Should you really avoid an activity as a main essay topic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been following Application Nation and the leader of it is pretty militant that kids should not write about an activity for the main essay. My DC has a very time-intensive activity that is really their passion (100s of hours a year). DC wants to use what appeals to them about that activity to explain their overall approach to life and what drives them. Is this really a no-no?

Not only is it not a "no-no," it's a good approach to the essay.

Have to disagree. Sounds generic and will be rehashed in the supplementals.

The essay OP suggests is about their DC's "overall approach to life and what drives them." That isn't generic -- that is exactly the kind of thing that works well. The activity in question there is simply the means to the end.

-- a writer

Exactly what every other kid will write because it involves zero creativity -- generic and boring. It's passable but won't move the needle either way.

Much better to write something that wouldn't otherwise be known about the kid or demonstrates personality.

I
You are so wrong. But you say it with authority, lol.

My kid is going to one of H/Y/P and his high school counselor said his was one of the best essays she’s seen, but sure, anonymous stranger, I’m sure the AO would rather hear about the kid’s main extracurricular for the fifth time.

I'm an essayist with an MFA in writing who has coached many students on their application essays (as well as a "random stranger"). But sure, mommy, the fact that your kid is "going to one of H/Y/P and his high school counselor said his was one of the best essays she's seen" means you know what every kid should and shouldn't write about. Sure it does.

Y'all are hilarious.

Caveat emptor, folks. The information you find on the internet is generally worth what you are paying for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I 100% hate all the advice to kids about their essays. It makes me actively angry that we put kids in these impossible positions.

Be different! But not weird!
Don’t write about something lots of people do! But write about something you know! (Which by definition will be something lots of people do for lots of kids).
Show your personal growth and grit but don’t write the cliche essay about how you faced a challenge and grew because of it!
Show who you are but don’t write about the things that are listed on your activities list (even thought that’s basically what you did for the past four years with all your time)!
Tell a good story but don’t feature other people hecsuse we want to know about YOU!
Don’t sound spoiled but also don’t dwell on hardship or really feature any significant challenges that the AO might worry might impact your ability to succeed at the school!


The vast majority of excellent writers and excellent people could not meet these criteria. It’s really dumb we expect 17 year olds who have incredibly limited life experience to do this.

Amen!
Tell me about a time you overcame a challenge... but don't write about sports, or school, or a family trauma, or anything that suggests your family has money, or anything too mundane, or anything too weird....
I mean, for most 17 year olds, their life is pretty mundane, and being class president or being persistent when losing a game, or struggling in a class ARE the major things that have happened to them.

Try to see it from the AO’s perspective. In the five minutes they have to review an app, they are just going to skim over a personal statement that is identical to hundreds of others. Think smaller to something that showcases something unique to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been following Application Nation and the leader of it is pretty militant that kids should not write about an activity for the main essay. My DC has a very time-intensive activity that is really their passion (100s of hours a year). DC wants to use what appeals to them about that activity to explain their overall approach to life and what drives them. Is this really a no-no?

Not only is it not a "no-no," it's a good approach to the essay.

Have to disagree. Sounds generic and will be rehashed in the supplementals.

The essay OP suggests is about their DC's "overall approach to life and what drives them." That isn't generic -- that is exactly the kind of thing that works well. The activity in question there is simply the means to the end.

-- a writer

Exactly what every other kid will write because it involves zero creativity -- generic and boring. It's passable but won't move the needle either way.

Much better to write something that wouldn't otherwise be known about the kid or demonstrates personality.

I
You are so wrong. But you say it with authority, lol.

My kid is going to one of H/Y/P and his high school counselor said his was one of the best essays she’s seen, but sure, anonymous stranger, I’m sure the AO would rather hear about the kid’s main extracurricular for the fifth time.

I'm an essayist with an MFA in writing who has coached many students on their application essays (as well as a "random stranger"). But sure, mommy, the fact that your kid is "going to one of H/Y/P and his high school counselor said his was one of the best essays she's seen" means you know what every kid should and shouldn't write about. Sure it does.

Y'all are hilarious.

Caveat emptor, folks. The information you find on the internet is generally worth what you are paying for it.

Well, they say those that can’t do, teach. Sad the anyone is paying for your bad advice. Nothing “random” about my advice any decent college counselor, including AN, says the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been following Application Nation and the leader of it is pretty militant that kids should not write about an activity for the main essay. My DC has a very time-intensive activity that is really their passion (100s of hours a year). DC wants to use what appeals to them about that activity to explain their overall approach to life and what drives them. Is this really a no-no?

Not only is it not a "no-no," it's a good approach to the essay.

Have to disagree. Sounds generic and will be rehashed in the supplementals.

The essay OP suggests is about their DC's "overall approach to life and what drives them." That isn't generic -- that is exactly the kind of thing that works well. The activity in question there is simply the means to the end.

-- a writer

Exactly what every other kid will write because it involves zero creativity -- generic and boring. It's passable but won't move the needle either way.

