Do your essays always have to relate to your academic thoughts/experiences/progress?

College Essays
1

<p>The most essays I've come across are more about your personality, accomplishments, hardships, story, etc. For example, all the common app prompts. However, if the question asks, for example, "what matters to you, and why?", would it be okay to only write about what really matters to you?</p>

<p>Could you write a very personal essay about what matters to you and why without relating it to your academic thoughts/experiences/progress (for example, your mother means a lot to you... and then show why and how).</p>

<p>I ask this because many of the sample essays I have read online (essays of accepted students) connect what matters to them (or any other college essay!) to their academic progression.</p>

<p>Basically, is it okay to follow the essay prompt and write a meaningful essay without referring to your academic progress, or should you always try to show colleges what has happened to you or what you bring to the table academically, even if the prompt is about something else?</p>

<p>I hope this made sense; thanks everyone.</p>

2

<p>I think it is definitely fine. One of my kids, for example, wrote about her lifelong passion for Sherlock Holmes, and tied it in with some of her personal attributes and some ECs she has pursued. I don’t think she mentioned academics at all. She got into some top schools. The thing you need to be careful of, though, is that the essay tells more about YOU than about your mom. It is really easy to get tied up in describing her and her best qualities vs. what it reveals about you.</p>