Hello! I plan to apply to attend an all-women’s college which I believe that would a great fit for me. I’m a rising junior, so I have plenty of time to write my essay, but I was wondering about a topic that I hope would not be too cliche. As a black woman, people believe that it’s “weird” that I listen to rock music. When I was 14, I got into bands like Nirvana, RHCP, Janis Joplin, etc. My mom believed that the music would be a bad influence to me and stopped me from listening to it.
This damaged my self esteem and made me feel like I was different from my peers. I was forced to stop listening to my choice of music and would get in trouble if she caught me listening to it. Could this be a good essay topic, preferably answering common app number 1? Thanks!
BUMP, PLEASE?
A few points:
- A “BUMP,PLEASE?” an hour after starting your thread-- and at 1:10 am at that-- doesn’t come off well. Speaking for myself, I was in bed between 11:52 am and 1:10 am.
- You want to gain acceptance to colleges based on an experience that " damaged my self esteem and made me feel like I was different from my peers."??
I think you misunderstand the objective in writing this essay. It’s not a journal, it’s a bid for admission. It’s like a job interview. You’re trying to convince the reader that you would be a great addition to his school’s student body. How does a topic about damaged self esteem do that? How does it “sell” you application or give them a reason to say yes?
I wasn’t going to talk about how it damaged my self esteem but rather how it reinforced in me to not give into stereotypes. I put that point in so people would know how much it meant to me, therefore influencing me to write about it.
Secondly, I have seen many people BUMP their post minutes after posting. I’m aware that it’s late at night, however, another user posted a topic in the same forum and received many answers. This was around the same time.
You guys only care about getting into an Ivy League school. Your “Chance Me” threads are nothing because they assume what an admissions officer wants in a student- that’s their job to do!
Many of the parents on this site are unhelpful as well. A lot of kids looking for advice instead wind up with sarcastic answers. At least we’re trying to go to college…
On another note, it wasn’t 1:10 AM where I live at. It was 11: 10 AM :))
All I know of you and your essay is what you’ve written here: "As a black woman, people believe that it’s “weird” that I listen to rock music. When I was 14, I got into bands like Nirvana, RHCP, Janis Joplin, etc. My mom believed that the music would be a bad influence to me and stopped me from listening to it.
This damaged my self esteem and made me feel like I was different from my peers. I was forced to stop listening to my choice of music and would get in trouble if she caught me listening to it. Could this be a good essay topic, preferably answering common app number 1? " Period. No mention of “not giving in to stereotypes.” You ask me not to assume things, yet get hurt that I can’t extrapolate from the little you said in your OP.
You asked for advice, and I gave it. As always with advice, feel free to ignore. My intention was to give you a straight answer to your question., to get you to write an essay that would help you get into the colleges you’re planning to apply to. I’m sorry my answer wasn’t the one you wanted.
I mentioned it to help explain why the people you WANT to answer your question-- the American adults on this forum-- were very likely doing something else at that hour.
Finally, 40 people have viewed this thread, and I’m the only one who responded. The start of a thread, followed by an immediate BUMP is an absolute turn off for the people you’re hoping will help you.
It’s not about “only caring about getting into an Ivy”— check my posting history. I frequently speak on behalf of the B student here.
I wish you luck with your essay.
I agree 100% with @bjkmom . It’s very annoying when people bump soon after posting, and in fact, bumping is actually against TOS. Why would you say she only wants to help kids who want to attend Ivy League schools? You came here looking for FREE advice from experienced people, some of whom whom get PAID to give this advice in the real world. I am one of those people. I like to help people on CC because I believe that it benefits the person asking. A lot of kids who come here don’t have the resources or support needed to help them in the college process. Your repsonse to a person who gave of her time is inappropriate. None of us has to come here to help people like you. Yet many of us do, month after month, and we do it because the majority of the time, it’s worth it.
A month ago, I recieved a message out of the blue from a student I don’t even remember giving advice to. He wanted to thank me for my help, and said without the advice I had given him, he would have never had the courage to apply to the college he will be attending in September. That one guy, and kids like him, keep me coming back to CC.
You have asked for advice so I will give it. I think the topic could be fine, but you can’t present it in a negative light. I would not bring self esteem issues into it at all. Instead, focus on the interesting fact that your mom wouldn’t let you listen to it, and spin it positively. You of course should not make your mother out to be a bad guy, and I would also leave “weird” out of it. I read a lot of essays, and kids often adopt a combative or negative tone without realizing it, in an attempt to show how something made them stronger.