I have multiple traits I want to showcase in my essay, so right now it’s basically different traits in different paragraphs. How do I form it so the reader is lead through the essay by a common thread?
Is there a common activity or thing you have enjoyed that you can give examples of the character traits in. For my son for example it was horses. He showed his traits through being a horseback counselor, teaching horseback, riding on a polo team, making connections through riding, entering a pre-vet program, etc. He tied all the traits he wanted to show in with stories of his love of horses and riding. Just an example, it could be lots of different things, travel, teaching, band, gaming, whatever.
Find an event or short episode of your life where your traits (all together, same time, or subsequently… anyway, if few of them don’t fit, drop them and don’t just put them there to make you a multifaceted person) made the things work (solve problem), got your through difficult time, or enhanced you as a person. There got to be some events or moments in your life that make you memorable of that, or these traits are not really much worth to be on the essay. Also your essay got to be a story itself, or it becomes a list of dot. dot. dot. and likely will bore the reader (in this case the admission officer) to death.
I don’t think focusing on the list of traits you want to show is a very helpful way to approach your essay. One or two, maybe. Your rec letters should reveal some traits anyway. Possibly your choice of ECs as well. I’d say my D1’s essays reflected her zest and enthusiasm for life (she wrote one essay about being “intchild!” – but with her own first name, of course, with the focus on the exclamation point and how it reflected her personality). Kid #2 went for intellectual and a bit quirky – talked about her attempts from middle school through high school to emulate a famous intellectual literary figure, with some helpful and not so helpful results.
Pick your overriding/theme for your app – be consistent with the rest of the picture they will see, but use the esssy to show some nuance or aspect of that story they don’t see elsewhere.
I don’t see a hard and fast rule about creating a common thread throughout your essay–the only common thread is you. The essay is an opportunity to illustrate the way you think, in a way that allows your reader to appreciate you.
For early drafts, just focus on describing your experiences or why you like something, as thoroughly as possible.
You could write about one thing or dozens, it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that you outline it months before your deadline, to give yourself time to fully revise, as often as it takes.
Writing an essay is just as much about the process of editing as it is about choosing a topic and approach. Think of your essay as an organic, natural lifeform that needs time to fully open.
In addition, you’ll find that paying attention to the connections between paragraphs as a writing problem–instead of an analytical problem–will solve the issue of how to connect your many ideas or experiences. As you create the links between paragraphs, the philosophical connections will emerge (perhaps through devices such as metaphors and similes.)
If you are relaxed and not rushed, you will be delighted by what emerges when making the awkward connections work. You may even find that you are smarter than you thought.
IMO the biggest mistake essay writers make is failure to give themselves ample time. It’s over time that the essay really tells you what it’s about and how it works. Create the possibility of surprising yourself at how good the essay can become, no matter how really bad its start. To me, that’s a delicious process.
If you relax into it (while keeping your mind’s sharp focus,) you’ll come to enjoy your writing process. Then your readers will enjoy it too.
One other thing–have someone who is great at grammar read it over before you turn the final copy in.
You only have 650 words-- you really can’t squeeze too many different ideas in there and still have a cohesive essay.
@bjkmom “Would you ask Toscanini to lead a harmonica band?”
I just saw someone post this about essays: http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/uploads/1/0/9/5/109505679/hack_the_college_essay_2017.pdf
Try linking the traits to something simple from your childhood (characteristics of playdough, glue, mudpies, ice cream), your favorite outdoor creature (snake, slimy frog, anthill). Wake up the reader with literary devices such as alliteration while you weave your traits into a fun humorous story. Be original and wake up the reader. It’s more about how well you weave the words about yourself than the actual content. Show the reader and draw them into your world.
You are going about this a little strangely. I’d find the theme first, then see what traits come up naturally.