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<p>I second that! Says a lot about what has happened to mainstream journalism these last few decades.</p>
<p>There’s Peak Oil – or, more generally, peak resources (oil, water, topsoil, sea fishing, etc.) As these resources become more depleted, the costs for the mere basics of living (food, transport, heating) will spiral upward leaving less discretionary income. On a macro level, this could lead to a no-growth or recessionary world economy possibly lasting decades.</p>
<p>DS actually wrote a “who do you admire most” essay about Jon Stewart. he talked about how influential he is, and how he is a counter to 24-hour news. It was good without being too overtly political. </p>
<p>Has your area lived through a natural disaster? that can be a topic that blends personal and policy easily.</p>
<p>Ok, help us out here, our older kids applied to schools that didn’t require essays or were essay optional so we haven’t gone through this process. I thought that the essays were supposed to be about the student-not so much a “brag sheet” but just a way to show more about who they are, not so much to discuss famine in 3rd world countries. In your DH’s essay, MizzBee, what kinds of things did he write? How was it related to him as a student? Or, are we WAY off base in our thinking for what the essay should be? DS is thinking about doing something about the values he learned while being in marching band–good idea, bad idea, too common?? DD was thinking about writing an essay about her medical struggles junior year both as a “hey, it was a bad year but I survived” type of thing but also a way to show why she had a little dip in grades junior year without sounding like she is making excuses. Again, good ideas? Bad ideas?</p>
<p>DS essay was specifically for a scholarship, and it asked about what leader you admire and what leadership qualities that they have. He then discussed how he demonstrates those qualities. It worked for him because he was able to talk about how he uses both brutal honesty and humor to diffuse tense political talks with his friends as he is both an atheist and liberal in a conservative and religious area. </p>
<p>I like the ideas that you listed, but I am no expert.</p>
<p>Generally the advice is that the essay should be about you, sometimes I think though it is appropriate to take a different tack. My son’s Chicago essay was complete fiction, but it showed his knowledge of a subject and at the same time his sense of humor. An option Tufts essay that invited an alternative history of the US was similar. He’d already given them the personal essays - this was also an opportunity to do something different and showing his intellectual chops and humor. It depends a bit on what ground you’ve covered in the other essays. My son’s applications tried to give a complete, but still pretty unified picture of himself. I think he came off as smart, clever, funny, a little quirky, someone with some unusual activities, and someone who could take some pretty ordinary situations and think deeply about them. My older son gave a complete picture too. His application said, I’m really, really good with computers, and I love to read. I’m top notch at what interests me, but don’t expect too much beyond that.</p>
<p>SteveMA, I think the marching band essay sounds fine - it’s probably been done before, but that doesn’t mean it’s a terrible idea. I think the health problem essay would be really hard to pull off and is better addressed by a GC or an extra short statement/essay.</p>
<p>I think if you can - you should think, what am I good at? What are my best qualities? Why do people like me? How can I show these qualities in an essay?</p>
<p>Hi AllThisIsNewToMe,</p>
<p>I have worked with thousands of students on essays and have never had a problem finding out something they care passionately about. A conversation with some tough questions and challenges almost always works.</p>
<p>Until. When my own daughter applied to many (12) schools, she had a mountain of writing to do. She is phenomenal writer (a Pulitzer prize winner gave her a thumbs up on her website from her gap year experiences last year), but when it came time to write her essays she was anything but forthcoming about ideas or sharing what she was going to do. The wall between parent and child is far different than the one between a teacher or mentor. </p>
<p>I have a current student who ‘came out’ in her college essay and her parents did not know. Many students feel parents will judge them both in terms of style and content and so they are hesitant to share. Believe me I have learned this as a parent and it was a struggle.</p>
<p>So tell your son to talk to someone he trusts. Run ideas by him or her. I actually tell parents to stay out of the process if possible. I did not read over my daughter’s essays and again I think this was the right thing to do. For me at least. Having a dad who is pretty well known around the world for being an expert on college essays puts just a wee bit of pressure on. And this whole college process is completely over the top and needlessly stressful already.</p>
<p>But it all worked out. She is a great kid. But imagine this. She chose to write about how Humbert Humbert in Lolita was a hero to her. If you don’t know the book this is a huge risk and I think most parents would have nixed it. I think a lot of teachers would have too. But she is a talented writer and made the case. She will be enrolling in a great school in an honors program. I have used her essay since in workshops I give and some are shocked that a person would take that chance. But then she is the kind of person who wants to explore the world and to explore words and ideas. </p>
<p>Everyone has a passion. I worked recently with a great person whose passion is Manchester United. He did not think, (I think) that this could not only be a great topic. </p>
<p>It is never the topic that matters. Any topic, including religion and politics and yes even pedophilia can work, given the proper how. It is the how not the what that matters. At least that is what I have learned after 30 years in this business, but I have seen people who do what I do strongly disagree. So don’t take my word as gospel (joke intended).</p>
<p>I hope this helps.</p>
<p>mathmom-I think she was going to focus more on the time management skills, follow-up skills, etc. that she really had to employ. She basically missed 2/3 of the first trimester of school junior year and how she was doing double duty with homework, etc. Good idea, bad idea? Even with missing all that school she still pulled off a 3.6 with 4 AP classes in the mix so she was thinking that it would show how she could handle college work.</p>
