<p>The essay topic for the National Merit Application is pretty broad, so I was wondering if you guys could help guide me in the right direction for it. </p>
<p>The topic is: In your own words, describe your personal characteristics, accomplishments, plans, and goals. What sets you apart? 500words</p>
<p>So, should my essay encompass all those things (characteristics, accomplishments) or just focus on one thing? I'm confused because it's the first "college" essay I've really worked on. Help?</p>
<p>I was trying to find my son's essay from a few years back, but I can't. Personally I think I would focus on "What sets you apart?", drawing those other aspects into the essay. For example, my son's aspiration at the time was to be an engineer. So I think what he did was talk about his plans and goals and how his characteristics and accoomplishments have led toward those plans/goals.</p>
<p>Although, of course, you want a good essay, this really isn't as important as college application essays. They just want to know that the PSAT score wasn't a fluke, and that you really can write. Most semifinalists go on to become finalists, so just write a decent essay and you should be fine.</p>
<p>I have a really well written and funny essay about an experience I had auditioning for musical theater, and how that is a huge passion of mine. BUT... that's basically the only thing it focuses on. Fine for college apps, but is it OK for this scholarship? Should I include a lot of other "personal characteristics, accomplishments, plans, and goals" that set me apart? I feel like if I do this it'll turn into a resume in the shape of an essay. Don't they see all that stuff elsewhere on your app?</p>
<p>The college counselor at our school suggested not stressing about it or worrying about making it a literary masterpiece. He says just talk about what you've done in HS & some of your interests. He says they're just looking to see that you can write decently & learn a bit about you. He suggests a LOT more effort be devoted to college essays, since that is replacing interviews, for the most part.
HImom</p>
<p>Starting off with a quote that I feel defines in some way how I live my life, and telling how it demonstrates my personal characteristics. Mentioning my personal characteristics, and how those have influenced my achievements and interests. Tying my interests into my goals, and showing how my goals and plans will tie into each other.</p>
<p>That way, I am hitting on all the separate points mentioned in the prompt, while still keeping them connected.</p>
<p>I would make sure to throw in some non-scholastic interests to round you out as a person in the essay. It's a lot harder to turn down a person than an application.</p>
<p>My D wrote a straightforward essay using the prompt. She found it a very difficult essay to write. She felt like she was bragging. She progressed to finalist. One of her friends wrote a "newspaper article" about herself winning the Pulitzer Prize. The article was set in 2020 and described her accomplishments and her aspirations as if they had all come to pass. She found it easier to write about herself as if she were someone else. She had fun pretending she was a reporter and describing herself through someone else's eyes in the future. She also progressed to finalist. Both girls had excellent grades, recommendations and good (not off the charts) scores on their SAT tests. Be creative and make it fun and still give them the information they want.</p>
<p>I'm having an awful time with this essay! It is so hard to be creative when there is so much information that needs to be crammed into such a short space. My essay seems like a collection of facts about me; not my usual high-quality writing.</p>
<p>About cramming tons of stuff into a small space...</p>
<p>I would focus on the most important/most significant aspects of your life that fit the prompt. Most Semi-Finalists could probably write 10 pages about all their dreams, goals, activities, service, etc..but NMSC is looking for a well-written essay that proves to them that the applicant is <em>not</em> the 1/16 that doesn't deserve the Finalist standing.</p>
<p>I had my English teacher (a published writer, who has graded essays very similar to this many times) look over my essay, and she said that the essay graders would separate the essays into two piles; the pile of essays that addressed the prompt, showed average or above-average writing ability, and the essays that either didn't address the prompt, were horribly written, etc.</p>
<p>I wouldn't worry so much...pick some accomplishments/goals/plans/activites that you are proud of/that are important to you, briefly describe them and tie them together, and <em>bam</em> you are almost guaranteed Finalist.</p>
<p>Honestly, I don't think I should. We are both competing, basically against each other, and sharing the essay for this over the internet, as well as any information related to NM, just isn't smart...This probably sounds <em>HUGELY</em> paranoid, but really it's to protect both of us...you from getting your essay stolen, and me from getting accused of the stealing it.</p>
<p>I would recommend that you ask a trusted teacher that you respect, and who would like to help you (I'm sure almost any teacher in your school would be willing to) to read it over and give you feedback.</p>
<p>Hope that helps...sorry to disappoint if I did.</p>
<p>The essay is not really important in achieving finalist status. It is available to be read by participating colleges. it's a nice way of describing yourself anf creating the "hook"</p>
<p>If I were you, I wouldn't worry about the actual count of "I"s in your essay. Instead, I would work on varying the sentence structures enough to keep the entire interesting.</p>
<p>BAD-"I make good grades. I play basketball. I play football. I tutor kids. I ___"</p>
<p>GOOD- "In addition to maintaing a 4.0 throughout highschool, I have earned a varsity letter for basketball all three years that I've played. Since my freshman year, I have started as tail back, and played on special teams for varsity football. Outside of school, I tutor special needs kids three days a week.</p>
<p>(That ^^ doesn't describe me AT ALL, in case you're wondering :) )</p>
<p>If you're feeling experimental, you could also write the essay in the 3rd person, like a newspaper article or report. However, you should be FINE if you stick to 1st person. Good luck!</p>