Essay topics applicants should NEVER write about

llpitch
Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:35:27 +0000

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/stanford-university/525549-advice-admissions-officer-who-admitted-me-hs-students.html

This is the topic curious77 is talking about.

*Second, we asked him what the biggest turn off in an application would be. He said if he ever read any essay that seemed closed minded or bigoted in any way he just threw it out. I know this seems like common sense, but I’ve read essays where this came across completely unintentionally. I had a friend that was an Irish step dancer write about how much she loved being Irish, but it came across as though she thought Irish people were better than everyone else. Luckily we fixed it before she sent it off and she got into her dream school. The admissions officer’s example was if someone was a Democrat and in their roommate essay made it clear that they wouldn’t want a Republican roommate because they care so much about Democratic values that they couldn’t live in the same room. I’m sure that student was trying to show passion, but also ended up sounding like he was not tolerant of Republicans. Basically, have someone read your essay before you send it off so you don’t have any unintended meaning in your essay that you don’t want.
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