Help with Essay Topic for Penn

Colleges & Universities University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>So right now I’m trying to decide between two possible essays for the Commonapp, both are written and we’ll say that they are around the same level in terms of writing style and level. So I just want to mostly know about content here.</p>

<p>One of my essays is about a quest for moral perfection I went on where I tried to emulate Ben Franklin’s quest for moral perfection. Another is about my experience tutoring middle school students for free, and then donating proceeds that I got (from generous parents) to the school (totaling about $700). </p>

<p>I was just wondering which of these do you think would be a stronger topic/ would exemplify the qualities Penn values better? I really REALLY love Penn so I would love to get in. I know the quest for moral perfection topic is more unique, but I think the second essay topic also portrays some positive characteristics since I took the initiative to do this for my community. </p>

<p>Thanks in advance for any responses, and good luck to everyone else applying to Penn! (BTW I’m applying to Wharton)</p>

2

<p>It seems to me that these essays would be very easy to blend; moral “perfection” should go hand in hand with generous volunteer work. I’m sure it would also create a more complex and sophisticated essay. I suggest you think about that.</p>

3

<p>Or alternatively, if you choose not to blend them, have you thought about maybe using the moral perfection essay as your pg. 217 essay. It sounds zany enough that it would do well as the optional essay, especially when the common app essay (if it’s the community work one) demonstrates a very humane and generous facet.
(also, loading up the common app essay with references to ben franklin might not be so good an idea if you submit the same common app to other colleges, coz they might notice that you are pandering to Penn…)</p>