Unsuccessful Essay Topics

Parents Forum
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<p>We have enough new posters and probably 4 times as many new lurkers so I thought it might be time to share some ideas of what not to write about on your free choice college essay. Some of these titles , in the hands of a great writer could be effective but it has been the consensus of the cc cognoscenti that they should be avoided. </p>

<p>These have been gathered by students and their views are not always PC or very refined so don't read any further if you are easily offended. A more complete list can be found here <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=19427&highlight=%22Poor+people+feelings%22%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=19427&highlight=%22Poor+people+feelings%22&lt;/a> , but I urge you not to go as these are the mild ones (some have been edited by me), and most of the others are just stupid. </p>

<p>"Top Ten" Previously Used and Unsuccessful Essay Titles</p>

<p>Honorable mention: "Child Support: Why I need Financial Aid"</p>

<p>10) "Why the Building You Are Sitting in is Named After My Father" </p>

<p>9) "Dear Safety School"</p>

<p>8) "D's = A's: My High School's Complex Grading System"</p>

<p>7) "ADD: My Battle with...Hey look! A bird! " </p>

<p>6) "Turning Sudafed into Cash"</p>

<p>5) "15 steps to a more pure Germany"</p>

<p>4) "Teh benefist of Dirnking"</p>

<p>3) "You Can't Spell Manslaughter Without Laughter"</p>

<p>2) "How volunteering in a third world country taught me that poor people have feelings too, they're just worth less"</p>

<p>and the number one Unsuccessful Essay Topic is </p>

<p>1) "I'm Stuck in London So Instead Of An Essay, Here's a Photocopy Of My Arse"</p>

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<p>I liked this thread the first time around. Here's my post from it <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=232032#post232032%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=232032#post232032&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The timing of this is perfect, S2 just met with the counselor last night to discuss essay topics. Of course, after 45 minutes of talking about college applications, he was too tired to discuss with me. Hopefully, I'll find out more this weekend.</p>

3

<p>Me, too AW. I just think a couple of the kids got goofy and a couple got .. well beyond the boundaries.</p>

4

<p>My favorite: "Why and Who I Fixed My Grammar For"</p>

5

<p>At a Duke info session recently, we were told that the admissions counselors do get a little tired of certain topics, many of which were just about one life-shattering/changing event. One that they had been impressed by was a girl's take on the world due to her nearsightedness! They much prefer something more about you and your day-to-day experiences than about one big impact from a one time occurrence in your past.</p>

6

<p>Speaking as someone who read admissions apps myself, I have to say that the essay really is an opportunity to demonstrate a sense of humor. Now, it should be a sense of humor the student has reason to believe adults will enjoy/approve and definitely should be read by a parent or counselor before sending---but a lighthearted, self-reflective moment, even in a the context of a weighty topic, can make an essay shine.</p>

<p>When I was a reader, it made an essay stand out, after plowing through many very serious efforts to impress, to read one where the student came through and brought a smile to my face. </p>

<p>My son wrote a fairly quirky, funny piece--but it was definitely him. And I noticed that when we went to a local holiday gathering (he had applied and been admitted ED), the Admissions Rep said,as soon as he met him, "Hey, I loved your essay..." </p>

<p>Obviously, you need to have other elements in the app that establish you are not just a comedian of course...</p>

7

<p>coureur, I should have remembered that classic. It should be on the list.</p>

8

<p><em>VERY</em> funny!</p>

9

<p>Number 7 always make me laugh. Thanks for the reminder.</p>

10

<p>"At a Duke info session recently, we were told that the admissions counselors do get a little tired of certain topics, many of which were just about one life-shattering/changing event."</p>

<p>Maybe they should stop asking this question then. ;)</p>