Writing the Common App Essay

                Since the dawn of time, or at least ever since the creation of the common application essay, students have been plagued by the question, “So what is it that really makes a college tick?’ Tell you  what, I recently had a chance to find out.

                Yesterday, the regional director for admissions from UPenn (Yes, you read it!) visited my school and I had the opportunity to interact with him for a good twenty minutes (after most people had left) thanks to my college counselor (who’s been pushing me to apply to as many Ivy Leagues as financially possible).

                And yesterday, I finally had the opportunity to ask the admissions officer (the real live guy who’d be reading my application) what it REALLY took to make a successful college essay.

Well, for starters, this guy was impressive. I’ve had a more-than-fair share of bad admission counselors. And when I mean bad, I mean horrid. There was once this woman who spoke at the rate of one word per hour. Another looked like Hilary Duff’s stepmother from ‘A Cinderella Story’ right after she had had a botox… treatment? God, I can’t even use the word botox in a sentence. Hopefully I’ll never need to.

So anyhow, this guy was impressive. He spoke like a pro, looked approachable enough, and by the end of his presentation, had convinced every person in the room that Penn was THE choice for them.  

And when I did ask The Question? He said:

“Write an essay which only you could write. Write what makes you unique.”

Oh right, as if we hadn’t heard the famous line over and over again from our college counselor, ALL websites and ALL college admission officers. And at that point I could have sworn that there was some course on planet earth specifically for admissions officers which taught them all to say this at the most crucial time. As if life wasn’t confusing enough already.

                 But then he gave an excellent example.  In less than eloquent words, I will try and supply the essence of his speech.

                Write what makes you unique. Something that no one but you could have written. Something that leaves an impression. Think about your favourite book. What was it that made that book memorable? Have you ever thought that this was something no other writer could have written? Maybe a particular combination of words that stuck? Write something only you could write with the experiences that you have.

                

                And I will sign off with this, it’s time for class!