should i name drop in my college essay

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10 College Application Essay Dos and Don’ts

Check out our Just Admit It! Podcast

IvyWise counselors Rachel  and Zach share their top tips on how to brainstorm and write college application essays, and what admissions officers are looking for when they read them on the Just Admit It! college admissions podcast , giving listeners expert insight from former admissions officers.

Writing college application essays is often the most stressful part of the admissions process for students, and as a result many tend to put them off until the last minute.

Delaying your work on college application essays isn’t the best move, particularly because the National Association for College Admission Counseling classifies application essays as the most important “soft” factor, or non-quantitative elements, that colleges consider when making admissions decisions, right behind “hard” factors, or quantitative components, like grades, curriculum, and test scores. And in a year where more colleges than ever are test-optional , soft factors like the essay will carry even more weight in the admissions process this fall.

However, if you’re behind on your college admissions essays, don’t panic. There are a number of steps that students can take to put together the most accurate and compelling personal statements  and school-specific supplements that will help their chances of gaining admission to their top-choice colleges.

Here are some college application essay dos and don’ts for students to keep in mind as they complete their applications before Jan. 1 deadlines.

DON’T use the personal statement essay to repeat your activities list.

This can’t be stressed enough. The personal statement is your opportunity to reveal something about yourself that can’t be found anywhere else in your application — use it! Many students use this essay to expound upon activities or interests that are already heavily demonstrated in their application through courses, the activity list, and more. Instead of reinforcing a top activity or interest, write about something that reveals another dimension of your life or personality. If your top activity is swimming, don’t write about the big championship meet. Find something else that reveals something new and that shows you put a lot of thought into your essay. If your study of AP biology conflicts with your religious views, write about that and how you reconciled the two. Dig deep to find a topic that’s meaningful.

DO show a slice of your life.

When developing a topic that reveals something new, find a way to frame the story or idea that shows a slice of your life or the event. Be descriptive and give details that appeal to the senses – taste, touch, smell, etc. When writing about a meaningful experience or event, you don’t have to give a long timeline of events. Instead, give the reader the piece of the puzzle that conveys your message. Particularly when you’re feeling stressed for time, it can be helpful to remember that your job isn’t necessarily to tell a full-length story; it’s to focus on something smaller that demonstrates who you are and what you stand for.

DON’T copy and paste.

With upwards of 25 or more essays to write for a balanced college list of 10-12 schools, it’s tempting for students to repurpose essays across applications if the prompts are similar, especially when working down to the wire. While students can use the same main essay on the Common App for multiple schools, we always recommend that students tailor their supplemental essays to the individual colleges. Telling Caltech why you want to attend MIT is a quick way to end up in the “no” pile.

At the end of the day, attempting to repurpose essays isn’t the time-efficient solution either. While it might seem like a quick-fix, you’ll likely spend more time trying to rework an existing piece than you would if you started from scratch. Instead, give each essay a fresh start and set aside time to give every prompt your all.

DO show your knowledge of the college.

When tailoring responses to individual college prompts, it’s important to use specific details you’ve learned through visiting and research. Not only does this show colleges that you’ve have done your homework, but it also demonstrates your interest in the college – and colleges want to admit students who are likely to enroll. Show your knowledge of the college by mentioning specific courses, professors, places of interest, and more. Show how you fit into the campus culture and how you will impact the community through specific examples.

DON’T say what you think the admissions office wants to hear.

So many students think that they “know” what colleges want from an applicant , and this can have a big influence over their essays. Students will overuse the thesaurus and write about strange topics in an effort to impress and stand out. Instead of writing what you think the admissions office wants to read, write about what you want them to know.

Again, the essay is a great space to reveal something new about you, so stand out by being authentic and showing another side of yourself. For students who feel like they’re pressed for time, being genuine is likely also your most efficient strategy. Forget about trying to concoct a version of yourself that you think the admissions office wants to see and let your authentic personality shine through.

DO use your voice.

Using lofty language and complex sentence structure can make you sound sophisticated, but is that really how you speak? Don’t let your voice get lost in the pursuit to impress readers. Instead, write like you speak – keeping in mind that proper grammar and spelling is still important.

DON’T rely only on spellcheck.