<p>SteveMA, using the essay to explain a dip in grades is not a good idea. That should be handled by the guidance counselor, and even possibly a teacher.</p>
<p>However, the topic of overcoming an obstacle such as an illness can be used for other reasons, what the student learned, etc.</p>
<p>I cannot imagine going on my kid’s Facebook page to see what he or she might be interested in. First of all, I would know anyway, and second, the kid can do that him or herself.</p>
<p>The student really needs to be in the driver’s seat for the essay. Parents can be supports, walls to bounce off of, facilitators, whatever, but need to maintain some detachment so that the kid owns the effort. Trite maybe, but true.</p>
<p>Sometimes a blank period is a good thing, just like boredom. Is there a rush on this? Why not wait a few months and let him think some more? If he is truly up against a deadline and cannot write anything, maybe hire a tutor for a couple of hours, if you can afford it.</p>
<p>ps Editing to add that one suggestion I made to my 3 children was to read over the autobiographical stories they had written in middle school (they made books with illustrations)…for some reason, these inspired ideas for essays for all of them. Senior year is a time of looking back as well as looking forward…
pps Crossposted with Steve</p>
<p>I can answer this one… as it has to do with why a person missed school and how this can be used, as I always say, either as an excuse or as a chance to show (not tell) what an experience has done to change the way a person interprets her interior world and the world outside too.</p>
<p>A related question–essay optional schools, to send or not? The kids would be coming in top 25%, do they “need” to send the essay?</p>
<p>If Tulane is any indication, there were a lot of rejections and waitlists for top students that didn’t so optional essays. There is a lot to be said for showing love to your safety, and that is true of taking care with the application.</p>
<p>I can only speak for Tufts - they say it’s really truly optional. That said, I don’t think you can count on being in the top 25% to be good enough. My younger son did all optional essays, but he had a mixed record and felt the more opportunities he had to sell himself the better, but it also helped that the minute he saw one of the Tufts optional essays he wanted to write the essay. He knew exactly what approach he would take and knew it would be fun for him to write. So look at those questions. If there’s an opportunity to really shine because the question speaks to you, do it. If it’s just going to be another essay that really doesn’t add to the application, don’t bother.</p>
<p>You can write a good essay on any subject, I just think one about health difficulties is one full of potential pitfalls. If that’s the one she wants to write that’s fine, she just needs to be really careful. Get outside opinions about it.</p>
<p>I think we will tell her to explore other options for her essay topic then. She is a lucky kid, that was the biggest adversity she has ever had to face so no saving a 3rd world country single handedly or anything like that to fall back on :D.</p>
<p>DS common app essay was about growing up short and how he was treated before his growth spurt. It was really funny and sweet. You don’t need to save the world, just show that you KNOW who you are.</p>
<p>MizzBee has said something great. Show the love. I tell people any time anyone says something is optional it isn’t. Why would I think you really want me if you don’t even bother to write a short essay. Are you kidding me?</p>
<p>Remember for many schools enrollment managers have now replaced what used be deans of admission. Yield and rankings are ever present. Sad, but true.</p>
<p>Ok, MizzBee-your “know who you are” struck home. I think I am going to encourage her to write about just that. As I told parkemuth in a PM, she is very comfortable in her skin, tends to be a bit goofy at times (in a good way). Example I gave was how her Dad told her to knock on the window of the car in front of them at the DQ drive through to find out what they ordered–she did, thought it was a hoot. How many girls, at 15-16 years old would be comfortable doing that? I remember being 16 and mortified at the thought of going outside to get the mail not having my hair and makeup done and while she is nicely groomed, doesn’t phase her if her friends see her in less than perfect conditions :D.</p>
<p>Steve,</p>
<p>As you have read there is not agreement on this. Or on most of what constitutes a great essay or topic. I am doing research on this now and hope to have an article or opinion piece out in the not too distant future.</p>
<p>but the sound bite is:</p>
<p>De gustibus non est disputandum
(about taste there is no arguing-my shabby translation)</p>
<p>Best of luck. Your daughter is one special person. She should be really proud of what she has done and overcome.</p>
<p>Thanks Parke–I appreciate your help!!</p>
<p>For OP’s question, if the idea is to play to his or her strengths, gently reveal personal qualities adcoms like, no kid should choose a topic that exceeds his own limits. Often better to pick one that fits than assume you need to prove intellectual superiority or world compassion. As long as it’s done well.</p>
<p>The CA essays also do well when they “show, not tell” the personal qualities about a kid that serve well in college. Perspective, resiliance, outlook and often adaptability. And more.</p>
<p>I am one who thinks it is fine for a parent to read the app and offer suggestions. I see no particular honor in having the kid do the entire package alone. Some can. But they are 17and nearly all of them have never done something of this sort before. Maybe they pulled together a little resume for a job or wrote a blurb about themselves in hs. But, their whole perspective is hs. Fine to offer input, just don’t do it for them, let them make the key decisions.</p>
<p>I would say if there’s an optional essay - do it! My S decided not to do the optional essay for Tufts and didn’t interview there (even though I begged him to do one or the other). Instead he sent some creative writing samples. Even with stellar grades and top SAT scores, he was waitlisted.</p>
<p>Essays are the best way to sell yourself and to let the schools know who you are. Plus, they love it when you tell them how awesome their school is, so relating what you’re writing to the philosophy of the school is important.</p>