menuetto

For my HYP supplementary essays, I have ideas for a list of quirky moments in a week or a script (starrying yours truly). Neither would truly be actual essays. I will definitely submit an actual essay for my personal statement. I'm not sure how far out I can go with something different. I want to demonstrate myself as an actual person with friends and a family that I adore. I think this would be a total sink or float kind of essay. Is the risk worth it? Anyone else thinking of attempting something way out there? Has anyone done it? Did it work?

epidemic

in all my essays i submitted i used a very informal tone and made up my own topics that were about stuff like my idiosyncrasies: why i don't capitilize my name, why i'm obsessed with the number nine, and in general it seemed to work.
i can't say whether HYP schools would enjoy these type of essays because i applied to more creative schools like chicago, bard, and NYU, but if your writing style is unique and you're most comfortable writing in that style then i would encourage you to do so. at least you would know that what you submitted was yourself, and you wouldn't second guess your application if you got rejected.

lubinli

I've always heard that for college app essays, avoid humour unless you can REALLY do it well. So my suggestion is to be unique, but don't go TOO far out (I also heard of one case where the student somehow had the essay written out in mirror-image and sent in a piece of mirror...and it was not a successful story)!

Jenz

I'd say be unconventional if that's who you truly are. "To thine own self, be true!"

musechick2007

My Common App essay was basically about how I grew up with English and Spanish, one eventually taking the place of another, and blahblah. It was kind of like a little soap opera. XD So that one was unconventional. I basically talked about having an affair with one of the languages, too.

My other, college-specific essay was kinda odd too. It was set like a story; I found out I was invisible and then went on to describe what I did during the day (showing my character, hobbies, desires, likes, etc). It dealt with my cultural identity, heritage, and all sorts of good stuff.

My UMich conflict essay was about how little kids are turning into little prostitots. I talked about Barbies, Bratz, the media, family values, and such, in a sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek kind of way.

With those, I got in at every place I applied. Brown, UChicago, Cornell, Swarthmore, UMich, and BostonU.

-Lurker-

when you're going to submit an unconventional essay, it is always going to be a risk. The crap-shoot idea comes into mind when you're submitting this essay ... if on that certain day the admissions officer reading your essay is in a really good mood, sure your humor will work, but it might not work the next day when his kid came down with the flu.

If you can pull off an unconventional, original essay, you're pretty much set as long as your stats are reasonably in-range.

juxtaposn

I wrote about Ping Ping Diplomacy on the common app and about giant squid on my Cornell essay.

babeexphat

im first writing as if it's the first time im losing my virginity..

then it goes to describe my job as a tv show host.

do u think.. i shouldnt do this???

tito_08

wow...that sounds like quite a hit-or-miss, babee :P

screwitlah

has anyone written about believing in aliens before? MY friend's dead set on it, but I think it's highly on the paranormal side. I like risks, but isn't that too risky?