Spellcheck won’t catch every spelling or grammatical error! Take the time to read over all your essays carefully and keep an eye out for things like “out” when you meant to say “our” and other common typos. Especially when you’re short on time, it can be easy to overlook spelling and grammar, but it’s always worth the few extra minutes to make sure you have error-free content. To be extra safe, have a parent or counselor read over the essay, too, to catch any errors you might have missed. Spelling and grammar errors can take away from an otherwise stellar essay – so be mindful.

DO double check that you’ve addressed the prompt.

This is one of the most common mistakes that students make . In the pursuit to write the perfect essay, many forget to connect it to the original prompt. While the Common Application prompts for the main essay are general enough to allow students to write about whatever they choose, it still needs to be clear how that essay addresses the prompt. The same applies to school-specific essays. Check and double check that a clear connection is made between the topic of your essay and the question the prompt is asking.

DON’T panic.

Working down to the wire can undoubtedly be stressful. Instead of beating yourself up for not starting sooner or worrying that you won’t be able to finish everything on time, focus on what you can control. Put all of your energy toward your application essays and devote as much time to writing and editing as possible. Keep tabs on every admissions deadline and prioritize what you will work on first accordingly. Create a strategy for completing every essay and stay accountable to the timeline you’ve created.

DO seek feedback when you can.

While it’s imperative that students write their own essays and use their authentic voice, every writer can benefit from a second set of eyes. Your college counselor can provide valuable insight into how to improve your college application essays, so seek feedback on your drafts as soon as possible.  School-based counselors  have a lot of students to advise and are very busy, so don’t wait!

Essays are an important component in the college application process. While the essay alone won’t gain you admission to your top-choice college, a poorly written one can send you to the “no” pile pretty quickly. Consequently, it’s important to give every essay your all and seek guidance when you need it – especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed leading up to critical deadlines.

If you need additional help with your college application essays, IvyWise offers a number of services designed to help high school seniors with their college applications . Contact us today for more information on our programs for seniors!

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Home » IvyWise KnowledgeBase » IvyWise Resources » All Articles » 10 College Application Essay Dos and Don’ts

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Do’s & Don’ts for Writing the “Why Us” College Supplemental Essay

• college application essays
• supplemental essays
• early decision
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• college fit

On top of the personal statement, many universities also ask applicants to write an additional supplemental essay, specifically asking “Why Us?” This is your chance to really make the case for why you and the school are a good fit for each other.

The college application process is a two-sided one. Applicants want to appeal to the university they want to attend by working hard throughout high school and writing an insightful personal statement. Similarly, colleges work on improving their facilities and boosting their academic departments to gain continued interest from applicants.

With increasing competition, applicants are applying to more schools. The “Why Us” supplement helps universities distinguish those students who truly know what their institutions stand for and offers, and how those students would be able to thrive and contribute to the student body.

DO NOT be vague.

Each supplemental essay is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your interest in the school and tell them more about yourself. Many of these supplemental essays also have a small word limit, so be concise and straightforward about the point you’re trying to make.

Here’s an example:

“While lectures are informative, private discourses with the professors can be more inspiring. Probing and impromptu questions always throw more light on the original thought process and creative thinking behind the facts. Shorter idea proposition-correction cycles would also enliven the creative process that would beget still better ideas. Knowledge is critical but it’s no substitute for creative thinking. This is the reason I value accessibility to professors in Northwestern so highly.” — KingCooper, Georgetown University ‘14

What did this paragraph say about the applicant or about Northwestern? Nothing. From big state universities to small liberal arts colleges, lectures and small discussion groups exists at most schools. Additionally, is the applicant then implying that professors are only accessible at Northwestern? That’s not true, and while it’s nice to hear, the admissions office at Northwestern also know that’s not true.

DO your research.

How can you avoid being vague? Do your research, and do it specific to what you want to study. If you’re undecided, then look into the departments that you are potentially interested in. Additionally, you can also look into the types of programs the university has put together in partnership with the city you’ll be in.

“Columbia is ideal for me due to its international focus, evidenced by the opportunities it affords undergraduates to study over 40 languages and study abroad in over 150 locations. Language study is a particular passion of mine; I’ve studied five languages so far and hope to continue my studies of Mandarin and Arabic, while possibly beginning to study a sixth language. Also, studying at Huna University in China was a life-changing experience which left me yearning to study abroad again. I know at Columbia this would be possible.” — Lmelcher, Columbia University ‘20

In this “Why Columbia?” supplement essay excerpt, the writer shows off what she’s learned about the university and how it appeals to her. On top of demonstrating the fact she’s considered why Columbia is the right school for her, she was also able to tell the admissions office more about herself and her interests.

