Writing in my free time as an essay topic for a STEM major?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

I recall reading somewhere online that Princeton has a stronger emphasis on writing than many of its peers. And it’s true that Princeton requires a graded essay and a list of favorites, which (as far as I know) is somewhat unique to the school. Does that mean it’s advantageous to mention creative writing as a hobby even for a STEM major?

In my case, I’m a STEM major with relevant ECs, but I also like to write for fun in my free time (though I haven’t won any awards or published any books). I’d even have English as my second choice if it weren’t for the job prospects.

Should I include creative writing in my essays? My concerns are that a) it’s not academic writing like research papers and b) it’s not relevant to my major so I’m afraid the AO won’t care. However, I don’t have much unique about my application otherwise, so if it’s a worthwhile approach, I’d love to try it.

2

If creative writing is something you really like doing and if you feel you application would feel incomplete without it, then by all means talk about it in your essays. It would give the admissions committee something unique (probably) to show a different dimension to your personality. Btw, not all of your essays should have something to do with your intended major otherwise your test scores would be sufficient.