Many people didn't know this. Colleges evaluate students in the context of their high school. What's important is how you set yourself apart from other kids in the school. If you are in an elite private school full of rich kids, a summer trip to Italy is not going to differentiate you from the rest. If you are in a magnet public school, research on curing cancer is dime a dozen. If you are an URM in a majority white school, a lived experience essay will set you apart from the crowd. My URM kid was heavily involved stem research, which made them really stand out in their inner city school. It really doesn't have to be unique, but it got to be different from other kids in the same school.

Anonymous wrote:My best friend, a science/math person who was into musical theater, wrote about how the handsome, older senior who had the musical lead one year asked her to senior prom…and came out to her there, the first person he ever told. It was the 90s so being openly gay was much harder and it was a major display of trust. (And over the next months he told everybody so she wasnt betraying him in writing the piece two years later.) it was a hilarious, bittersweet, somewhat self-deprecating essay about a dorky girl’s dashed hopes…but it had a deeper message that she was a trustworthy, warm person and a great friend. Got into great schools.

This is the first one mentioned that I actually want to read!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Google: NYT brown table essay

Tears.

Meh.

I liked the library essay.

Link?

I liked the brown table…

Link to the brown table essay please?

Common app essay is 650 words. Such limited space to express who you are in a creative way. Leave it up to your DC to pick what speaks to them and limit your help to editing for length.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Google: NYT brown table essay

Tears.

Meh.

I liked the library essay.

Link?

I liked the brown table…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Google: NYT brown table essay

Tears.

Meh.

I liked the library essay.

Anonymous wrote:Google: NYT brown table essay

Tears.

Meh.

Anonymous wrote:My friend wrote about how she escaped her country at a refugee at age 12 when a war started in her country.

A lot of people write about that, because it is sadly a very common occurrence.

Interested in more recent feedback.

Best essay topics?

Best way to frame Why Major supp?

My best friend, a science/math person who was into musical theater, wrote about how the handsome, older senior who had the musical lead one year asked her to senior prom…and came out to her there, the first person he ever told. It was the 90s so being openly gay was much harder and it was a major display of trust. (And over the next months he told everybody so she wasnt betraying him in writing the piece two years later.) it was a hilarious, bittersweet, somewhat self-deprecating essay about a dorky girl’s dashed hopes…but it had a deeper message that she was a trustworthy, warm person and a great friend. Got into great schools.