<p>So, I'm a home-schooled student, and I recently visited my local high school for standardized testing. At the school, I heard girls talking about their hair, a guy talking about how he was going to ditch a girl at prom, and so on. The only mentions of academics were about achievement rather than interest. The entire high school experience felt so vapid that I was inspired to write an essay about it.</p>
<p>I begin the narrative by depicting my experience at the high school, and then I suddenly transition to my return home. Then, I describe the contents of my room: the piles of books and papers about topics that interest me. I highlight the contrasts in learning environments, and I imply that learning should be the result of intrinsic motivation.</p>
<p>Now, I would like to submit this essay in at least a few of my college applications; however, I have a few worries.</p>
<p>1) Lack of Direct Explication - My essay is entirely based on implication. There is little to no analysis of the contrasting scenarios, but it would be nearly impossible for a reader to miss the underlying themes in my essay. Do I need to analyze and specifically state what this meant to me, or is implication strong enough?</p>
<p>2) Derision of Public Education - Honestly, I'm not trying to insult the public school system, but my portrayal of the local high school is rather harsh (yet nevertheless accurate). Colleges accept hundreds of students every year from schools like these. Will they be offended that I find the high school experience wholly unacademic? (My essay does not imply that people fail to study in high school, but that their studying is motivated by achievement.)</p>
<p>3) Lack of Self Reflection - This is my biggest worry. As much as I love my essay, I am afraid that the first half does not characterize me. Is it enough that the latter half of my essay describes me, or should I work other details of my own life into the first section of the essay? My only worry is that details unrelated to the high school could weaken the impending contrast.</p>
<p>I'd welcome any opinions about this topic. Thanks!</p>
<p>I think it’s a cool idea, but the points that you bring up are definitely important to address. Your goal is to give a brief but focused snapshot of “you”: An aspiration, an element of your personality, a value, a talent, etc. in a way that says, between the lines, “This is what I’m going to bring to this institution, and <em>this</em> is what I want to learn/do/etc. by graduation.” </p>
<p>Being home-schooled is a unique experience that you should certainly write about in your essay. Moreover, you can definitely write about why you don’t miss the “high school experience” that everyone else has; talk about the difference in teaching and learning styles, independence, general topics. But you don’t need to include others’ “vapid” dialogue to emphasize that your education has given you an intrinsic desire to learn. And you want to come across as able to interact with and accept a diverse array of people. </p>
<p>I think this is a terrible idea. The entire point is to try to elevate yourself by having put down other people based on superficial and scant information. Scrap it.</p>
<p>OK well @BrownParent came right to the point. I was going to sugar coat it a bit but let’s just say it won’t add anything to your overall presentation (the adcoms already know that you’re home-schooled), and it’s not clear which common app essay prompt you’re responding to, and you don’t want to come off as petty/judgmental/inclined to stereotype others. </p>
<p>However don’t despair! I understand how painful the essay process is from having gone through college apps for the past two years with my two kids and I had to shoot down a number of essay ideas with them as well. </p>
<p>My best advice is to keep a journal over the summer, and just take time to “free-write” at least 20- 30 minutes, maybe a couple of times a week. Let yourself go and just write unedited and put down whatever comes to mind without stopping to think, edit, correct, or stare at the wall and pretend you have writers block! Just write. </p>
<p>If you do this I promise by the end of the summer you will have found several kick-a$$ topics for your common app essay as well as possible supplements for various colleges. All you need to do is expand on the ideas that you like, then edit and form the essays. </p>
<p>I’m sure you talk about less meaningful things too. I’m sure you have experienced or heard about problems with self-image. I’m sure you have felt a desire to fit in. I’m sure you’ve been excited for an upcoming event before. </p>
<p>“Judgmental and arrogant” is not the image you want to project to colleges. </p>
<p>OK, I get the point. The topic is out.</p>
<p>Thanks for responding!</p>