Some of the best essays were about topics normally considered off-limits—depression, death of a grandparent, sports injury, veganism, sexual identity, etc. These essays succeeded because no one else could’ve written them.
Can you write about mental health in college essays?
Experts on Writing About Mental Health All counselors interviewed for this piece agreed that students’ college essays should not be about their struggles with mental health.
Can you talk about addiction 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 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.
What percentage of college girls have an eating disorder?
Between 10 and 20% of women and 4 to 10% of men in college suffer from an eating disorder, and rates are on the rise.
What should I not write my college essay about?
- Controversial Topics. Controversial topics, such as current political hot buttons, should be avoided at all costs.
- Highly Personal Topics.
- Personal Achievements and Accomplishments.
- Most Important Place or a Role Model.
- Creative Writing.
- Athletic Topics.
- Humorous Topics or Jokes.
- Tragic Events.
What should you not do in a college essay?
- Never rehash your academic and extracurricular accomplishments.
- Never write about a “topic”
- Never start with a preamble.
- Never end with a “happily ever after” conclusion.
- Never pontificate.
- Never retreat into your thoughts.
- Never hold back.
Can I write my college essay about depression?
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?”
Can 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).
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.
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.
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.
Who is most likely to have an eating disorder?
Teenage girls and young women are more likely than teenage boys and young men to have anorexia or bulimia, but males can have eating disorders, too. Although eating disorders can occur across a broad age range, they often develop in the teens and early 20s.
What is orthorexia?
Orthorexia is an unhealthy focus on eating in a healthy way. Eating nutritious food is good, but if you have orthorexia, you obsess about it to a degree that can damage your overall well-being.
What is the most common eating disorder in both males and females?
Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the U.S., according to the National Eating Disorders Association. It’s characterized by episodes of eating large amounts of food, often quickly and to the point of discomfort.
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.
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.
Can you write your college essay about anything?
The answer is part no because almost all colleges have an essay prompt that requires you to write about a particular topic. Take a look at these prompts for the 2022-23 Coalition App: Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
Do colleges look at the Common App essay?
The Common App college essay is required by most Common App schools. This personal essay plays a critical role in many institutions’ admission decisions.
Are college essays confidential?
Yes. Anyone who sees your application is bound legally to keep your information confidential.
Is it OK to use first person in a college essay?
Not only is it fine to make “I” statements in your application essays, but colleges expect your essays to sound like you, too! Always be yourself in your application, not the candidate you think admissions committees want to see.
Should you write about ADHD in college essay?
“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.
Can I write about anxiety in my 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.
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.
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.