OP, posters have given you lots of good essay advice. I would encourage you to read lots of actual essays, there are books on essays you can check out at the library and a number of good websites with essay samples. Hamilton, Johns Hopkins and Tufts post successful essays from previous admissions cycles online too, check those out.
The question isn’t, “What do colleges want me to say?” The question isn’t, “Which EC or hobby should I play up?” The question is, what story can you tell about yourself that is unique to you, and does the things I mentioned in post #17. If the story included mentioning a Bobbie or activity, then by all means do do. But you are going at the question fromtge wrong angle in your initial question.
Sorry, typos on the phone. HOBBY, not Bobbie. And “from the wrong angle”.
Read the mission statement from the colleges. Sometimes this helps when preparing an essay but… I don’t think many have heard of a students that will know 7 languages. I think this could be a great essay. Let it reflect who you are and what you will bring or get involved on campus. Yes, I think you can associate it with what you intend to do on campus. You need high intelligence to accomplish those languages. My son took his unique hobby and somehow connected it to his interest at college. If done correctly, it can be very compelling. As a reader of this thread I would want to know the why and what makes the languages so interesting to you.
@Knowsstuff I started learning my mother tongue through epics told by my mother. My language is one of the oldest languages in the world and I learned that it was dying. That really concerned me. Through learning my own language, I learned 3 other languages spoken around it geographically, which was not too difficult because my language has roots in those other languages. In school I learned Spanish and French (and English :P), which was fun because many words were similar to English words and verbs were simple to conjugate based on patterns. I guess I only know 6 languages because English doesn’t really count.
My favorite language to learn was definitely my own language because of the ancient poems and stories that went with it. It made learning the language feel like an adventure. I had a certain intrinsic motivation, per se, to keep going. There was never anything to stop me.
I wouldn’t call myself intelligent because I know a few more languages and someone else. I honestly did it out of passion and curiosity. “I wonder why this word has the exact same pronunciation and meaning in this other language.” I definitely want to study Latin or Greek at some point in my life. But right now, I’m just too busy. Maybe next summer break? I’m learning Italian and German right now on Duolingo German is fun right now because I get to read a few Grimm brothers stories.
Thanks, I will definitely take your advice.
So now your story gets better… You mother language is a dying language. This makes it even more interesting. How many students will be writing about a dying language and how it affects them and how it makes them who they are today? Like no one… That makes you unique. Unique and Interesting is key! Your second paragraph is also already written for your essay… Lol. Keep that going… I want to learn more. If I want to learn more about you and so will a reader.
I agree with Knowsstuff! You caught my interest with the epics told by your mother in a dying language. I want to read the rest of your essay to find out more about you.
haha I just noticed that the second paragraph could be in an essay…hopefully I can project my interest in my essays.
@Knowsstuff and @bobo44 thank you so much!