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How do I know what to write my college essay on?
I'm a senior in high school and I haven't had any big events happen to me. I feel like my essay will be boring compared to my peers, so how can I start?
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Patrick’s Answer
Feeling unsure about your college essay is perfectly normal, particularly if you haven't encountered any significant, life-altering experiences. However, bear in mind that the essay's objective isn't to spotlight a dramatic incident, but to provide a glimpse into your personality and thought processes. A compelling college essay often stems from introspection on personal experiences, values, or obstacles, regardless of their size.
To kick-start, concentrate on your hobbies, fervor, or even an impactful experience that, although not remarkable in the conventional sense, profoundly influenced you. Ponder over instances where you discovered something about yourself or developed specific traits like resilience, leadership, or empathy. For instance, you might have triumphed over a personal hurdle, or maybe you've engaged in a pastime, voluntary work, or a job that helped mold your viewpoint. The crux is to be genuine and introspective—colleges are on the lookout for your true voice and self-comprehension.
Initiate by brainstorming experiences that might appear mundane but have sculpted your character or ignited growth. Subsequently, interrogate yourself: What did I gain from this? How did it transform me? How does it connect to my ambitions and the type of student I aspire to be in college? In the end, a considerate essay that displays your self-awareness, maturity, and capacity for growth will strike a chord with admissions officers, even if the event itself seems unassuming compared to others.
To kick-start, concentrate on your hobbies, fervor, or even an impactful experience that, although not remarkable in the conventional sense, profoundly influenced you. Ponder over instances where you discovered something about yourself or developed specific traits like resilience, leadership, or empathy. For instance, you might have triumphed over a personal hurdle, or maybe you've engaged in a pastime, voluntary work, or a job that helped mold your viewpoint. The crux is to be genuine and introspective—colleges are on the lookout for your true voice and self-comprehension.
Initiate by brainstorming experiences that might appear mundane but have sculpted your character or ignited growth. Subsequently, interrogate yourself: What did I gain from this? How did it transform me? How does it connect to my ambitions and the type of student I aspire to be in college? In the end, a considerate essay that displays your self-awareness, maturity, and capacity for growth will strike a chord with admissions officers, even if the event itself seems unassuming compared to others.
Updated
Neha’s Answer
Hi Christine,
Everyone is special and unique in their own life experiences. Essay writing surely is an art of telling stories, sharing thoughts and experiences. It is really fun and special activity if you think all those moments that makes you happy and cry sometimes and give you an opportunity to showcase your personality in various ways.
You need to decide how you want to approach this activity as there are many more type of essay's and what you want to accomplished at the end of your story. There are various types of essays with creative, dramatic, generic, societal and many more. Essay can be written about incident, persons, characters, narratives, general moments or something that intrigue which you learned from experiences. Essays need not be about big events. It can be really about small event which help readers understand what is your thoughts behind actions and experiences. It can even be small like "Waiting for school bus everyday" !
Drafting Essay :
- Subject : Start thinking about subject or focus of essay. Is it about moment? or general idea about life? or what is your perspective about the subject you want explain to readers? Eg. for above simple subject, you can share real life experiences about how the waiting for bus is special moment for you or struggle of morning behind it with family. How busy morning is and how it teach you to be organized. You can be creative on stories about friends, family and how professionally and personally it teach you while growing up all these years. How excited or lazy sometime to catch a bus but at the end going to school is essential and how it is important and special for you in your life. Similar to this example, you can draft any of your ideas and reasons to reflect your personality in unique way.
Essay Format:
Writing essay is based on language tactics. Think about it as reading story book of one page where you have introduction, middle story or climax and end where you conclude the findings. It can be simple as :
- Initiation: It can be dialog, story behind the moment, or just a paragraph about background
- Middle : More about story and how you struggle or overcome your fears or anything that event is continued from past
- End : At the end, what your thoughts are and learning from experiences.
Here are some link for referrals :
https://tetw.org/Greats
https://www.engeniuslearning.com/blog/5_Types_Essays_Every_High_School_Student_Needs_Know_Easy_Tips_How_Write
Hope this answer helps.
Everyone is special and unique in their own life experiences. Essay writing surely is an art of telling stories, sharing thoughts and experiences. It is really fun and special activity if you think all those moments that makes you happy and cry sometimes and give you an opportunity to showcase your personality in various ways.
You need to decide how you want to approach this activity as there are many more type of essay's and what you want to accomplished at the end of your story. There are various types of essays with creative, dramatic, generic, societal and many more. Essay can be written about incident, persons, characters, narratives, general moments or something that intrigue which you learned from experiences. Essays need not be about big events. It can be really about small event which help readers understand what is your thoughts behind actions and experiences. It can even be small like "Waiting for school bus everyday" !
Drafting Essay :
- Subject : Start thinking about subject or focus of essay. Is it about moment? or general idea about life? or what is your perspective about the subject you want explain to readers? Eg. for above simple subject, you can share real life experiences about how the waiting for bus is special moment for you or struggle of morning behind it with family. How busy morning is and how it teach you to be organized. You can be creative on stories about friends, family and how professionally and personally it teach you while growing up all these years. How excited or lazy sometime to catch a bus but at the end going to school is essential and how it is important and special for you in your life. Similar to this example, you can draft any of your ideas and reasons to reflect your personality in unique way.
