<p>I don't want to post my essay online; I am sort of neurotic and fear theft. Anyway, I am applying to top colleges and feel my ECs and essay will be what sets me apart (My GPA and Rank are very good but my SAT is slightly below average to average for the most selective schools). I want my essay to be perfect, I think this goes without saying. I wrote an essay that is certainly original, I KNOW no one will have the essay quite as different and creative as mine (not cocky just my confidence in how it was written). HOWEVER, I am fearing what I wrote about, most are saying that you want to show a personal quality or show the admissions officer why you would be good on their campus. My essay shows what I am passionate about, and, in sort of a round about way, conveys how it is important to my life. The thing is, it takes a bit of digging into the essay to really understand my passion, why I am passionate about it, and how it dictates my life. I gave it to my english teacher and my guidance counselor to see what they feel about it. But, my question remains, and I am a bit worried right now: Can my essay focus upon the passion I have, how long its been around me, and how it is important to me rather than what I bring to a community or something I have learned?</p>
<p>This is such a veiled request. Talking about a passion is great. Have you done that?</p>
<p>Yes, I believe I have. I was just afraid that writing about a passion I have and not about a personal anecdote or other experience solely might be a bad idea. So, I guess not?</p>
<p>and whats a veiled request? Haha.</p>
<p>Heres what I am fearing: a couple “how to write essays” and “what essays gain admissions” articles and blogs tell me that admissions officers (sometimes from admissions officers themselves) look for essays that say “will this person fit on campus”, “will this person be a good roommate”, “what will this person bring to a campus”… My personal essay doesn’t show a specific situation like this that shows my personality, it shows my passion for the instrument solely. How Long I’ve done it and how much I like it and why, but in know way does it really answer these questions. But I love this essay because it shows my passion.</p>
<p>Does this make sense? Is the essay still okay?</p>
<p>I think that the Common App essay is primarily an introduction, meant to humanize you from numerical data. Its intent is to demonstrate personality, writing style, and, perhaps, individual quirkiness. The essay is entirely about you in relation to you, rather than you in relation to a specific college. (Hence, it is not explicitly about “fit”) </p>
<p>This can be seen in the Common App essay topics themselves; writing about a historical work of literature or an inspiring figure will not tell adcoms whether you will be a good roommate.</p>
<p>The supplemental essays, however, are all about fit and being college-specific. This is rather evident when colleges ask the “Why Us?” question.</p>
<p>For your specific situation, passion is fine and not necessarily inferior to an anecdote. If you would like, you could PM your essay to me. If the essay is entirely about an instrumental EC, you could use it in the “elaborate on an EC” section. </p>
<p>I hope this helped! :)</p>
<p>Hmmmm has having this great passion taught you anything? It didn’t have to have taught you something LIFE-CHANGING, but maybe a new characteristic trait? Like hard-work, self-discipline, or something like that?</p>