<p>For this who got in, would you mind elaborating on what you guys wrote about in your essays?</p>
<p>When I read a post like this, my first thought is that OP’s intentions are honorable, but s/he needs to rethink her admissions strategy to have a shot at Harvard. </p>
<p>A good college essay is about something youve done or experienced that says something interesting and distinctive about you who you are, how you think, what you care about, how you approach life, what interests you, etc. A formulaic essay that sounds like dozens of other essays will cause an admissions officers eyes to glaze over, and likely doom your application to the rejection pile. </p>
<p>So, youre asking the wrong question and looking in the wrong place. If 10 admitted students told you about their essays, they would likely be about 10 different topics, none of which is right for you. Harvard and the Ivies are looking for leaders (not followers), originals (not clones) and self-starters. This is a good time to look inside and trust your instincts.</p>
<p>This is not to say do it all by yourself. Smart applicants are learners who take advantage of available resources. If theres a summer course on the college essay nearby, check it out. Try out your topic ideas with parents, college counselors, wise adults, and smart friends. Write drafts and get feedback – strong, distinctive, non-clichéd writing is vital. Get all the help you can, but start from who you are.</p>
<p>If you’re looking for advice on how to put together your college application, Yale offers a few videos from admissions directors that are helpful: [Advice</a> on Putting Together Your Application | Yale College Admissions](<a href=“http://admissions.yale.edu/advice-putting-together-your-application]Advice”>Advice on Putting Together Your Application | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions)</p>