<p>I'm not dreading the process of college application so much as I dread actually writing the type fo essay that'll get me into the colleges of my choice. I am horrible at writing expressively and about anything that invovles myself. Unlike some people, I am not skills at conveying my passions in written form so my attempt at essats often come up sounding very dry and boring (By my own standards but I'm sure other people would agree.). Sure, I may enjoy doing community service but when I write about this, it appears almost force and insincere. </p>
<p>Whatever writing skill I posess only shows when I write analytical and fact based essays, stuff that does not demand writing with passion or expressiveness. In class, some teachers say that I'm "silent but deadly" (Disclamer: I am not to be compared to flatulence). I don't say or express much but when I do, they say it is very effective and insightful. Such insightfulness and effectiveness, unfortunately, does not care over to my writing.</p>
<p>Of course, this is a problem when it comes to college essays because colleges want to know about the applicant and his or her accomplishments and passions. The best colleges want passionate and sincere applicants who can demonstrate, in essay form, that passion and sincerity. Unless one goes to an interview, it doesn't matter how good one's speaking skills is when he writing skills lack for essays. </p>
<p>I've even been attempting an essay where I discuss my personal philosophies but even I, the writer, find it boring and dry. It's something I would be embarassed to show anyone be that person an admissions officer, a teacher, or even a fellow student.</p>
<p>I'm applying to Cornell University and Tufts University so I really need to be able to write a good enough essay.</p>
<p>I've also been attempting to write a great essay for at least four months.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any advice for people in such a situation?</p>
<p>I have the same problem. I’m told that I am a talented writer but I just have so many struggles trying to express personal details about myself. What I learned is helpful is literally writing what you would say to someone. Like have a conversation with someone about your essay (and make sure it is something you really really care about). If you want I can look it over, I’m much better at peer editing than I am at writing. </p>
<p>P.S. I’m also applying to Cornell! Also that joke about flatulence was funny, maybe you should try humor.</p>
<p>i’m afraid that’s the only bit of humor I can put in as it’s not my joke. One of my old English teachers called me “silent but deadly”. Another one that I have this year said something similar but in a less funny way.</p>
<p>Good luck fiveonionrings. i’m applying to CALS. May the best man!</p>
<p>I also appreciate the offer fiveonionrings. I’ll send it to you once I improve it a bit more. If you are not applying to CALS, I could also take a look at yours. Like you, I’m quite good at peer grading.</p>
<p>Writing about yourself, I have found, is a matter of personality and identity formation. If you have trouble, then listen to some motivational speakers, self-hypnosis people (it’s bs, but it’s also the skill you’re looking for), and read books about pickup (The Mystery Method has a great thing on identity formation).</p>
<p>"Soaked in sweat, I sat deep in thought on the small mound of sand and broken rocks in northern Kenya, where 1.7 million years ago a desperately ill Homo erectus woman had died. Her death had entranced me for years. KNM-ER 1808 had died of Hypervitaminosis A, wherein an overdose of Vitamin A causes extensive hemorrhaging throughout the skeleton and excruciating pain. Yet a thick rind of diseased bone all over her skeletonossified blood clotstells that 1808 lived for weeks, even months, immobilized by pain and in the middle of the African bush. As noted in The Wisdom of the Bones, by Walker and Shipman, that means that someone had cared for her, brought her water, food, and kept away predators. At 1.7 million years of age, 1808s mere pile of bones is a breathtaking, poignant glimpse of how people have struggled with disease over the ages. Since that moment two summers ago, Ive been fascinated by humans relationship with disease. I want to research paleopathology, the study of ancient diseases, in relation to human culture, specifically sex and gender. "</p>
<p>After reading this, I almost wanted to become a paleopathologist myself. That’s the vibe you’re trying to convey.</p>
<p>Thanks Sega. The link that you gave me had a message that the page could not be found. </p>
<p>Also, that essay was fantastic. I could feel the passion and love that the author wanted to convey. That is exactly how I want to be able to write.</p>
<p>I feel you. I hate writing college essays and I have horrible writer’s block. I’m good at writing school papers, but I can’t stand the pressure! And I still have a bunch of supplement essays and short answers to write.</p>
<p>DS is the same… have you ever taken AP Lang or a course that required timed writing? What I told my son, after he sat staring at a blank screen for DAYS was to treat it like a timed write for his AP Lang class. Don’t worry about grammar, etc., just FORCE yourself to write SOMETHING. He has had LOADS of essays to do (applied to several top U’s and service academies which also mean essays for nomination packages). That’s exactly what he has ended up doing with every single one of them. Then have someone read them that you respect and who you know is strong in writing/English. Lucky for DS, in our house, that would be me… so, he and I sat down together with his “timed writes” and edited, both for grammar and content. Some of them got ditched completely, but most were a great starting point for his final drafts. It’s a process, and I know the hardest part sometimes is just getting started. And sometimes, all it takes to make it sound less dry is a thesaurus and a few more colorful words. Good luck!</p>
<p>The style in which you write here is perfectly fine for a college essay.</p>
<p>I am not overly impressed with the sample. To my ears, it shows that the writer had a chance to learn something, and did learn something. That’s good, but I’m not so sure that I’ve really met the writer in this essay. I may only have simply met his/her dig leader.</p>
<p>With your writing, though, I am sure that I have met you.</p>
<p>Write about something you have passion about, but in doing that concentrate on being yourself. Don’t try to write what you imagine the ideal college essay to be. In reality, the ideal college essay is whatever allows for a genuine revelation of the writer.</p>
<p>So it looks like I have to transfer my writing style here to essays. Easier said than done. To the type writer!</p>
<p>granipc, I’ve taken AP Language and managed a 5 on the test. I’m current taking AP Literature but we haven’t done much writing except for a single essay.</p>
<p>mmmgirl, best of luck to you.</p>
<p>Adad, so I’m approaching it the wrong way huh? Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>Oh wow. I caught a lot of spelling mistakes. My bad. I was just writing it all in an attempt to get my thoughts out into writing as I thought them.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about spelling mistakes, length of the essay, etc. when you are getting your initial draft on paper. Once you have your best ideas on paper you can fix spelling, length, etc.</p>