I’m about to start from scratch after writing two full essays that I felt didn’t convey any meaningful messages about myself. Would it be weird to write an essay about my favorite childhood show, Arthur, and how that show has “shaped” me into who I am from what I’ve learned from the characters and how I relate to them? I wanted to go the more light-hearted and weird route that can still reveal my personality but I’m not sure if admissions officers would know/understand what I’m talking about…
I was thinking maybe how aspects of show has shaped me since childhood till now. I’m not really sure how to organize it yet, maybe chronologically as I age?
I attempted two other essays that were about more recent events, one about getting lost in a night market and how it changed my perspective on first impressions and another on cultural expectations of my passion for art history. But after having several people review them I was repeatedly asked what I was trying to show about myself. I was hoping this topic would help me show my personality a little better than my other ones. @lookingforward But I totally understand what you mean. Maybe the risk is worth it? I’ve seen an essay that talk about an event that happened in kindergarten and got them into a selective school.
I imagine that adcoms read so, so many essays that are practically interchangeable (how playing a team sport taught me about collaboration, how my service week in Haiti taught me about the larger world, etc etc) that something out of left field like your idea could really be memorable.
It’s not an ordinary hs writing assignment. Adcoms want to see the attributes they want in the class, what you’ll bring. Anything you “show” should be about the last few years. They also want to see mature thinking.
Eg, who cares if that kid was nervous in 2nd grade, fell out of his chair, even if he picked himself up and got back in? They want to know you now.
Plus, Arthur is a childhood reference point. A one line mention is different than building a whole essay on it.
If the night market shows the right attributes they want (eg, you said perspective, how first impressions changed, etc, ) it might be worth reconsidering. Remember, “Show, not just tell.”
I agree that you have to focus on who you are today, but my kid’s essay successfully worked in a couple sentences about her favorite childhood books. The famous Costco essay last year started with her favorite childhood store. Why should a favorite childhood tv show be a forbidden topic?
It’s true many essays seem similar. But just being different isn’t it. The night mkt could be a comfortable tale of what, how you reacted, the new perspective and what you do with it.
If you know the sorts if attributes they’d like to see, it can be easier to construct. It’s not about writing something interesting as much as getting them nodding, interested in having you on campus.
Haha, Arthur and Friends are me and my kid’s favorite show too, although I am a middle aged man by now. We liked it so much that I convinced my brother to name his son by that name.
If you can make a excellent connection of that show to your current character, why not? I know a person’s essays last year that both started from early childhood activities that started as early as 3 year old and continued to a dozen years later ,and what the activity had shaped the person’s life so much that became part of the person’s HS and family life, which in turn helping the person’s through the most difficult period of life. Don’t know if the whole factor, but the person got into the first choice school.
My kid wrote about Jurassic Park for one of her essays. She talked about how the female scientist, Ellie, was an awesome role model, because not only was she a knowledgeable scientist…she also loved the idea of having a family…and never let stereotypes and gender roles limit her. “We’ll discuss sexism in survival situations after I get back” she says, running off to the raptor paddock to get the power turned back on. Also, it was the young girl’s mad computer skills that saved the day in the end. She made a great case that the film was a terrific advertisement for women in STEM for her generation. Jurassic Park was the beginning of her love affair with research, evolutionary biology, cell, molecular and micro biology. Who knew? Sometimes something seemingly insignificant can have a profound impact on your life.
In fairness, her other two essays were about her Atheism and her choice not to stand for the Pledge. Her essays were excellent, but I thought the topics were WAY too controversial. I really expected them to sink her. Turns out I was dead wrong. She got into every school she applied to, including her reach…where she currently attends.
Sometimes, it’s smartest to trust yourself. Write from the heart. Make sure the things you are writing are the best representation of your mind and heart possible. Your essays are your sales pitch. It’s your only chance to show the schools who you are and why you’re a good fit. Rewrite like a maniac until every word is perfect, and paints a picture of you that is complete. At the end of your essay, a stranger should know you. Take some risks. Be a little naked. But do your very best and make every word count. (without going over the word limit…which annoys the readers like you wouldn’t believe)
@bjkmom I showed it to two English teachers and both hated the topic. They were fine with my writing it was just the “toilet” part of it that they didn’t like. I also gave it to a school counselor who helps people with essays and she really liked it. I gave it to a lot of peers to read and they all said it was good. I plan to ask more teachers and counselors to read but I’ll definitely consider it Thank you!
I have to think you’re trying to kid us. What adcoms want to read about toilets, when they’re trying to pull together a class? Fear of flushing isn’t an attribute they want. Fixation or obsession aren’t scientific method.
If you were trying, eg, to build a team for academic competition or a project, would you be looking for a toilet essay? Or kids who have the skills, drives, curiosity, resilience, people skills, etc, and the good sense to show those in their writing?
I recently finished an essay about toilets. It’s about my fear of flushing because of the noise and how I deal with it on an airplane by doing an experiment on testing what variable can diminish the flush the best aka a solution to my problem. In the end, I talk about how I use the scientific method in like normal daily stuff and how I hope to continue doing that in helping others as well. I’ve shown my essay to a lot of people and I’ve been getting very polar opposite reactions.
I’m a little scared now because this is (imo) the only decent essay I have and my first due date is November 15. I’m not sure if I’m risking too much in trying to stand out a little more, but I also do not have much time to rewrite a whole new essay.
My essay never describes any disgusting scenes, the most in depth it goes is describing toilet flushes (nothing about poop or pee).
I tried my best to showcase my personality (a little quirky yet serious) and something meaningful as well in the end. Nothing was meant to be overtly humorous since I understand that’s something admissions officers don’t really like.
@lookingforward I understand that it sounds a little strange for a college essay. I feel that some people hear the word “toilet” and automatically deem it as unacceptable. On a different thread, someone posted a very good essay by a person who got into Harvard, and the topic was about “taking a ****”. I’m not trying to argue but perhaps it is easier to understand if you think about the actual content. The essay isn’t about describing toilets or the process of using it, my message is about my creativity and my scientific approach to even the most seemingly insignificant situations in life. If you’re interested, I would love to share it with you. Thank you for the advice.
