College app personal essay dilemma

<p>I'm thinking of writing on my research journey that led to a national science award. But I'm wondering if that would make a compelling personal essay. The essay would go into elements not elsewhere on the app, such as how did the research come about, what was it about, how are my findings useful etc etc. </p>

<p>The alternative would be to write learning more about my heritage and how I feel that has helped me grow as a person. I know the latter essay sounds more in line with a personal essay topic (or does it?) but it would be a lot flatter and not layered enough as the research essay. So what do the experts advise? Stanford is my first choice school. What would they like? My high school life has resolved around research and is closer to me than the cultural aspect. But both are going to make it into the app. Question is which is the personal essay and which is the supplemental essay??</p>

<p>TIA</p>

<p>lot flatter and not layered enough</p>

<p>Isn’t there a space on the common app for you to elaborate on one of your extracurriculars? I’m going to talk about my “research journey” there and do something else for the personal essay.</p>