PSA: Don't write your essay about building huts in Africa!

[Anonymous]

I don't see the sports essays as the build-a-hut essays at all.

Sure, they probably get a million sports essays, but that's because it's a typical and healthy and appropriate experience that many, many high school kids had. It won't make them stand out, but I can't imagine it genuinely hurting.

Build-a-hut essays, though, scream privilege and a lack of self-awareness.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but if you believe that one's college essay topic has any effect on admissions, you are misinformed.

So much misinformation in this thread !

Private schools love "rich and privileged"--that is why they have development offices/officers. (Not sure about the status after the admissions scandal involving celebrity parents.)

[Anonymous]

Yeah, our private school college counselor told us decades ago in the nineties that we were not allowed to write "When I stepped off the plane in Third World Country X" essays. Or community service essays. There was a third essay on the list we weren't allowed to write either but I can't remember what it was.

[Anonymous]

These essays are such a joke. My BIL wrote his daughter's (he won't admit it but it's obvious) and she got into a school she had no business going to. I have to assume this happens all the time. How do you expect a 17 year old to write anything meaningful? They're all told what "good" beliefs are, and haven't had the experiences that will lead them to anything authentic. And then they're told to avoid writing about genuinely meaningful experiences because they show privilege. For all the people saying "don't write about this"--well, that's probably what their experience is. So we're asking them to lie and second guess themselves. It's just nasty, like everything else in higher ed. Burn it all down and go back to admits on quantifiable, non-cheatable ability only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, our private school college counselor told us decades ago in the nineties that we were not allowed to write "When I stepped off the plane in Third World Country X" essays. Or community service essays. There was a third essay on the list we weren't allowed to write either but I can't remember what it was.

One can write an essay about tying a shoelace if it is done well. And a successful college application essay can be about tying one's shoelace in a third world country or in a closet if it is done well.

Understand that high school college counselors are not the brightest bulbs in the lamp--even with respect to their own profession. Your college counselor offered "backyard fence" type gossip parading as experienced, knowledgeable insight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These essays are such a joke. My BIL wrote his daughter's (he won't admit it but it's obvious) and she got into a school she had no business going to. I have to assume this happens all the time. How do you expect a 17 year old to write anything meaningful? They're all told what "good" beliefs are, and haven't had the experiences that will lead them to anything authentic. And then they're told to avoid writing about genuinely meaningful experiences because they show privilege. For all the people saying "don't write about this"--well, that's probably what their experience is. So we're asking them to lie and second guess themselves. It's just nasty, like everything else in higher ed. Burn it all down and go back to admits on quantifiable, non-cheatable ability only.

Again, another post by one who misunderstands the reason colleges and universities require application essays.

[Anonymous]

Doubt that any essay is going to be make or break for selective college admissions if you are "standard suburban white kid" - even a wealthy one.

They're not going to notice anything that's not a URM "overcoming tremendous obstacles" essay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These essays are such a joke. My BIL wrote his daughter's (he won't admit it but it's obvious) and she got into a school she had no business going to. I have to assume this happens all the time. How do you expect a 17 year old to write anything meaningful? They're all told what "good" beliefs are, and haven't had the experiences that will lead them to anything authentic. And then they're told to avoid writing about genuinely meaningful experiences because they show privilege. For all the people saying "don't write about this"--well, that's probably what their experience is. So we're asking them to lie and second guess themselves. It's just nasty, like everything else in higher ed. Burn it all down and go back to admits on quantifiable, non-cheatable ability only.

I had meaningful thoughts as a 17-year-old. Did you not?

As another poster said, it's not the topic, it's what they write about it. Basically, what materials do they give the application reader to understand them better as an applicant? A basic sports essay (I overcame an injury, or I overcame a disappointment, or I pulled my team together) gives a little insight into the applicant. But I can imagine a sports essay with a typical "plot" in which the student makes unexpected and interesting connections, and that would strengthen their application more.

