Kooky krazy essay topikz!!!

College Essays
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>So as of now I am still in the essay topic stage, however I would like to being my essay ASAP. Below are my 3 ideas of possible Common App essays.</p>

<p>Could you please pick the best out of the three, tell me how can I improve it (aka is it cliched, too generic, too general, not inspirational enough, etc)</p>

<p>So, which topic, if any, is the best? 1, 2, or 3</p>

<p>Topic 1: Roller Coaster (I have my doubts about this one)
I used to have a lot of irrational fears that would influence my decision-making skills. I wouldn't realize that the fear was irrational until it was too late...and I have made the wrong decision. Basically, I use to have a fear of roller coasters. One day, after convincing myself that there was nothing to be afraid of, I went on the roller coaster...and am now basically addicted to them. So what it boils down to is me no longer allowing fear to control my decisions.</p>

<p>Topic 2: Philmont
Two summers ago I went to Philmont Scout ranch and backpacked approx 90 miles. I can do a ton with this topic. Ideas include overcoming a huge obstacle (which I know is super cliched), trusting my own abilities, taking life one step at a time (literally), working as a team, etc.</p>

<p>Topic 3: Grandfather's House
This is my fav topic. My only concern is that it will end up turning into a sob story/eulogy which I obviously do not want. Basically before my grandfather died, my family would go to my grandfather's house in upstate New York at least once a month. The style in which my grandfather lived was sooo far removed from "modern civilization" (i.e. he didn't even know what the internet was, he got all his food from a tiny deli, he grew a lot of his food, he wore suspenders, he ate a lot of "old world" food) I would always hate going there because there would be no xbox, not internet, no facebook...none of the trivial pleasures I had grown accustom to. However, when my grandpa died, and hordes of people came to his funeral, I realized that although his lifestlye and mine were very different, certain universal themes live in any lifestyle including love, friendship, family, etc. Basically, I realized then that I need to stop worrying about minor luxuries, and focus on the real important things...</p>

<p>So as you can probably tell, topic 3 is what I think will work the best. But this thread is for you to help me...so by all means...critique, criticize, edit, go to town!</p>

<p>Oh, and if you have a little more time to kill, please CHANCE ME
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/736344-chance-me-ivies-top-lacs-ill-chance-back.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/736344-chance-me-ivies-top-lacs-ill-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I'll return the FAVOR!!!</p>

2

<p>I like the roller coaster one.</p>

3

<ol>
<li><p>Problem with topic 1 lies in your premise. Roller coasters are dangerous. I had a dream where I fell off of one. And I get headaches on some coasters. Not a bad topic, but I think you have more potential with the latter two…</p></li>
<li><p>My backpacking trips were for the most part uneventful. I didn’t summit a 14,000 foot peak (okay, I did, but I already had done that before). I didn’t get lost, or mauled by a bear, etc. Then again, this uneventfulness is what you seemed to preach in the third topic. So, this could work. When I think about backpacking/hiking essays I’ve seen, I think that there is a whiny child that overdramatizes everything and makes themselves seem like a God for walking a few miles up a hill or with a pack on their back. So, in this sense, preaching the uneventfullness of backpacking wouldn’t be cliche. But saying how you are, in essence, so amazing because you backpacked 90 miles is. At least in my opinion.</p></li>
<li><p>I like this also. However, I think, if you still want to preach the simple things in life, the 2nd setting might be better. Because in that case, you are showing the reader how you’ve experienced this simple life. But in the third case, you seem to come to an epiphany that is not supported afterwards by events in your life (unless you went backpacking after the funeral?). Sob story? I’m not sure, you seem to celebrate his life more than anything else. As long as the focus stays on you, you’ll be fine. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>So I’d go between 2 or 3.</p>

4

<p>Hmmm i would stay away from 2, the whole thing is cliche, and really not that unique. I would go with 3, that sounds pretty cool, and i think you can do really well with it. 1 could be good, but if you dont go somewhere serious with it, it can seem pretty immature. Good luck! Which schools are you applying to btw?</p>

5

<p>The only schools I know for sure I am applying to are:
-Dartmouth
-Princeton
-Middlebury
-Bowdoin
-UMass Amherst Honors Program (safety)</p>

<p>Other strong possibilities:
-Hamilton
-Colgate
-Harvard/Yale
-Brown</p>

<p>If you’d be so kind as to chance me
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/736344-chance-me-ivies-top-lacs-ill-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/736344-chance-me-ivies-top-lacs-ill-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>“1. Problem with topic 1 lies in your premise. Roller coasters are dangerous. I had a dream where I fell off of one. And I get headaches on some coasters. Not a bad topic, but I think you have more potential with the latter two…”</p>

<p>Although I can see where you’re going, what my plan with this essay topic was to use it as a symbol of all my irrational fears. Roller coasters are actually pretty safe (usually 1 death a year, and that is almost always the fault of the rider, not the ride), but yeah…</p>

7

<p>^Something to consider: what made your irrational fears fade away? If you can answer this succesfully, than the first essay could be somewhat profound. If you can’t, than I’m not sure how effective your essay will be. Generally, transformations should be explained. So, it seems to me that you have a lot of potential in ideas (and there are some areas of pitfall to be aware of in each idea).</p>

<p>Anyways, on a more important note, 1 death per year!? That’s insane! Who knew? I’m in so much danger just playing a round of golf, then.</p>

8

<p>“what made your irrational fears fade away?”</p>

<p>Well, after I rode the roller coaster, I realized how much fun it was, and how I had gotten all worked up over nothing…so in a way it was an epiphany moment. Now I try to apply the “roller-coaster” logic to any fear that I have, realizing that chances are I will be greatly benefited by taking the chance</p>

9

<p>Oh according to the site below, mobile and fixed amusment rides cause 4.4 deaths per year.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.cpsc.gov/LIBRARY/Amus2005.pdf[/url]”>http://www.cpsc.gov/LIBRARY/Amus2005.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

10

<p>i would recommend not basing your essays on a moral or lesson. adult adcoms aren’t trying to gain life lessons from 17 year olds.</p>