Tone/Mood questions for common app essays?

College Essays
1

I have a lot of okay to gr8 essays saved to my google drive, and I’m really anxious about which ones I’d want to send in.

I’ve had a lot of good life experiences to write about (abuse, anxiety, disability, health issues, major life changes, a lot), but I’m not the best at portraying them in a way that isn’t super depressing, and I’m not the kind of person I sound like in those essays. I recently wrote one about the time I got lost in Kyoto and had to figure everything out, and that’s probably the most memorable? I am a more active participant in it, and it shows I’m strong and capable, and just reading them I feel like I’d rather be friends with the person in the Kyoto essay than the dermatillomania ones or the pain disorder ones or anything else. It also does kind of better show my Japanese skill and etc, which is being featured heavily in my application bc like I’m #1 in the NJE for CT and putting that on there, plus I’ll want to study abroad probably at some point.

I guess my major thing is like, is it better to be humorous and interesting rather than pretentious and pensive? Which do you think colleges will better respond to? If both stories are personal and revealing, which is better? I feel like its good to be thoughtful, but not to dwell and look like you’re stuck in a particular negative experience, but that’s just me. Thoughts?

2

Hey! I’m also applying next year so I might not be the greatest person to answer this question, but I’ll still give you some advice ^_^. From my standpoint it’s probably a lot better to be humorous and interesting rather than pretentious and pensive; because an admissions officer is more likely to remember that essay - and besides which would you rather read? I’d be cautious towards submitting essays on topics such as anxiety, because unfortunately it would then bring up the question on whether or not you can handle the coursework of the college without suffering or struggling. I think you can definitely “dwell” on a certain experience, but just make sure it doesn’t come across as if you’re trying to get pity; however it is imperative that you talk about how you’ve overcame, what you’ve learned, and how you’ve grown from whichever experience you talk about. Wish you the best!