<p>Is a specific, descriptive personal anecdote necessary for a memorable, well-received college essay? I don't really have any single defining experiences but rather many small habits that shape who I am. I'm afraid that if I write about those, the essay will be too generic, vague and unmemorable. Thanks. </p>
<p>I think the turn-on with a single anecdote is that you can generally focus on and provide good support for one key trait, lesson learned, activity, etc. You can still convey the important parts of your personality, culture, and dreams in an essay that doesn’t have the same format. But concision is still key; you don’t have to tell admissions everything about you. Stick with what is really truly most important.</p>
<p>I say if your heart is really set on writing a different kind of essay, write a draft and see what people around you think of it… </p>
<p>I understand what you mean. It sort of depends on the type of essay you are writing. For example, The “Why Tufts” essay has a maximum of 100 words. If you look at the “successful” essays they put on their website, you’ll notice a trend of clever jokes, small anecdotes, etc. </p>
<p>You want to convey a sense of intellectual firepower, unique sense of humor, and a personal trait through your essay. IMO, those 3 components will make a great ‘short’ supplement essay (although if humor isn’t your style - feel free to try something else!)</p>
<p>In my case, I’m a pretty serious writer. I find it uncomfortable to put in some clever joke in my essay, it sounds like I am being fake. So I write with metaphors, elaborate prose, but without muddling the point I’m trying to make.</p>
<p>You do want to make yourself memorable, though. “Standing out” doesn’t necessarily mean personal anecdotes, but something clever, awe-inspiring, something that “stamps” them in the mind of the admissions officer is something you want to do.</p>