Im starting to finish off and revise my essays and a sudden feeling has come over me. What if my essays are just plain bad? For instance my short answer essay is essentially one anecdote about my day, i describe each occurance, and although there’s a “meaning” behind it, I never come out and say it…
Should I redo my essay and follow the normal “layout” with a nice thesis statement, maybe an anecdote to support it, etc.? My longer essays are much the same as well except I have a final paragraph explaining a so called “lesson i learned”…again should I follow the normal format? Opinions appreciated…and if anyone would be willing to read my essays through email, Id appreciate it as well…
Also just how important is it that we mention our extracurriculars in our longer esssays?
<p>Never make your essays a laundry list of your ECs. You can focus on on or two if you want, but don't start listing.</p>
<p>I don't think college essays have to have a thesis, per se. At least, you're not supposed to SAY it, but rather, SHOW it. You can write about perfectly "plain" things, like a typical day and still make it unique and interesting. Or you can write a completely outrageous essay. There's no particular format you have to follow as long as you accomplish the point of showing them an aspect of yourself.</p>
<p>For my big essay last year, I took my main passion, music, and did a creative piece of writing. I then took other main hobbies and incorporated them through this piece of writing in a "musical" manner. Difficult to explain without actually seeing the essay (which I will not show) but it essentially encompassed, without ever mentioning the school's name, what I could bring the the university and how I could take from it. It ended up being less than 500 words.</p>
<p>Essays that get kids into top schools come in all shapes and formats. Long to short; creative to formal. Choose a writing style that you are most comfortable with and make it yours. The only criterion I used when writing my essays was "Can anyone else write this?" If the answer was "no" then I knew I was in good shape. I recommend that you try this system.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you during your admissions process.</p>
<p>I'm currently trying to write about something I think relatively few other people have experienced in their lives. I'm also trying to write in a style that is fast paced, funny, and of course personal.</p>
<p>Make the essay your own essay. Let it be personable. Try to give a well rounded picture of yourself to differentiate yourself from the myriad of activites and numbers on the actual application.</p>
<p>The essay is the time to be yourself as it is one of the only places where you have freedom in the application. Use that freedom to your advantage.</p>
<p>By the comment "Can anyone else write this?" I am referring to the idea that there is always an experience or passion that is unique to every individual in the world and that the essay is supposed to be a way to describe that unique aspect of your life. </p>
<p>Be yourself. Be honest. Have fun. This is a time in your life to reflect on your first 17 (18 in some cases) years of life and find what is truly important to you.</p>
<p>Best of luck to all of you in your applications.</p>