DO NOT list out the university programs they have.

While research is crucial, make sure you are able to digest the information you’ve learned. Do not just list out what you’ve read from the university website or what you learned on the campus tour. The point is how did that information make you want to apply to this school.

“Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service is a well-known college for students interested in studying political science. The SFS offers 8 specific majors that helps students focus on a specific track of international relations they want to explore. In addition to that, Georgetown has over 200 co-curricular clubs for students to get involved in, which will allow me to explore my interests and engage in clubs I really enjoy.”

The applicant fails to share what programs or qualities of Georgetown he or she is most interested in, and why he or she wants to enroll there. Again, there’s no need to tell the admissions office what programs Georgetown have.

DO tell them which university programs you’re interested in and why.

Once you’ve done your research and found the programs you’re interested in, talk about why you’re interested in that program. Why is that program at the university unique? Are there courses that aren’t offered at other universities? What about internship or research opportunities?

“I am especially eager to work under Professor Mung Chiang who is at the top of his respective field in Electrical Engineering. With years of experience in network research and applications, Professor Chiang’s research is but one of many I wish to learn about while on my path to gaining my Bachelor’s in Engineering from Princeton. I wish to take full advantage of these many programs and bring my own unique set of skills and interests by attending Princeton.” - Justin.Tran.JT, Princeton University ‘20

How was this excerpt different? The applicant specifically shares what he’s interested in studying, Electrical Engineering, and why he wants to pursue his studies at Princeton. Additionally, he also approaches this supplement with a give-and-take attitude. It’s not all about what the university can do for you; it’s also about how you can help contribute back to the university’s community.

DO NOT just talk about how great the university is.

Compliments are nice, but it won’t get you accepted. Your supplemental essay can certainly include qualities of the university you admire, but remember the focus should be how it ties back to you.

“Harvard University is one of the best universities in the world. I want to be among the creative intellectuals that make up the Harvard student body, and learn from professors pursuing innovative research.”

Don’t do it. That’s just fluff.

DO talk about how well you’d fit into the student body.

While it’s important to demonstrate which academic programs you’re interested in, it’s also important to share what you like about the university’s campus culture, extracurriculars, student body and more. You need to also enjoy what the city or campus has to offer, and what you can do when you’re not in class!

“As a student at NYU, I could continue my tutoring and mentoring work through the university’s America Reads program or explore my love for travelling while providing invaluable aid as a part of the unique option for alternative breaks. Regardless of what path I find myself taking as NYU opens my eyes to growth and change, I know that an education and an experience spent in such a special community is one that has the potential to change my life and make an everlasting impact.” – Katiedolci, New York University ‘19

Take this excerpt for example. By sharing examples of NYU extracurriculars she wants to engage in, she is also giving us more insight into who she as a person, and how NYU’s community will be able to help her achieve her goals.

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About The Author

Frances was born in Hong Kong and received her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. She loves super sad drama television, cooking, and reading. Her favorite person on Earth isn’t actually a member of the AdmitSee team - it’s her dog Cooper.

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Mentioning your name in an essay?

<p>In one of my essays (with a prompt that is open-ended), I find that mentioning my name allows me to develop the essay further, and I wish to include it (I don’t want to go in further detail about it because I don’t want to reveal the subject of my essay). However, I realized that including my name in the essay would give away my ethnicity, and obviously this plays a role in admissions. I suppose they may already know your ethnicity from other parts of the application, but is adding your name in the essay itself getting too personal?</p>

<p>I’m not exactly sure about etiquette in college admissions. I remember reading about one college that they assigned numbers to every applicant so admissions officers were not biased to select one applicant over another…</p>

<p>So, is it appropriate to include your name, or not?</p>

<p>If it is necessary in examples such as:</p>

<p>…My mom was calling my name out loud. “John Doe! Come here right now!”… </p>

<p>In that case, it is necessary. But if you don’t want to reveal your name in an essay, I’m sure you can find a way.</p>

