Juniors! Application Essays? Topics.
- Terri Murai, Mosaic Consulting
- Oct 30, 2016
- 4 min read
An optimal time to tackle essay(s) is during the summer between junior and senior year of high school. Typically, you'll have time to write and have essays in good shape before homework begins in your senior year.
What do you write about? What do college admission officers want to learn about in the essay(s)? The simple answer is, you!
Colleges want to know who you are beyond academics, how you will contribute to their community, and, yes, they want to know you can write. Admission officers read the essays! Most importantly, the essay tells your unique story, rich with your values.
What Makes a Story Interesting?
In any good story, a character is introduced, the character shows what they value initially in their life through experiences, then something happens in their life that forces them to re-evaluate their values. This is when the character grows/matures by which their initial values change from what they were at the beginning or their initial values are strengthened. For your essay(s), you become that character.
Still Unclear? Read On.
What does a “value” look like? What interests, experiences, people, activities occupy your mind and time beyond homework?
Here is an example. A student once shared how he loved being Italian and Thai because of the contrasting activities he engaged in with his two grandmothers when he was young. One was boisterous and social, while the other was reserved and enjoyed watching Asian dramas. The student looked forward to the loud, chaotic, exuberant Italian gatherings, but also relished intimate chuckles with his Thai grandmother as they found humor in the bubbling sound of the Thai language as they watched dramas together. At an early age, the student valued individualism and being true to oneself.
What Happened to Disrupt Those Values?
Continuing with the example. As the student grew and entered middle school, he found his values, “individualism and being true to oneself”, were challenged because he didn’t seem to “belong” within any social peer group on campus due to his multiracial background. The student goes on to tell a story of an uncomfortable confrontation he had by which he questions his values of individualism and being true to oneself in order to fit in. The student is faced with a challenge or difficulty whereby he must re-evaluate his values. Should the student change his values to conform?
What Happens to Those Values?
The story goes on. The student struggled until he entered high school when he encountered a teacher with whom he felt comfortable spending lunch hour with. The student and teacher had a common bond in their multiracial background, and their conversations were rich with experiences both serious and humorous. Instead of questioning his individualism and being true oneself, the two-year experience strengthened the student’s understanding of his unique identity and supported his perception about his values that were once on fragile footings.
How Did Those Values Influence Life?
A turning point. The student would never forget the importance of those conversations and time spent with his teacher. Through those conversations blossomed maturity, self- assuredness, conviction that strengthened his values of individuality and being true to oneself. Subsequently, the student goes on to confidently start a multiracial club at his school (as the President), and began volunteering at the Boy and Girls Club where he helped and encouraged younger kids from various backgrounds to be true to themselves.
Many Values Revealed
Through this example, the stated values, “individualism” and “being true to oneself”, generated a story where by other values are naturally unveiled throughout the essay. The reader witnesses how the student values family (through time spent with his grandmothers), relationships (kinship with his teacher), mentorship (volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club), leadership (as he started the club at school), and perseverance (as he continued to pursue understanding of his values over a period of time.)
You. Your Values. Your Story.
What Makes You, You?
In order to write your story, you have to know yourself. After all, you are the character in the story. Try this exercise developed by the College Essay Guy, Ethan Sawyer. This Object Exercise is intended to help you be introspective, identify items that have meaning to you, and draw out why they have meaning.
What Are Your Values?
Hmmm-tough one? This is often perplexing when students try to jot down what their values are. Think of it as those things you would take a stand for. Try this Value Exercise developed by the College Essay Guy, Ethan Sawyer.
Brainstorming Questions
What experiences have you had that illustrate your values?
How have those values been challenged in your life?
What experiences have made you wonder about those values?
Did your values change or become stronger? Why?
What activities illustrate your commitment to your values, or changed values?
Write Your Story
Pick your top three values. Identify what experiences or object illustrate your values. Illustrate how those values were challenged in story form. Explain how those values were strengthened, broadened or changed. Express commitment to those values through activities you are involved with. Use your own voice in telling this story, because then it becomes a mirror reflecting what's most interesting, YOU!
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