<p>For a couple of my schools I'm using skateboarding as an essay topic...BUT...I'm real hesitant to use it for the California schools, because everybody and their brother skates in California...right?</p>
<p>Would it be better to write my essays about something else for the UCs?</p>
<p>I would suggest writing about something of more academic caliber. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Haha...are you being sarcastic? I didn't think personal statements had to be academic exactly. But, I didn't want the adcom to be like, psh, my 13 yr old son and all his friends skate here and mess up all the benches kjfksdf <em>instant rejection</em>. LOL.</p>
<p>Lol!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>LMAO!
Please don't write about skateboarding. I feel that, in a way, you are insulting the school(s) you are applying to.</p>
<p>Actually, groovinhard, it's a cool topic to write about. I'd write about it. Essays are supposed to be personal. Your test scores and academics have a place of their own on the application. Just make sure that your essay isn't just about skateboarding in and of itself. Write about what skateboarding means to you and draw a broader conclusion. If you just write an essay about how much you like skateboarding, then yeah, that's not going to impress anyone. But if you write an essay about how much you like skateboarding and what that says about you/what it means to you as a person, then that would be excellent. Trust me. Contrary to popular belief, a college essay is not required to be boring.</p>
<p>It's pretty funny people can say an essay about boxing or football or basketball is amazing...but skateboarding is an insult. Hm. </p>
<p>Anyway, I think it definitely sheds light on to who I am as a person. And since people are so against the idea, I guess it would be unique to write about.</p>
<p>I had a long resume and strong stats and chose to to write about my semi-pro skateboarding days in my personal statement to the UC's, USC, Duke and Princeton. I was accepted everywhere (except Duke I was waitlisted.) Obviously the schools I applied to (including UCLA and CAL) weren't insulted.</p>
<p>Maybe UCB/UCLA were more impressed with this... :rolleyes:</p>
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<p>Considering I wrote an essay about Roscoe's Chicken n Waffles in an actual college class (and yes I got an A on it), this is not the worst idea I've ever heard. As long as you write about it seriously and have it say something about you I don't see the problem with it. Not everyone spends their youth helping out disadvantaged old people with leprosy or taught English to little kids while dodging bombs in the slums of Baghdad. I don't exactly remember what I wrote about back then but I can sure tell you it wasn't about anything amazing or anything... if I had to guess it was about music.</p>
<p>yea, i wouldn't write about skateboarding. but thats just me, im sure if you can use skating as a backdrop for some good qualities you have.</p>
<p>i have strong stats myself, and opted to talk about skateboarding in my essay to make me stand out a little at X prestigious new england institution. it turned out pretty good, so i figure it would work as more than just a novelty piece, haha. at the very least they'll be able to tell i can write from it ;).</p>
<p>but using it /will/ contribute to an overall lack of cohesiveness...because i'm involved (albiet consistently) in really random activities. but, i like what i like and do what i do, and if schools aren't into who i really am, then i guess i'm not a good fit.</p>
<p>thanks for all the opinions!</p>
<p>I would write about skateboarding only if it sheds light on you as a person and shows some facet of your personality that colleges would want to know. Don't write about it if it just shows that you like to skateboard and you work hard at it.</p>