college essays

[mtbiac]

this might be the wrong place to ask this but here goes...

i'm in the process of applying to colleges and ofcourse this entails the ever popular essay writing :-/

I am looking for some ideas as I cannot think of any... I am wanting to write my essay (question: describe a significant experience and its impact on you) about how I got into computers, and how this hobby eventually transformed into a lucrative business of building/selling them, which I had started in 8th grade. This business is now incorporated too. I chose this topic basically because it shows a great deal of leadership, entrepreneurial skills, etc etc which the "top" schools are looking for...of course i could be way off and this is a retarted topic (if so please let me know) The problem is the essay is supposed to be interesting, grab the readers attention, make them remember you out of the 1000s of applicants. I've been pondering the topic for days and have a few ideas on this but dont know if they are any good, and basically i'm just looking for some feedback from you guys/gals on how to do this?? I could also throw in some humour, etc.

thanks in advance,
mike-

 

[Spoooon]

I wouldn't use humor. You just need to think of something (or make up something believable) that would strike someone as being memorable. If you are talking undergrad, I wouldn't worry about it too much unless you are applying to some elite school.

 

[mtbiac]

yes, its undergrad. I'll probably apply to one or two Ivys, although I don't know that my chances of acceptance are very high. But ofcourse i'd like to make my essay competitive for such a school....

 

[Lager]

You shouldn't be going to Ivy league when you have to ask for help on your essays.

 

[mtbiac]

i knew i'd get a response like that

 

[BeauJangles]

Honestly, most Ivy League schools are overrated. Many of them have great professors, but you never see them because they are doing research or working with grad students. IMO, going to a non-research university for undergrad is a really good option.

 

[Broohaha]

tell us your sat scores, ap classes, sat 2 scores, extracurrics etc and we'll tell you if we'll let you into an ivy

<--soon to be ivy grad......

 

[nater]

What you need to do is include a SPECIFIC example or experience to demonstrate your point. Show a story, don't tell it...for example, for one of my essays (similar topic) I discussed how an elderly lady I helped reacted when she received a picture of one of her grandchildren in her email for the first time.

 

[nicowju]

one of the essays i wrote for the university i attend now related to star trek (attach a picture that means something to you and write about why/how it does). that worked...
another one of the possible essays that year was "what would you tell your future roommate about yourself?" or "how would you introduce yourself to your future roommate?" or something along those lines. i have a friend who wrote something pretty funny for that. in fact, he's going to be my roommate next year


**edit (because I forgot the morale of this story...): you can write about something funny, or write with some humor, and still convey a clear, unique message**

 

[mtbiac]

hehe, thanks for the tips guys.

more welcome