Punchy Topics for Your Application Essay
Your application essay is an essential part of your application to your dream university. When writing your application essay, you have to pay attention to the topic. The choice of topic is very important in grabbing the attention of the admissions panel. College Media shares some of the tips on how to come up with punchy topics for your application essay.
Consider thought-provoking topics
There are many areas to focus on. To grab the attention of the admissions committee, consider choosing topics that are thought-provoking.
Students should select a most thought-provoking and stimulating subject to write about, and it helps greatly to view the task as a we dare you to compete for the privilege of attending our school challenge from the college. In other words, if there’s a literary masterpiece inside the student crying out to be written and read, this would be a good time to unleash it!
Writing the personal statement is your chance to showcase your uniqueness and strengths. You can show the quality of your mind by choosing a subject that is mind-stimulating. This would separate you from the hordes of other applicants. However, you must make sure that you can handle the topic well or you might risk sounding superficial.
Choose topics that you are passionate about
You can also consider the topics that you are interested in. In this way you won’t have difficulty writing your essay.
Students writing about their favorite anything should be passionate about it. It’s not enough just to say you love something or someone. It must be explained why in no uncertain terms. If writing about how a particular relative was admired by the student above all others, then how that person influenced the student’s life, how the student apprenticed that person or fashioned their lives in their light should be factored in.
The most important thing that you need to remember is to connect your passion with your application. How does your love for books or for children influence your decision to pursue an education in this school? How will your passion shape your future? How can your passion help you in attaining your education goals?
Avoid vivid description of horrifying events
You can grab the attention of the readers if you talk about one of your relevant experiences. However, you have to refrain from delving deeper into experiences that are too painful or horrifying.
Students should avoid writing too vividly about any traumatizing experience. The essay can be gripping but not horrifying. Remember, the object here is to write an essay that captures the reader’s imagination and begs to be read in its entirety. Highly controversial subjects such as abortion are best avoided.
You can just mention in passing how those events made you a great deal stronger. But do not focus on those controversial and painful memories. It will affect the overall mood of your essay.
Do not include a sob story
Winning the sympathy of the admissions panel by telling a sob story is a no-no. This blog recommends against the use of a sob story.
Nobody likes a sob story, no matter how true or heartbreaking it is. Don’t look for pity. Instead, show admissions committees how you surpassed difficulties to achieve a high GPA, leadership position, or some other accomplishment. Impress them with your determination.
There are other more fun and effective ways to write a notable essay. Just be creative and you will surely find the topic that could win you a slot in your dream school.
You can win the attention of the admissions personnel without using a sob story and without telling a traumatic experience. You can actually win their attention by talking about your passion and thought-provoking ideas.
April 12th, 2010 at 2:26 am
Coming up with a topic is just as hard as writing the essay itself. The stakes are quite high. There are several topics in which you can write about, and all of these you should be well-knowledgeable about.
First things first, just as the article pointed out, you should be passionate about what you’re writing. And no, they don’t mean write about your favorite Disney character or the characters of a famous magazine you frequently read. It must be something that you clearly know about and something that has direct influence in your life. For example, your fifth-grade teacher that taught you to never give up and never to surrender against any problem you encounter in life.
Remember also that you must know well what you’re writing about and never to copy the topic or idea of another person or a website. Why? Aside from the danger of being accused of plagiarism, it will also reflect on the way you write your essay.
These admissions panels are not new to essays and have read thousands of them in their lives, so it would be safe to say that they would know immediately whether or not, you clearly know what you’re writing about. Remember, that no matter how touching your topic may be, avoid writing merely to get the sympathy of the judges. Do not tell them dramatic sequences or excerpts from your life. That’s a big NO. Most likely, they wouldn’t appreciate your attempts at emotional manipulation. This might lower your chance of being admitted to your dream university. Although, a little sympathy or sadness wouldn’t hurt as well, try your best to win the sympathy of the judges without ever directly telling them your “sad” love story. Try to be subtle in your writings and remember that they will want you to write about your topic, and your main objective is to impress them, not try to make them cry.