<p>I just read a newspaper article the other day about a kid that got accepted to Yale because he said in his essay that he would walk to the school (this is from Baltimore, Maryland). He went on to explain how he was embarking on a new adventure in school, and the walking was just the beginning. Now that's a really impressive essay topic in my opinion and I can see that he was an individual that Yale would want. My point is, how do I think of a great essay topic like that? My life is just like any other kids life. It's just banal. It's not like I have ever done something amazing like found the cure for cancer or traveled to space or anything. Where do people draw essay topics from that prove that they are "special" and will fit into the school better than anyone else would?</p>
<p>[Yale</a> University: Yale Freshman Walks From Baltimore To New Haven - Hartford Courant](<a href=“http://articles.courant.com/2012-08-23/news/hc-yale-walking-student-20120823_1_appalachian-trail-yale-campus-baltimore-home]Yale”>http://articles.courant.com/2012-08-23/news/hc-yale-walking-student-20120823_1_appalachian-trail-yale-campus-baltimore-home)</p>
<p>Where does it say the essay was the reason this kid was accepted? He most likely had top grades and test scores and probably above average, at least, ECs. What I’m saying is that the essay is 1 piece of the puzzle in getting in. </p>
<p>You do not need to have a unique experience in order to write an excellent essay. For an anecdote, I wrote mine on my experience of working as a cashier. My guidance counselor said it was one of the best essays she ever read. Besides the topic, what makes a great essay is how you effectively answer the prompt, how you effectively convey or show yourself in the essay, how well you write, and how well your essay convinces the adcom that you are someone that embodies what the university is looking for and should be admitted. From this Yale story, this applicant portrayed his determination and enthusiasm in attending Yale. As well as his imagination. The key part is that HE DID NOT ACTUALLY WALK TO YALE BEFORE THE ESSAY WAS WRITTEN.</p>
<p>You can write about as simple as walking your dog. But if it was a pivotal experience in your life and you present in an interesting and creative way that portrays YOu, then that would make as good an essay as any other.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the response. I was under the impression that most of the kids getting accepted wrote about unique experiences. Thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>I wrote about how I betrayed a friend’s secret and had to work enormously hard to repair the friendship. Got me into mult Ivies.</p>
<p>You need to be genuine and show your uniqueness in how humanely you think, rather than brag about what you did.</p>
<p>Keep in mind, other universities often have more interesting essay topics conducive to more creative storytelling. Cornell’s prompts are boring. And I’m guessing more often than not, unique essays hurt a candidate unless you are a gifted writer.</p>
<p>There is nothing more important than delivering a distinct voice in your essay. A voice that sounds like a human…a voice that sounds genuine…a voice that sounds like you! One of the biggest reasons for having an essay is so they can get a taste of your personality. If you are overdramatic or write about something foreign to you (just because it is a “stand-out-ish” topic) then your essay will probably sound less genuine - which they will catch on to. I honestly think it is not so much what you write about but how you deliver it. An admissions officer for Brown once told me that the best essay he ever read was about a kid riding the bus to school. Does that sound like a “WOW” topic? No - it was all about how he wrote it! Honestly! You can write about how you brush your teeth in the morning and turn it into a heart-warming miraculous sob story if you really wanted to! Potential essay topics are right in front of you everyday, you just have to pick one! Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>That Yale essay strikes me as gimmicky. It’s not like he walked across the country to raise money for his sister’s disease when he was 15. He said, “If you accept me, I will walk to school.” So what? Why not use that time learning how to run a small business or raising money for a cause instead?</p>
<p>You can do better than that, Yellowdog99. My essay was very stream of consciousness. I didn’t start with a topic; just wrote what came to my mind and I think, as bhchamp says, it gave me a distinct voice and revealed a lot more about me than writing about the time I scored the winning goal or whatever.</p>