I’ve been brainstorming application essay topics, and these are the two I like most. I’d love to her your thoughts on them, or if one is better than the other. Thank you!
The first topic I’m considering is writing about how music impacts me. Contrasting my busy mind with the peace that it brings me, losing myself in the music and finding meaning. I think this topic could bring out my personal writing style and convey something that’s incredibly important to me.
The other topic I’m considering is writing about my experiences volunteering and becoming friends with special needs students and helping at a respite care center for children with severe medical needs. These experiences have shaped my career interest in speech pathology and the relationships I’ve built are very meaningful to me. If I choose this topic, I’d need to figure out whether to focus on one experience or go chronologically.
Let’s talk briefly about the purpose behind this essay.
You’re not trying to give them a view of your writing style. It’s not about why you chose your major.
What you’re trying to do, in approximately 650 words, is “give them a reason to say yes.” You’re trying to separate the real you from your statistics-- from the other 400 kids whose statistics are exactly like yours. You want to leave the reader thinking “Now, THAT’S a kid we want on this campus!”
You’ve narrowed it down to 2 essays. Why not write a rough draft of each, and see which one you like better?