Too Serious essay? What are your Opinions? (Quest Bridge)

College Essays
1

Hello, for the second essay in the questbridge application one of the prompt choices is

-What do you admire most about your community? What would you improve?

The city I live in is a very liberal city that is open to LGBT and known as a hippy/hipster like place. This city also has a one of the largest sex trafficking rings in the united states.

I am thinking of doing an essay where at first I describe 15 year old me, someone who was able to grow up in an open city accepting of my transgender brother and Bi self and how I was/am able to explore myself without shame but with freedom and how I admire that about my city. But then transition to talking about how 15 is also the average age for victims of child sex trafficking in my city and how much this is an issue that needs to be changed. (I want to be a psych/neuroscience major so I can also tie in how I want to study the effects it has on a person’s mind and maybe make a difference in my career, I don’t know if I will include that though)

I know a lot about the sex-trafficking issue here, I did a research project on it. I think I can write a well-written essay. My only concern is that it might be more serious than the prompt intended. I am a more serious person though so I do not necessarily see that as a bad thing. If it hurts my chances (Questbridge schools see all QuestBridge essays) I will try to pick a different topic.

Thoughts?

2

I think a serious topic is fine (like I’m writing about an extremely divisive political issue) but you have to make sure that it’s personal and that the admissions get to know you as a person, not just an information report on the issue. I’d try to keep the personal aspects in the limelight and just drop a few hints here and there so that they understand that you have an awareness of the issue. Show, not tell :slight_smile:

3

@blu5959 Thank you! I appreciate the input. I think I will write the essay and If I don’t end up liking how the first draft or two is going I can always just change the topic.