<p>So im going to be a senior this year and I thought it would be a good idea to start on my college app essay. I basically plan on writing about how much i've grown and changed over the last few years during my high school career and how the many different experiences I have experienced(in and out of school) have shaped me into who I am today and have helped spawn my newfound dreams and aspirations. So my question is, is this a mediocre topic? Do I need to focus more on a single experience rather than the whole of my experiences? Am I missing the point of the essay? Im just a bit confused on what to write about and I really want this essay be great because I plan on applying to some very selective schools.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for any help.</p>
<p>There are no mediocre topics, just mediocre essays. Basically, any topic can be good or any topic can be dull, but it’s how you write about the topic that makes it a good or bad essay.</p>
<p>With that little disclaimer said, it’s important not to try to cram too many experiences into one 500 word essay. You wont do any experience justice if all you can do is briefly mention it. It might be better to focus on one or two experiences.</p>
<p>Thanks for the quick reply. I plan on writing about my passion for tennis and mountain-biking, and also about how i’ve put in a lot of time working at a non-profit serving people with disabilities. Maybe i’ll touch on my interest in physics and how I pursued that interest by taking a duel-enrollment course at my local college.
So my last question is, would just writing about my passion for tennis/biking, my involvement in the non-profit organization, and my interest in physics be enough to show that i’m a well-rounded student? I feel like i’m lacking a defining experience like the many i’ve seen written about on past successful college essays. Any advice or constructive criticism would be much appreciated.
Thanks again.</p>
<p>It sounds like almost too much, really. How will you link those very different topics together in a natural, fluid way? You don’t necessarily need to use the essay to show you’re well-rounded; I think that should mostly be captured by your resume and transcript. Instead, the essay should show your personality, that part of you that can’t be quantified using numbers or lists.</p>