<p>A stickied thread on CC right now is about students getting accepted into schools that they and "fellow" CCers thought they had no chance in. I believe the essays were the deciding factor, so this leads me to my next question for those who got into those reach schools: What did you write about?</p>
<p>You don't have to reveal much; I think a general idea would help all of us.</p>
<p>trackkkkkk</p>
<p>I wrote about my hair!</p>
<p>what about your hair??</p>
<p>I wrote about a summer program I did. Actually I just took a diary entry that I wrote after I'd gotten back, edited it a little and put an intro paragraph on it.</p>
<p>Well, my hair is very curly, so I wrote about a time when I was 7 and tried to "cut off my curls." Then I used my hair as a metaphor for my spirit and talked about how I have grown more independent and comfortable with myself.</p>
<p>The selling point was my writing style though. I put a lot of personality and humor into it, and I think that's what really helped.</p>
<p>I thought me getting into Emory was pretty weird (considering somehow I got rejected USC, waitlisted BC, rejected CMU, even though I did get into NYU Stern w/7.5k and UMich and Lehigh). For the why Emory essay I wrote about their business school (lol...). I thought it was my worse essay out of all my college essays too haha</p>
<p>nice... ne overcoming obstacles essays?</p>
<p>I got into tufts, which is pretty substantial.</p>
<p>I wrote the optional essay on Jim Morrison taking over the world, with elements taken from Huxley's Brave New World.</p>
<p>I got into Cal and UCLA (which were generally agreed to be far reaches) with a main essay on writing a novel a page a day in middle school. I don't remember what the others were about, but they were good as well.</p>
<p>I got into Stanford. I talked about how I talk really fast.</p>
<p>I almost wrote about track. But I didn't think it would be long enough, or good enough. </p>
<p>I wrote about my relationship with my dad. The essay turned out to be showing him in more of a positive light, but that's because my college counselor said admissions people wouldn't want to read too much negative stuff. My essay was touching and I want my dad to read it, but we still aren't speaking...</p>
<p>I almost wrote my essay on my nicknames, and how they show the different sides of me. I wish I wrote that essay now, although I did get into most of the schools I applied to, save 3 (2 rejections-Brown and Stanford, 1 waitlist-Duke)</p>
<p>I got into Caltech with sub-par grades. Wrote about math and how I love it, robotics and how I'm disastrous at it, and physics puns and how I can never rid myself of them (you know, resistance begins at ohm. Et cetera.). </p>
<p>I had four or five different 'sets' of essays, actually, and these were the only ones that worked.</p>
<p>I wrote about how I wanted to continue being a positive role model for my brother. I wanted him to see me at a big university and feel that he can do it too, despite having suffered bc of my drug addicted father. It is not that I really wanted to bank on my story ( true story ) I just did not know what to write about. I also wrote how I am a very versatile person ( having six part time jobs since 14 years old). Surprisingly I got in UC Berkeley, LA, and San Diego. My top 3 choices.</p>
<p>Did anyone accepted at their top choice go completely free-form with the personal essay? Say, doing an artsier thing on unorthodox paper size etc.</p>
<p>Wow nice... </p>
<p>IkeXY, straying away from the essay aspect, I congratulate you for helping your brother out; I know it's tough.</p>
<p>Bravo, IkeXY! The folks at UC admissions knew what they were doing when they accepted you; you'll be an asset at whichever campus your choose.</p>
<p>I just wrote a simple story. :D</p>
<p>I got into Stanford; on the "note for your future roomate" i wrote a little parody of where I live. Basically poking fun at the backwards redneck culture of southern GA. I cant believe i got in. </p>
<p>I also wrote an overcoming obstacle paper. i THINK I found a way to make it sound very touching, but u should be careful-- theres always a risk of sounding forced or cheesy.. I've also heard people lie about obstacles. DONT do that.. you'll be screwed at the interview, and perhaps in your recommendation letters.</p>
<p>do u have a particular obstacle u think u want to use?</p>
<p>dont do personal learning experience while on a mission trip. or a metaphorical comparison of sports and life.. just fyi</p>
<p>I wrote about Bill Nye the Science Guy, and I got to see him at New York last week. It was terrific.</p>
<p>I didn't get into Cornell (Bill's alma mater) however. Weird =/</p>
<p>i wrote about track, in a really wierd creative way
and about me and how the violin has affected me in my life
i also wrote about the word the
and malcom X's autobiography</p>
<p>i got really lucky, maybe itw as my essays that pushed me over? Noone knows!</p>