Essay Topic that "Sucks Up"?

College Essays
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>Over this past summer, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend Stanford’s Summer College program and while there, had a truly positive experience. I don’t want to call it life changing for fear of sounding cliche, but it did make a significant impact on me.</p>

<p>That being said, I would like to use it as the topic for my common app essay to Stanford and possibly other schools. </p>

<p>My question is this: would Stanford see this topic as an attempt by me to try to suck up to them and would they consequently think less of me after reading it? I genuinely did have experiences while there that I believe could make a worthy essay, but I’m just not sure how the admissions committee would respond, regardless of the sincerity of my words.
Also, would this make a good topic for other, non-Stanford schools? I’m afraid that other schools may think poorly of my decision because I chose to attend Stanford’s summer program and not theirs.</p>

<p>Please let me know what you think and thank you all in advance.</p>

2

<p>Well it has to be justified. If you can adequately reason that whatever you did during this summer school genuinely changed you, and provide in-depth examples as to how, then by all means write about it. If you can’t say anything except how nice it was or whatever, then don’t.</p>

<p>That’s a good question that’s actually made me realise – why do you have to name the university? Why can’t it start off something like “During [time] I went to summer school to learn [thing] and it was a very positive experience.” Then you get rid of both issues right off the bat.</p>

3

<p>So the essay is supposed to tell more about YOU than about the program. I agree, keep the name of the college out of the essay. You want to “show”, not tell. So talking about a specific experience that changed your perception or outlook is good. If you have to put “Stanford” in it, then you probably aren’t looking at it the right way to start with.</p>