<p>Hey, this is kind of a random question, but I was wondering if any Stanford admits would be so kind as to send me one of their essay(s) that they wrote to get in?</p>
<p>I'm curious to read them just for learning purposes, because everyone says you need really amazing essays to get in. I'm not really sure what constitutes as an "amazing" college essay, so it would be helpful to me to read some so I can get an idea of what Stanford is looking for in. </p>
<p>If none of you guys feel comfortable with sending me an essay that's fine (although I'd never plaigarize, I can see how people might worry about that), but I just thought I'd ask.</p>
<p>yeah I know none of your are gonna rip off my essay, cuz it talks about stuff that's very specific to my extra curriculars, but I'd rather give tips like stanford2010. shrugshrug</p>
<p>Looking at some good essays can't hurt. But, don't forget the famous line from "Annie Hall": --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Alvy Singer does a stand-up comic act for a college audience]
Alvy Singer: I was thrown out of N.Y.U. my freshman year for cheating on my metaphysics final, you know. I looked within the soul of the boy sitting next to me.</p>
<p>In other words, your essay has to reflect you, not somebody else.</p>
<p>I don't think any of us had the intentions of "ripping off" an essay.
If we're applying to Stanford, we are, for the most part, not that stupid.
I think most of us just want to see the writing techniques used, rather than the actual content. Trust me, I have no problem coming up with content, it's the style of writing that I need to work on.</p>
<p>You guys can PM your essays to me. Depending on how much you guys have seemed to work would decide for me whether you could see my essay or not. ;-D</p>
<p>sorry guys, but i think part of the difficulty in getting in is NOT knowing what a college is looking for</p>
<p>there isn't really a magic formula, just try to show your personality/lifestory/philosophy through your essay, and if you show it well and the adcom likes it, you've done all you can do as far as the essay goes</p>
<p>use the internet guys. there are amazing essays everywhere from adcoms at top schools exemplifying what constitutes an amazing essay. do a little research, please.</p>
<p>The purpose of the essay is, in large part, to show that you are an interesting person. There are many ways to approach the essay and how you approach it depends on what you want to show about yourself. A good essay is one that makes you think "wow, this really gets at who I am and what is important to me." What is important to you? What do you value? What are some of your defining interests? I've heard of tons of different approaches to the Stanford essays that all worked. One of my friends talked about her relationship with her parents. Another talked about a program she did in Paris. Another talked about friendships and how they change over time and how it's sad that you eventually lose some of your former friends. My essay wasn't really an essay at all, but rather a dialogue between my friends and I during lunch at school and the kind of stuff we talk about. I feel like my essay really does get at who I am and what is important to me. Really anything goes. Some of the better essays I've read are about random things. I've also read some good essays about getting ready to give a speech or overcoming a disease, topics that may be more common. If your experience building houses in a third world country was really important to you go ahead and write about it. Make sure to make it you. If anyone else could turn in your essays, they are probably still in need of revision. How did your experience overseas imapct you? How has it changed how you act? How you think? Maybe you could write about a seemingly unrelated event where your experience overseas changed how you acted? Writing a good essays is very difficult. But when you finally do write an essay you are happy with it is very, very rewarding. Good luck! </p>
<p>If you guys want me to read over essays I'd be happy to do so if time permits. I also have a long rant about essay writing advice that I'd be happy to PM you (although it might be on the desktop at home which I won't be able to access until spring break).</p>