Narrative Essay vs. Traditional Essay? (For prompt #1)

<p>I'm probably going to be writing prompt #1 of the common application essay. </p>

<p>" Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story." </p>

<p>Based on the prompt, I'm guessing that the ideal essay would be structured as a narrative essay (the entire paper is centered around a single story/event from start to finish). Is this the best way to approach this prompt? Because most of the essays I read are traditional and have a concrete structure (Para 1: intro, make claim, Para 2: evidence 1, Para 3: evidence 2, etc. etc. ) </p>

<p>Which essay works best? I feel like narrative essays are easier to write, but again, I'm just speculating.</p>

<p>There’s no exact structure per se imho that colleges are looking for. As long as you convey the impact of the event on you, how it changed you, and maybe how it makes you college material (don’t explicitly state it saying something like “this is why I think this event has shaped me in such a way that i’d be perfect for the college environment”), there’s no problem how you do it.</p>

<p>Personally, I think writing a narrative essay instead of the structure you described is better (especially in this case) because you’re focusing on a single thing. What you don’t want to do is try to squish your every accomplishment or your entire life story into a single 650 word essay. I’d say your way of writing it is fine.</p>

<p>I’m applying this fall like you, so I have no experience regarding what essays help you get in to your colleges and what don’t. I’m just saying what I think and you might want to wait for someone who has already been through the process to comment.</p>