<p>Mmm, something about this thread rubs me the wrong way:</p>
<p>
It kind of DOES sound like you’re bragging here. I grew up in one of the most affluent zip codes in the country and every single one of my peers found something meaningful to write about in their essays–I really don’t see how being “privileged” has anything to do with writer’s block, unless you feel like sharing it. See how I just mentioned that? Was that really necessary? No, right? </p>
<p>Nobody has to craft a compelling sob story to get into college. The whole point of these essays are to demonstrate your interest in the school, your own interests, and how these fit together. Many people write about their extracurricular activities or family members or experiences. Sorry if my previous statements rankle you–just wanted to point out that your writing might come off in a different direction than you intended. </p>
<p>Good luck! </p>
I PM’d you, but I definitely think it’s better to wait until you’re a senior to compose the essay. You will have more life experiences that you can put into the essay. And it will probably sound more mature.
You shouldn’t feel obligated to talk about adversity. Talk about what it is you enjoy or something that’s important to you.
Are you involved in any extracurricular activities? I wrote about being content in my school’s Little Theatre where I discovered acting, music, and many different friendships. This was my junior year. I’m not sure I would have had any significant experiences to write about my freshman and sophomore year. Maybe you do. I agree with ilovethecity; you should wait at least until the summer between junior and senior year to start working on your essays.
I consider myself “privileged;” I’m a middle-class white male. I’m gay but I haven’t really faced any adversity because of that. I believe I still wrote a compelling essay, even if it wasn’t about a hardship I’ve faced.
I think having never been out of doors might make for quite a compelling essay. Try that angle!
DO NOT under any circumstances try to force out adversity. People are telling you to write about how hard it is to be home schooled, BUT DON’T! You seem as if home schooling doesn’t affect you on a personal level, don’t try to fake it. I made that mistake with my earlier essays; I tried to write about something that I thought was compelling, but in reality it didn’t even affect me. It’ll show in your essays, I promise you. You should also remember that these are ACADEMIC institutions. Although a story about eating your first kit kat may seem interesting to an adcom, is it really something to base an admission off of?
Reading the little you have shared, it sounds like your parents are fairly controlling - they control your schooling, your diet, etc. I’m not being critical, just making an observation, but I think that might lend itself to a good essay. Did you ever rebel against that? Are you looking forward to eating ice cream in college or do you think you will continue to follow the disciplined life style that they raised you with? Do you have a sibling and, if so, has he/she responded the same way to your parents’ influence? Do they parent the same way that they were parented or have they chosen a very different path for you than how they were raised? How does someone who is homeschooled develop interests in linguistics and CGI? Do you engage a lot with online communities and forums because of these interests and the fact that you are not in a traditional school? These are just questions that I had and would be interested in learning more about so one of them might make good jumping off points for an essay.
First, I just want to point out that you’re only 14. You have SO much time to prepare these college admissions essays that I think time would be better spent focusing on your current academics rather than worrying about this. I’m really one to talk though- I mean at your age I was doing the same thing. But still. The difference between you now at at 14 and you at 17 when you apply to college will be HUGE. And let me stress that… HUGE. Looking back at how I acted and how I looked at the world at 14 compared to now at 17 is astonishing really. Those 3 years are a crazy time of growth. So what you would perhaps want to write a college essay about now could and probably will change by the time you’re 17 and actually applying to college. In fact, by the time you’re 17 maybe something extremely significant and life altering may have happened in your life that sparks an idea for an essay. Who knows.
My point is, right now it’s a little ridiculous to be thinking of this. However, if I really had to assess what you should write your essay about with the info given, I’d maybe suggest what it was like growing up w a super strict conservative family from the sounds of it? Do you not feel a part of that? Do you feel like living in such a secluded environment you were robbed of a lot of growth and experiences you may have had otherwise?
Contrary to common belief, the adcoms who read your admissions essays are well aware that you ARE only 17 at the time you write your essay and they are completely aware that most 17 year olds will have not cured cancer or had some horrific experience happen to them that shaped them into the person they are today. Although it may not seem like it, most the kids you’ll be going up against at MIT will have been just has privileged- if not more so- as you have been so fortunate to be growing up. All the adcoms want to see is YOU in the essay, whether that be as significant as a death of a family member to the fact you were deprived of ice cream your whole life. Just write what feels right.