Personal Essay for CommonApp

Applying to College
1

I’m applying to colleges as soon as CA opens next Monday, and I’m trying to get my personal essay together ASAP. How should these essays be written? Intro-body-conclusion style? It’s 250-650 words, so I’m not sure that format would work.
I plan to write off of Prompt #4 (a problem you’ve solved/would like to solve). I plan to write this essay about a friend of mine during sophomore year who I was able to talk out of dropping out. That incident changed my whole outlook on the education system. I’ve been ranked first in my class of 600 my whole HS career, so in the beginning, I was pretty blind to everyone around me. I was trying to stay under the radar and not really let anyone know I was smart. The situation with my friend taught me that there are too many kids who find it easier to drop out than graduate HS. I began volunteer tutoring my friends after sports practices or late nights over Skype. Junior year I became a tutor for intensive algebra freshman classes for one class period each day. (Tutoring was my first period.) I’m doing that again for my senior year. Also, I’m creating a peer tutoring division for my school’s NHS chapter from the ground up for this school year. Thus, for my essay, I have a problem and a solution on a small scale (me and my friend) and on a school-wide scale (NHS peer tutoring).

How should I format this essay? I don’t want anyone to write it for me; that’s not what I’m asking. Could I write a narrative? Would that be acceptable? I understand I will need to focus on my perspective the most. Additionally, considering the NHS thing and tutoring classes will all be on my app, would it be unacceptable to talk about them? I don’t want to go into much details with them, considering that will already be on my app, but I don’t want to be too repetitive.

I haven’t taken an English class at my HS since sophomore year, so I really have no one to ask for help on this. I want to talk with some of my teachers, mainly my physics and calculus teachers, but I won’t be able to contact them until HS starts back up again. Thanks to anyone who can help.

2

Why are you in such a rush to apply when you don’t even have a Personal Statement done yet? I think your plan is ill-advised.

As for the essay, “epiphany” essays are a bit dime-a-dozen, but it sounds like you have an interesting story, at least. And yes, write a narrative. The most common structure is story–>commentary.

3

@marvin100 I just re-read the first part of my post and realized I didn’t mean to say that I’m applying right away. I’ll edit that part now. I’m trying to get my application together, and then I will start applying to colleges October-January. I have really bad OCD (actually diagnosed), so I have been obsessing over this essay for about a month now. I need to get it out of the way. It’s been eating me alive.

4

I can’t edit it. I am going to finish up my base application info August 1 and then start applying in the fall. I want the framework done with. I have everything completed except the personal essay. I only want to have to worry about supplements, recommendations, and application fees when I get to applying to my schools.

5

That can be good–but only if “obsessing” means “writing and rewriting.” Good writing is rewriting, and starting with a good story is the best approach. I suggest writing several stories, then evaluating them for “interestingness” and memorability. THEN see what qualities they might reveal about you and sculpt them to do so more effectively and with greater sophistication/nuance.