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Lesson Two: Brainstorming a Topic
 Introduction
Choosing an essay
topic can be one of the most difficult aspects of the entire admissions process. Questions
often ask you to think about your entire life, pick just one thing, and talk about it in
great depth. Even the most reflective writers are left wondering: “How am I supposed
to know the ONE event that has changed my life or the one thing that represents my entire
personality.” In all likelihood there isn’t just one. But there probably is one
that you can write about most passionately and effectively. The most important part of
your entire essay is finding this one subject. Without a topic you feel passionate about,
without one that brings out the defining aspects of you personality, you risk falling into
the trap of sounding like the 90 percent of applicants who will write boring admissions
essays. Coming up with this idea is difficult and will require a great deal of time. But
whatever you do, don't let this part stress you out. Have fun!
EssayEge
Extra: One Essay, Multiple Applications
By now, you have
figured out that you can save time by submitting the same or similar essays for the
applications to various schools. If you are creative, you will be able to plug in many of
your answers into some not so similar questions, too. It is fine to lift whole paragraphs
or even entire essays and apply them to different questions-as long as you do so
seamlessly. Be absolutely sure that you have answered the question asked. Pay special
attention to the introductions and conclusions-this is where cutting and pasting is most
evident. Thorough proofreading is imperative if you take shortcuts like these. If a school
notices that you have obviously swapped essays without even bothering to tailor them to
the questions at hand, it shows them that you are lazy and insincere. If the question
requires an answer specific to the school, you should show that you have read the
college’s web page, admissions catalog, and have an understanding of the
institution's strengths. |
From
ESSAYS THAT WILL GET YOU INTO COLLEGE, by Amy Burnham, Daniel Kaufman, and Chris Dowhan.
Copyright 1998 by Dan Kaufman. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational
Series, Inc.
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