<p>My inbox is full of PMs from seniors asking me to read their essays. I love reading essays. Essays are awesome. Please, by all means, come ask me to edit if you would like. However, combined with the essays I've edited over the last two years, I'm starting to notice certain alarming trends in topics. Here's what NOT to do with your essay, and why it's probably not a great idea:</p>
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<ol>
<li>Why My Thought Process is Really Cool</li>
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<p>What It Is: This essay usually makes mention of how the reader is open minded, loves learning, yadda yadda yadda. "the inside of my mind is like a vast jungle filled with wild tigers and ponies." "my mind is like a Venn diagram." "entering my mind is like wiping your behind with a slip of pure silk." "I am unique in that I love knowledge."</p>
<p>Why it's bad: You're eighteen, and you think your thought process is amazing and special. This is normal. Every eighteen-year-old believes this. Reality check: It's a terrible topic. Most of your peer applicants will probably have a love of learning and will think that they process information in some cool and special way. This is why they are applying to a top-tier college, just like you. Reading an essay like this is akin to swimming in soup - full of flowery language and over-the-top melodrama about how special and misunderstood you are. Be classy. Follow one of the most basic writing rules: "show, don't tell." demonstrate how you have showcased this interesting head of yours. Are you involved with the Chess league? a Dungeon Master? a Stage director? Tell us about it. Talk about a time you put your position to the test.</p>
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<ol>
<li>Insert Philosophy Rant Here</li>
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<p>What It Is: "I believe that the meaning of life is <strong><em>." "I fear death because I believe that I will never gain all the knowledge I wish to find." "People are special because _</em></strong>." "The nature of evil is _<em>." "Goodness is about doing </em> and __."</p>
<p>Why it's bad: Once again: you are an eighteen year old kid writing about sagely life advice to a committee of 40-year-old+ academic professionals with years of work experience and wisdom. This is an epic fail maneuver. If you want to write philosophy, use this space to write about your world, and how events in your life have changed your perspective on your life outlook. (For example, "after my sister died in an accident, I began to see that life was about seizing opportunity regardless of its brevity.")</p>
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<ol>
<li>The Completely Unrelated Essay</li>
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<p>What It Is: "Biogenic Amenes are cool because of ____." "The way that nuclear science works is really neat." "Let me tell you about the way Vincent Van Gogh painted." "Lao Tsu was a famous Chinese philosopher."</p>
<p>Why it's bad: This is a personal essay. Talk about you, you, you, and you. It's okay to relate a topic back to yourself, but make sure you spend more time talking about yourself than about the unrelated topic. (IE "Michelangelo chipped away at marble day after day, a little more each time. In the same way, I had to slowly chip myself into a finished piece at football camp. Each practice was grueling, but brought me closer to top form.")</p>
<p>Okay. I'm finished now. But really, guys. This is in your best interest. :) Hopefully this will help you avoid some pretty basic pitfalls in essays and will push you towards writing something interesting, clear, and meaningful-- something that will marvel and dazzle the admissions committee of your choice.</p>
Just send it over via PM.</p>