<p>I'm having sooo much trouble thinking about what to write for college essays. I know there are probably tons of threads about essays, but is there any advice you'd like to share? I have no idea what to write about; the things I can think of I don't think I can develop into good essays. I'm decent in terms of writing....I just can't think of a topic. So any inspiration/advice?</p>
<p>What essay prompts are you working with?</p>
<p>Oh, well, I want to apply ED to Penn. The topics are submit pg 217 / 300 of your autobiography, talk about a first experience, or describe a risk you took. I really want to do the first one, especially since the 2nd two kind of blow my mind. I've been thinking about the 1st topic for like a week now, but it's been all thought and no words, haha.</p>
<p>Here's a really simple, straightforward idea: Take one choice you have made. Explain why you made it -- what your thought process at the time was, what you didn't think about at the time that still affected your decision. Tell how it worked out -- what had you anticipated correctly, and what not? Say what you've learned from that.</p>
<p>It can be an important choice, or a trivial one. In some ways, a trivial choice can be better, because more entertaining and more focused (Jerry Seinfeld made millions off of analyzing completely trivial choices; Proust and Robert Frost became pretty famous that way). The last time you bought ice cream, why did you choose the flavor you chose? Same as always? How did it become your favorite? Ever wish you tried something new? Something new? Why? Why THAT flavor? Was it good? What will you do next time? What does this say about you as a person? </p>
<p>The point is to show how you think, and how you write, and that you are capable of thoughtful analysis, organization, and coherent presentation. It is not the most creative thing in the world, but it should do the job. And it's pretty adaptable to lots of prompts.</p>
<p>EDIT: I didn't see your second post when I wrote this, but I think the method would work for any of the prompts.</p>
<p>BTW - how does P. 217 start? Are there any breaks and chapter changes? Remember to look at this as a book - turn to page 217 of any book - what does it look like? If you change chapters, etc., you will be able to shift life stories, etc. Good luck!</p>
<p>Yeah, I've been wondering about the page number. I don't know if I should start it from like a random fragment of a sentence and just show a little snapshot from a big story or something...
And thanks JHS, that's a good idea!</p>
<p>
[quote]
just show a little snapshot
[/quote]
While there is no one right way to write a great essay, this is often the secret to success. A moment in time, a small episode.... As JHS says, it can be something very trivial. Don't look for the momentous, necessarily. If there was a pivotal point in your life, certainly that can be the topic on page 217. But it can also be a very small moment.</p>
<p>The one thing to be careful of, if you choose humor as your tone, is to have a couple or a few others read it and comment. Make sure you choose readers who will be frank - humor can be wonderful in an essay, or OTOH an attempt at humor can come off as flippant or lame. Running it by others can make sure you've hit the mark.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>There were some tips about college application essays somebody posted: Sbmom? I can't remember, but perhaps someone else will.</p>
<p>Anyway, the gist is: think about what you want the essay to reveal about yourself. Then construct your essay around that. So, let us say that on p. 217, you start another entry in your diary. You tell an anecdote about what happened on that particular day. It need not be about anything momentous. It can be about how you went jogging and suddenly noticed the flowers were blooming; or how you've spent hours working on some project and it's still not quite done; or learning to cook a new dish. The important thing is how to tell this anecdote in such a way that the aspects of your personality that you want to present are highlighted. Since this will be a diary entry, your voice should be highly personal; and it can be informal, humorous, rueful, philosophical, whatever. as long as you do not come across as if you were doing a book report or writing a business letter. Good luck!</p>
<p>Another idea -
Think about your passion (or one of them), and think back to the earliest event that sparked that passion.
For example,where were you when you first recognized you wanted to study medicine?
Or, when was the first time you knew you would be a writer?
What were you doing when you discovered you had a talent for (fill in the blank)?
Just talking about your interests and passions can come across trite and
boring, but by describing a small incident that served as a catalyst for what later became something very important in your life, you can show the reader how you became who you are.
This could work for the "page 217 " prompt, or perhaps even the "first experience "
prompt.
Also, I wouldn't start with a random sentence fragment or anything contrived.
Begin with a strong first sentence that draws the reader in.</p>
<p>The nice thing about page 217 is it could be anything. Maybe something happens that day that makes you reflect on some more recent experience.</p>