<p>Why is it that every college essay I have ever read seems to be a narrative? I was wondering if writing about this topic for Umich (What led you to choose the area(s) of academic interest that you have listed in your application to the University of Michigan? If you are undecided, what areas are you most interested in, and why?) in a plain and simple answering the question manner would lower my chances of getting positive feedback on the essay part of the admissions process.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter as much how you write it (as far as narrative/straight forward/metaphor), but how well you write it. If you make it good, it doesn’t matter if its straight forward. Although if you can be unconventional and very good, that would stand out even more (at least to me).</p>
<p>Oh I see, because reading over examples and examples of only narratives really had me worried. It almost seemed as if any other writing style wasn’t allowed.</p>
<p>It’s because narratives easily accomplish that application essay proverb: “Show don’t tell”</p>
<p>I would say that metaphorical essays are a no-no; your admissions counselors aren’t literally critics and they don’t want to argue over the meaning behind your essay. Straight-forward essays are okay, but you have to try to avoid sounding dull and listless. It’s also a little easier to be distinctive, as to the sky mentioned, with narratives. Have you ever noticed how most newspaper articles, instead of just telling the facts, like to narrate the story?</p>
<p>It’s because narrative is the best way to go for the average applicant. It depicts what the user is trying to say clearly, concisely, and powerfully. There are many variants of narrative prose, allowing it . It’s a better alternative than analytical prose because there’s much more freedom allowed in narrative writing.</p>
<p>As for the other writing styles:</p>
<p>Allegories are a definite no-no for college essays. Colleges don’t have time to figure out the meaning of the essay.</p>
<p>Stream-of-consciousness and poetry are a “use if you know how”. Only the writers who have good control of the language can write in this style without being allegorical or unclear.</p>
<p>“Creative/quirky/stylistic/gimmick” essays are a “use with caution”. Good writers can pull them off, but the reader might be biased against it. There’s a risk involved with creative essays.</p>
<p>I’d like to say though that supplements that ask straightforward questions like “Why are you applying to this particular university?” usually expect straightforward answers, though narratives are not uncommon in these essays.</p>