I’ve been working on my common app essay and I’ve been a bit stuck, so I’ve been watching videos and reading posts/essays of students accepted to the universities I wish to attend. From what I’ve seen, a lot of students choose a very small event and then relate that little event to their lives/their personalities and who they are.
A part of me is wanting to write my essay on Amerigo Vespucci recognizing North and South America as two different continents and relating that to how the two high schools I’ve attended are like two different continents. This will show my love for history and - I think/I hope - make an interesting essay for the reader.
On the other hand, a part of me wants to use an anecdote and then relate it to my life and how my experiences have made me who I am, as I’ve seen a lot of accepted students had done for their essays. The overall topic of transferring schools would remain the primary focus, as I know I want to do my common app essay on that.
Which should I do - do a broader focus of Amerigo Vespucci, then narrow to my experience at two different schools, or begin with the narrow focus of an anecdote and then expand to the big picture?
Either can be successful, as long as you keep repeating the mantra: "Give them a reason to say ‘Yes’. "
Make sure your essay is about YOU-- not primarily Amerigo Vespucci, not about the 2 different high schools you’ve attended. Those things can be part of the back story, but the essay should tell them who you are.