<p>-Used to be a crappy student.<br>
-Met some random guy(probably 2-3 years older than me) on the NY - Chicago train and talked with him for a while in the restaurant section.
-Later in the night around 3-4 a.m the train stopped and police started searching the train with dogs and they checked everyone's I.D, bags and stuff.
-Turned out this guy that I talked to was like drug dealer or he was carrying it for someone else. I don't know the whole story.
-This whole thing made me realize that education is very important since I didn't want to end up like that guy.
-Afterwards I became a good student and my grades skyrocketed.</p>
<p>This is just the basics of course. I'm planning on going deep with it and explaining everything thoroughly like how it affected me, etc. Do you guys think this would be a good topic or does it sound to ghetto?</p>
<p>Yes, this is a good topic because it is personal and real. You could emphasize “motivation” and demonstrate how this situation was a turning point for you. Be careful not to trivialize or get too preachy.</p>
<p>I disagree. While they are interesting, I prefer essays that are not focused on one in a million encounters, as they are happenstance–who knows, without that experience, you may still be a lackluster student. Colleges like to see initiative; I fear they will be less compelled by “I was scared into the decision to improve my grades.”</p>
<p>I think you should focus a topic that better demonstrates who you are, such as writing about an EC you have worked at for years and are truly passionate about.</p>
<p>The thing is I don’t really have anything else to write about. I don’t have any hobbies other than sports. I played 3 different sports for 4 years in high school and I was also working out since freshman year. I didn’t have any time to pick up a new EC. I guess I could write about sports but it doesn’t really fit the context of the question.</p>
<p>I’m going to be applying to UW-Madison and these are their questions.</p>
<p>50- The University of Wisconsin values an educational environment that provides all members of the campus community with opportunities to grow and develop intellectually, personally, culturally and socially. In order
to give us a more complete picture of you as an individual, please tell us about the particular life experiences, perspectives, talents, commitments and/or interests you will bring to our campus. In other words, how
will your presence enrich our community?</p>
<p>51- Tell us about your academic goals, circumstances that may have had an impact on your academic performance, and, in general, anything else you would like us to know in making an admission decision.</p>
<p>Colleges like to see initiative; I fear they will be less compelled by “I was scared into the decision to improve my grades.”</p>
<p>The thing is I wasn’t scared. When I talked with that guy we talked about education for a bit. He told me stuff like he dropped out of high school and his life has been a complete mess ever since he dropped out. I don’t remember everything we talked about since it’s been a long time but he told me stuff like take your education seriously, etc.</p>
<p>So I wasn’t really scared. He was basically a real life example for me. You see those kinds of people all the time on TV or news but I guess seeing it in person is what affected me and gave me the wake up call.</p>
<p>It is an interesting topic and it meant something for you, made obvious by the increase in the quality of your academics and outlook. Write about it!</p>
<p>Although, try not to tell it like “this happened and then this happened and then the police came in and then i got good grades…” but more of an in the moment approach?</p>
<p>By the way (this is where midnight cynicism comes in), I thought you were making up an as-interesting-as-possible plot line with your bullet points and all :P</p>