Don't know how to start the essays

College Essays
1

<p>I'm starting my UC personal statements and I really don't even know how to start. </p>

<p>The first prompt is: </p>

<p>Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.</p>

<p>I've looked up so many sample essays and most of them seem like they're explaining their family background and how they were struggling through poverty and had tough times and all that. Is that basically it? I talk about myself and my family background? What else should I write about? How can I make it unique? </p>

<p>And the second one:</p>

<p>Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?</p>

<p>This one I'm completely clueless because I don't have a talent or accomplishment. I never did anything special. The same essays I've read were cool things like designing websites for their school, finding some type of community service thing, etc. I really have nothing compared to that..</p>

<p>Mainly: how can I make my essays stand out and unique? </p>

2

<p>Some of the best essays are about something that are insignificant to everyone except yourself. Colleges want to read essays so they can learn about you. They will be tired of reading how one person had a life changing experience after going to Africa and helping children. Although this is something great, it probably won’t make you stand out if there are other people who had some similar experience. </p>

<p>Think about something you do everyday. Something that makes you who you are. Do you do something every morning? I find those stories to be very interesting because I feel like I am in someone else’s life (if written well).</p>

<p>I got all this info by reading this college essay book by some Harvard students. </p>