My mother told me to write a college essay, and I ran out of ideas, so I jokingly quoted an animated movie for children. When I showed her the essay, I expected her to be mad, but she thought that the quote was absolutely brilliant, and could be used to draw comparisons to myself and my own experiences. Now, she and my dad are making me add it into my essay, and I am reluctantly considering adding it in. While it sounds great, I was not sure if colleges would find it too amusing.
Is it a good idea to quote a movie if you are giving credit where it is due and it is not out of place? Will it annoy the admissions office, or will the people reviewing my essay find it amusing?
If you’ve done a strong job with drawing out the comparisons - related it to things in your life, applied and interpreted its “moral” or inspiration to ways in which you’ve met challenges and risen to the occasion in doing so, and both the essay and the quote show something “different” about your way of thinking than that of the horde, what’s the harm?
If your mother is a strong judge of good work, and you think it is also a piece of good work, why not keep it among the many you may look to as you’re crafting them for real?
(Are you crafting them for real already?) What is the “told me to write a college essay” part about?
I’m writing my first real draft, unfortunately. I don’t know what my questions are going to be, but I think I’m going to choose the questions that best fit my essay and then slightly alter it. I guess I’m a little unenthusiastic about it, which is why I’m making it sound like a chore.
Looks like University of Illinois.
There’s nothing wrong with using a quote in an essay. A quote can reinforce a point you are trying to make.
But stylistically… I personally cringe when I read essays that open with the quote. It’s so tired and overused. I recommend using the quote in the body of the essay, and not as the opening line.
The only thing I hate more than an essay that opens with a quote, is an essay that opens with a dictionary definition.
Okay, @the1975, here’s the deal.
My suggestion would be to continue to write more drafts as well as the ‘real’ essays, gaining experience about the process and about your thoughts and your strengths during that period.
I understand the being less than enthusiastic right now. It is a long haul, walking this road.
If you like the draft, though you think it is begun with something rather quirky and not exactly reflective of the voice you wish to put forth in the future, just let your parents know that it was a strong start that you don’t want to end up being your signature mark.
One more thing, though. I have no idea what you’re looking to do, study, where you’d like to go, or what your parents can swing financially, but are you aware that UChicago welcomes the unique voice in the application essay? My children went deeeep, and it paid off for them, though I was worried.
Good luck to you going forward.
Nope. I’m not applying to Illinois.
“Make my day.”
“Plastics.”
“Do you feel lucky?”
Quotes can be an interesting hook for an essay. Movie, novel, speech … all the same in my opinion.
@AboutTheSame As long as it’s not, "As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster. " 
I quoted spiderman in an essay about nuclear physics and won the essay contest. As long as it’s used well. it’s fine. You’re not writing an economic report for the UN - it’s a college essay from a young person.
Ever watched Risky Business?
Oh, was that a movie quote? I’ve never seen it. I’ll have to add it to my list.