderness,” and uses the feelings of his body to describe his mental state.

All these descriptions anchor us not only in the story, but in the motifs and themes as well. One of the tools of a writer is making the reader feel as you felt, and sensory details help you achieve that.

What’s Next?

Looking to brush up on your essay-writing capabilities before the ACT? This guide to ACT English will walk you through some of the best strategies and practice questions to get you prepared!

Part of practicing for the ACT is ensuring your word choice and diction are on point. Check out this guide to some of the most common errors on the ACT English section to be sure that you're not making these common mistakes!

A solid understanding of English principles will help you make an effective point in a narrative essay, and you can get that understanding through taking a rigorous assortment of high school English classes !

Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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I went to Harvard Business School and the admissions process was intense. Here are 6 things I did that helped me get in.

• Shaifali Aggarwal is a Harvard Business School graduate and CEO of an MBA admissions consulting company.
• She recommends starting on your applications 9 months in advance.
• Aggarwal also says mock interviews and practicing aloud with family members is key to nailing the interview.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Shaifali Aggarwal, a Harvard Business School graduate, and founder and CEO of the boutique MBA admissions consulting company Ivy Groupe.

I took an economics class in high school and loved it. It led me to majoring in economics in college. Going to a top business school was a dream of mine, which was solidified while working in investment banking after college.

I was both anxious and excited as I was going through the MBA application process — but I also knew that if I didn't get in, I could always reapply the following year, so that definitely helped ease the anxiety.  With that thought in mind, I actually started to enjoy the process.

Drawing on my personal experience and strategies to get into Harvard Business School, I work with candidates to help them maximize their chances of gaining admission to the top and most prestigious MBA programs. 

I've also helped clients get into all of the other top MBA programs, including the other M7 schools — Stanford, Wharton, MIT, Columbia, Kellogg, and Booth — as well as the top European programs, including London Business School and INSEAD.

Here are six things I would tell anyone who wants to get into HBS or another top MBA program:

1. Craft an authentic narrative and ask yourself "why" 

The most important factor with respect to being accepted to HBS, which is true for other top MBA programs as well, is being authentic. HBS and other top business schools want to assemble a diverse class of students who can deeply reflect on and share their experiences. Admissions committees want to understand the living person beyond the two-dimensional application.

To differentiate yourself, think about your experiences across multiple facets — personal, extracurricular, academic, and professional — and gain an understanding of what has shaped you, as well as your unique strengths and attributes. Then highlight those qualities through specific examples in your application. 

It helps to provide color and "connect the dots" in your story so that the admissions committee can understand the "why." For example, in my own story when applying to HBS, I had a solid foundation in finance from having majored in economics in college and having worked in investment banking. So I drew upon that foundation to talk about my desire to make the move from the sell-side (investment banking) to the buy-side (investment management) post-MBA, first as an equity analyst and then ultimately as a portfolio manager.

When I applied to HBS, there was an essay question that asked about my post-MBA goals. That's where I provided context on how my love of an economics class in high school had brought me to where I am today, and how it would get me to where I wanted to go in the future.

2. Have clear post-MBA goals 

Post-MBA goals that are vague or too broad can hurt your chances of admission. An example of a post-MBA goal that's both too vague and too broad is: "I would like to start my own company after business school."

In your application, you should be able to clearly state your short-term post-MBA goals, or what you see yourself doing for a few years after graduating from business school. You should also be able to explain your long-term post-MBA goals, or what you see yourself ultimately doing in your career.

These post-MBA goals should be specific and achievable. They should also be credible and build upon what you have done in the past.

For example, my post-MBA goal was to transition to the investment management industry from investment banking. I was part of the financial institutions group (FIG) in investment banking and supported coverage of investment managers, working on M&A transactions with a specific focus on investment management companies.

So my goal of transitioning to the investment management space post-MBA was specific, achievable, and credible. Not only did I have exposure to finance, but I also understood the investment management space well. 

Another example could be transitioning from being a software engineer at a technology company — the technical side — to working in a strategy role at a technology company post-MBA and eventually becoming chief strategy officer at that company — the business side. 

3. Make sure your recommenders have supervised you

I've seen an applicant in an oversubscribed demographic with weaker stats get accepted to HBS because of the extremely strong impact he'd demonstrated in the workplace, which he captured in not only his essays, but also his recommendation letters.

When considering who to ask for recommendations, it's extremely important that your recommenders have supervised you in some capacity, have worked directly with you, and can comment on your work and qualities through the interaction they've had with you. In other words, they should know you well. 

Related stories

The biggest mistake I see is candidates asking someone who is very senior, like the CEO of their company, to write a recommendation letter on their behalf even if that CEO hasn't worked with them directly in any capacity. I've seen this strategy actually backfire. 

I also advise my clients to choose recommenders who'll complement one another, so when viewed together, they provide a holistic picture of their qualities. 

4. Start the MBA application process early 

The MBA application process is a marathon and not a sprint. As a result, it's very difficult to put together quality applications in a very short timeframe. 

HBS attracts so many highly qualified candidates each year that you really can't take the application process lightly. As soon as I knew I wanted to apply to HBS, I took the initiative both in the workplace and in my extracurriculars to go the extra mile. I also took the GMAT as early as possible so that I could 100% focus on my application materials.  

