What do you think of this common app topic?

College Essays
1

I wrote a rough draft, and its about how i used to dread practicing the piano, but I learned to love it. I’ve been playing for 11 years, and I emphasized how it taught me the importance of hard work, how I used it in many different atmospheres (recitals, restaurants, family), how the different types of playing taught me diversity, and how it relates to school like that the hard work does pay off when you get the final product and can appreciate it. I am applying to Villanova, John Hopkins, Udelaware, and a few others… If the essay is well written do you think the topic will work? Thanks for any feedback!

2

bump

3

If it’s well-written and the topic isn’t taboo, I don’t see why it wouldn’t “work.” The things to watch out for are resorting to cliched phrases such as “This taught me the importance of hard work,” or trying too hard to bridge two vastly different things (e.g. I learned to play many different styles of music, therefore I am more tolerant of other groups of people. And often, when we learn to work hard in one area of our lives, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we become universally hard workers).

4

@OnMyWay2013 Thank you so much, that helps! I’ll definitely try to use standout phrases and to link my experiences with piano and the lessons that came out of it more clearly.

5

My first question is the one I always ask: What prompt are you answering?? It’s impossible to discern whether your answer is good if we don’t know the question.

I will say that, in the 2 months or so that I’ve been reading essays here, yours is the 3rd I would have read about the hatred for piano practicing.

6

@bjkmom so definitely no? I don’t know how to turn the actual topic around to make it stand out, just the writing and ideas within it… i was thinking for the first common app prompt about a unique trait somehow… its definitely a work a progress haha

7

sounds like a good topic

8

My standard advice: set the kitchen timer for 5 minutes per prompt. Use that 5 minutes to brainstorm any possible way you could answer each of the prompts-- no idea is too “out there.”

Then walk away-- get outside and enjoy the holiday weekend.

Tonight, take a look at what you have. Kill anything that doesn’t sound like a reasonable idea, and get to work on what’s left.

9

alright that sounds pretty painless thanks! @bjkmom

10

Others provided solid advice. I’ll add this: hone in one or two things piano taught you. Don’t try to pull in virtually everything - you’ll dilute your analysis and seem insincere.