Essay Focus

Applying to College
1

<p>Ive been reading some of the books on how to write college essays. It seems to me that the ones that are given as good examples of essays say more about a person's personalities and less on the person's activities and achievements. Is it best to make your personality shine through in your essay rather than focus on your activities? Since its so short, I find it hard to write much about my activities(extracurriculars) and the MANY things that have influenced me. Ive been told to focus one on thing or event or whatever. Do you think ill be more effective just focusing on one thing that expresses my personality instead of what I do/have done?</p>

<p>On another question, the applications only have limited slots, 7, and 5 for me to put my awards, and my activities; is there some efficient way I can show other things I do? For example, if I put the ones most important to me, I find that I have no room to put that I was in NHS on there; I spent a great deal of time volunteering for NHS though, and others as well(that I cannot list).</p>

2

<p>I'm pretty sure that colleges don't want your essay to be a list of your accomplishments. If you can't fit everything into the app spaces, send in a resume, but don't waste the space you're given to show who you are by making it a list of what you've done--there's a difference. </p>

<p>Er, I hope that helps...</p>

3

<p>I thought our essays were supposed to be about our characteristics too. but everyone's telling me to simply declare my love for each college I apply (which people on this board swear by but I personally disagree with).</p>