just a question on whether or not my common app essay has a good subject.
I wrote about how when i was eight, i made up a philosophy and describe how the philosophy has shown later on in my life as well. Please give feedback thank you!
It sounds like something no one else could write, a plus.
It is a little hard to say… both my kids had successful essays about something they were first introduced to at that age, and those things were very influential through HS. But it depends — without more info it is hard to say how it would come across.
Be sure to focus on 17 year old you, not 8 year old you. I would expect to see how that 8 year old philosophy has grown and changed as you have.
But it absolutely shows promise.
If you are nine or ten now, and in high school now, then its perfectly fine to write about something you did while age 8.
The schools you apply to will be fighting for you. Many great schools have precocious toddlers attending.
That is unnecessarily snide. But there is a risk that if you act like you “figured it all out” at age 8, they will roll their eyes. (You don’t have it all figured out yet, trust me). My kids had luck with their essays because they were able to talk about what they kept and what they discarded over the years, and how their relationship to that early interest evolved.
It’s one thing to refer briefly to age 8. Quite different to apply based too much on a lower school revelation. They’re reviewing the present you.
And you need to show, not just tell. How do you apply this philosophy that’s both effective now and shows traits they want to see? Eg, the good that comes from it, examples. Relevant to the class they want to build. That takes some understanding of what matters.
I only focused a little bit of my essay on what happened when I was 8 actually. Most of the essay, I used to show how I used that philosophy in high school. While I appreciated your feedback, I also thought it was a bit rude. We are all just scared and nervous for college and comments such as this that are framed in a snide way are just hurtful. Thank you for your input. I will be sure to tell you all of the colleges I receive acceptances to.
@lookingforward Yes I only briefly mentioned when I was eight. I wanted to show that I have had the same personality that shows through this philosophy my whole life. I mostly focused on how I have lived by this philosophy in high school.
@intparent Thank you for your input. I only briefly mentioned my anecdote and mostly focused on how I lived by it in high school. My philosophy is not having life figured out though haha I know for a fact I do not have it all figured out and I do not think that is the feeling they will get from the essay. Thank you!
hi