I’m an international student now studying in the U.S. The essay really bothers me cuz I feel like I have nothing to write about, I mean I dont have any special interests or experience. So I’m thinking to write about my experience after I I came here. Since I’m an introvert, I found many difficulties at first. (No friends+Being ashamed of my accent+don’t talk to people ) so I watched YouTube videos to know more about American culture, tried to participate more in sports activities, etc. Now I’ve changed a lot.
Is it okay to write about how I overcome shyness and what I’ve learned about cultural differences
Or is it better to write about how I’m an optimistic person since I can find pleasure amidst the suffering(basically they’re two different thesis but the main contents are the same)
Or both are not good for essay?
This type of essay – fitting in with an unfamiliar culture or group – is cliche. Nearly all of these essays fail, except for those that take a detail that one might consider trivial and really run with it. Also, you want to avoid directly stating your essay’s main theme(s) if it is a popular one. You can hint at it, but the narrative or story itself must be the focus.
But this is an international student, not an american student. This student is being thrust into a dramatically unfamiliar culture/group.
@GMTplus7 Ya I missed that. This topic will work fine then.
I think the YouTube videos will make this essay work.
Thanks a lot :))
I’m also thinking to write about how I learn to be a responsible person. It’s like when I was a primary school student, I skipped class with my friend one day without thinking. The teacher called our parents to see what happened but of course they didn’t know where we were. They became so nervous and were afraid that we were missing. They called police, and broadcast the news to find us as soon as possible. Finally we were found by my friend’s mother in a shopping mall nearby my home. Later I knew that my dad was so worried about me, he even bought a new bicycle and rode it whole day to make it easy to find us. And I was shocked by how mad and anxious he was. It really made me realize that I should be responsible for myself and for people who care about me
I think an amusing and interesting essay could be written on “What YouTube Taught Me About America.”
Hi, I am an international student myself. I think it would be better for you to write about how you winningly transitioned into American culture, and also carried your traditional values with you(if u actually did, of course). This creates an impression about you loving your own country as well as willingness to accept other cultures. you might also add instances in favour of your refusal to give up in the face of hardships and new surroundings.
A personal peev: Balancing your culture and that of another country is a good way of sounding real, instead of omitting that part completely, which according to me, is slightly insensitive.
Do not write about something that happened as a child as the focal point of an essay. It can be the starting point or part of the information but you need to write more about you now, who you are and what you do now.
I think the essay you described at first will work. Be aware, as you write it, that there are many students who are immigrants and try to make your story very personal so it does not sound like what everyone else would say.
Also, there is an entire forum here devoted to the College Essay
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/
thanks for your advice
Is it okay if I write about how I feel about the way people treat each other? For example after I came here I found that some people would smile and say hi to me even if we don’t know each other, and ppl are willing to admire others, which made me feel good
Thank you :)))