<p>Hey, I was thinking about writing about how/why I love history, (by the way, I know how lame the topic might sound here, but I think it says a lot about me and I think I made it at least somewhat interesting)... BUT, I was wondering if it is a bad idea to talk about academics in a common app essay. Should I be focusing on other parts of who I am? I think I like the essay I've started, but I don't want adcoms to think I'm all school.</p>
<p>Input? Thanks</p>
<p>Anything that says a lot about your self (i.e. your values, character, passion, etc.) is a good topic, academically related or otherwise.</p>
<p>If you really do love history, then go for it! Make the essay sound natural. I read my college essay a long time after I submitted it, and I’ve found that I’ve revealed parts of my personality that I didn’t intend to. The point is, if you write a truthful essay on something you’re really interested in, your essay will say a lot about yourself even when you didn’t focus on it.</p>
<p>Go DEEP. Here’s two examples:
-I love history. In class, I am so interested in just learning about history. When my teacher assigns homework, other students are like, “dude, w-t-f?” but I’m like “sweet, I love history homework.” Other students make fun of me for being such a history buff, but it defines who I am. My teacher says I’m the best history student he’s had in a year. My favorite topic is the founding of the United States, especially the drafting of the Constitution. </p>
<p>versus</p>
<p>-It is unbearably hot in here. Hot enough that, of the dozens of bald or balding men around me, not one has a dry forehead. Air conditioning, you say? What is this “air conditioning”? I’ve never even heard that term before. Is that one of wise Ben Franklin’s novel ideas to exercise the air? Ah, said man speaks at present. “Order, order,” he shouts to silence the hotly contested rhetoric. After the noise ceases, “I’ve lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing Proofs I see of this Truth-- That God governs in the Affairs of Men.” </p>
<p>Now, which is better? Not only does the second show what the first is trying to tell, but the second gives the reader such a better idea about why you love history and how you study it (which for me, is, imagining I’m in the room of these great men). Now, you don’t have to do exactly, or even close, to what I did. But you have to paint a vivid picture. And for top schools, you really have to dig into your topic.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! GammaGrozza–I appreciate you taking the time to write that. I wrote a first draft with a different approach, (don’t worry, it’s not like the first!, ha)… but I might think about trying something like you did as well.</p>
<p>That approach would be especially effective for the introduction paragraph. Start them out with the witty anecdote, and use that to lead into the rest of your prose.</p>
<p>Thanks .</p>
<p>^I probably should add: to make it seem like you’re not all-school, just put some typical teenage lines in there. Like “Occasionally, I’d rather be spending my time facebook stalking or chatting with friends than read through a dense history textbook.” One line can go a long way.</p>
<p>GammaGrozza, your suggestions are okay but your example seems really superficial. Reading that above example makes the writer sound like he’s trying to sound like a typical teenager, not just being a typical teenager. It sounds unnatural.</p>
<p>The point is, if you are a typical teenager, you’ll come across as a typical teenager if you write naturally and honestly. And if you love history and write naturally, your love of history will come through. You don’t need to force anything. It sounds really unnatural.</p>
<p>OP, writing about your love for history would, IMO, be best as part of an essay about why X school is good for you. You could discuss what you enjoy about history and tie in the courses, professors, and research at that college that relates to your interests. Half of the essay topics I remember from college apps for the personal statement seemed like they were better answered with an essay about a personal experience or an activity. If you have a history related activity or job then that would be great, but if its just an essay about how you love to study history I’d be wary at how it will be received. If you can show leadership, initiative, and other postiive traits in an essay about your love for history then it will probably be fine.</p>
<p>@Gramma
I don’t get your second essay. If an applicant is limited to 500 words or 1-2 pages won’t writing 100 words about essentially nothing be a detrement to an essay? It’s a good idea to start an essay with something interesting, and to show instead of tell, but wouldn’t an anechdote from the OP’s life be more appropriate than an imagenary situation with lots of flowery language and 0 substance.</p>
<p>If you use an academic-related essay for one of them use a personal one for ur supplements or the “anything else you want to tell us” essay.</p>
<p>Pile on GammaGrozza time! Jeez…</p>
<p>dchow- You’re right, it does sound superficial and cliche. But, I was just giving an example of how the OP could still make him/herself seem like a normal kid while not diverging from the history focus (which he/she said in the original post). And you hit upon an important point, which is to not add those types of lines in intentionally (my bad for giving the OP the idea that he/she should intentionally add lines in just in order to sound normal). Ideally, the OP would subliminally write a couple lines like that. If there isn’t any hint that the OP is a normal teen, then what happens? That’s not a rhetorical question; I really don’t know. I mean you don’t want to write like a completely different person, but (for an extreme example) how many colleges would accept a anti-semite extremist terrorist who writes in their normal voice?<br>
And just because one is a typical teenager does not mean one writes like one. I can write an essay just being myself, which will generally be somewhat funny and lighthearted, or I can write about a more serious topic where I will, predictably, sound much more serious and not give any hints that I am a normal teen. </p>
<p>venkat- I am perfectly aware that neither of my examples would constitute essays. I don’t know why you interpreted it that way. Basically, the second paragraph would be my introduction (which was kind of implied), and the theme of it would be my thesis. And I used that style because I really enjoy history when I imagine I’m in those events. I don’t do any history ECs, so I am basically forced into writing an essay about the academic/school side. Yes, the OP may demonstrate their history interest by doing something else entirely. That is why I said that the OP’s essay/intro does not have to resemble mine, as long as the fact that he/she is doing the classic show vs tell technique. And did my second example really have zero substance? I can think of a lot of substance in there. To be honest, I have the impression that you are just searching for ways to put me down.</p>
<p>^To add (edit time ran out)
venkat: I don’t like some of your suggestions. Writing about Why____ school in a personal essay is pretty corny. Many schools have supplements with this question. And what is wrong with writing about why one loves studying history? I think that can be a great essay. Shows a desire to learn for the sake of learning. And writing about history activities could be a good essay too, provided the OP has them and is passionate about them. But just a glamourized list of activities and leadership positions would not be a good essay at all. This is just my opinion, but it is one that is gained from going through the application process and spending a lot of time on here and reading sample essays from accepted students and discussing good essay ideas with my english teachers and GC.</p>