I know NOTHING about admissions essays. Help!?

College Essays
1

<p>I’m working on finishing my second college application. My first one didn’t require an essay, but this one does. </p>

<p>Honestly, I’m completely freaked out by this. I’m a fairly decent writer. I’ve gotten all As on my papers throughout high school with the only exception being a B on a rhetorical analysis of Julius Caesar my sophomore year.</p>

<p>I’ve narrowed my essay topics down to two possible options. I can’t decide which one would be the best to write on. What are your thoughts:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Those we call great will usually point to some failure in their lives as a pivotal moment leading them to their successful path. Tell us about a time in your life when failure, not success, spurred you on to do something you may not have otherwise done.</p></li>
<li><p>Tell us about the most significant person, experience, or circumstance which has shaped your life thus far. How has it influenced your character? How might you use what you have learned from it to achieve your goals and ambitions?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Also, what is appropriate for these essays? What is not appropriate? What are the general “rules” for admissions essays?</p>

2

<p>Bump? Any advice is appreciated.</p>

3

<p>Not being you or knowing anything about your experiences, we can’t really gear you in any particular direction.</p>

4

<p>You’re asking us “Which CommonApp prompt is best?”</p>

<p>You need to be asking which of your essay ideas (the prompts to which they are responding are Totally Irrelevant) is better.</p>

5

<p>Which one do you feel you would be able to provide information for? Practice writing things down. Look at some essays on the internet to get a feel for them. Do you have any old journal/diary entries? Those helped me when I started my applications. Good luck!</p>

6

<p>Which prompt you choose should depend on which particular life experience best translates into an essay that shows self awareness and maturity.</p>