Need help deciding between a few essay topics

collegemom3717
Tue, 06 Sep 2022 18:35:40 +0000

First person essays are much much harder to write than most people (of any age) realize.

Back up and look at the purpose of the essay, in the context of your overall application. When an AO opens your file, they will probably spend 5-10 minutes reading it. In that time they have to:

1. check out your stats (GPA, test scores), in context (the rigor of your courseload, how you stand relative to your class) to get a sense of what sort of academic student you are;

2. look at your ECs: what do you spend your time on, what can be inferred about you from your participation in those ECs, and what sort of a member of your community/ies you are;

3. read your three LoRs (GC, 2 teachers), to see what sort of a person you are to the academic people in your life; and

4. with all of that info. read your essays to see what they can learn about you. Your essays are the place where you can fill in the gaps (parts of you that don’t show in the other sections) and/or link together different aspects of you to give a better, richer big picture of you.

So, start by thinking about the schools you care about the most- the ones you think are truly the best fit for you and where you are going. What do you want them to know about you, that they won’t already know (or might not realize) from the other parts of your app? If you had the Dean of Admissions in an elevator, what would say to convince them that you are a great fit for their college before you get to their floor? Can you think of an anecdote about you that shows that trait? Start there. If referencing your Dad makes sense in context, great- but lead with what it shows about you.

Remember that- unless you are applying to a direct entry major- the AO’s really don’t care about the “what” of what you say you want to do. You won’t impress them by your bona fides on why you are interested in addiction medicine: they know that a very high % of applicants change their goals within the first year of college (and they are fine with that! broadening your horizons is a lot of what first year is about). What they will be looking for is some sense of you, as a person with ideas and goals, who will be a positive addition to the college community.