<p>But I would recommend to add the name if it sensualizes your point. They already know your name. </p>

<p>Whether you decide to include your name or not in your essay, giving away your ethnicity should not be a factor in your decision. They already have your name on file when you submit it (all your records have your name on it), so I don’t see how including your name in the essay will make any difference.</p>

<p>Adding your name could make it more personalized, and thus they could be more likely to connect your name to the essay. At other times though, it could feel irrelevant. If you don’t want to emphasize your ethnicity in your essay, you could always just use your first name or leave it out altogether. But like mentioned above, your name will already be included on other parts of your application. How else would they be able to identify who they are going to be admitting?</p>

<p>So when they read an essay they know exactly whose it is already (e.g. “John Doe” vs applicant #3243 ) ? If that is the case then I should have no problem adding my name, correct?</p>

<p>I was just worried that the essays could be looked at separately from the rest of the application and given a score, and later, they would be attached back to the main file (as Wesleyan did in the book “The Gatekeepers”). </p>

<p>Also, has anyone else done this?</p>

<p>Bumpppppp</p>

<p>Please tell me I’m not the first soul to put my name in an essay…</p>

<p>i don’t put my name in the essay because I don’t have any sentences that would warrant it, but you shouldn’t be afraid of putting your name down. Your name will already be on the college application, transcript, score report, etc. It’s futile to try to hide it, especially if you have a name that’s particularly common (like Kim, Lee, Nguyen, etc.) </p>

<p>Yes they do know whose application it is when they read it. That is how they connect all the supplemental material together with your actual app. (Your submitted SAT score, supplemental submissions, financial aid forms, anything like that) You can see what is actually submitted to them after you complete the full app and click “preview submission.” It contains a 3-4 page document containing the entire application, including your name and your essay. Feel free to include it if your essay warrants it, but don’t feel pressure to put it in either.</p>

<p>The essays will not be read separately from the application. The admissions rep reading your application wants to put together a full picture of you by reading your application form, recommendations, activities and your personal essay. The essay will not be graded by someone else for your writing skills. There is absolutely no problem with putting your name in the essay; the reader already knows your name!</p>

<p>Alright that’s reassuring! Thanks!</p>

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Can I mention professors' names in the statement of purpose?

For PhD applications, I have mentioned that I am interested in some research areas. Besides, I am thinking about mentioning some professors' names, so that it shows I have read their websites and I am not just sending out generic statements applicable to many schools.

But is it good to mention some professors' names in the statement of purpose, if I don't know them personally? In what cases is it good, and in what cases it isn't?

For example, is it good to only mention

• those whose research directions are aligned with my research interests, or/and
• those whose books or notes I have heard of, or better, might have read some parts of, or/and
• those who are already established and famous (such as having certain titles), or/and
• those that are directing the PhD graduate programs, or/and
• those that are heads of the departments?

What will other professors who are not mentioned think? How will you do, if it were you?

• graduate-admissions
• application
• statement-of-purpose

• 2 I think it's more interesting to reference papers you are interested in, rather than professors. Referencing publications by the group you want to join are a good way to illustrate your knowledge of the field and specifically the group's expertise. –  Marc Claesen Commented Dec 23, 2013 at 16:19
• If I haven't been able to read and understand the paper, is it still better not to mention the professors? How much should I mention about the papers, if I will do? Will referencing papers of some professors make my chance with other professors slim, especially when the admission is decided by a committee rather than individual professors? –  Tim Commented Dec 23, 2013 at 16:20
• 10 See my answer to a related question , especially the penultimate paragraph: The only credible reason to "target a particular professor" is if that professor's research interests already mirror your own. If you try to craft the bulk of your statements to different professors in different departments, the result will be much shallower, and therefore much less persuasive, than if you describe your own well-developed research interests. –  JeffE Commented Dec 23, 2013 at 23:42
• 1 Make sure the professors are still at the school. You might think this would be an obvious thing to do , but you'd be surprised. –  Peter Shor Commented May 22, 2016 at 13:20

3 Answers 3

Your statement of purpose should be specific to yourself and your research interests , first. Mention names only when the owner's work is both relevant and pertinent to your research interests. As JeffE stated,

If you try to craft the bulk of your statements to different professors in different departments, the result will be much shallower, and therefore much less persuasive, than if you describe your own well-developed research interests.

