<p>I was just wondering, how important are essays really?
Because they have been very, very hard for me to write, even with help from others, and I have some due Dec. 1 and I'm freaking out.
If anyone could give me their thoughts, that'd be great.
Thank you!</p>
<p>My thoughts are that the less you freak out and the more you put pen to paper the better off you will be. </p>
<p>You write a good essay this way: first start with a really horrible draft. Then refine the horrible draft to get rid of the crappy stuff and develop the stuff that is good. Then put aside overnight and reflect. Reread it and see if you are getting anywhere and rewrite if is has promise. If not, start over with another idea; repeat as necessary.</p>
<p>It depends upon the school how important, and upon how good your other qualifications are. As a loose rule of thumb, the better the school the more they matter.</p>
<p>Alright, I already have some going, but I don't know, half seem really cheesy and the other half don't seem personal enough. I have a question on my common app topic, which I am worried sounds rather cliche:
I'm writing about a person who had an influence on me, so I'm writing about my Aunt Marcia. She isn't really a generic role model (she smokes hella, she never went to college, she has to work long hours at a factory in order to make enough $) but she has discovered her passion of traveling, so that's basically what she works for and everything. It really is inspiring to me, because I want to find something I really really love to do, like she has.
But does that seem super cliche???</p>
<p>anything is super cliche when your write about a hero.
but mine isnt, my essay kicks a**, and im not tellling my secrets</p>
<p>okay, thanks</p>
<p>The topic sounds cute to me. Most colleges essays are cliche to a certain extent- from the ones I've read anyway (in essay books and stuff).</p>
<p>at selective colleges essays are critical. There's a great page you should see at MIT which introduces the adcoms and each says a little something about applying to college. The link is <a href="http://matt.mitblogs.com/archives/meet_the_admissions_officers/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://matt.mitblogs.com/archives/meet_the_admissions_officers/index.html</a></p>
<p>Let me quote from one:
[quote]
Put a lot of time and effort into crafting your personal statement. While it may seem like a chore at first, remember that everything in you application is being said about you. Your essays are the only time that you get to speak directly to admissions committee. Make your voice count! Don't use your whole essay telling us what you want to do after college (E.g. I want to be a thoracic surgeon helping the indigenous population of the Republic of Kiribati). Instead use your voice to tell us what you are passionate about studying
[/quote]
</p>
<p>mikemac:</p>
<p>I am not applying to MIT but after reading the information their admission officers provided, it makes me want to! What an interesting group of people! Their tips for essays and applications were valuable for any school. I especially liked the following:</p>
<p>"Two things - first, put yourself - your true self - into all of the subjective parts of the application, especially your essays. When readers feel a human connection to an application, it makes them search even harder for a reason to admit you. In other words, we don't connect with pieces of paper, we connect with people. So make sure that your application is a compelling window into who you really are."</p>
<p>You need to think. Stop concentrating about writing a college essay, and just write an essay about something important to you. Everyone writes in different ways, but you really just need to relax. If you write about something you really care about, it might be a little lame, but it will be true, and it will be you. That's what matters.</p>
<p>Things To Think About:
What do you love?
What do you live for?
What excites you?
What are the constants in your life?
What inspires you?
What are your goals? What do you think is most important to do in life?
What memory makes you feel sad/ashamed/proud?
What has made you who you are?
What defines you?</p>
<p>There are a lot more, but it's a starting point.</p>
<p>The OP wrote about her aunt who loves to travel: "It really is inspiring to me, because I want to find something I really really love to do, like she has." Actually that theme sounds like a winner! Colleges want students who are looking for something they can be passionate about. And the theme sounds genuine, because you're searching rather than declaring you've found it. This gets a college excited, because they believe they can offer the tools and opportunities that can help you with your search.</p>
<p>Now follow bettina's advice and get it written!</p>
<p>hey,
thanks for the advice/encouragement everyone!
Well, my essay is written! A little cheesy I guess, but I think it says what I want.
Now to start in with the revisions!</p>
<p>corranged, what if I am not passionate about anything, so I can't really answer any of those questions?</p>
<p>Um, are you being serious?</p>
<p>Anyway, write about anything: something that shows who you are. College essays really aren't that difficult. There aren't many rules. Just write in your own voice, and see what comes out. See if what you write is true.</p>
<p>The personal essays are about a million times easier than the "why do you want to go to this school?" essays (at least for me!). I mean, it's difficult to really be creative when writing about the reason why you want to go to a school or why you want to study a particular subject. It just feels like being creative would be too forced for those more objective essays. :(</p>
<p>I'll bump this up. I'm curious of any responses for post #14..</p>
<p>as long as you really feel passionate about whatever the topic is, and don't write like a middle schooler, you should be fine. just let the words flow...if you feel passionate the admit people will be able to tell. if, on the other hand, it really feels like you're trying to push the topic/essay/prompt, consider a new essay, point of view, or something. they can tell if you push it also.</p>
<p>relax. :)</p>
<p>ugh i hate essays that are like "what can you contribute to our campus?" though....-.-;;</p>
<p>I mean, I feel kind of bad when I see my "Why [school name]?" essay and see that it looks pretty bland. I don't want to add any weird kind of creativity or the cliche analogy.. thoughts?</p>
<p>Yeah I'm worried about those essays, esp. because I havent been able to visit any</p>
<p>i had the same problem (with the why you will be successful in x college? and why you are interested in this...)</p>
<p>I acutally scrapped a essay yesterday (turned app in at 2 in the morning) and wrote a new one that is definitely a little strange but you can clearly tell i am interested in the school and i want to be there. </p>
<p>i think the most important thing is to show a genuine interest in the school, in whatever field you think you want to go into, etc. Doing some research on a school helps too. The booklet they sent me actually helped me write my essay (I have never been to the school).</p>
<p>i am hoping that my long essays will make up for my shorters ones where i used extended metaphor and stuff like that.</p>
<p>2 essential rules - </p>
<ul>
<li>Be vivid (SHOW don't tell)</li>
<li>Be positive</li>
</ul>
<p>If all else fails, pay for an editor. I payed a Harvard English major to edit my essay. $140 gone, but she did a terrific job. =)</p>