Much better to write something that wouldn't otherwise be known about the kid or demonstrates personality.

I
You are so wrong. But you say it with authority, lol.

My kid is going to one of H/Y/P and his high school counselor said his was one of the best essays she’s seen, but sure, anonymous stranger, I’m sure the AO would rather hear about the kid’s main extracurricular for the fifth time.

I'm an essayist with an MFA in writing who has coached many students on their application essays (as well as a "random stranger"). But sure, mommy, the fact that your kid is "going to one of H/Y/P and his high school counselor said his was one of the best essays she's seen" means you know what every kid should and shouldn't write about. Sure it does.

Y'all are hilarious.

Caveat emptor, folks. The information you find on the internet is generally worth what you are paying for it.

Well, they say those that can’t do, teach. Sad the anyone is paying for your bad advice. Nothing “random” about my advice any decent college counselor, including AN, says the same.

NP. Your disdain for the entire profession of teaching makes you kind of a crappy human.

[Anonymous]

None of it matters. Don't stress.

We paid $10k for a final set of polished, edited set of essays for 5 reach schools from a word-of-mouth-only essay person.

At Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the college influencer Ivy Roadmap on Instagram or Youtube. He disagrees with the advice from AN and thinks that the activity should at least be mentioned in the main essay so the ad officer remembers who you are.

AN at least has a former Ivy admission’s officer as the head. Do I agree with everything she says? No. But Ivy Roadmap guy is just an influencer that likes to talk about college admissions, right? Has he ever worked as an admissions officer? Correct me if I’m wrong!

I thought she worked at F&M or one of the PA liberal arts colleges like that?

she was an AO at Penn and also admissions director at another school, don't recall which.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been following Application Nation and the leader of it is pretty militant that kids should not write about an activity for the main essay. My DC has a very time-intensive activity that is really their passion (100s of hours a year). DC wants to use what appeals to them about that activity to explain their overall approach to life and what drives them. Is this really a no-no?

Not only is it not a "no-no," it's a good approach to the essay.

Have to disagree. Sounds generic and will be rehashed in the supplementals.

The essay OP suggests is about their DC's "overall approach to life and what drives them." That isn't generic -- that is exactly the kind of thing that works well. The activity in question there is simply the means to the end.

-- a writer

Exactly what every other kid will write because it involves zero creativity -- generic and boring. It's passable but won't move the needle either way.

Much better to write something that wouldn't otherwise be known about the kid or demonstrates personality.

I
You are so wrong. But you say it with authority, lol.

My kid is going to one of H/Y/P and his high school counselor said his was one of the best essays she’s seen, but sure, anonymous stranger, I’m sure the AO would rather hear about the kid’s main extracurricular for the fifth time.

I'm an essayist with an MFA in writing who has coached many students on their application essays (as well as a "random stranger"). But sure, mommy, the fact that your kid is "going to one of H/Y/P and his high school counselor said his was one of the best essays she's seen" means you know what every kid should and shouldn't write about. Sure it does.

Y'all are hilarious.

Caveat emptor, folks. The information you find on the internet is generally worth what you are paying for it.

Well, they say those that can’t do, teach. Sad the anyone is paying for your bad advice. Nothing “random” about my advice any decent college counselor, including AN, says the same.

NP. Your disdain for the entire profession of teaching makes you kind of a crappy human.

Nope only disdain for the particular person whose been attacking me for several pages and throwing about "essayist," "mfa," and "essay coach." No one wants to read a boring essay covering the same material as the rest of the application, least of all someone reading thousands of them. It's basic common sense.

[Anonymous]

I was on AN for my older kid. I think the essay advice comes from how she, herself, read and remembered the essays. This could easily be different from another AO, so you should use your judgment. But I found it useful to hear about how an actual AO viewed these thigns.

Her point was that if the applicant writes about, say, swimming in their supplement on 'how I overcame a challenge' or 'what's a community that's important to me' and then also in their main essay then she would breeze over the main essay assuming it was the same stuff a second time. Essentially, a lost chance to say something new about themselves.

She also says that the it helps to be 'memorable' in the application process and "the kid who keeps pet snakes' is more memorable than "the kid who overcame a challenge on the swim team." It's not that keeping pet snakes is a desirable trait; it's that you remember the kid (and whatever lesson they learned from their snake) and that's a good thing in the admissions process. And hopefully, that lesson you learned from teh snake comports with the overall 'story' of the application so you come away with an idea of who the kid is and not just what their resume is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been following Application Nation and the leader of it is pretty militant that kids should not write about an activity for the main essay. My DC has a very time-intensive activity that is really their passion (100s of hours a year). DC wants to use what appeals to them about that activity to explain their overall approach to life and what drives them. Is this really a no-no?

Not only is it not a "no-no," it's a good approach to the essay.

Have to disagree. Sounds generic and will be rehashed in the supplementals.

