Way Far Out There, Totally Unique, Automatic Acceptance Essay

JBVirtuoso · 08-02-2007, 10:43 PM

Does anyone know how to do this? This is for essays that don't have to be about a particular topic. Rather than rattling off 300 words about my ECs, what's a better way to make adcoms spit out their coffee? I know this approach really works on lots of things, so it probably works for college essays, too.

Should I write about how I like to punch buttons on a calculator for fun? Or how I stand at the screen and flick it so the bugs on the outside fall off? Or how everyone at Wal-Mart looks like they just crawled out of bed?

Has anyone done the totally rad essay thing? Results?

1MX · 08-02-2007, 10:51 PM

automatic rejection essay more like it. If they ask you for an EC don't give them that junk. You make an impression by the content, not the subject.

theonenonlynat · 08-02-2007, 11:01 PM

I'm really not sure about this, I guess it's up to you! If this is a great part of your personality, and you feel the need to show it then by all means do so. I went to a information session about admissions at a college and one of the deans said "I look at it this way...there are three essays, if an applicant wants to do something crazy with one of them, they have two others to balance it out." Just make sure not ALL of your essays are completely koo-koo, and try to have a point to it. Good luck!

1MX · 08-02-2007, 11:03 PM

You simply don't need to write an outrageous essay if you are a talented enough writer.

ADad · 08-02-2007, 11:51 PM

"Automatic acceptance" is neither a realistic goal nor a good way to approach the essay.

I've read hundreds of essays, and I've only read one that I would consider to be an "automatic acceptance". That essay, by the way, was on a rather "common" topic, not on an off-the-wall idea that doesn't hold up under scrutiny.

A good essay improves your chances, that is the goal imo. Take the essays seriously and don't try to find a short cut through the overall process.

Collegekid12 · 08-02-2007, 11:54 PM

Please write an essay about how you stand at the screen and flick it so the bugs on the outside wall fall off and PM it to me. Thanks.

SmileDarling · 08-02-2007, 11:57 PM

Well, didn't frrrpphh (can't remember exactly how to spell it, sorry) write a totally non-conformist essay and get into Yale? You might want to PM her.

JBVirtuoso · 08-05-2007, 06:55 PM

Perhaps my examples were a little off. But doesn't everyone write about ECs, how their volunteering helped them, or how they still managed to get a B in AP Chem the semester Grandma died? I'm not really looking to write about the smallest little details of life, but I don't see any advantages in writing the same thing everyone else does. My writing talents are probably debatable on CC, but my teachers have told me I'm an exceptional writer (no way to verify how serious they were).

The essay must, of course, have a very positive attitude. The Wal-Mart thing probably isn't a good topic for anyone applying to college. There must be some way to write a non-conformist essay that still has a point and shows that I'm a strong applicant.

whirlybird · 08-05-2007, 08:15 PM

JB, I really am with you on this. All the essays I have read are so...dull. They are all about the same things and they sound uncomfortable, like people were just writing what they thought they should.

If you think you have the skills to handle it, I say GO FOR IT. I promise nothing about automatic acceptance, but writing an essay about something that you really enjoy is a great idea, because the reader will feel your enjoyment of the topic. Plus, they must get really sick and tired of the same old things every day. I mean, I would laugh my head off reading an essay about the wonders of calculator punching (I do it too).

I might even suggest connecting multiple little topics like that, if you could find a way to string them together. What better way to show the adcoms that you are inventive and unique?

Collegekid12 · 08-05-2007, 11:57 PM

No, your topics weren't off; I would really want to read an essay about flicking a screen so the bugs on the wall fall off. Please write it and PM it to me. Thanks.

Christopher546 · 08-06-2007, 01:25 AM

The best way to find out is to try. So far I've written about six essays in an attempt to see what works and what doesn't. Some topics sound awful but turn out great and vice versa. Experiment, and if you ever write that bug essay, PM it to me as well. Sounds interesting.