My two cents on: 7 College App Essay Topics That Could Lead to a Rejection Letter

Interesting article I’ve found:

7 College App Topics That Could Lead to a Rejection Letter

It lists several poorly chosen essay topics that applicants should avoid.
I will give my two cents about the topic, and a suggestion of a better way to do it.

Included are:

1.     Steve Holt :This is the typical braggart essay. The “I won the big game singlehandedly” topic.

My two cents: While this article discusses sports, there is certainly an academic edge to this topic as well. I’ve seen so many “I’m awesome, look at the things I’ve done, I work so hard” essays. These will do nothing for you, your resume and transcript should show that. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, your essay should not be your resume. Avoid at all costs. 

Try this instead: If you must write about sports or the big game, write about the factors that helped you and your teammates win. Your motivators. Was it the brotherhood of your teammates, a longstanding family legacy, or the fact that your post Superstorm Sandy  hometown really needed a win? That’s where the story is.

2.     I sold thin mints for eight whole years: This is the community service essay

My two cents: You can write about community service for your essay. Yes it is done to death, but if it’s your passion, go for it. But when you do this don’t describe what you did. Describe how it helped you grow. Or give a unique spin to it. Yes you were a girl scout forever, but that’s not very interesting.

Try this instead: Tell the story of how in high school your junior year you were determined to sell the most in your area, being a naturally competitive person and having come in second every year. This was supposed to be your year. But as time went on you decided you’d rather help the troop of brownies learn the value of a dollar, hard work, and the supremacy of Samoas over Thin Mints than gain personal glory. And then in the end you learned a valuable lesson about doing good being more important than being the best. That is a more interesting story

3.     A Comedy Skit: The “look at my wit” essay

My two cents: If you really truly are funny (and I mean hysterically, all the time funny) you can be funny in your essay. But make sure there is substance amidst all of that humor. Tell a funny story, but make it one that really shows who you are.

Try this instead: If you’re funny write a normal essay with a few funny asides. That will show your personality without the risk of your humor not landing. Have several people read it, and ask them if they found it funny. And for heavens sake, remember that sarcasm doesn’t read well on paper.

4.     The One Sided Controversial Argument- This is the “I’m passionate about an issue” essay or the Religion, Politics, Social Topics essay

My two cents: If you are very passionate about a controversial issue that’s great. But this just isn’t the place to use it. Avoid controversial essays. This isn’t the place to gamble.

Try this instead: If you must write this, make it a supplement for a specific school. Answer a question they’ve asked. Do your best to argue your side but pay attention to not bashing the opposing argument. And know your audience, some schools are very liberal and some schools are not. An essay about LGBT issues will go over a lot better at NYU than BYU.

5.     I’m a pot head, but I’m smart too: This is the “see how naturally smart I am” or the “I’m passionate about legalization of pot” essay.

My two cents: Just don’t write this essay. No. Don’t do it. If you do recreational drugs, keep it off of your application.

Try this instead: Avoid any essay about being “naturally intelligent.” Naturally curious? Maybe that could work better. You tried pot because you believe in trying everything? Maybe write an essay about the trips you make to the Asian or Middle Eastern markets every week because you want to experience strange food, and how that has led you to be really interested in those cultures and the development of those dishes. And leave out the part about this being a product of the munchies.

6.     It was just a Felony! This is the “I screwed up but let me explain” essay

My Two Cents: If for whatever reason you can write on this topic, you must write this essay. But send it in as the “explanation of any arrests” supplement. And be very very very sorry. Talk about what you learned.

Try this instead: You got caught drunk driving your junior year of high school? Talk about the community service you did and the awareness program you started. Say that you’d take back doing it if you could, but the life lesson you’ve learned is invaluable and will always be part of how you act in the future.

7.     The Shrink. This is the “I experienced something traumatic” essay

My two cents: It’s a common myth that cancer survivors get free rides. That’s simply not true. You may have experienced something traumatic, but unless it significantly lowered your grades, you may not want to talk about it. Don’t upset the reader.

Try this instead: If you truly experienced something terrible that caused a drop in your grades or negatively impacted your high school career, write a supplement explaining what happened. Again, focus on the positive. That after your mother was out of the hospital you could finally focus and breathe again, and that made you determined to work harder the next year so she would be proud.

I will do another post on other essays to avoid in the future. But I can’t in good faith give this list without mentioning the number one essay to avoid (that was not mentioned in this article).

The worst essay?

The grandparents essay.

I visited around 15 schools when I was looking at colleges. And at least 10 of them mentioned this as a taboo. They get so many of them.

My Two Cents: You want to write about your amazing WW2 surviving grandfather and how you admire him? All that is going to do is make the admissions reps want to admit your grandfather. The essay tells them nothing about you.

Try this instead: Find another topic. Anything would be more interesting.

 You're all bright, creative, interesting people. There are so many topics to write, and your essay should be as special as you are. 

Above all remember that a well written essay can make up for a mundane topic but an interesting topic cannot make up for a poorly written essay