Are these okay essay topics?

Applying to College
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<p>So I just had my junior college meeting, and I'll be applying this fall to colleges. But I'd like to start my essays this summer.</p>

<p>As for my common app essay(s), I was wondering if these would be good ideas:</p>

<p>1) I have Tourette's Syndrome. When I was younger, my parents never told me that I actually had it, because they didn't want me to feel bad. So growing up, I just thought I was weird and different, and my embarrassment led to (somehow; I still have no idea) basically self-CBIT (therapy to manage it). I managed to figure out ways to reduce the noticeability of it/hide it. I was entirely ashamed of my Tourette's, and because of this, I didn't tell anyone and tried to cover it up. When people would make jokes about Tourette's (like how people casually make fun of homosexuals and the mentally retarded) I would laugh along so it wouldn't look like I had anything to hide. I became successful to the point where unless told about it, no one knew that I had it.</p>

<p>A couple of years ago, my younger brother was diagnosed with pretty severe Tourette's (he's 7 years younger). Not only did the medicine he took make him gain an inordinate amount of weight, but his tics were still bad enough that he was teased for being both a "freak" for tic-ing and because he was overweight from his medications. As I watched all of this happen to him, I realized that I could no longer laugh at Tourette's jokes or be ashamed of it. If I was ashamed of it, I'd be setting an example for him that we should be ashamed for something we can't control. And if I laugh at a joke, I'm essentially laughing at not only myself, but my little brother as well. Through this experience, I came to realize that Tourette's is a part of me and it makes me who I am. Yes, I've had to overcome quite a few obstacles in my social life and in school because of it, but it has ultimately made me a stronger person.</p>

<p>--> So that essay will obviously be much more well-put together. However, I worry that colleges (I'm applying to many Ivy League schools and upper tiers) will see my Tourette's as a liability (even though I'll be sure to stress my ability to "cover it up") and won't accept me because of that. Anyone have any experience with a similar circumstance?</p>

<p>2) I've always had an extremely overactive imagination. Whereas most kids have an imaginary friend when they are little, by the age of 2, I had an entire imaginary island with a family of my own that lived there. I used to crawl into my sister's closet, hide behind the clothing, and switch on the light, and then I could "travel" to my island. As I grew up, my imagination continued to grow. From building Leprechaun hotels every year with my friends and <em>swearing</em> we could see them coming, to pretending to be witches with the same friends and again <em>swearing</em> we could see that pot over there move when one of us waved our wand, to pretending to be secret spies with code names (we even called the cops on a bunch of teenagers because we <em>swore</em> they must not have been old enough to own that car), I was always coming up with new ideas and making my friends join in. </p>

<p>Then, middle school came. Suddenly, all the kids who had played pretend with me were too "mature" and/or "cool" to play imaginary games. I was devastated, until I realized that I could write my imaginary ideas down on paper and act it out in my own head. I would create new worlds and scenarios and escape my troubles in life. Thus, my love for creative writing was born. Since then, I've further "honed my talent," so to speak, and continue to write creative stories as often as I can.</p>

<p>--> again, going to be in more of an essay format. basically just a way of describing how my passion for creative writing came about (though I'm not planning to go to school for that...)</p>

<p>SO. Any feedback? Are these okay? Should I scrap them and come up with totally new ideas? As I said, I'm applying to some really tough schools, so will these cut it? Will I stand out <em>at all</em>, or will I just be another face in the pile if I use these essays? </p>

<p>Thanks in advance for any and all feedback!</p>

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<p>At every info session we have attended on college visits, the adm person has said the essay is their oppportunity to find out about you personally, so I think your essay topics are spot on. Also, I don’t think there is a “wrong” topic on the common app since it says topic of your choice. Although, I don’t think they’d be interested in an essay that features a bf or gf. :wink: Good Luck! I’m sure your essay will be awesome!</p>

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<p>I think you could go with either of these topics and write a successful essay. Personally, I am more drawn to the first one. I think it reveals more about you and will have a greater impact. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Topic is secondary to the ability to reveal yourself. Read this</p>

<p>[Essays</a>, Admission Information, Undergraduate Admission, U.Va.](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html]Essays”>http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html)</p>

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<p>@gluckie thanks. (: It’s so hard because some people say “write a humorous anecdote,” while some say “no, write a sad sob story,” while yet others say that stories of difficulties are boring cliches. I just hope that the admissions counselors don’t lead us astray when they say nothing is “wrong.” (Though I can’t imagine anyone actually writing about a bf or gf. That’s probably one instance where, unless done reeeally well, could come as close to “wrong” as possible)</p>

<p>@tuftsalum12 I, too, am more drawn to the first one. It definitely reveals something so essential to who I am. However, though I think I can definitely add a lot of voice to either one, I know the second will end up much more light-hearted. So I guess if I do end up choosing between these two, I’ll essentially be picking between dramatic and humorous. </p>

<p>@T26E4 Thanks!!! That was so helpful to read; I’ll definitely keep all of that in mind!</p>

