Common App and Princeton Supplement Essay Questions

College Essays
1

<p>I'm planning to write what some may consider to be "too general" essays for my Common App activity essay and Princeton supplement essay. People have said that the best essays tend to concentrate on something small rather than the big picture, but I was wondering if there were exceptions.</p>

<p>Common App Activity Essay:</p>

<p>Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in the space below (1000 character maximum).</p>

<p>I'm planning to write a letter to my little brother about the joys of piano; even though practicing is a pain and he may want to give it up in the future, he should keep it up because it's more than worth it, but I don't want to concentrate on one performance at a nursing home or only one moment like that. I want to mention several reasons why he should keep it up, but if I have so many reasons, I won't be able to elaborate so, so much on all of them. Should I concentrate on just one performance, or have several reasons? I'm really leaning toward the latter because it'll be more meaningful, but I'm still unsure.</p>

<p>Princeton Supplement Essay:</p>

<p>Please tell us how you have spent the last two summers (or vacations between school years), including any jobs you have held, if not already detailed on the Common Application.</p>

<p>I'm planning to take a more humorous approach to this one (but it will ultimately be relatively serious at the end), where I joke about being forced to study for the SATs at first, but where I eventually realize the opportunities for learning summer gives me. Should I elaborate on one opportunity a lot, or should I mention several and elaborate on how they helped me discover myself (ex. in career, hobbies, passions, etc.; aka summer internships, learning how to Photoshop, preparing for AP Spanish by watching movies in Spanish, etc.)) but not in as much depth? Here, too, I'm leaning toward the latter, but I'm still not sure because it may end up seeming like a list of things, even though the style of the writing (humorous to serious) can't really allow for "showing" rather than "telling."</p>

<p>I can PM drafts to people for a better idea of what I'm trying to say.</p>

<p>Thank you so much!</p>

2

<p>Hey, I’m no expert on college essays. I’m going through the process myself now. From the suggestions teachers and counselors gave me when I showed them my essays, though, I think that it is still better for you to focus on something specific. Essays have to have focus instead of being catalogues. No offense, but your common ap essay sounds kind of…typical. Esp. since you’re Chinese (r u? assuming from ur username) and Chinese kids are all super piano players. The whole letter format thing has been done before, too. Of course, I haven’t read your essays yet and I would be happy to read and give feedback if you pm me. Also, I thought that the Princeton supplemental essay was about using a quote as a starting point to talk about defining a value/changing approach to the world. I don’t quite understand what your Princeton essay is supposed to be about.</p>

3

<p>Hopefully there are exceptions with certain styles of writing, but I guess I’ll have to change my essays afterall. Thanks! :)</p>

<p>There are two Princeton supplemental essay: the first is for you to explain what you did over the summer; and the second is a choice of significant person, or three other choices starting whose essays start by a quote like you said.</p>