College Essays.... need help/advice! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Kay Scarpetta · 08-27-2006, 07:34 PM

Greetings, SO'ers! How has everyone's summer been?! Mine has been full of work, injuries and just plain weirdness.

I've come for some help. I'm applying Early Decision to Smith College. All of my applications and other paperwork needs to be in by this November 15th. At my interview, the admissions counselor said that they put the most emphasis on the essay. The essay! Not SAT scores, or your GPA, the freaking essay. They want to, through your essay, know who you are as a person. She said I could write my essay on whatever topic I wanted.

Now I know a kid who wrote about his bus ride to school everyday and it got him into Yale... I know who I am as a person- but I don't want my essay to be some corny thing titled, "Who I Am!" or "What I Can Contribute to Smith". Those would be too safe, too classic. I'm looking for advice on this stupid essay. I have no idea where to even start.

If anyone has any ideas or comments for me, I'd love the help. I'm obsessed with getting into this college, it's been my dream for a long time and I'll probably be crushed if I don't get in. Also, if you have any interesting college-applying stories, I'd love to hear them. Thanks guys, I know I can always count on you!

Nighthawk76 · 08-27-2006, 07:37 PM

Why don't you write an essay on what you what to do with your life and what you see yourself doing in the future.

AllIWantIsYourClutch · 08-27-2006, 07:45 PM

oh karly. my favorite. going to college. how cute.

Anyway. You pretty much got it...Be unique, sound smart, use good vocabulary. Maybe talk about one particular thing in your life that made a big impact on you as a person. Don't give your entire life story with a list of everything you've ever done in high school and all of your grades. Especially if extracurriculars are listed somewhere else on the application. They see your application, you don't need to repeat it in the essay. And don't be cliche because, as clever as you think you are, 200 other people probably used the same phrase as you.

My essay had a prompt, so I didn't have much creativity room. Mine was pretty much BS and full of nothing, but it's a state school, so I got in. Go figure.

Anyway. Good luck.

James"Thunder"Early · 08-27-2006, 07:53 PM

One idea I think is good, is to write an future autobiographical essay of sorts. Imagine yourself 10, 20 or 30 years from now and that you are reflecting on those past years, in other words how you picture yourself years from now. It allows you to show them who you are, without being safe or classic.

robyrob · 08-27-2006, 08:02 PM

you could write an essay about someone that is an inspiration to you, and relate it to your own goals and plans...

Kay Scarpetta · 08-27-2006, 11:10 PM

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm making a list of them to help me out. I never thought applying to college would be this nerve-racking

08-27-2006, 07:34 PM	#1
Kay Scarpetta Defy Gravity 8.26.05 Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 04, 2001 Location: La Vie Boheme Posts: 28,013	College Essays.... need help/advice! Greetings, SO'ers! How has everyone's summer been?! Mine has been full of work, injuries and just plain weirdness. I've come for some help. I'm applying Early Decision to Smith College. All of my applications and other paperwork needs to be in by this November 15th. At my interview, the admissions counselor said that they put the most emphasis on the essay. The essay! Not SAT scores, or your GPA, the freaking essay. They want to, through your essay, know who you are as a person. She said I could write my essay on whatever topic I wanted. Now I know a kid who wrote about his bus ride to school everyday and it got him into Yale... I know who I am as a person- but I don't want my essay to be some corny thing titled, "Who I Am!" or "What I Can Contribute to Smith". Those would be too safe, too classic. I'm looking for advice on this stupid essay. I have no idea where to even start. If anyone has any ideas or comments for me, I'd love the help. I'm obsessed with getting into this college, it's been my dream for a long time and I'll probably be crushed if I don't get in. Also, if you have any interesting college-applying stories, I'd love to hear them. Thanks guys, I know I can always count on you!
	__________________ The people who think they know everything about Broadway make me laugh. They've never seen a Broadway play in their life. "oh mi godddd RENT's a mooovie! lyke 525600 minuuuuuuutes!" No. To be a Broadway Freak, you must live, eat, sleep, study, devout, think, obsess, dream, believe Broadway. You must know original & revival casts, soundtracks, performance runs, dates, theatres, numbers, how many Tony Awards A Chorus Line won. You must be Broadway. That's right bitches. I AM Broadway.

08-27-2006, 07:53 PM	#4
James"Thunder"Early Whoever's In New England Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 23, 2004 Location: The Apollo Posts: 7,088	One idea I think is good, is to write an future autobiographical essay of sorts. Imagine yourself 10, 20 or 30 years from now and that you are reflecting on those past years, in other words how you picture yourself years from now. It allows you to show them who you are, without being safe or classic.
	__________________ Esther Anderson: Get thee behind me, Satan, but I'm gon' get behind you, 'cause I'm gonna put my foot in your--- Peggy Mitchell: Get outta my pub! You better pray you get the last laugh, it's a kick in the teeth when you don't get it.

08-27-2006, 08:02 PM	#5
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,203	you could write an essay about someone that is an inspiration to you, and relate it to your own goals and plans...
	__________________ * firefox * AdAware * HiJackThis * CoolWebShredder * Spybot * SpywareBlaster * Spyware Terminator * * GeeksToGo * AntiVir * Avast antivirus * Housecall Online * Sysinternals Security Utilities * * ZoneAlarm * Agnitum-firewall * Comodo Firewall * AVG Anti-Rootkit * RootkitRevealer * ParasiteCheck * * Annoyances * FreeCodecs * Mikes-Hosts-File * GRC.com * MSAntispyware * DVD's * TradeList * myspace *

08-27-2006, 07:37 PM	#2
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	Why don't you write an essay on what you what to do with your life and what you see yourself doing in the future.

08-27-2006, 07:45 PM	#3
AllIWantIsYourClutch peaceout. Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 02, 2001 Location: Illinois. Posts: 53,424	oh karly. my favorite. going to college. how cute. Anyway. You pretty much got it...Be unique, sound smart, use good vocabulary. Maybe talk about one particular thing in your life that made a big impact on you as a person. Don't give your entire life story with a list of everything you've ever done in high school and all of your grades. Especially if extracurriculars are listed somewhere else on the application. They see your application, you don't need to repeat it in the essay. And don't be cliche because, as clever as you think you are, 200 other people probably used the same phrase as you. My essay had a prompt, so I didn't have much creativity room. Mine was pretty much BS and full of nothing, but it's a state school, so I got in. Go figure. Anyway. Good luck.

08-27-2006, 11:10 PM	#6
Kay Scarpetta Defy Gravity 8.26.05 Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 04, 2001 Location: La Vie Boheme Posts: 28,013	Thanks for the suggestions! I'm making a list of them to help me out. I never thought applying to college would be this nerve-racking