Hi everyone!!
I’m new here, and a senior ('16er) and I was wondering if my CApp essay topic idea is too trivial. I was thinking about writing how I’m addicted to Chapstick, and how this addiction (it really is haha) helped me realize how I was comfortable with it and I never tried new things, so I had to make a change. I’m in the process of writing it, but I was just wondering if it’s too weird/petty for a whole essay.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
Which prompt is it for? I’m sure you could come up with something more compelling than that.
@readingclaygirl Probably the first one. I know it doesn’t really fit in perfectly, but I could shape it to fit the first one the best.
That’s definitely interesting, lol. But I don’t see how you can convey that your addiction to chapstick is one of the most meaningful or influential experiences in your life, or how it’s central to your identity.
I would avoid the word “addiction.” That word has a specific meaning, and I’m guessing that your situation doesn’t meet it.
That said, why not spend an hour or two on a very rough draft, and see how it looks? If it’s not shaping up, there’s still lots of time to develop a Plan B.
What a unique topic! I’m just not sure if you’d be able to write an entire essay on it. I would definitely not mention the word “addiction” in your essay at all. I can see where your topic sort of fits into prompt #1, but I don’t think this topic would really, fully answer the prompt. How does the essay seem to be turning out? Do you have any other topics that you’re thinking of writing about?
Take a look at prompt #4: “4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.”
You identified the problem of not breaking out of your comfort zone when you realized how reliant you are on Chapstick, how you tend to do so many things out of habit without realizing there are options.
OK, so what did you do about it? How have you consciously broken out of your comfort zone? How has doing so helped you grow?
Does that help?
If you can weave it into an interesting, amusing and entertaining essay that speaks to who you are and what you learned, it could be clever.
Do you really have something meaningful to say? It does seem a bit gross to me to have to imagine someone smearing chap stick on their lips constantly. Maybe because I saw an Impractical Jokers episode where they made Murr put it on continually without stopping until people noticed. Ewww. It does seem you aren’t making an effort to dig a bit deeper. And apparently there is such a thing as a lip balm addiction so I wonder if you are really talking about that condition.
It doesn’t hurt to just start writing. You can develop you ideas and then decide to keep the gimmick or not.
@OnMyWay2013 @bjkmom @LionKing2398 @jym626 @BrownParent Thanks for all the input! It’s weird, I know, but I cannot go 20 minutes without applying Chapstick. I’ve overcome my “addiction” --which is is a thing btw, i researched it-- and I thought it would make for an interesting essay. I was going to start off with “I’m addicted to Chapstick.” as a hook, and talk about an incident how I realized I was addicted. Then, I’d write how I the same way that I had grown comfortable with the feeling of Chapstick, I had grown comfortable in my life. And I’d then write about my steps to overcome my chapstick addiction, along with an example in my life how I broke out of my comfort zone and am less fearful of what others think of me when I’m doing things, even if I do them wrong or badly. I’m going my deeper than just a Chapstick addiction, but I kinda wanted a quirky way to bring about the whole “stepping out of my comfort zone” for fear of being cliche. I know what you you guys mean about not mentioning the word “addiction,” but I felt like it was the right fit, and it’s not really a severe addiction… but idk really… omg now I’m doubting myself. I did write a draft, but I’m kinda paranoid about posting it here so I hope my little summary is sufficient. But is the whole “stepping outside my comfort zone” too cliche, even with the weird Chapstick bit? And also, I’m open to tweaking it to fit Prompt #4. I just wrote it without a prompt in mind, really. Thanks again! 
Instead of using a word like “addiction”, I would change it to a phrase like “compulsive behavior” or compulsion, or habit. I would really stray from using the word addiction. You might think that it will make your essay interesting, but it won’t come off that way to a lot of people. An addiction is a serious matter, and those that actually have a serious addiction to a substance don’t take people using that word in their own cryptic way lightly.
Please do not post here, read the warnings and suggestions at the top of the forum. It does seem a bit forced, but perhaps you can make it work. Still has a yuck factor, makes you a bit unlikable like someone would be in person if they were doing that all the time. But a student I helped last year had an opening line "It’s Monday morning and the bathroom stinks’ and that worked.
@boxandwhiskers and @BrownParent Thanks for your responses. I’ve considered it, and I’ll probably not include the word “addiction.” I’ll just talk about how much I love it haha. Anyone else care to comment?
It’s a clever idea and a creative way to talk about your personal experience. Not all 17 year olds have had life-changing experiences and for many, it’s impossible to come up with compelling topics or deep insights. (My rising senior certainly doesn’t have one). Applying Chapstick isn’t disgusting or "unlikable"unless you’re sharing it with friends or something.
I also don’t think that people are so PC that they will be offended to you referring to yourself as a “Chapstick addict” or something similar. It sounds as if the essay as a whole will reflect your self-awareness, and it doesn’t really matter how you got there, imo.
Bumpppp
You’ve gotten some input. Why not start writing the essay and see how it looks?
I would not recommend writing your essay on chapstick. Chapstick isn’t exactly the type of interest that admission officers will find to be attractive. It actually might make you seem kind of materialistic and obsessed with unintellectual or purposeful things.
So I’ve written a rough draft, and the essay on the whole is not solely about chapstick. It also talks about how I founded a schoolwide newspaper after realizing that i was stuck in my comfort zone, and that was an example of how i broke out of it. I still have to let an English teacher read it though. Are you sure I shouldn’t use the word addiction? It just flows so much better with it, although I do see all your points.
At the end of the day, it’s your essay. If you feel strongly that “addiction” is a better choice, then use it.
But keep in mind the number of people here-- many of us adults-- who feel otherwise.
At the end of the day, it’s your essay. If you feel strongly that “addiction” is a better choice, then use it.
But keep in mind the number of people here-- many of us adults-- who feel otherwise.