The essay OP suggests is about their DC's "overall approach to life and what drives them." That isn't generic -- that is exactly the kind of thing that works well. The activity in question there is simply the means to the end.

-- a writer

Exactly what every other kid will write because it involves zero creativity -- generic and boring. It's passable but won't move the needle either way.

Much better to write something that wouldn't otherwise be known about the kid or demonstrates personality.

I
You are so wrong. But you say it with authority, lol.

My kid is going to one of H/Y/P and his high school counselor said his was one of the best essays she’s seen, but sure, anonymous stranger, I’m sure the AO would rather hear about the kid’s main extracurricular for the fifth time.

I'm an essayist with an MFA in writing who has coached many students on their application essays (as well as a "random stranger"). But sure, mommy, the fact that your kid is "going to one of H/Y/P and his high school counselor said his was one of the best essays she's seen" means you know what every kid should and shouldn't write about. Sure it does.

Y'all are hilarious.

Caveat emptor, folks. The information you find on the internet is generally worth what you are paying for it.

Well, they say those that can’t do, teach. Sad the anyone is paying for your bad advice. Nothing “random” about my advice any decent college counselor, including AN, says the same.

NP. Your disdain for the entire profession of teaching makes you kind of a crappy human.

Nope only disdain for the particular person who’s been attacking me for several pages and throwing about "essayist," "mfa," and "essay coach." No one wants to read a boring essay covering the same material as the rest of the application, least of all someone reading thousands of them. It's basic common sense.

Then don’t toss off the extremely insulting “those that can’t do, teach.” Your little zinger is aimed at the wrong person, because an essay coach isn’t a teacher, and teachers are sick of hearing your “clever line.” It’s beyond rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I 100% hate all the advice to kids about their essays. It makes me actively angry that we put kids in these impossible positions.

Be different! But not weird!
Don’t write about something lots of people do! But write about something you know! (Which by definition will be something lots of people do for lots of kids).
Show your personal growth and grit but don’t write the cliche essay about how you faced a challenge and grew because of it!
Show who you are but don’t write about the things that are listed on your activities list (even thought that’s basically what you did for the past four years with all your time)!
Tell a good story but don’t feature other people hecsuse we want to know about YOU!
Don’t sound spoiled but also don’t dwell on hardship or really feature any significant challenges that the AO might worry might impact your ability to succeed at the school!


The vast majority of excellent writers and excellent people could not meet these criteria. It’s really dumb we expect 17 year olds who have incredibly limited life experience to do this.

+100.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been following Application Nation and the leader of it is pretty militant that kids should not write about an activity for the main essay. My DC has a very time-intensive activity that is really their passion (100s of hours a year). DC wants to use what appeals to them about that activity to explain their overall approach to life and what drives them. Is this really a no-no?

Ridiculous. Both of ours wrote about an activity, albeit creatively and tied into academic interests or personal quirks, and both are at different ivies unhooked. The activities were not academic--they made the links between the activity and other parts of their narrative in a creative way. No essay coaches, no paid anything, though the school has all students get the essay reviewed by english teachers and the counselor writing the letter. Some students were told to start over, ours were told they were unique and memorable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of it matters. Don't stress.

We paid $10k for a final set of polished, edited set of essays for 5 reach schools from a word-of-mouth-only essay person.

At Ivy.

That's a weird flex. You realize most ivy kids can write well on their own and did not pay to get in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She's full of crap, and so black and white with her advice. I really feel bad for everyone who gets duped by the confidence of her drivel.

My DS wrote about a connecting set of activities, what they enabled him to see about the world and what they motivated him to want to do in college. The essay needs to show who you are as a person, how you've grown, and what you will bring to the world. If that story is best told through one or more activities, then that's fine.

(he got into several T-20s including 2 Ivies, and is at an Ivy now).

correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the college influencer Ivy Roadmap on Instagram or Youtube. He disagrees with the advice from AN and thinks that the activity should at least be mentioned in the main essay so the ad officer remembers who you are.

AN at least has a former Ivy admission’s officer as the head. Do I agree with everything she says? No. But Ivy Roadmap guy is just an influencer that likes to talk about college admissions, right? Has he ever worked as an admissions officer? Correct me if I’m wrong!

I thought she worked at F&M or one of the PA liberal arts colleges like that?

She did after working at Penn.

[Anonymous]

Former admissions reader here. AN has to paint a broad stroke to be able to coach so many kids at once. The key to success there is to adapt the advice to your kid. They edit essays and she needs to have parameters so that the essays can stand out. That’s their biz model. But you can easily adapt the advice into what works for you. My kid wrote about an activity that was very clear in his app but showed a completely different perspective and deep knowledge of it when he experienced something in a very specific moment. It was a great essay. And while it didn’t pass Sara’s general “rules” I can almost guarantee she would have loved it. The number of triumph over injury or concussion in sports essays I read was a snooze fest and a real missed opportunity. So the advice is sound, but adapt it to you and write something meaningful.