<p>I mean, seriously, when you say creative, different, KICKASS, what exactly does such an essay contain? </p>
<p>Okay, a rather vague question, but there must be some kind of criteria/set of guidelines you can give to a really stressed-out individual?</p>
<p>Right?</p>
<p>I think that a really good college essay finds a moment (or moments) which encapsulates something about you, from which you can then expand to say more about yourself in general. I think it should strike a balance between narrative and exposition (a lot of essays I see on this forum are only narrative, with a "and this is who I am" line stuck at the end.) I think a good essay says good things about you, but w/o any chest-thumping.
The writing should be grammar-perfect and non-pretentious. It should sound like it comes from a high school student, but a clear-thinking, educated, intelligent one. It should come from the heart, shaped by your head.</p>
<p>It should come from the heart, shaped by your head.</p>
<p>Garland, that is a great thought that everyone should keep in mind when writing the essays.</p>
<p>take care,
S</p>
<p>Check out this website for great essay tips: <a href="http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html</a></p>
<p>haha, I checked that link newt, nice link btw and the essay he called "bad", was the essay I see the most when I read on forums or elsewhere.</p>
<p>a great essay focuses on the person more than anything, unlike most essays here. When you read a great essay you learn so much about a person, an okay essay only tells you what, not the why. So many people say their essays will be "great" but I wonder how many great essays can really be out there. I think most people here take it too personal when everyone doesn't love their essay. IMO very few people have a stellar essay.</p>
<p>well-written, well-focused, very personal, and leaves the reader thinking.</p>
<p>celebrian - I definitely agree... there are even some essays being posted here that everyone thinks is great but I personally dislike... (of course personal taste is one thing, another shows the reliability of a college forum to offer good essay critique)</p>
<p>pebbles vs celebrian in post count !</p>
<p>lol pebbles is a bit behind then</p>
<p>I think a kickass one also shows a level of intellectual thinking.</p>
<p>in the words of RHCP, “if you have to asskkk…you’ll never knowwww”</p>
<p>I think an awesome essay is one where the voice is unique and belongs to the writer only. Something that’s not phony, manufactured, or written by that guy you paid $1000 to help you with your college essays. An essay that is full of life and personality without getting too melodramatic or annoying.</p>
<p>Let yourself speak. </p>
<p>If you’re a funny or wry person, be that. I think almost every one of my essays had a comical element to them, because I tend to see the world that way. If I wasn’t a person who was wry/funny normally, I wouldn’t try to be. I’d do something else- I’d be questioning, or maybe introspective or analytical more. Not that I can’t be any of those things, or aren’t, but I felt like humor was where I was comfortable, so I chose that. When writing about something you care about, write why, the little details that other people don’t see because they might not hold the same interest. </p>
<p>I wrote several different essays- my main common app one was on how I related my nerd/geek upbringing in the fantasy world to the real world. I wrote another acting as a scientist capturing the homo sapiens sapiens species organism ‘me’. [That was the "How did you get caught? U Chicago essay btw] I didn’t pretend to be something I wasn’t, or pose for the admissions process. I wrote the things I do and think about all the time, or with the humor I’m always using. If I had to write another essay now, It would be my valentine’s day traditions involving Mix CD’s, or maybe lunch with a catholic priest at my Nana’s. Small windows into your life that capture you in a moment are the best way to write an essay. </p>
<p>At the end, someone should be able to say “Yes, I can picture ______ and I feel like I learned something about who they are.”</p>
<p>If the essay I was writing sucked and I knew it, it usually wasn’t going to get any better. It’s best to start over when all your essay does is make you feel mediocre, because the admissions overlords can probably smell insecurity and self-doubt. Even if you end up playing around with a bunch of topics, when you find one that you really like and are confident about, it’ll show. You know you have a kickass essay when you enjoy writing it (and when you’re done you enjoy re-reading it, too). </p>
<p>Also, don’t under any circumstances worry about the people reading it or how short of time you have to write an amazing essay. Don’t over-think what you’re doing; that’s what revisions are for later. Chill. Hakuna matata.</p>
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<p>Couldn’t disagree more. What we learned is that is good essay gives great insight into you as a person in simple language. Much easier said than done.</p>
<p>Whoa: serious deep find of a thread started in October 2004. The OP has graduated from college already! Let the dead lie in peace.</p>