^ That would make a fine thinkpiece, not a COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ESSAY.
I’m still not exactly sure what colleges are looking for in a unique student. all I know is that that topic and a response along the lines of what OP wants to give will make the applicant seem intellectual, independent, with high critical thinking faculties. I assume colleges wants intellectuals.
if they only want intellectuals insofar as they can do well on their college assignments then I’m completely done with my college search. too bad being admitted to the most elite schools usually means bigger paycheck sand better ways to provide for family.
I think both essay ideas (1 and 2) demonstrate that you are a very critical thinker that is capable of realizing real problems with the American education system. Admissions LOVE critical thinkers. You would be better off writing one of those two essays than your cop-out essay. One thing you can’t do it attack the schools you are applying to, directly or indirectly.
That’s your opinion. There are plenty of people (like OP) and politicians who think otherwise. Shrugging that idea off as a “complaint” is definitely not conducive to any discussion.
You are confused about the purpose of the admissions essay. It’s not a platform to rant. Ranting tells the AdComs nothing about you as a person, other than that u like to complain.
Higher education is a privilege, not a human right.
The College Board is not a monopoly. You can take the ACT or apply to test-optional schools.
At the end of the day, it’s of course your choice.
But you asked for advice.
And the funny thing about asking for advice online is that it all looks equal.
As I see it, the vast majority of people urging you to criticize the educational system are high school students themselves, who have zero experience with this process.
The majority of people saying that it’s unlikely to improve your chances of admission are adults, with a bit more experience in this area.
Before you take anyone’s advice here-- on anything, not just this-- I would suggest visiting each person’t s profile page, to see the number of posts, of “helpfuls” and “likes” they’ve received. It will help determine the validity of each person’s perspective.
@bjkmom thanks!! I think yours is the best advice I’ve gotten so far LOL, everyone else is so split! I still have about a week if I want to change my essay, but I still can’t decide UGH
To address what some people are saying, I’m not at all saying that higher education is a right. My first idea is about PUBLIC schools, so elementary school through high school. I guess my second idea about the college board could be taken the wrong way so maybe I’d have to rethink that one. And my cop out essay is about basic education, definitely not higher education.
And secondly, my essay won’t just be a giant rant, I’m not an idiot. I’m going to point out the problem, explain why it’s an issue, then provide some solutions.
I don’t know if this will change anyone’s minds but I wanted to explain myself.
Here’s what I would do in your shoes:
Take today off. It’s a holiday.
Stop asking for advice. (funny, of course, because here I am offering more.) This is your application. You’ve gotten a number of conflicting pieces of advice. You know the pros and cons.
Tomorrow morning (or afternoon if, like me, you plan to start shopping at 3 am 
) read your entire application, from beginning to end. Get a feel for the type of person you present yourself to be.
Then read those essays. See whether they add or subtract from the image you wish to give to a stranger. Whether they give an adcom who has ONE spot left a reason to give that spot to you.
That’s what this is all about. Your essay is your chance to sway his vote in your favor. It’s a golden opportunity that you don’t want to waste. It’s your chance to inject a little YOU into an application that is mostly lists and statistics. It should leave the reader wanting to meet you.
If, in your opinion, your essay would make a stranger want to meet you, to have you attend his school, then send it.
If not, then rewrite until it does make him want to say yes.
@bjkmom WOW I wish I saw this earlier, this is such useful advice! (are you a therapist or something haha)
Luckily I think my application did reflect who I truly am, which is what I was going for. If a school doesn’t like the person that’s represented in that application then I guess it’s not the school for me. Sooo I went with what I believed in, which was the risky essay about my school, BUT I showed it to a guidance counselor at my school and she approved!! Thanks to everyone who helped me out with this! (fingers crossed I get in…!)
Nope… I’m a mom and a high school teacher… so unofficial therapy is pretty much part of both job descriptions.
And you’re absolutely right-- you want a school that wants the real you, not the phony, high brow one that so many applicants seem determined to present.
Then, of course, they get to that school, and are surprised to find that it’s not what they had hoped. Of course not! It was a good fit for the person they admitted, not the one who should have applied.
It sounds as though you did a great job with your essay-- as though the real you was the one who applied.
Good luck!
@bjkmom you’re certainly good at what you do, haha. Thanks again!!