Essay Subject?

Parents Forum
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<p>My son told me last summer that he didn't need to start on his college application essay because they do them in Sr English. His English teacher had them write a "Who Am I?" essay the 2nd day of school, my son whipped it off in 20 minutes. A few days later he found out the teacher means for these to be edited and turned into college application essays. So he said, "I guess I'm writing it on my own after all." But then he worked with it and came up with 500 words on skiing: how he's obsessed with skiing, how much he enjoyed a trip to Utah last winter, and pondering WHY he likes skiing so much. With some work I think it has potential, but I wonder: Is it a "serious" enough subject for the application essay? </p>

<p>He is interested in some pretty selective colleges: Lafayette, Union, Providence, Colby, Trinity, Stonehill, (UVM as safety). He has a weighted GPA of 3.9 and unweighted of 3.5, and SAT scores of 740 Reading, 630 Math, and 710 Writing. He's going to make Eagle Scout this fall, that's his biggest extracirricular. </p>

<p>So is "My Obsession with Skiing" an ok topic? Is it good because it's a little bit different? Or too flippant?</p>

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<p>As long as it talks about what he's learned from his skiing, or how it is has influenced his views on the rest of his life, it could work. Make sure it shows something about HIM, not just skiing.</p>

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<p>It sounds great. The essay is a chance for the school to see something about your son that they can't tell from the transcript. It helps to round out the picture of who he is. Colleges like to see passion for something, and a genuine essay about why he loves skiing is probably a lot more appealing than the umpteenth "what my community service hours taught me". As carolyn says, though, make sure it's about him as well as the skiing.</p>