Essay Topics

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>I was just second-guessing my essay topics the other day and was thinking about rewriting them....(I know it's a little late but I'd rather have a good essay with a good topic than an excellent essay with a bad topic).</p>

<p>For my common app essay, I wrote about growing up in rural China and how the death of my grandfather has spurred my interest in biomedical engineering, and related fields. Um.... it was very personal and my mom cried when reading it, but the thing is, it happened when I was only about 5 years old, I'm not sure if the admissions committee would take it seriously since it wasn't something which happened in my high school years. </p>

<p>For my "special circumstances" essay, I wrote about the numerous times I have relocated. First from rural China to Indiana, then Indiana to Minnesota, then Minnesota to North Carolina, and finally North Carolina to South Dakota, staying about 2-3 years at each location, except China, where I spent 6 years while growing up. I explained how the constant moves were challenging but they made me a stronger person overall, in much more depth and vocabulary than what I'm using here =).</p>

<p>For my EC essay, I wrote about how piano has provided me with a way to express myself and the idea of an "unattainable goal." I also kind of went into depth, a whole 75 words/150!, about winning the MMTA State Piano Competition, and what I got out of the experience.</p>

<p>I know this isn't the exact time to question the already finalized essay topics, but I just want to be on the safe side,</p>

<p>Any thoughts?</p>

<p>P.S. Does growing up in rural China kind of like a "hook"? It would truly be a Cinderella story, I suppose, if I managed to get accepted into Harvard.</p>

2

<p>Growing up in rural China isn’t exactly a “hook,” but it will help distinguish your application.</p>

<p><a href=“I%20know%20it’s%20a%20little%20late%20but%20I’d%20rather%20have%20a%20good%20essay%20with%20a%20good%20topic%20than%20an%20excellent%20essay%20with%20a%20bad%20topic”>quote</a>.

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<p>I strongly disagree with this.</p>

<p>There’s really no such thing as a bad topic, and I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard Ivy admissions officers say this. If you’re a good writer, you should be able to create essays that aren’t cliches and that’s really all that’s important. If something impacted you deeply when you’re a 5 year old, I don’t think an admissions officer is going to challenge that. If your essay sucks, though, maybe it will be more suspect.</p>