<p>I want to write about my experience with math contests. I worked hard for 3 years studying math and want to summarize these 3 years. Is this a good thing to write about or is it common?</p>
<p>I think it’s possible to write about almost any topic and have an interesting essay. However, I don’t recommend you “summarize” three years of math contests in your essay.</p>
<p>This article isn’t new, but I think it’s good advice for the essay:</p>
<p>[Tip</a> Sheet: An Admissions Dean Offers Advice on Writing a College Essay - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/tip-sheet-essay/]Tip”>Tip Sheet: An Admissions Dean Offers Advice on Writing a College Essay - The New York Times)</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. That article is very informative. Do you think it would be better if I narrowed the scope down to say, my experience at a math summer camp?</p>
<p>You could use the math summer camp as the setting or backdrop for your essay. But make sure the essay is about YOU, not about the camp. You want your audience to read your essay and feel like they know you better, and more importantly, want you to be a student at their school.</p>
<p>narrow it down to one or two experiences that really impacted you. then show (not tell!) how it made you a better student, person, etc.</p>
<p>A lot of essays having to do with contests/ competitions/awards someone has taken part in or won can be a hit or miss depending on how you present your essay. Most of the time, the colleges see these sort of essays as just elaborating what the students already put in their achievements section of the application. If you are going to write about your math contests, make sure you put a really interesting twist on it, such as how you got interested in math, how its helped you in life other than in competitions. I’ve been to so many tours where they have complained about the “bragging essay”. They really like character defining essays, so show how math has truly morphed you into the person you are today. Hope that helps :)</p>