Essay Format:
Writing essay is based on language tactics. Think about it as reading story book of one page where you have introduction, middle story or climax and end where you conclude the findings. It can be simple as :
- Initiation: It can be dialog, story behind the moment, or just a paragraph about background
- Middle : More about story and how you struggle or overcome your fears or anything that event is continued from past
- End : At the end, what your thoughts are and learning from experiences.
Here are some link for referrals :
https://tetw.org/Greats
https://www.engeniuslearning.com/blog/5_Types_Essays_Every_High_School_Student_Needs_Know_Easy_Tips_How_Write
Hope this answer helps.
Updated
Martha’s Answer
Hi, Christine, I hope that you feel the support and encouragement already given to you. I have helped several students with their college essays
and agree that an interesting essay does not depend on a "big" event. Instead, an interesting essay demonstrates a thoughtful and genuine perspective. More thoughts:
- The point of the Common Ap essay is to show more about your personality and values than the college/university sees from other sources. That's why the event or conflict itself you describe is less important.
- Online essay tips often include being creative and starting with a hook. While that is fine advice, it is secondary to showing admission officers why they should admit you.
- If you mention a setback or obstacle, show what you learned from it or how you overcame it
- It may be difficult but keep the focus on you. For example, if you are writing about a beloved relative, focus on how they influenced your view or behavior, not their life history.
- Give yourself time for multiple drafts of the essay and supplements. If possible, show to someone who doesn't know you so well to see how they interpret them.
While the college admissions process can be nerve-wracking, finding your own voice in essays can be very fulfilling. Good luck!
and agree that an interesting essay does not depend on a "big" event. Instead, an interesting essay demonstrates a thoughtful and genuine perspective. More thoughts:
- The point of the Common Ap essay is to show more about your personality and values than the college/university sees from other sources. That's why the event or conflict itself you describe is less important.
- Online essay tips often include being creative and starting with a hook. While that is fine advice, it is secondary to showing admission officers why they should admit you.
- If you mention a setback or obstacle, show what you learned from it or how you overcame it
- It may be difficult but keep the focus on you. For example, if you are writing about a beloved relative, focus on how they influenced your view or behavior, not their life history.
- Give yourself time for multiple drafts of the essay and supplements. If possible, show to someone who doesn't know you so well to see how they interpret them.
While the college admissions process can be nerve-wracking, finding your own voice in essays can be very fulfilling. Good luck!
Updated
Nancy’s Answer
Start by not comparing yourself to others. Everyone’s experiences are different. You are just as important as everyone else and your story deserves to be heard.
If you haven’t already I would say Google what a college essay all includes. If you already done that and just need ideas then think about what you’re passionate about. When did you realize you were passionate about it. Why did you continue to pursue that. What did you do to get better at the thing you were passionate about.
You can also include what made you become the person you are today. Your family? Friends? What values did they teach you? Who do you idolize and why? How did your idol inspire you to become the person you are today or want to become in the future.
The ideas I can give you are endless and I can see why you might feel a bit burdened when you think your experiences aren’t as exciting. But colleges aren’t looking for who has a better life, better events or experiences. They’re looking for a genuinely good person who is authentic and has the drive to be and do better. I hope my advice helped!
If you haven’t already I would say Google what a college essay all includes. If you already done that and just need ideas then think about what you’re passionate about. When did you realize you were passionate about it. Why did you continue to pursue that. What did you do to get better at the thing you were passionate about.
You can also include what made you become the person you are today. Your family? Friends? What values did they teach you? Who do you idolize and why? How did your idol inspire you to become the person you are today or want to become in the future.
The ideas I can give you are endless and I can see why you might feel a bit burdened when you think your experiences aren’t as exciting. But colleges aren’t looking for who has a better life, better events or experiences. They’re looking for a genuinely good person who is authentic and has the drive to be and do better. I hope my advice helped!
Updated
Éverton’s Answer
Hello Christine! Remember, your life is one-of-a-kind, crafted by your own hands. Be cautious when you measure your progress against others. It's easy to think the grass is greener on the other side! As you reflect on your own life, I encourage you to identify your interests and passionately pursue them. You are the primary architect of your life, while others merely assist you along the way. No matter what, don't let others dictate your journey. Stay strong, take care, and continue on your wonderful path!
Updated
Sophie’s Answer
Here's a more encouraging version of your text:
Remember this golden rule: never measure your worth by comparing yourself with others. Your essay should be a mirror reflecting your unique personality. Start with the simple things you enjoy. What's your top pick for a movie, TV show, sports team, or book? Who's your most admired celebrity, beloved cartoon character, or favourite late night TV host? Once you've identified something you're passionate about, explore why it holds such significance for you. Yes, it can be daunting to write down thoughts that might influence your college admission, but try to see it as an opportunity to share what makes you, you. While many tend to write about big events that often sound repetitive, you have the chance to stand out by letting your voice echo your individuality.
Ask yourself what things you like
Make a list of your favourites
Think about how that thing makes you, you
Write about you and the thing/object/person
Remember this golden rule: never measure your worth by comparing yourself with others. Your essay should be a mirror reflecting your unique personality. Start with the simple things you enjoy. What's your top pick for a movie, TV show, sports team, or book? Who's your most admired celebrity, beloved cartoon character, or favourite late night TV host? Once you've identified something you're passionate about, explore why it holds such significance for you. Yes, it can be daunting to write down thoughts that might influence your college admission, but try to see it as an opportunity to share what makes you, you. While many tend to write about big events that often sound repetitive, you have the chance to stand out by letting your voice echo your individuality.
Sophie recommends the following next steps: