<p>Hi everyone!</p>
<p>I am generally a good writer (800 on SAT Writing) but when it comes to the college essay, I'm freaking out. I know I can write a good body and probably conclusion, but the opening is what's killing me. I have no clue how to start it.</p>
<p>My topic will be my four years experience in Polish Saturday School, which is exactly what it sounds like. You go learn Polish on the weekends with other kids. Definitely not something everyone can write about. </p>
<p>Sorry if this is rather vague, but would anyone have any ideas? I want to stress how unique that experience was and how it completely changed my worldview, etc.</p>
<p>Suggestions much appreciated!</p>
<p>Haha I’m totally with you on that one. What helped me when I was struggling with finding an intro, was writing the body first. The intro and conclusion just seemed to flow naturally from that. You could also begin the essay with an interesting or funny story about something that happened in Polish Saturday School. And like you said, polish school is definitely not something everybody can write about, so maybe you can talk about how a typical high schooler spends Saturdays, maybe in a funny (not condescending) way, and how you spend your Saturdays and why that makes you unique.</p>
<p>I really wanted to write an essay about music, but I knew that so many people did it, so I sort of came up with a unique way to express my love for music and then the introduction came naturally out of that. It can be as simple as a surprising statement that draws the reader into the essay. It’s kind of hard to explain, but I hope this helped you a little.</p>
<p>josh-Omit Polish insert Chinese, Hebrew, Farsi, Korean, Japanese and you got the same weekend school experience.
Think harder for a more unique essay topic.
Sorry.</p>
<p>MapleLeaf, thank you so much! I hadn’t thought of it that way, I’ll take your advice :)</p>
<p>Batllo, I see what you’re saying but all the advice I’ve gotten says write what you’re passionate about, and that’s what I’m doing.</p>
<p>You actually have the makings of a great essay… if done right. The main ingredient is - like a movie - character development: you changing to a stronger or better or more knowledgeable YOU. So your essay will have the following structure:</p>
<p>First paragraph: a jump right into a “pre-changed you” - a “scene” if you will SHOWING what is happening. For example, the first day of class. Did you think it was going to be stupid? Boring? A waste? Describe, don’t just tell your feelings.</p>
<p>Think back. Was there a memorable moment that started your transition? Put the reader in that moment. Don’t be afraid to show your flaw or issue. Growing from that will be the HEART of your essay.</p>
<p>Then think of the last paragraph. The will be a scene that shows how you’ve changed. What can illustrate that?</p>
<p>Only after you have your first and last paragraphs do you then fill in the “in-between” - two or so paragraphs showing increments of the change. </p>
<p>Take a look at this essay in light of what I said above:</p>
<p><a href=“http://jumpstartessays.com/essay[/url]”>http://jumpstartessays.com/essay</a></p>
<p>Also note the little “stinger” on the end… those few words make this a MUCH more memorable essay,</p>
<p>AGREED. I know what I want to write about and even how I want to do it…but the actual execution is proving to be challenging.</p>
<p>“I am generally a good writer (800 on SAT Writing) but when it comes to the college essay, I’m freaking out.”</p>
<p>haha I’m the total opposite. I got a 600 on SAT Writing but I get damn good scores on English essays and other writings. Sorta sucks for you haha, but then again my SAT sucks haha.</p>
<p>My problem is that I just have this conglomerate of awesome ideas for both of my essays, and I have no idea how to organize them! I’m consider myself a good writer, and my English grades/SAT writing would definitely reflect that, but this is difficult for me for some reason… I guess because I really want to knock my essays out of the park!</p>
<p>Exactly, @lauren. You could give me a 10 page research paper and I’d have no problem writing a cohesive, scholarly work. But for a simple 500 word personal statement, with lots more pressure, I’m nervous.</p>