Your statement of purpose should paint a persuasive and intriguing picture of who you are, and should not be a hodgepodge of famous names and those whom you want to impress. You are trying to sell yourself and your ideas. Mention those whose work you have both read and found relevant to your research (and perhaps cited in your own work), but avoid name-dropping solely for the sake of impressing those who may read your SOP. That said, you should tailor your statement of purpose to the specific department you are applying to. This may include mention of the work of individuals in the department, or those whose work has informed their research. How much of this you should do is a judgement call on your part, and you should lean away from appearing to name-drop for the sake of making an impression.

I'm bewildered that anyone might think this was a good idea. It's gauche.

Mentioning a professor's name doesn't show you've read their website. And showing you've read a professor's website doesn't really say much anyway.

Namedropping? Leave it out.

And as for mentioning books you have heard of: surely now you are joking. Just in case you are not: that's beyond gauche, it's crass.

• 1 While I agree that for the most part it isn't particularly useful to mention professor's names, if you have directly come across (and perhaps cited their work) in your own research it might not be as bad an idea. I do agree with just about everything here though. –  cc7768 Commented Dec 23, 2013 at 19:55

You can certainly mention professor's names that you don't know personally, but have relevant research. Many professors in top schools especially rely more on the application pool that comes from the admissions committee. If you pass that step then your application will be handed to the specific professor you have mentioned. Of course knowing them brings a benefit, but it is not the only way to get their attention.

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Should I Mention Another College In My Essay? Answered

Hello, I am applying to colleges on the CommonApp and I recently started my essay. My essay includes talking about how another college sent me an email about joining a stock market challenge hosted by them. My essay is revolved around this whole challenge. I was wondering if including the name or even referencing them will hurt my chances of getting into other schools if I submit this essay. I am not planning on applying to the school that sent me the email. Should I list them in my essay as X University or just say "a college?" I am worried this might hurt my chances of getting in.

Earn karma by helping others:

Hi @DarkShadow !

I don't think there's any issue with mentioning the college name. As an analogy, if you had an internship at UIUC, you'll put "Internship at UIUC" on your application. Does that mean that any other university looking at your application will view it as a "bad" thing? Absolutely not. On the same note, getting an internship at UIUC doesn't necessarily make you a good fit for UIUC (I read that you're not applying to the university that sent you the email, but this is just for your info). It's not your fault that UIUC gave you the opportunity whereas the universities you're applying to didn't. Instead, it's a good thing that you took the opportunity and gave your best.

The point of an essay is to make things specific, not general.

Hope this helps!

there is no issue as long as you are not displaying interest in the other school! You can mention doin programs like I mentioned summer programs at NYU to Columbia so dont worry :D just as long as you dont praise the rival school/ other school.

I recommend writing out the name of the college. It will not hurt you in any way, since it will simply add context to your story about the challenge. The colleges you are applying to are likely familiar with this challenge, so stating the college name will give them a more complete idea of how impressive your experience was. Hope this helps!

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Name dropping in your essays, good idea or not?

Question banks, i think name dropping is.....

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College Essays

Most colleges and universities in the United States require applicants to submit at least one essay as part of their application. But trying to figure out what college essay topics you should choose is a tricky process. There are so many potential things you could write about!

In this guide, we go over the essential qualities that make for a great college essay topic and give you 50+ college essay topics you can use for your own statement . In addition, we provide you with helpful tips for turning your college essay topic into a stellar college essay.

What Qualities Make for a Good College Essay Topic?

Regardless of what you write about in your personal statement for college , there are key features that will always make for a stand-out college essay topic.

#1: It’s Specific

First off, good college essay topics are extremely specific : you should know all the pertinent facts that have to do with the topic and be able to see how the entire essay comes together.

Specificity is essential because it’ll not only make your essay stand out from other statements, but it'll also recreate the experience for admissions officers through its realism, detail, and raw power. You want to tell a story after all, and specificity is the way to do so. Nobody wants to read a vague, bland, or boring story — not even admissions officers!

For example, an OK topic would be your experience volunteering at a cat shelter over the summer. But a better, more specific college essay topic would be how you deeply connected with an elderly cat there named Marty, and how your bond with him made you realize that you want to work with animals in the future.

Remember that specificity in your topic is what will make your essay unique and memorable . It truly is the key to making a strong statement (pun intended)!

