I was looking over the Common App essay prompts and was wondering about using fantasy football to respond to the prompt about failure. I would be able to show how I responded to weeks of unfortunate losses, but it seems pretty trivial to focus on considering that’s the most insight a college will have on my personality. Thoughts?
If they don’t follow that kind of thing, they might wonder why that’s the most important thing you can think of to write about.
Pretty much what I was thinking, thanks for the feedback. What about writing about how getting a job during my junior year changed my work ethic? Biggest problem I have with that is I’m not quite sure that it would fit under any of the prompts
My first reaction would be: Seriously? Your stressing out over IMAGINARY football games is a hardship?? it could lend to an impression that you are callous to the true challenges and hardships that others face.
However, if you wrote it humorously and then expressed gratitude that this is truly the greatest failure that you have ever experienced it MIGHT work. Not sure it is worth the risk though.
I remember the adcom officer at one school who told the potential applicants at an information session “If you write it well, it can be about ANYTHING, and we appreciate the ones that are out of the ordinary”
Go for it.
As I wrote in another thread recently, my son wrote a humorous Common App essay about his long-time love of Magic the Gathering (for those unfamiliar with it, it is a fantasy card game of the Dungeons and Dragons ilk). He got into his reach school early decision. Can’t say for sure that the essay was one of the factors that tipped the balance, but it didn’t appear to be detrimental, either!
My son also wrote his essay about Magic the Gathering. He is the founder of a card club at his high school but really the essay was about how gameplay has always been part of his life. Where did your son go to college?