<p>I had thought going into the application process (I will be writing my essays in the fall) that I would focus on my volunteer work for one organization, which I have put a lot of time into and is a very "good-looking area", to be blunt. However, after reading around here, I am wondering if perhaps it would be better for me to stress something more unique to me. My volunteer work is a unique field, but applying to small Christian colleges most of the applications have fairly strong volunteer work. I also, however, play polo (think horses, not water) and am wondering if stressing that in my essays would be an advantage because it is something very unique. Which do you think (going on very little information) would be better? Especially for my reach school, would it be better to emphasis something (polo) that I am very unique in being able to say I have been actively involved in for several years rather than a charitable pursuit (again, Christian schools)?</p>
<p>The essay should be geared towards something more personal. Anything extra-curricular will be mentioned in your application elsewhere, already giving you the "uniqueness" factor. </p>
<p>You can write a decent essay about an EC, however, don't just write the basic I DID THE EC AND ENJOYED IT essay. You must write how it has changed you, helped you grow as a person. If it's going to be something generic (ie. more mature, more leadership, more confident, etc.), it's probably a good idea not to write about it, as almost everyone has an experience that is similar in nature.</p>
<p>I am actually thinking about short essay (about half an essay) question that asks one to choose from one's list of ECs. :)</p>
<p>What kev07 said is true;</p>
<p>but personally, I wrote what I felt and intuition led me through most of it;</p>
<p>if you think about it, there's so many guidelines that people give you on how to write "right".</p>
<p>Be original! Be thoughtful! Don't be too modest or have too much of an ego! Stand out! Check your work times infinity!</p>
<p>You'll stand out if you really write who you are and what you feel.</p>
<p>(And if you're not convinced, the attitude described above got me into Stanford EA.)</p>
<p>Here was my strategy for choosing an essay topic: I made a long list of things (likes, dislikes, charateristics, interests, etc.) about myself. Nothing is too stupid or weird to make the list--I was probably not going to write an essay about fashion magazines, for example--because the important part is the brainstorming. From there, it is a feely thing--the topic that jumps out to you, the topic that's the one that you keep going back to--that's the topic that you should write about. Maybe that ends up being volunteerism, or maybe it ends up being something totally different. If you choose a topic that is very true to you (and you are a good writer :)), your personality will come through, which is ultimately what you want the essay to accomplish. I wrote my main essay about books, because that was the topic that I just couldn't leave alone. My secondary topic was about listening to other people tell stories. Neither topic really seems to be about me, but both essays ended up being highly personal and also revealing, I think. </p>
<p>Of course, perhaps the most important aspect of the essay has little to do with the topic...it has to be well-written first and foremost! The correct topic will make the essay much easier to write, though.</p>