I was hoping people could help me out here. Like honestly, nothing out-of-the ordinary has happened to me. I havn’t had a life changing moment etc. so I don’t know what ‘writing a killer essay’ means.
I’m interested applying to either Cornell or CMU early for Information Systems(ISST at Cornell).
Things I’ve thought of so far(stupid I know):
I’ve been researching a big facility over the summer. I could write about my experiences and how it shaped me(better work ethic etc.).
Tieing in with my interests(IS/business), I could talk about how I noticed that at my research facility there is not a lot of collaboration between projects and that there is huge organizational problems in the organization. Gettign an IS degree could help me fix those problems as this is a problem with a majority of the research facilities and can be fixed by effective technological solutions.
Maturing through high school. Understanding that motivation can only get you so far and that you need fundamental skills(tools) to help you reach your dreams.
National concern essay on affirmative action(Very risky idea). Although its a temporary solution, America is currently ignoring the real problem and we’re helping these children at the wrong stage of their life.
I just reread my post and it sounds confusing, but I’m too lazy to make it clear. So, helpful comments please!
<p>I think you need to stick to writing something that no one can duplicate. Even if it doesn't include fantastic experiences, everything should push toward something unique about you. A 'hook' that a college would just die to have. The topics you suggested sound a bit generic but number 3 could be great with an added boost of lots of personal qualities that you posess or didn't posess but have now achieved.</p>
<p>I would not go with #4, not only because it's a controversial topic, but because you run the risk of talking about something external instead of about yourself. In a different thread, someone mentioned that the rule you should use when writing your college essay is "can anyone else write this?" I think that is great advice and ultimately the goal of these essays--to tell someone unique about yourself/or say something in an unique way. </p>
<p>I feel like the topics you mentioned aren't quite personal enough..they are all about working or school. What about family? Maybe start off with an anecdote or something, everyone has those.</p>
<p>Ok so I should probably stay away from the whole research idea. The only reason I threw that up is because I thought it was kind of a hook since only like 40 kids in the whole country get an opportunity to do meaningful research(publish own papers etc) at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. </p>
<p>I could talk about Model UN since I got really involved in that(Outstanding at UPenn IVY), but that probably wouldn't generate a killer essay. Also, I volunteer, but those essays are boring.</p>
<p>I created this website this website to help people donate to respectable charities online(my site was informative, did not deal with money directly) for the asian tsunami relief efforts. I guess it shows that I take iniative in my community..?</p>
<p>I'm still stuck on getting a good idea. There's nothing really unique about me. I'm just a kid who wants to go to a good college, get a good education, and be successful in his career.</p>
<p>Well, I didn't know that the research was that special. If you want to write about that, you have to really bring out the fact that not very many high schoolers get the opportunity to do such things. And you have to talk about yourself a lot, because with a topic like that you run the risk of going off about the research itself.</p>
<p>Agree with zantedeschia that you should NOT give up on the idea of writing about your unique research opportunity. But I wouldn't talk about how it improved your work ethic, that is too general, anyone can say that X improved their work ethic. </p>
<p>Why don't you sit down and brainstorm about your summer experience, jot down a few key words, no sentences yet, describing your summer. Just let your mind wander about what most interests you and what you most enjoy about your work this summer.</p>
<p>Writing about a "significant experience" doesn't mean having the most fascinating experience ever just by itself--it means making an ordinary experience extraordinary through your writing and language.</p>
<p>I tell everyone this: get the book "Essays that Worked." Its a collection of app essays that were written by students accepted into very good schools.</p>
<p>Some of the strongest essays have nothing to do with "blowing one's own horn" or trying to sound accomplished, smart...</p>
<p>Truly my D had to read someof these essays to see-- an ahah! moment-- my essay is my chance to BE ME.</p>
<p>Seriously. My favorite essays were on (1) working in a donut shop, (2) the anniversary of the death of a parent (3) babysitting for the same kids 8 hours a day all summer.</p>
<p>The personalities of the kids really really shine through and IMHO this is a very important function of a good essay. if you're great at science they know it from your SAT 2, your AP, and you "A's" in science.</p>