I’m so confused on what to write about for my applications. However, the only things I have in mind right now is either talking about my absent father and how it’s made me independent, or my stage fright and how I overcame it. Are either of these too general? Any tips on how I could start these off? Thank you
How old were you when you overcame stage fright? If this was in high school, it’s probably the better topic for you. Colleges are interested in who you are now. Unless you have enough skill to convey your positive attributes in regards to your absent father, I think that’s going to be hard to write well about.
You can start in a variety of ways. Sometimes an effective essay can start in the middle of the action. You could begin with a successful appearance on stage and how you felt confident and proud, and give a little backstory of how that wasn’t always the case. Some showing and telling, a bit of both, can be an effective way to construct an essay.
Remember the goal is to make the admissions officer say yes to you. You are selling yourself. I suggest focusing on positive aspects of your personality. And remember, the topic of the essay is YOU. Read the pinned posts at the top of the essay forum. They might help you. And read through this thread also. http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/2199521-parents4parents-crafting-college-essays-ask-me-anything-p1.html
Always talk about something unique!! You want admissions officers to be able to read through a bunch of essays and still be like I really remember this certain essay. I would describe the situation/circumstances and then talk about what you learned. The most important part is still to highlight your qualities and how you turned a possibly not-so-good situation into something that helped you grow.
I’d write a draft or outline for both topics and see where things go.
Aside from the other advice, I would also advise you to avoid the “How I Overcame Hardship” topic. It is cliché and overused, and more likely to cause an AO’s eyes to glaze over than to catch their interest.
Your story of stage fright tells me that you participate in some type of activity which requires you to be on stage. Tell of your experiences there, or of an experience you had as an independent teen. I am sure that you can find one which showcases your best qualities.
Good luck!
Write about that! Your indecisiveness about what to write about. If you can pull it off it could say a lot about you and be informative as well. "Should I write about my father’s absence and the effect it had on me? I was xxxx because of yyyy. Nah, to depressing. My stage fright! That’s it! Oh, how it inflltrated so many areas of my life, like zzzzz and aaaa. But wait – . . . .
@Lindagaf
It actually happened in middle school, however I’m not sure if that would be good to write about if it happened so long ago. Although, I do believe it has changed me since that whole event. Would it still be good to write about even if it happened so long ago?
The point is to appeal to them for the freshman class. The “today” you. It’s unlike high school where a writing teacher wants to see you reach deep into the secrets of your past.
You don’t get an admit because you had family issues. They’re looking for strengths and traits that they feel apply to college life. So some stage fright issue could work IF you can “show” how you became a more activated person, reaching out, bolder in choices, even compassionate actions. In this case, it being middle school would just be a point of reference, a few lines.
But you haven’t mentioned what target colleges. The more competitive, the less comfortable I am with writing about indecisiveness. While self awareness is good, waivering would be tough to pull off without sounding, well, indecisive.
My daughter didn’t know what to write either, she had a plethora of things that happened in her life she could have chosen but was stymied. I told her just to sit at the computer and start typing, don’t think…just type. Out poured a beautiful essay about who she was, who she is, and who she aspires to be. It was awesome because it came from the heart, it wasn’t just another…what do they want to hear essay. Hope that helps.
Show don’t tell. Whatever you choose make sure you walk the AO into your memory and lyrically describe what you went through, felt, and how you got through it.
In this case, show not tell is about the reader seeing examples, not merely taking you at your word. Remember that they don’t know you. It’s not so much lyrical or creative recounting. And the more competitive your targets, the more relevant your points need to be. To them.