I am applying Early Action to Harvard & to other Ivy League Universities (RD). However, due to school, I have not been able to write an essay, yet — not even a draft, or an outline!
And, I am really confused about what I should be writing about.
I have a couple of ideas, but none seem to appeal to me.
Outlines for each essay:
Writing about the state where I grew up, with emphasis on the culture & history of the state. Adding details of how it has aided/played a role in my education & the path I wish to take in the future.
An essay that speaks of how I’ve always been curious and how I attended several competition, which made me stop asking questions & just take things as they are. But recently, I have started to learn things for the sake of learning & not winning.
Problem I’d like to solve: increasing access to education. Significance: imp. of education in life of those around me.
Attending MUNs and how the intellectually stimulated conversations with people from various backgrounds shaped/increased my interest in diplomacy and politics.
Just a thought. Incorporate #1 and 3. Especially if you come from an underepresented state for the ivies.
Also look at the supplemental essays and how your other topics/ideas might come into play.
I believe it’s important to “package” yourself, tying in your course work, ECs, LORs and career goals with your essays.
Lastly, all colleges have different institutional needs, make sure to take the time to understand and research what type of student and attributes would best contribute to THEIR needs.
Heyy. Thank you so much for the help. But I had one question-ish, which is: I am an international applicant, so would point 1 still be a good thing to write about?
@Publisher
I had a slight apprehension about writing #4, which is that I will already be mentioning that on the Activity/ECA list & could elaborate on it in response to the essay question that asks the applicant to go into depth about one activity in particular. Is it worth to write an entire Personal Essay about it when I can use that to, perhaps, express a different area of myself?
1 is great. #2,#3, and #4, so many kids will be writing about these kinds of things and needs a personal anecdote to succeed rather than it just being a concept.
Don’t write anything in your essay that’s already in your application (ECs, awards, etc)
Chew on this: it’s not about what strangers think they’d like to read. It’s about what’s relevant to adcoms.
Imo, none of your ideas, as you describe them, are what a tippy top wants to read, what will improve your shot. So the queston is: what do YOU know about what it takes?
It’s not about expository, opinion, an overt self sales pitch, etc.
