General Essay Question

<p>With college app season beginning and many people already started on their apps, I wanted to ask this question about essays:</p>

<p>When writing an essay with a general topic (such as the personal essay on the common app or a, "tell us about yourself" essay) is it better to write an essay with shows an interesting side of you (possibly not reflected in the rest of the application) or a fascinating perspective you have or is it better to write an essay that is a bird's-eye-view of your life? Personally, I feel as if the former is more interesting, but I want to hear what you think.</p>

<p>Maybe you should write both and see which one comes out better!</p>

<p>Talking about your whole life view is too ambitious for an essay. It’s more likely to sound sloppy or unfocused. But if you write about a specific side of yourself, you can make it more meaningful, IMO.</p>

<p>^^
I’ve already written birds-eye-view in the past, and it absolutley bores me to write them (although it may just be how I write them). There is so much more that could go into the other side / perspective essays. But this was more of a general question (not really personal advice), just because I was curious to see what others thought.</p>

<p>@cellist, I think so too</p>

<p>You want your essay to reflect something about yourself that isn’t shown in the rest of your application. It has to add on to your app, not repeat it ;)</p>