Writing an adversity essay vs writing a major related essay.

So I have two common app essays right now.

  1. I talk about my experience being mixed race and how both cultures view and react to my LGBT status. Talks a lot about where I’m coming from and what I’ve gone through.

  2. essay about how I spent a lot of time at a sailing club and ended up becoming a part of the community and the treasurer. More lighthearted and gives my major some context

Any thoughts? Is the gay essay too generic? I figured talking about it through the drastically different lenses of both my cultures would be interesting.

Oh and would these 2 essays work well together for the UC app?

Remember the point to this whole exercise: to give them a reason to say yes.

Your essay should leave the reader confident that you’ll be a good fit for his school in particular, and for college in general. He should be interested in talking to you, curious about the type of person you are.

He knows your major. He knows your race and possibly your gender status. He wants to get to know you.

“What you’ve gone through” should paint a clear picture of you coming out the other side, happy and healthy. It should not leave him with any lingering doubts that you’re emotionally ready for the rigors of being on your own, of getting along with others, with being in college. So if you do choose this topic, make sure that the majority of the essay is on the upside of the stronger, more able person you’ve become as a result of that adversity.

Choice 2: make sure it’s about present you, not 14 or 15 year old you. OK, so you’re the treasurer, great. That’s on your resume. What does it tell him about you, about what makes you tick? how does it assure him that you’ll be a good fit, that you’ll handle the rigors of college?

See what I’m getting at? Either topic could be an incredible success or a dismal failure, depending on what you choose to say and how you say it.