dorkstal 817 Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 Hey guys! First time making a thread and of course it'd be about this T_T I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I don't really wanna backtrack through 500 threads :| I just wanted to hear some opinions on what colleges want in a college essay. Tbh, I'm going for the Ivies (Upenn, Harvard, NYU) and schools like MIT/Berkeley, so if anyone who is attending those schools has anything helpful to say about anything, please share. right now my parents are going on about writing 5 examples then using these 5 examples for the prompts (with revision of course) or possibly connecting several examples together if need be. Somehow this sounds contradictory of everything else I've heard about college essays, which is to be creative and unique. Most of the example essays I've read focus on one instance to tell about the entire person, but my parents are telling me to use one example to tell about 1-2 characteristics then use the examples together evetuallyz I'm really conflicted and my parents rage whenever I tell them I don't want to do it their way, cuz they think my essay is too much of a narrative and too little of an essay TLDR; college essays, especially for the top U.S. schools. Any advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bananaphobe 204 Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 You do you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thotcahontas 5,149 Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 Idk all I know is my friend needed essays written and I wrote some for him and he got accepted lemme writ3 y0ur$ $i$ I'11 g3t y0u 1n with my c00l wrettin sk3lls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VANTE 4,595 Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 do you have a draft, using what your parents want? or are you still in the brainstorming phase? either way, i could help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorkstal 817 Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 do you have a draft, using what your parents want? or are you still in the brainstorming phase? either way, i could help I'll send you a link of my current draft. I like it :| I just have to cut down like 100 words Idk all I know is my friend needed essays written and I wrote some for him and he got accepted lemme writ3 y0ur$ $i$ I'11 g3t y0u 1n with my c00l wrettin sk3lls Pls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VANTE 4,595 Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 I'll send you a link of my current draft. I like it :| I just have to cut down like 100 words Pls okay just send it whenever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thotcahontas 5,149 Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 I'll send you a link of my current draft. I like it :| I just have to cut down like 100 words Pls send me the draft too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorkstal 817 Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 send me the draft too :-o I've actually never talked to you before. Where do you go to school? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thotcahontas 5,149 Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 :-o I've actually never talked to you before. Where do you go to school? not in america Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serendipity 11,102 Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 Have you/your parents read some sample essays written by students who got accepted into your schools of choice? It gives you a good idea of how to convey yourself through your essay, and gets you thinking about your own experiences and dreams. It's important to stand out and say something that no other student can say. Only you have your story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorkstal 817 Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 Have you/your parents read some sample essays written by students who got accepted into your schools of choice? It gives you a good idea of how to convey yourself through your essay, and gets you thinking about your own experiences and dreams. It's important to stand out and say something that no other student can say. Only you have your story.Almost exactly quoted "We're going the safe route right now. Finish this and then do your unique/creative one. At least you have a backup." Safe is not a backup. Safe is just plain not gonna work T_T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethereal 20,923 Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 Are the set essay questions for those schools out yet? Because as someone who is starting college on wednesday and went through all that stuff around a year ago, all I can say is answer the prompt they provide thoroughly and honestly. Tbh, the main point of the college app essays is to gauge your writing skills and to get a glimpse of what kind of person you are beyond what your transcript says. The essay doesn't mean half of what your specs do, so don't stress over it too much and just do your best to accurately represent yourself through your words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorkstal 817 Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 Are the set essay questions for those schools out yet? Because as someone who is starting college on wednesday and went through all that stuff around a year ago, all I can say is answer the prompt they provide thoroughly and honestly. Tbh, the main point of the college app essays is to gauge your writing skills and to get a glimpse of what kind of person you are beyond what your transcript says. The essay doesn't mean half of what your specs do, so don't stress over it too much and just do your best to accurately represent yourself through your words.I'll try not to :| it just seems like for college apps in the top schools, specs are the minimum for being considered and the essays are actually really important. But what do I know :| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siwan 1,297 Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 it really depends on the school you're applying to - different admissions officers from different schools look out for different things going the safe route is fine, as long as you showcase your individual flair. being edgy won't necessarily give you an edge over your peers - you can go the safe route while simultaneously being unique/creative and standing out ultimately like what others here have said - just do you. of course i'm not an authority on admissions or anything; this is just what i learnt from talking to an admissions officer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethereal 20,923 Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 I'll try not to :| it just seems like for college apps in the top schools, specs are the minimum for being considered and the essays are actually really important. But what do I know :| Well, I guess I can't say much about ivy leagues since I didn't apply to any, but as long as you have spectacular grades and good specs, the essay won't be too much of a defining point as long as it's well written. Like I said, just be honest and give a good glimpse of who you are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorkstal 817 Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 it really depends on the school you're applying to - different admissions officers from different schools look out for different things going the safe route is fine, as long as you showcase your individual flair. being edgy won't necessarily give you an edge over your peers - you can go the safe route while simultaneously being unique/creative and standing out ultimately like what others here have said - just do you. of course i'm not an authority on admissions or anything; this is just what i learnt from talking to an admissions officer Idk... My parents' advice just seems so much more mechanical than the essays that I've read online o.O Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siwan 1,297 Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 Idk... My parents' advice just seems so much more mechanical than the essays that I've read online o.O yeah if your essay sounds mechanical and lifted from a college app essay book, it probably won't stand out much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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