Essay Prompt

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pt123

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I've been having trouble writing the first essay prompt "Describe a setback or ethical dilemma that you have faced. How did you resolve it? How did the outcome affect you? Most importantly, what did you learn about yourself and how would you handle a similar situation in the future? (400 to 500 words, 30000 characters max)"

I've started writing about the pandemic and how transitioning from middle school to high school set me way back socially and throughout high school I've been trying to slowly push myself more socially. I'm not sure of this is good however because 1) Are pandemic essays cliche in a way? I mean it's not a very unique setback although I think it did affect me socially more than a lot of my peers in school. 2) The setback is spread over a long period of time (3 years!) and I feel like this makes it hard to write a clear and concise essay

I've also been thinking about how I gained some weight in middle school and started working out in high school to lose the weight but I'm not so sure this is a good "setback" to talk about either. Any advice?
 
The "topic" if the essay is less important than the writing of the essay. Make sure you answer the question in a clear and succinct manner. Grammar, spelling, structure all matter. Don't play victim. Honestly assess yourself. Have several people review it for content and grammar.

The essays are your opportunity for admissions to learn about you. Fluff and bluff doesn't work.

Good luck!
 
I agree with @T-37IP, either idea will work. Make sure you address the entire prompt, including resolution, impact, learning and future. Good luck!
 
pt123 said:
I've been having trouble writing the first essay prompt "Describe a setback or ethical dilemma that you have faced. How did you resolve it? How did the outcome affect you? Most importantly, what did you learn about yourself and how would you handle a similar situation in the future? (400 to 500 words, 30000 characters max)"

I've started writing about the pandemic and how transitioning from middle school to high school set me way back socially and throughout high school I've been trying to slowly push myself more socially. I'm not sure of this is good however because 1) Are pandemic essays cliche in a way? I mean it's not a very unique setback although I think it did affect me socially more than a lot of my peers in school. 2) The setback is spread over a long period of time (3 years!) and I feel like this makes it hard to write a clear and concise essay

I've also been thinking about how I gained some weight in middle school and started working out in high school to lose the weight but I'm not so sure this is a good "setback" to talk about either. Any advice?
Click to expand...
My job has been to review, edit, and give feedback on college essays for the past seven years. 1.) Yes, Covid essays are cliche unless they are very, very unique...stay away from this. 2.) Everyone was affected, so colleges consider this "whinny".
The best essays for SAs are the ones describing a time when your failures, character, integrity, or leadership were challenged, etc...I wouldn't write about "gaining some weight" in middle school. It should be content within the last two years.
 
pv123 said:
My job has been to review, edit, and give feedback on college essays for the past seven years. 1.) Yes, Covid essays are cliche unless they are very, very unique...stay away from this. 2.) Everyone was affected, so colleges consider this "whinny".
The best essays for SAs are the ones describing a time when your failures, character, integrity, or leadership were challenged, etc...I wouldn't write about "gaining some weight" in middle school. It should be content within the last two years.
Click to expand...
I wrote about my time as a boys state counselor and the new dynamic created leading people in similar age to me. Outline the challenges and connection to future service. Would this work then?
 
Mystic05 said:
I wrote about my time as a boys state counselor and the new dynamic created leading people in similar age to me. Outline the challenges and connection to future service. Would this work then?
Click to expand...
That’s fine, if it was an ethical dilemma or setback- not just “challenges”. Make sure you answer the last part of prompt.
 
“ATFQ” - Answer The Full Question. Test each part of your essay for alignment to the prompt.

Tell the story only you can tell, not what you think they are looking for.

Don’t waste precious space telling the SA what they already know about what they do.

If you are relating an incident, it is useful to organize the story in the CCAR format: Context (just enough framework to set the stage, don’t provide tiny details) - Challenge (what were you faced with? What did you have to solve? Be succinct.) - Actions (show your strategic thinking and tactical approach, your vision, your moral standard, your problem-solving skills, your leadership) - Results (How did you drive to a successful outcome?).

Tone. Read your draft aloud to a near-age sibling or good friend. If they start laughing, you are overdoing the rah-rah stuff. You are not writing the Great American Novel or scholarly dissertation. Think of this as an interview question, and think about how you would respond in a 1:1 conversation. Write clearly and cleanly - and of course, flawlessly.

If you choose to write about an ethical dilemma, it can be an everyday thing, including a moral failure and how you learned from your error, not necessarily a headline-worthy cheating scandal. Did you stand mute while someone spoke untruths or spread rumors about someone? Did you take the easy way around something because no one could see you doing it? Was there something you should have done to prevent or protest a wrong, and you committed an act of omission?
 
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