Choosing an essay topic: Passion or Achievement?

College Essays
1

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>When writing about your most important extracurricular in the common application or in a college application essay, is it better to write about the extracurricular you are most PASSIONATE about or most ACCOMPLISHED in? </p>

<p>A page on Yale University's website encourages students to write about what has been most meaningful to them.</p>

<p>Keeping that in mind, consider two (fabricated) scenarios. Bob has been a member of many concert bands and ensembles during high school. A saxophone player since elementary school, Bob auditioned for, and was accepted into, the state regional band. At school, he has held many leadership positions in the band including Band President. During his sophomore year, Bob joins the mock trial team on his school without having any prior experience. Although he has not achieved any significant awards, Bob soon comes to love mock trial with an immense, unadulterated passion much stronger than that felt for music.</p>

<p>Which activity should a student faced with a similar situation write about in his/her common application (or college essay)?
Which would be more favorable to a college like Yale?
If anyone is willing to share personal experiences, that would also be greatly appreciated!</p>

<p>Thanks for your help!</p>

2

<p>It might seem obvious, but if you have really accomplished something, then you had to be passionate about it, so I suggest conveying how passionate you were when you accomplished whatever it is you did and how this changed you.</p>

3

<p>I would go with passionate. Colleges already know from the activities list what you did and any leadership roles or awards, so rehashing this would not provide new information. On the other hand, the student can use the essay to explain an EC where their record is thin but they are truly passionate.</p>

4

<p>Choose whatever topic allows Bob to write his most personal, detailed, specific, revealing essay. </p>

<p>Not necessarily best accomplishment, not necessarily greatest passion: *most personal; most revealing of Bob as a human being; most meaningful. *</p>