What college essay topics to avoid? It is commonly said that students should avoid “the 5 Ds” when selecting a college essay topic: Death, Divorce, Disease (including Depression), Drugs, and Dating. This is not to say that these topics are not important or worthy of being written about.
Can I write my college essay about my parents divorce?
You can choose to write your college essay about divorced parents as long as you show that you are a good return of investment (ROI) to the school.
What should you avoid in a college essay?
- Inappropriate Topics.
- A Rehash of Your Activities List and Transcripts.
- Relationships, Romance, and Breakups.
- Writing About Your Hero.
- The Sports Story.
- Tragedies.
- Highly Personal Topics.
- Controversial Topics: Politics, Religion, and More.
Is it okay to write about depression in a college essay?
It is okay to write about mental illness and Depression in your college essay as long as it proves that you’re a suitable student. Thus, you should be asking yourself, “how does my experience with mental illness or Depression make me a strong candidate?”
What are good topics to write about for a college essay?
- Prompt #1: Share your story.
- Prompt #2: Learning from obstacles.
- Prompt #3: Challenging a belief.
- Prompt #4: Solving a problem.
- Prompt #5: Personal growth.
- Prompt #6: What captivates you?
- Prompt #7: Topic of your choice.
- Describe a person you admire.
Can you talk about drugs in a college essay?
Likewise, if a story of addiction and recovery is an essential part of your past, it may be a worthy topic. However, students should never mention casual use of drugs or alcohol. The same goes for any illegal acts. It sounds obvious enough, but you’d be surprised!
What are the most overused college essay topics?
- Résumé of your life and achievements.
- Sports injury, challenge, or success.
- Immigrant story.
- Tragedy – death, divorce, abuse.
- Working hard in a challenging class.
- Someone you admire (a person you know or historical figure)
- Volunteer trip.
How do I make my college essay stand out?
- Write about something that’s important to you.
- Don’t just recount—reflect!
- Being funny is tough.
- Start early and write several drafts.
- No repeats.
- Answer the question being asked.
- Have at least one other person edit your essay.
- Test Your College Knowledge.
Can you talk about mental health in college essay?
Vinik says that mental health problems should only be shared in the essay if the college would not be able to understand the applicant without knowing about this part of her. Generally, he discourages selecting this as a primary topic.
Should I write about trauma in my college essay?
Traumatic or otherwise difficult experiences do NOT have to be off the table for your college application essays. They are legitimate subjects (depending on the essay prompt, of course; it has to make sense as a response to the particular question).
Should you talk about ADHD in college essay?
Declare Your Teen’s ADHD “Students should describe, in their application essay or letter to the admissions office, how they overcame their academic woes and achieved better grades, once their ADHD was properly treated,” Quinn says.
Is writing about anxiety a good college essay?
Recently, I’ve noticed a concerning uptick in the number of students asking whether it’s appropriate for them to write about mental health issues, most frequently ADD and/or anxiety, in their college applications. So the short answer: don’t do it.
What should I not write about in my college essay 2021?
- A Litany of Your Academic and/or Extracurricular Achievements.
- Your Hero.
- Experimental or Creative Writing.
- A Sports-Related Challenge or Success.
- Service Trips.
- Tragedy.
- Controversial or Polarizing Subjects.
What are colleges looking for in essays?
As part of the college application process, colleges ask prospective students for a personal essay in order to learn more about them. They want to see context on each student’s background, positive traits that the student could bring to campus, and examples of the student demonstrating those qualities.
How many paragraphs is a 650 word essay?
How Many Paragraphs Is 650 Words? 650 words is about 3.25-6.5 paragraphs for essays or 6-13 for easier reading (to allow skimming). A paragraph length typically has 100-200 words and 5-6 sentences.
Do college essays really matter?
While students may ask themselves, “How important are college essays?” the answer is simple: important enough for college admissions that they should invest the time and effort to do their best and make the topic their own – even if it’s common. Searching for a college? Get our complete rankings of Best Colleges.
How personal should a college essay be?
Most admission professionals agree: your essay needs to be a reflection of yourself. When I read applications, I had access to students’ academic credentials and extracurricular activities. If you use your essay to regurgitate your resume or transcript, then you’ll be wasting both of our time.
Can you include pictures in a college essay?
All images, photos, graphs, etc. that you use in your essays should be directly relevant to your argument. Don’t just insert pretty pictures for the sake of it; select images that will: • Help your readers understand your point. Illustrate your ideas.
What to write your college essay about if you’re boring?
Even a topic that seems clichéd — for instance, a book you read, a friendship you made, or a memorable moment with your family — can make for an excellent essay topic that shows off your communication skills as well as the personal qualities that colleges like to see.
How long should a college essay be?
The primary essay for your college application, often called a personal statement, is typically around 400-600 words. The Common App personal statement — which is used as the primary application essay by more than 800 colleges — must be 250-650 words.
What is a good topic for an argumentative essay?
Argumentative Essay Topics (General) Do you think that abortion should be made illegal? Do you think that animal testing should be banned? Is the #metoo movement a great thing? Do you think that manufacturers are responsible for the effects of the chemicals used in creating their products?
How many paragraphs should a college essay be?
There is no set number of paragraphs in a college admissions essay. College admissions essays can diverge from the traditional five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in English class. Just make sure to stay under the specified word count.
What makes you a strong candidate for college essay?
A reader should be able to learn about at least some of the following: your passions, feelings, perspectives, values, your defeats and/or accomplishments. College essays should also demonstrate your ability to think and organize your thoughts. Above all… make sure you choose a topic you care about.
Can you start your college essay with a quote?
In most cases, quoting other people isn’t a good way to start your college essay. Admissions officers want to hear your thoughts about yourself, and quotes often don’t achieve that. Unless a quote truly adds something important to your essay that it otherwise wouldn’t have, you probably shouldn’t include it.
Should I write about OCD in my college essay?
Your essay should lay out your difficulties with OCD, but then also show how you’ve learned to manage it and become a highly effective person. It could then also move on to you deciding to study medicinal chemistry.