I’ve been researching whether or not discussing social anxiety is a good idea and most people say that it’s not because colleges want to build a diverse, interesting class. However, I wanted to discuss how I triumphed over my social anxiety rather than how social anxiety is apart of me.
For instance: When I was a younger, it was hard for me to interact with others. It was even hard for me to order Chinese food over the phone for my dad. But, after one of my friends made me aware of my social anxiety, I began to take measures to counteract it. I would forcibly insert myself into social situations and join clubs with a huge focus on being social and public speaking. I’ve stayed through those clubs for years now and my growth as a person is apparent. Even my coach always tells me that I really changed and how I am completely different from how I was freshman year.
The main focus of my essay would be how I am capable of taking risks, straying away from my comfort zone, and my personal growth throughout my high school career. Does this seem like a good idea? Thank you for your input
be aware that AOs read a lot of personal growth / overcoming obstacles essays. The challenge in writing that essay is that it is both deeply personal and very recent, both factors that make it hard to have much perspective on the topic.
Your challenge is to write that essay in a way that is true to you, but also fresh and interesting to the AO who is working their way through a stack of 50-80 applications to read that day (think about that: if the AO averages 10 minutes per application- not just the essays, but your transcript, test scores & LoRs) x 50 applications in a day = more than 8 straight hours of reading- with no bathroom breaks, snacks, or getting up to stretch).
Can you show your journey, rather than tell it*? (for example, by using example anecdotes of before / during / after). Can you craft an opening that will catch the attention of an AO who is doing a quick scan to get see what ‘type’ of essay it is?
Also, these types of issues can come back, and AOs know it. Pick something that makes them want you on campus. I always think an essay that says, “I started behind everyone else, but overcame that and now am like everyone else” isn’t what you are aiming for, if you know what I mean. What is stand out, different about you? What makes you an oddity compared to your peers (if it isn’t a negative thing)? You are shooting for interested and interesting. Don’t take the prompts too seriously.
You’ve stayed with those clubs, but have you really taken recent risks and strayed from that comfort zone? (Or has that now become your comfort zone?) How can you show that now you stretch, in various ways? And consider that what you reveal should be relevant to their admit review. My concern is that just to “say” you’ve evolved isn’t as important as showing how you now continue to expand.
Well, for starters, your essay certainly won’t be unique. We field this question time after time.
And lots of applicants go against the advice they ask for, and still write this essay.
Most people here who have been reviewing essays for a while will agree that this is not the topic that will “give them a reason to say yes.” Rather, it’s the essay that will give them a reason to worry about your mental and emotional health, where there was no prior worry.
Nope. Merely a parent here who has helped with essays in the past. If you take a look at a number of the old posts, you’ll see that this one comes up on a fairly regular basis.
If you insist upon writing about the topic, consider writing about how it makes you interact with the world today. You can refer to how you felt to make that effort, empathy you may feel for shy kids, observations you make as a quieter person, etc.
The essay you framed above makes me wonder if you actually had social anxiety (i.e., a diagnosis) or just a lack of confidence. But if you clearly demonstrated it was the former, I would be worried about you succumbing again in college. As pointed out above, neither is exactly a win.
