faransaa

A junior on these boards, I have already begun (anxiously) awaiting the entire admissions process. As such, I have pondered over beginning my essays. I am soliciting help from any and all CC'ers in aiding me in picking a topic from those listed below, or offering any ideas on how to improve upon these topics. Thanks to all in advance!

1. My struggle with depression, the steps I have taken to overcome it, how it has affected me, grounded me, and lead me to my now mature standing in knowing who I am on a more intrinsic level.

2. Switching schools - how transferring from a competitive public school to an unknown alternative school both helped and helped in hindering me; how it was a stepping stone to truly "finding myself" and discovering my passions; how it pushed me in ways I thought unimaginable; and, I think most importantly, how I learned from others that being different isn't shameful: pride, if not flamboyance in oneself shows courage and the light of humanity.

3. My love of writing - cliche, maybe, to write about one's passions/extracurriculars/strengths, but I believe my deep fervency and ardor of the thing would shine through in my essay. I would write about the doggedness required in starting and finishing a novel, and maybe include an excerpt from my book? Not entirely sure yet.

4. Something more quirky and fun... maybe a screenplay of some sort.

In any case, I presume I would need to include a short essay detailing my transfer and its effects. Would this be helpful (or a necessity?) I would also have my guidance counselor explain the situation in more depth. Any thoughts would be greatly, GREATLY appreciated.

ADad

Search for. choose the topic that will be the most personal, detailed, honest and revealing about you.

If that topic is not the transfer, but you feel the need to discuss the transfer beyond what your GC would say, then consider discussing the transfer in a supplemental essay.

Don't worry about whether other people have written on your topic. One of the best and most memorable essays I've read, and I've read hundreds, was on that very topic, "why I want to be a writer". Your take, your experience can be unique in all history.

It is a great mistake imo to search for that topic, say, gecko racing in Antarctica, that no one else has ever heard of. It's not the topic, it's what you do with the topic.

For good advice on essays, see

U.Va. Office of Admission Essays

faransaa

Thanks, ADad. Any other takers?

asdfjkl1

Do something that expresses who you are. I agree with Adad about it. It's what you do with it. Try your hand at writing a paragraph about each possible topic. And from there, see which one you think is the best..and work at that one.

I think you should do the quirky one. But, ..that's me.

faransaa

I'd love to do the quirky one, but I'm not sure if it would reveal enough about me. Is it a bad idea to talk about depression in an essay? Would it drastically lower my chances of admission?

LACtransferhopes

i briefly talked about my depression in my essays (for transfer).
i'll let you know if i get in anywhere...

ADad

Consider searching CC for "mental illness" or "depression". There are some threads on this topic.

One thing to keep in mind is that the essay, as part of the application, is a sales effort, an effort to gain acceptances. Therefore, the essay overall should be positive about you. Whatever you say in the application must be truthful, but the application need not go into everything, or even every important thing, about you.

Do you feel that talking about depression can contribute to an overall positive-about-you essay?