#2: It Shows Who You Are

In addition to being specific, good college essay topics reveal to admissions officers who you are: your passions and interests, what is important to you, your best (or possibly even worst) qualities, what drives you, and so on.

The personal statement is critical because it gives schools more insight into who you are as a person and not just who you are as a student in terms of grades and classes.

By coming up with a real, honest topic, you’ll leave an unforgettable mark on admissions officers.

#3: It’s Meaningful to You

The very best college essay topics are those that hold deep meaning to their writers and have truly influenced them in some significant way.

For instance, maybe you plan to write about the first time you played Skyrim to explain how this video game revealed to you the potentially limitless worlds you could create, thereby furthering your interest in game design.

Even if the topic seems trivial, it’s OK to use it — just as long as you can effectively go into detail about why this experience or idea had such an impact on you .

Don’t give in to the temptation to choose a topic that sounds impressive but doesn’t actually hold any deep meaning for you. Admissions officers will see right through this!

Similarly, don’t try to exaggerate some event or experience from your life if it’s not all that important to you or didn’t have a substantial influence on your sense of self.

#4: It’s Unique

College essay topics that are unique are also typically the most memorable, and if there’s anything you want to be during the college application process, it’s that! Admissions officers have to sift through thousands of applications, and the essay is one of the only parts that allows them to really get a sense of who you are and what you value in life.

If your essay is trite or boring, it won’t leave much of an impression , and your application will likely get immediately tossed to the side with little chance of seeing admission.

But if your essay topic is very original and different, you’re more likely to earn that coveted second glance at your application.

What does being unique mean exactly, though? Many students assume that they must choose an extremely rare or crazy experience to talk about in their essays —but that's not necessarily what I mean by "unique." Good college essay topics can be unusual and different, yes, but they can also be unique takes on more mundane or common activities and experiences .

For instance, say you want to write an essay about the first time you went snowboarding. Instead of just describing the details of the experience and how you felt during it, you could juxtapose your emotions with a creative and humorous perspective from the snowboard itself. Or you could compare your first attempt at snowboarding with your most recent experience in a snowboarding competition. The possibilities are endless!

#5: It Clearly Answers the Question

Finally, good college essay topics will clearly and fully answer the question(s) in the prompt.

You might fail to directly answer a prompt by misinterpreting what it’s asking you to do, or by answering only part of it (e.g., answering just one out of three questions).

Therefore, make sure you take the time to come up with an essay topic that is in direct response to every question in the prompt .

Take this Coalition Application prompt as an example:

What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What's the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?

For this prompt, you’d need to answer all three questions (though it’s totally fine to focus more on one or two of them) to write a compelling and appropriate essay.

This is why we recommend reading and rereading the essay prompt ; you should know exactly what it’s asking you to do, well before you start brainstorming possible college application essay topics.

53 College Essay Topics to Get Your Brain Moving

In this section, we give you a list of 53 examples of college essay topics. Use these as jumping-off points to help you get started on your college essay and to ensure that you’re on track to coming up with a relevant and effective topic.

All college application essay topics below are categorized by essay prompt type. We’ve identified six general types of college essay prompts:

Why This College?

Change and personal growth, passions, interests, and goals, overcoming a challenge, diversity and community, solving a problem.

Note that these prompt types could overlap with one another, so you’re not necessarily limited to just one college essay topic in a single personal statement.

