<p>Is writing "narrative" essays in second person discouraged?</p>
<p>My Common App essay is in the second person. So I guess we’ll see how adcoms like it. I would say it’s absolutely possible, just tricky. You don’t want to sound gimmicky.</p>
<p>I posted a week or two ago about my daughter writing her essay in third person. Since then she’s reconsidered and is writing in first. However, I think it is perfectly okay to do either second or third person, provided it feels right to you and conveys what you want. I think you should think about and consider what the fact that you are using second person voice subliminally conveys to the reader…is it preachy? Does it show your empathy or ability to put yourself in others’ shoes? Is it meant to show the Universality of the theme you are presenting? Or does it create too much distance from the subject? Then decide if that is what you mean and want by writing in that way.</p>
<p>As with humorous essays, make sure that you have a couple of adults who are not members of your family read the essay to give you feedback.</p>