I’m a senior in high school finishing up my college application, and I still find myself stuck on the essay. The prompt asks that I give the school an idea of who I am beyond “grades, classes, and test scores.” I have two topics in mind. The first is a telling of my personal battle with an eating disorder, how I overcame it, and how it has made me stronger today. The second is on a hobby of mine which I’ve spent the past 5 years of my life doing–magic. I feel as though the first topic will help demonstrate courage and strength, but the second will make me stand out and seem more unique and dedicated to something. Which topic would look best? Or should I create another topic entirely? Any help is appreciated!
I’d stay away from talking about an eating disorder. You want colleges to believe you’ll be a positive asset on campus. Demonstrate that in your essay. Tell a story that illustrates something positive about you. Google “hack the college essay.”
I am sure that many longtime school admin officers have read essays on both topics. Both could work well, but your essay should be a chance to tell them something that you feel is important to you. We can’t answer that as well as you can.
That being said, @MagicJellyfish, I think your choice of user name indicates what is more important to you!. I really like the magic hobby as a topic, because the prompt asks who you are beyond grades, classes and scores - there is no way anyone can tell everything about themselves, but with magic, you can show - not just tell - how you feel performing an illusion, why you enjoy it, etc.
Best of luck, and have fun!
Thank you @3puppies ! I have been talking to a few friends about it and they say I should somehow connect the topic to my planned major (psychology). Should I do this? I’m not certain on how I would do that. Also, would you perhaps consider giving the essay a quick read-through?
I would absolutely avoid the eating disorder choice.
I would be happy to read it for you
Magic is a much more interesting topic. No to your eating disorder. You don’t have to connect your topic to your planned major. Your personality is not your eating disorder or psychology, is it? Write so that they know who you are. Write so that they will like you and say “admit.”
magic.
Magic!
Magic. 
Don’t worry about connecting it to your major. Just show them who you are.
Do the magic topic.
Google “Hacking the College Essay 2017” and read it.
Write the Essay No One Else Could Write
“It boils down to this: the essay that gets you in is the essay that no other applicant could write.
Is this a trick? The rest of this guide gives you the best strategies to accomplish this single
most important thing: write the essay no one else could write.
If someone reading your essay gets the feeling some other applicant could have written it,
then you’re in trouble.
Why is this so important? Because most essays sound like they could have been written by
anyone. Remember that most essays fail to do what they should: replace numbers (SAT/GPA) with the real you.
Put yourself in the shoes of an admissions officer. She’s got limited time and a stack of
applications. Each application is mostly numbers and other stuff that looks the same. Then she picks
up your essay. Sixty seconds later, what is her impression of you? Will she know something specifically
about you? Or will you still be indistinguishable from the hundreds of other applicants she has been
reading about?”
When I was applying to undergrad I wrote an essay about performing music even though I am studying biomedical engineering. I had the chance to talk to the admissions officer who had made the decision about a scholarship I received and she said that my essay had really stood out to her, and had been a big part of her final decision. Follow your gut and write about something that makes you and your story a little different than most.
So now that everyone agrees magic is better: I’ve read essays about magic and they can be charming. But the point is to show the qualities/traits your college targets want. Not just “unique and dedicated”. It needs to make sense to adcoms who are pulling together a class and have attributes in mind.
So how do you use this interest in magic? What will it show them that makes them like you and want you. That’s more than the pleasure it gives you. More than some fundraiser or magic at the old folks home. Think about it.
@GoatGirl19 I suspect it’s not that you wrote about you. Rather what came across in that, that they liked for the class.
All this is more than just satisfying yourself. You’re writing for the people who make decisions.