i need an opinion!

College Essays
1

<p>One of UVA's essay is the prompt below. Now i am not an artistic person at all so trying to talk about a work of art or music is out of the question. I was thinking of doing literature.</p>

<p>What work of art, music, science, mathematics or literature has surprised, unsettled or challenged you, and in what way? </p>

<p>I just read Jane Eyre(hopefully some of you have read it) and I thinking of talking about how it unsettled me because she was not loved by her aunt as a child. and go on to say how I can't imagine not being loved and being sent to an orphanage, etc. </p>

<p>I think my other two essays for UVA are strong but this essay is killing me haha. please let me know what you think!</p>

2

<p>or is anyone else doing this essay to maybe give me an idea of what they are talking about? i dont want my essay to be boring or cliche..please any idea will be helpful!!!</p>

3

<p>I think that the essay might be more powerful if you pulled it back to something uncomfortable that you have experienced, rather that something you "can't imagine" experiencing. Were you ever viewed as being lesser or "evil" because you were different or because of other superficial traits you couldn't control? If that was shocking to you, you can tie it in. I remember, as a kindergartener I had attached myself to one girl. When she suddenly didn't want to play with me anymore I was confused and questioned her about it. I was shocked when she revealed that my new glasses were the reason she didn't want to be my friend anymore. It was the first time I was faced with appearance-based prejudice and it stunned me. If you can remember a similar childhood experience where your "childhood rights" were taken away, you could probably make a stronger point, even if you make it clear that your experience wasn't comparable to being abused by Ms. Reed. :)</p>

4

<p>You could talk about popular music that you like, and connect specific songs to specific traits or experiences of yours.</p>

<p>The music does not imo have to be classical or "artistic" to be worth writing about.</p>

5

<p>I would recommend doing it on a book, it kind of makes you seem more intelligent than the average "this band rocks"</p>

6

<p>The best topic will allow for one's writing to be the most personal, detailed, honest and revealing. For some people, that topic may pertain to a book. For others, that topic may pertain to music. I've read some truly excellent essays--personal, detailed, honest, revealing--about popular music.</p>

<p>Obviously, "this band rocks" would be unsatisfactory. But it would also be unwise imo to try to impress people by writing about a book when one's true voice can be found in music. Submitting a thoughtful, revealing essay about popular music imo shows more intelligence, and more good judgment, than arbitrarily forcing oneself to write about a book so as to try to "seem more intelligent".</p>

7

<p>thank you everyone for your comments!! they have helped a lot!</p>

8

<p>This particular essay for UVA has been confusing me a little also. When I write this essay I seem to be leaning more towards writing about a certain experience in music or science that was unsettling, is this ok or does it really need to focus on a specific work rather than experience? Could someone please clear this up for me?? Thanks</p>

9

<p>In asking "what work", the question does seem to seek an answer that shows your experience in the context of a specific work. </p>

<p>Would you be able to cite or refer to any specific work while you are discussing your experience?</p>

10

<p>This essay is just difficult for me because out of all the UVA admission meetings I have attended they continue to say they want just some really small experience in your life you can describe in strong detail and leave them wanting more. (they compared it to a "nike commercial") But whenever I try to write this essay on a "work" of literature, I feel like I am making it too broad, while i should be focusing on a smaller detail of my life.</p>

11

<p>You are aware of this link?</p>

<p>U.Va</a>. Office of Admission Essays</p>

12

<p>ok im glad i'm not the only one that is confused about that essay haha. I pretty much have my other two done but I just need to do that last essay. So is your suggestion, ADad, to write about a specific experience that relates to some kind of work? .. Because like I said earlier I was going to relate the book, Jane Eyre, to me..I will just have to think of a specific experience I guess and then i should just describe it in a lot of detail?</p>

13

<p>Imo successful college essays are personal, detailed, honest, revealing. Something so personal that, ideally and as a target, only you could write it.</p>

<p>
[quote]
it unsettled me because she was not loved by her aunt as a child. and go on to say how I can't imagine not being loved and being sent to an orphanage, etc.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Most people could say that it would be unimaginable, bad to be sent to an orphanage (see "McEssay" in the UVa link I provided above). Can you show that Jane Eyre, or some other work, has personal significance to you? See post #3 above by frazzledmaybe.</p>

14

<p>ohhh ok I see what you mean. thank you for advice!</p>