I started working on my HBS application nine months before it was due so I'd have ample time to think through my narrative and how I wanted to present it through the essays. This gave me the opportunity to go through more than one draft of my materials so that when I hit the submit button, I knew I'd put my best foot forward — no regrets. 

Since there's a lot of introspection required to craft your story, I've found that nine months is a great time frame without feeling stressed or rushed. I have clients who started working with me in January for the September deadlines. 

With respect to the application process, you should have a clear idea of what you've done and where you want to go. Think about your past experiences and your post-MBA goals — this will make the application process so much easier. Only after doing this would I then suggest actually delving into each of the application elements: working on your resume, essays, and the short answers for each application as well as guiding your recommenders.

5. During the interview phase, practice and practice and practice 

Don't assume you can "wing it" during your interview. Every single day leading up to my interview, I practiced out loud either by myself or with a family member/friend to make sure that I was comfortable relaying my thoughts.

Go through your resume and application to determine where your interviewer may likely dig further. You should be speaking to students and alums to frame your response as to why an MBA from HBS is imperative for you.

Some areas where an interviewer could dig further include professional gaps in your employment history, understanding short employment stints if you've worked at a company for only a few months, how you've stepped up in your professional roles especially if you are a younger candidate, why you may have worked in different industries, learning more about an extracurricular activity if they're not familiar with it, asking more about the company you're working at if it isn't as well-known such as a start-up, and your thoughts about major industry news or headlines.

HBS interviews are 30 minutes and are conducted by a member of the HBS admissions board. They're typically 1:1 although sometimes there's an observer in addition to the interviewer. Whether there's an observer depends on capacity and logistics, so candidates shouldn't read into the presence of an observer at their interview.

Keep in mind that the HBS interview is not "blind" — in other words, the admissions committee member interviewing you will have read your entire application and will have very pointed questions prepared to ask you.

Recently, my clients have been asked around 15 to 20 questions during their HBS interview. These questions can be about  anything  in your application. They can be behavioral questions, questions related to your industry and post-MBA goals, and even random questions to test your ability to think on your feet — to make sure that you'll be comfortable with the case method at HBS, since one element of that teaching style is being cold called! I've had clients get asked questions like "Walk me through how you would explain a discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis to someone who doesn't have a finance background" or "What about HBS gives you pause?"

Don't try to control the interview agenda — that won't come across well. Don't come across as being perfectly rehearsed, as having self-awareness and being thoughtful can go a long way in the interview.

This interview is truly different from every other MBA interview because of the level of preparation that goes into each one on the part of the interviewer. They will thoroughly know your application. Most other MBA interviews are only based on a candidate's resume and are often conducted by alums. 

6. Nail the post-interview reflection

HBS now also has a post-interview reflection due within 24 hours of the interview where candidates are given the opportunity to do just that — reflect upon the interview. So being able to impactfully convey your thoughts throughout the HBS interview process is critical.

After the interview, it's helpful to write down the questions that you were asked during your interview as you prepare to answer the HBS post-interview prompt.

Last year, the question was "What was the highlight of your interview and why did this resonate with you? Is there anything else you would like to share now that you've had time to reflect on your interview?" Word guidance for the post-interview prompt is 300 to 450 words. 

Through this exercise, HBS is giving you the opportunity to end strong, so you shouldn't take this step lightly. Think of it as a memo after a business meeting. You shouldn't prepare your response prior to the interview, and your response shouldn't be over-polished. 

Some questions to think about to nail your response are "What did you enjoy most about the interview and why?" "Could you have clarified any answers?" and "Are there any aspects of your candidacy that you'd like to share that weren't discussed?" 

As you wrap up, be enthusiastic and leave HBS with a positive feeling about you.

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‘God Help Us’: 12 Writers Rate Biden’s Performance at the First Presidential Debate

← Biden won

Who won the debate?

Trump won →

By New York Times Opinion

Times Opinion asked 12 of our columnists and contributors to watch the presidential debate on Thursday night, assess who won and who lost and distill what stood out to them. They rated the candidates on a scale of 0 to 5: 0 means the night didn’t change anything; 5 means one man triumphed. Here’s what our columnists and contributors thought of the event.

Who won and why

Josh Barro Joe Biden failed at his key task: showing voters he’s still cut out for the presidency. In the first 20 minutes he was especially disastrous: mumbling, at times incoherent, and seeming really, really old. Trump seemed more normal than usual — enough for a clear win.

Jamelle Bouie Well, we had a raspy and stumbling President Biden and a deranged and incoherent Donald Trump, who spent two hours unleashing a stream of lies. Is there a winner here? Nah.

David French Trump won, but not because of Trump. The best that can be said about his comprehensively dishonest performance is that he didn’t seem unhinged. The lower-information voters who are propping up his campaign won’t know how much he lied. Biden lost this debate for a simple reason: He acted his age in a way that can’t be spun and can’t be explained away.

Michelle Goldberg Trump, God help us. He spouted a fire hose of preposterous lies, but Biden was too incoherent to capitalize on any of it. Biden looked ancient and sounded lost. There will now be a new chorus of cries for him to drop out, and I’ll be joining it.

Jean Guerrero Trump. He relied on anti-immigrant hatemongering to cast himself as a defender of Black and brown communities. “They’re taking Black jobs, and they’re taking Hispanic jobs,” he said. It was deceptive and degenerate, but Biden had no strategy against it, and nobody fact-checked Trump. His scapegoating will resonate with many struggling people.

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