[chibifry]

How did you guys figure out how to answer a particular essay question? How did you know what to write about if you wanted to write about your own topic? After you wrote the essay, did you bring it to somebody for correction? Did you get any help while re-writing your essays?

[vc1188]

I am the anti-role model when it comes to my college essay writing process. I kind of forced some ideas out of my butt haha. I thought about aspects of my life that might be SOMEWHAT different from other people's so I had something interesting to talk about. Also, a lot of my brainstorming was made easier by these workshops my school had; I learned some tips and read examples.

I HECKA procrastinated on my UC essays; they were due November 30th, and I did them during Thanksgiving. and since I rushed, the essays sucked, thus making me too embarrassed to show other people and get help from them. horrible. -__-"

so basically. START BRAINSTORMING EARLY. I don't mean beginning of senior year early. more like beginning of SUMMER vacation.

[alive]

All the stereotypes are true. Write about racism affecting you or drugs and peer pressure or traveling or some shtuff like that and then write about your growth since then. Basically difficulties or some special opportunity you had and its effects on you. Mention how much you want to attend [insert college here] and why. You want to make them remember you, so try to evoke some sort of response, maybe emotional. If you're witty, maybe some comic relief. They read thousands of these, after all. If you must choose a question, then... well, that's annoying, but try not to choose the "safe" option, or else make it original. You want to make an impact.

Definitely have someone look over it. Your English teacher is an ideal advisor here.

[AiLing]

Don't write about some huge obstacle you had to go through unless it really did have such a big impact on your life. Write about something you care about - even if your topic is ordinary, write about it well, and your spark will show through.

My main essay that I recycled for most of my schools was about my accelerated math class - aka about jokingly being a "math nerd". Its nothing particularly special, but I wrote about the people in it, and the teacher in middle school that showed how much fun learning math could be. We may be in a calculus class, but it's loads of fun because the 10 people in the class have been together for 5 years, so we know each other well and can both joke around and help each other out with hard concepts. So in that essay, I highlighted my interest in math and science, academic growth, and love of cooperative learning.

I had a couple other school specific ones (e.g. "Why do you want to come to ____?") and a couple supplementary essays (e.g. about music or summer programs). I used my "math nerd" essay for a lot of more specific essays though - I worked it into "influential person" essays, "describe your world" essays, etc. That way I could write about my established topic in a lot of different ways.

I had my English teacher proofread some of my early essays, but I finished most of my essays during Winter Break (procrastination and/or lack of inspiration ), so many I just had my parents look over quickly. That did help some, even though English isn't their first language. I did most of the revising myself - You'll become a more confident writer and be able to proofread a lot on your own as you go on though - still, it's always important to have someone read it over after you're done.

And another note:

so basically. START BRAINSTORMING EARLY. I don't mean beginning of senior year early. more like beginning of SUMMER vacation.

So true! Brainstorm throughout summer vacation, write some notes/ideas down - then be writing at the beginning of senior year - it leaves good time for revision in case you have new ideas, and it'll make your life so much happier. I had a miserable Winter Break because I had so much application stuff to do.. =P

P.S. I would recommend buying just one college essay book (don't go overboard like my dad did ) - they're kind of gimmicky, but I do feel like it'll make you feel more comfortable thinking of ideas/recycling essays/etc.

[T1NA89]

im still kinda new at this..
what exactly is the topic of college essays?
is it like .. anything about what affected/effected ur life?
and do u just write it on a piece of paper? or is it like printed?
im a junior and teachers.counselers dont tell me these things =0=
sorry if i asked stupid questions ^^;

[chibifry]

Hey Thanks for all the responses people! I plan to finish (or at least finish everything I can) all my college apps during the summer vacation. YUP. I have several ideas in mind.. opinions?

