Brody's Guide to the College Admissions Essay

Essay #5

It stands in the corner of a small room, gleaming in all its beauty, waiting for attention. Its silence resonates. During my childhood, it remained the exhibit devoid of touch, existing solely for my eyes. I struggled to resist my urge to tarnish its innocent magnificence with a cacophonous exposure. The day I finally sliced the thick silence, the sounds were devoured by the ravenous air and I thought I would never take my fingers off it again; I had finally struck the ivory of the grand piano.
Ever since that moment, I have wanted to learn everything about music and the majestic instrument I loved. I became the student of two piano teachers and a member of the National Fraternity of Student Musicians for four years. However, despite my interest and growing dedication, it became difficult to play the piano with an increasingly rigorous course-load every year at school. My usual practice sessions were burdened by excessive homework and other activities. Nevertheless, as a conscientious student of both music and high school, I developed a work ethic that allowed me to arrange my schedule making time for not only the things I had to do but also the things I loved to do.
As I am preparing for an audition to become a member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers, my playing has evolved. It has become more than a curiosity or a pastime; it is an escape. Mozart’s “Sonata” soothes a stressful day of school; Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” relives a magical outing; Chopin’s “Nocturne” heals the bitter wounds left from an argument with a friend. Year after year the legatos of my music have complimented the staccatos of my life—a fantasia of memories. The piano exists as a source of companionship; a sentient with a pulse that throbs with emotion. The most rewarding experience of my life was breaking the silence that once existed in my home and beginning my endeavor into classical piano. I discovered my own soul through music.

This is another essay that “worked” at Harvard.

The author has written a short piece, and the choice of topic—while not unusual—doesn’t fit exactly with what we usually preach. Playing a musical instrument, even at instructor-caliber, is impressive but not unique among Ivy League applicants. And there’s no talk (at least in the essay) of piano-related accomplishments that might put this author in a class above her peers.

On the other hand, despite a few minor issues, this essay is written beautifully. Some parts are brilliant. Sure, anyone could assert a love for the piano. But reading this essay, do you have any doubt that this author is telling the truth—that she does, in fact, feel she has “discovered [her] own soul through music?”

While sending only this essay to a college might represent a missed opportunity in today’s world of hyper-achieving high school seniors, as part of a comprehensive admissions package—including several diverse essays—it would do a terrific job of rounding out an application.

While a talked-about trend in the admissions committee is the “well-rounded class” as opposed to the “well-rounded student”—that is, a preference for people who do one thing excellently over those who do a number of things well—admissions officers are nonetheless looking for individuals who have a life and a self-awareness beyond academic studies and extracurricular, resume-building pursuits. This author’s love of the piano, and the instrument’s importance in her life, demonstrate that she is not a one-dimensional applicant, and that she takes joy and comfort in her art.

 

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