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Brody's Guide to the College Admissions Essay
Brody's Guide to the College Admissions Essay is available at bookstores and at online retailers such as Amazon.com. The book was written by a college counselor and writer who has appeared on national television to discuss admissions-related issues, and a dean of law school admissions at a major university. It has been used in high schools and in after-school programs.
For those students who would benefit from professional help with their college admissions essays, we recommend EssayEdge.com, which has been praised by the Washington Post and the New York Times.
Rule #2: Your essay should be interesting.
When we ask students to brainstorm topics and they come back with something we tell them is “boring,” we usually end up regretting having opened our mouths. Not only do we get hurt and disappointed looks from the student, but sometimes we get angry calls from mom or dad. Who are we to judge the value of their child’s life? Who are we to say what’s exciting and what isn’t?
That’s nonsense. We have yet to meet a high school student who didn’t have anything interesting to say, but we’ve dealt with hundreds who have a hard time articulating what makes them special. And that’s understandable. Thinking outside your daily life and routine is hard. Sometimes it’s tough to imagine there’s anything you could say that would interest the admissions committee of a prestigious college.
Of course, if you’ve done something truly unique in your life already, there’s no reason to overcomplicate matters—you should probably write about that! If you competed in the Olympics, founded a charity, or started a significant business, you can bet the admissions committees will be eager to hear about such a formative experience. Writing the actual essay will still be challenging, but you’ve got your general subject matter already figured out.
Fortunately, for those among us with less newsworthy credentials, there’s still hope. However, before we discuss which specific essay topics might work well, we’re going to discuss which topics not too choose. Here, the most important thing to remember is to avoid the traps that make an essay unbearably dull or common.
- Don’t write about the death of a pet, or even a family member. Not only are these subjects depressing, but such essays almost always sound the same.
- Don’t think you need to necessarily write about the most important thing in your life. Many students tell us how important their friends, or siblings, are to them. Or they want to talk about their relationship with God. Even if you manage to make such an essay sufficiently personal to fit Rule #1, it’s very challenging to write a “friends” or “God” essay that doesn’t look like everyone else’s. (Remember, these readers see thousands of essays in just a few months. Is yours special enough to leave an impression?)
- Beware the sports essay. I’ve seen good ones, but I’ve seen many more that put me to sleep before the end of the first paragraph. The thrill of victory. The agony of defeat. Persistence. Teamwork. …It’s all been done.
- The “I’m sitting down to write my essay, and don’t know what to write about” essay. Yawn.
- Explaining that even though your parents are divorced, you now realize that they both still love you.
- Bad comedy. Your friends and family don’t want to hurt your feelings, and so they often won’t be the harsh critics as you need. If most people reading it aren’t laughing out loud, it’s not funny.
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In the end—and we’ll talk more about this when we discuss particular topics—an interesting essay is simply one that stands out, engages the reader’s attention, and leaves a lasting impression. It’s not necessary to write about something super-impressive or particularly quirky. The key is to pursue some aspect of your life that sets you apart. And to provide as much detail and insight as you can.
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Boring vs. Interesting Essay Topics
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During my two week trip to Europe, I learned a lot about various cultures.
I learned the value of hard work by working summers in a warehouse.
I volunteer in a soup kitchen (too routine a topic unless you have something unexpected to say).
I’m a very well-rounded person—I’m not only good at academics, but I’ve also excelled at several sports and somehow find time to help the less fortunate. (not focused enough…doesn’t get deep enough to be insightful)
I keep a fish tank, and it’s a hobby I enjoy because I like animals and it looks nice. I’ve had the tank since my father bought it for me 10 years ago.
Growing up in a family of six children has taught me how to deal with others and the importance of family.
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During my two week trip to Europe, I learned a lot while trapped in a ski-lift for three hours with an elderly Iranian couple.
I learned the value of hard work by working summers in a warehouse alongside three poor immigrants
I started a soup kitchen because….
To the outside world I appear to be a well-rounded person—but those very close to me know that I’m always just waiting for the opportunity to work on my mystery novel, which consumes all of my spare time.
I have a fish tank with five fish named Lucky, Bob, Stripey, Homer, and Big Earl. Each of them has a personality, and in its own way reminds me of myself…
I live in a house with six children, but for the past four years, every Wednesday after soccer practice, I’ve eaten a special dinner alone with just my mom.
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A note about passion…
What resonates when I read extraordinary essays from “ordinary” kids is that such essays often show passion. Passion is interesting, exciting, and real. Knowing what an applicant really cares about provides an insight that even the most detailed biography cannot. And a genuine passion for something usually demonstrates intellectual curiosity, a character trait prized by the admissions committees.
Does writing passionately about a subject mean that your essay will be interesting? Of course not. We’ve already mentioned how dull and routine the “my friends are the most important thing in my life” essay can be. And many high school students are passionate about music, yet admissions officers read 20 run-of-the-mill “I love music” essays for every good one.
The most important role of passion in your essays comes during the writing stage, when passion can infuse an already engaging essay with a rare urgency and humanity—we’ll talk more about that later. But when you’re still choosing a topic, it won’t hurt to choose something you feel strongly about—a subject that you can discuss straight from the heart and with a special enthusiasm. That enthusiasm will come through when you write.
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