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<p>(bump) This has almost 100 views, yet only 3 responses. I’d really appreciate any feedback/criticism, even if it’s only 1 sentence!</p>

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<p>Wow, if I were an adcom, I’d really enjoy reading those essay. I think your topics are spot on for what they want, i.e insight into who you are other than quantifiable stats. Good job and good luck!</p>

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<p>@alisyn thanks (: I saw you have a post about your essay topic too. I’ll go take a look at it and let you know my opinion.</p>

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<p>…bumpity bump bump</p>

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<p>While any topic can work if done well, I think the second is the most immediately interesting. You want to reveal your self to the adcom, not just something about you (your Tourettes, for instance, or one of your ECs). </p>

<p>This from someone who wrote her Common App essay about getting lost in my car/what a bad idea it was to take Chem.</p>

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<p>bump because I’m procrastinating reading 3 books, writing an essay, a research paper, and studying for 2 APs and 3 SAT IIs right now even though I only have one more day of break to do all this… lol yay procrastination!</p>

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<p>I think that your first topic stands out a lot more than the second. Just my humble opinion.</p>

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<p>I like the 2nd one, maybe because I have an overactive imagination as well.</p>

<p>But like someone said above me, stories about someones difficulties seems like it’s been used soo much but hey what do I know.</p>

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<p>The personal essay is really a place to reveal something about your character or personality that the adcom’s can’t see elsewhere. There are definitely “wrong” essay choices, but if you keep the essay focused on who you are NOW (perhaps contrasting it with who you were recently) you should be OK.</p>

<p>Here’s my concern with the second essay topic - I don’t think adcoms want to know about your mental life when you were in elementary school, and they will presumably be able to tell (from the rest of your application) that you like creative writing. Talking about the origin of an interest you’ve had for the last 5 years is not that compelling. If you write about this one, the “historical” aspect should be a minor part of the essay. The bulk of the essay should be about why you like creative writing NOW, what it allows you to do NOW, how it helps define you as a person NOW, etc.</p>

<p>I’ll say the same thing about the first one, but to a lesser extent. I was touched by your insight that you were laughing at yourself, and I think that in that one sentence you reveal a character trait that colleges appreciate. To do this essay well you will clearly need to fill in the historical background, but the powerful part of the story is your revelation and the impact that it has had on the person you are today and will be in college.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t worry too much about a college seeing your Tourettes as a liability. It might be a good idea if at least one of your letters of recommendation address the issue, saying that you are not distracting, that you are not limited by your condition, etc. </p>

<p>As a final thought, when you are talking of yourself in the present, I might find a different way to talk about how you can “cover it up.” That makes it sound like you are trying to hide it, which suggests that there is something worth hiding. I think when you talk about yourself before your insight, terms like “cover it up” are appropriate. But to talk about yourself now, I think terms like “manage” are better.</p>

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<p>@Got2BeGreen thanks for the detailed response! Good idea about “manage” vs “cover up” …as for liability, I think only my guidance counselor will address that in her letter, because my teachers actually don’t know. We never told the administration so it’s not in my records. When my guidance counselor found out last week, she was shocked, but realized it explained some things like ADHD, OCD etc (though those won’t be disclosed to colleges). So yeah, I’m just hoping it won’t be a turn-off factor for adcoms, which if my essay and guidance counselor rec are done “correctly,” will be less likely. Thanks again!</p>

<p>@giatns4210 and @SharonSUNY thanks for the input! (:</p>

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<p>I’m pretty impressed that your teachers aren’t aware of your Tourette’s.</p>

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<p>@glassesarechic yeah, like I said, I hid it (self-CBIT before i even knew what CBIT was lol). A clenching of fists was passed off as “oh I’m just mad about something from earlier.” A bouncing leg was “just my nerves about a test later.” Convulsions in my knee were “just muscle spasms because I pulled a muscle yesterday.” People can be oblivious; they don’t focus on little things in another person’s life if given an explanation because they are too focused on their own. ;P</p>

<p>For all I know, some may have had their suspicions, but I played it off well enough and managed to compensate and do well in class so it wasn’t a big concern and they ignored it.</p>

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<p>I like second one more. It shows intellectual curiosity, whatever that may be. and might even show how awesomely you are able to picture everything, which helps you immensely in academics.
first one is very mature too, but doesn’t it seem like everyone writes something like this, i.e. overcoming adversty, either physical or psycological?
Still, if you really believe you can pull off the first one without being just another brick in the wall, who am I to tell you otherwise?</p>

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<p>Wow this is so helpful but at the same time confusing. Lol the reactions seem to be split.</p>

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<p>I think either of your topics could make for a good essay. May I recommend a book that my D found very helpful when she worked on her essay 2 summers ago – Harold Baud, On Writing the College Essay. I may not have the title exactly right but this should get you to correct book. I also read the book, it focused a lot on finding your voice as a writer. It also gave lots of good essay examples.</p>