- my love for French. (I really do lovelove french, the language & culture and its my best subject and I went to paris for a summer program, I take the ap class, i listen to the music etcetc aka obsessed)

- my annual trips to a monastery to pray and to humble oneself (very unique I think. I dont know a lot of people who spend their vacations going to a monastery and pointing out all their bad qualities and trying to get rid of arrogance etc. I am quite the buddhist)

I need to brainstorm

[Platinum]

deem... college essays~

i just wrote about something that i don't think many people would write about...

so i avoided the whole "first generation american" deal, and the "ap classes challenge me" essays...

one was on the BoA concert I went to, and how I was the only hispanic there (excluding security guards)... and how i got into the whole korean music bit, but how ppl feel its wierd, since im hispanic... but its not that i wanna be korean or anything, i just appreciate other cultures and im still proud of my hispanic culture, even though i listen to KPOP

---

the other one was on me leading an Academic Decathlon subject and how I put in many hours over the summer and still afterschool and on weekends toward that, and how the whole team bonded as a family through working with each other and learning...

---

and my last one was on my AP Art History project I worked on to show people that I strive to be the best and as self-aggrandizing as it may sound, I knew people would be amazed by it... and I will work in college as hard as I did on that project, if not even more... in order to stand out and show my talents and how great i really am...


*UC essays^^* worked for all of em...
---------


I say you avoid any religious topics or trips to countries and how they affected you, cuz everyone does that... or your reader may be "religion-sensitive"

[banana milk =)]

and my last one was on my AP Art History project I worked on to show people that I strive to be the best and as self-aggrandizing as it may sound, I knew people would be amazed by it... and I will work in college as hard as I did on that project, if not even more... in order to stand out and show my talents and how great i really am...
*UC essays^^* worked for all of em...

just wondering, but what was your ap art history project?

[chibifry]

deem... college essays~

i just wrote about something that i don't think many people would write about...

so i avoided the whole "first generation american" deal, and the "ap classes challenge me" essays...

one was on the BoA concert I went to, and how I was the only hispanic there (excluding security guards)... and how i got into the whole korean music bit, but how ppl feel its wierd, since im hispanic... but its not that i wanna be korean or anything, i just appreciate other cultures and im still proud of my hispanic culture, even though i listen to KPOP

---

the other one was on me leading an Academic Decathlon subject and how I put in many hours over the summer and still afterschool and on weekends toward that, and how the whole team bonded as a family through working with each other and learning...

---
Those are really interesting
However, contrary to popular belief, buddhism is not a religion Its too bad all the schools are brainwashing students into believing that buddhism is a religion, and that buddhists all believe in buddha or some crap like that.

and my last one was on my AP Art History project I worked on to show people that I strive to be the best and as self-aggrandizing as it may sound, I knew people would be amazed by it... and I will work in college as hard as I did on that project, if not even more... in order to stand out and show my talents and how great i really am...
*UC essays^^* worked for all of em...
---------
I say you avoid any religious topics or trips to countries and how they affected you, cuz everyone does that... or your reader may be "religion-sensitive"

Thats a very interesting idea!

Buddhism isn't a religion, despite what school is teaching students across the nation. What else do they teach? that buddhists believe in buddha? rofl.

[vc1188]

My brother said to AVOID the FOB Fable. haha but I guess that really depends on where you're applying to. For the UCs at least, I believe the LAST THING admissions officers want to read about over and over is growing up as an Asian American. Unless you have some super clever twist to add to it, I'd avoid it.

chibifry, I love your monestary idea. It definitely is a unique topic, I think

[MONICA]

i only wrote two essays, and it was for jhu: 1. how would you spend 10 dollars for an adventure for a day and 2. your most influential class.

for the first one, i didn't spend it and wrote about my mission trip and somehow it tied in. haha. 2nd essay, i didn't realize that i went out on a limb on that one by picking an elective when everyone else apparently picked a core class.

[leeMinJ]

Don't write a pity story/sob story.
Be real. Don't bull.
Don't sound pompous.
Make sure the name of the school you're sending the essay to is the right one. I remember someone in my school forgot to change "NYU" to UPenn or some school i think.
I agree with the brainstorming early...It sucks to have to think of what to write a couple of nights before the apps are due ^^" Major WritER'S BLOCK.

[huggie =]]

^ omg are you serious?? hahahha!!

but how about for the essay topics asking what you will major in, what you want to become, and etc.. when you're unsure? you just lie about it, right?