The experience doesn't have to be Meaningful with a capital M (e.g. I changed the life of a poor person, or I brought our team from the brink of defeat to winning the state championship). It can be meaningful to the student (e.g. I realized something small but interesting about myself, and I will bring this insight with me to college.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doubt that any essay is going to be make or break for selective college admissions if you are "standard suburban white kid" - even a wealthy one.

They're not going to notice anything that's not a URM "overcoming tremendous obstacles" essay.

It doesn't make or break unless you write one of the top 50 essays they read that season (that maybe goes on the website as an example of a great admitted student essay). My own view is you just want the essay to be different such that the AO at least wants to read it because it is a topic that nobody else is writing about. You then weave in your life story in a nuanced way...but you never write directly about an activity, sport, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doubt that any essay is going to be make or break for selective college admissions if you are "standard suburban white kid" - even a wealthy one.

They're not going to notice anything that's not a URM "overcoming tremendous obstacles" essay.

It doesn't make or break unless you write one of the top 50 essays they read that season (that maybe goes on the website as an example of a great admitted student essay). My own view is you just want the essay to be different such that the AO at least wants to read it because it is a topic that nobody else is writing about. You then weave in your life story in a nuanced way...but you never write directly about an activity, sport, etc.

Absolutely incorrect backyard fence gossip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These essays are such a joke. My BIL wrote his daughter's (he won't admit it but it's obvious) and she got into a school she had no business going to. I have to assume this happens all the time. How do you expect a 17 year old to write anything meaningful? They're all told what "good" beliefs are, and haven't had the experiences that will lead them to anything authentic. And then they're told to avoid writing about genuinely meaningful experiences because they show privilege. For all the people saying "don't write about this"--well, that's probably what their experience is. So we're asking them to lie and second guess themselves. It's just nasty, like everything else in higher ed. Burn it all down and go back to admits on quantifiable, non-cheatable ability only.

I had meaningful thoughts as a 17-year-old. Did you not?

As another poster said, it's not the topic, it's what they write about it. Basically, what materials do they give the application reader to understand them better as an applicant? A basic sports essay (I overcame an injury, or I overcame a disappointment, or I pulled my team together) gives a little insight into the applicant. But I can imagine a sports essay with a typical "plot" in which the student makes unexpected and interesting connections, and that would strengthen their application more.

The experience doesn't have to be Meaningful with a capital M (e.g. I changed the life of a poor person, or I brought our team from the brink of defeat to winning the state championship). It can be meaningful to the student (e.g. I realized something small but interesting about myself, and I will bring this insight with me to college.).

You understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doubt that any essay is going to be make or break for selective college admissions if you are "standard suburban white kid" - even a wealthy one.

They're not going to notice anything that's not a URM "overcoming tremendous obstacles" essay.

It doesn't make or break unless you write one of the top 50 essays they read that season (that maybe goes on the website as an example of a great admitted student essay). My own view is you just want the essay to be different such that the AO at least wants to read it [b]because it is a topic that nobody else is writing about. You then weave in your life story in a nuanced way...but you never write directly about an activity, sport, etc.

[/b]

[Anonymous]

They're not going to notice anything that's not a URM "overcoming tremendous obstacles" essay.

Name a Top 40 school that's 60% URM? Despite all the hand wringing and racists comments on this board, these schools continue to be overwhelmingly white and wealthy. Of course kids of all races face obstacles and when I hear their stories, I'm far more impressed by their success than the pampered, uber prepped kids claiming they were "shut out" and that someone undeserving "took their spot."

[Anonymous]

Do you see the misunderstanding most posters are having regarding college app essay topics ?

If you do, then you know how ridiculous the PSA thread title is and how ridiculous the private school counselor's advice was regarding college application essay topics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, but if you believe that one's college essay topic has any effect on admissions, you are misinformed.

So much misinformation in this thread !

Private schools love "rich and privileged"--that is why they have development offices/officers. (Not sure about the status after the admissions scandal involving celebrity parents.)

Development cases aren't being identified through essay topics. Those kids are getting in regardless of their essays.