Common App.: Family Story vs. EC

<p>so for the common application essay</p>

<p>I was wondering if it's a better idea to write about your family, or something like that personal, and start talking about your personal qualities</p>

<p>or</p>

<p>if it's just better to write about one particularly important EC. and show your personal quality through that</p>

<p>I know that this is a vague question, but can anyone help?
I'm just confused about what's the best topic for the common app. essay.</p>

<p>Remember it’s “show, not tell.” Meaning, let them see your college-relevant strengths in the tale you craft. Look at the prompts; they offer a framework, a starting point. Of course, not all colleges care so much about the writing. But for those that do, this isn’t about your family, per se, or some EC. It’s about what they can glean about you, your values and perspective and more, that they value in their freshmen. It is not an ordinary hs writing assignment.</p>

<p>Make a draft of each and see what develops. You will likely find one that shows more promise that you can work on. But you won’t get a good idea until you do some work, because you don’t write essays just by thinking about them-- put pen to paper.</p>

<p>You might check out the College Essay forum.</p>

<p>^great advice. Write about both. Then read them and show them to someone else. Choose not the better one at the moment, but the one with more potential</p>

<p>thank you guys for the helpful advice!
Yes, I guess I’ll just try both</p>

<p>lookingforward</p>

<p>yup, i guess i’ll have to do a lot more research on the college I want to go.</p>