• How a particular major or program will help you achieve your academic or professional goals
• A memorable and positive interaction you had with a professor or student at the school
• Something good that happened to you while visiting the campus or while on a campus tour
• A certain class you want to take or a certain professor you’re excited to work with
• Some piece of on-campus equipment or facility that you’re looking forward to using
• Your plans to start a club at the school, possibly to raise awareness of a major issue
• A study abroad or other unique program that you can’t wait to participate in
• How and where you plan to volunteer in the community around the school
• An incredible teacher you studied under and the positive impact they had on you
• How you went from really liking something, such as a particular movie star or TV show, to not liking it at all (or vice versa)
• How yours or someone else’s (change in) socioeconomic status made you more aware of poverty
• A time someone said something to you that made you realize you were wrong
• How your opinion on a controversial topic, such as gay marriage or DACA, has shifted over time
• A documentary that made you aware of a particular social, economic, or political issue going on in the country or world
• Advice you would give to your younger self about friendship, motivation, school, etc.
• The steps you took in order to kick a bad or self-sabotaging habit
• A juxtaposition of the first and most recent time you did something, such as dance onstage
• A book you read that you credit with sparking your love of literature and/or writing
• A school assignment or project that introduced you to your chosen major
• A glimpse of your everyday routine and how your biggest hobby or interest fits into it
• The career and (positive) impact you envision yourself having as a college graduate
• A teacher or mentor who encouraged you to pursue a specific interest you had
• How moving around a lot helped you develop a love of international exchange or learning languages
• A special skill or talent you’ve had since you were young and that relates to your chosen major in some way, such as designing buildings with LEGO bricks
• Where you see yourself in 10 or 20 years
• Your biggest accomplishment so far relating to your passion (e.g., winning a gold medal for your invention at a national science competition)
• A time you lost a game or competition that was really important to you
• How you dealt with the loss or death of someone close to you
• A time you did poorly in a class that you expected to do well in
• How moving to a new school impacted your self-esteem and social life
• A chronic illness you battled or are still battling
• Your healing process after having your heart broken for the first time
• A time you caved under peer pressure and the steps you took so that it won't happen again
• How you almost gave up on learning a foreign language but stuck with it
• Why you decided to become a vegetarian or vegan, and how you navigate living with a meat-eating family
• What you did to overcome a particular anxiety or phobia you had (e.g., stage fright)
• A history of a failed experiment you did over and over, and how you finally found a way to make it work successfully
• Someone within your community whom you aspire to emulate
• A family tradition you used to be embarrassed about but are now proud of
• Your experience with learning English upon moving to the United States
• A close friend in the LGBTQ+ community who supported you when you came out
• A time you were discriminated against, how you reacted, and what you would do differently if faced with the same situation again
• How you navigate your identity as a multiracial, multiethnic, and/or multilingual person
• A project or volunteer effort you led to help or improve your community
• A particular celebrity or role model who inspired you to come out as LGBTQ+
• Your biggest challenge (and how you plan to tackle it) as a female in a male-dominated field
• How you used to discriminate against your own community, and what made you change your mind and eventually take pride in who you are and/or where you come from
• A program you implemented at your school in response to a known problem, such as a lack of recycling cans in the cafeteria
• A time you stepped in to mediate an argument or fight between two people
• An app or other tool you developed to make people’s lives easier in some way
• A time you proposed a solution that worked to an ongoing problem at school, an internship, or a part-time job
• The steps you took to identify and fix an error in coding for a website or program
• An important social or political issue that you would fix if you had the means

How to Build a College Essay in 6 Easy Steps

Once you’ve decided on a college essay topic you want to use, it’s time to buckle down and start fleshing out your essay. These six steps will help you transform a simple college essay topic into a full-fledged personal statement.

Step 1: Write Down All the Details

Once you’ve chosen a general topic to write about, get out a piece of paper and get to work on creating a list of all the key details you could include in your essay . These could be things such as the following:

• Emotions you felt at the time
• Names, places, and/or numbers
• Dialogue, or what you or someone else said
• A specific anecdote, example, or experience
• Descriptions of how things looked, felt, or seemed

If you can only come up with a few details, then it’s probably best to revisit the list of college essay topics above and choose a different one that you can write more extensively on.

Good college essay topics are typically those that:

• You remember well (so nothing that happened when you were really young)
• You're excited to write about
• You're not embarrassed or uncomfortable to share with others
• You believe will make you positively stand out from other applicants

Step 2: Figure Out Your Focus and Approach

Once you have all your major details laid out, start to figure out how you could arrange them in a way that makes sense and will be most effective.

It’s important here to really narrow your focus: you don’t need to (and shouldn’t!) discuss every single aspect of your trip to visit family in Indonesia when you were 16. Rather, zero in on a particular anecdote or experience and explain why and how it impacted you.

Alternatively, you could write about multiple experiences while weaving them together with a clear, meaningful theme or concept , such as how your math teacher helped you overcome your struggle with geometry over the course of an entire school year. In this case, you could mention a few specific times she tutored you and most strongly supported you in your studies.

There’s no one right way to approach your college essay, so play around to see what approaches might work well for the topic you’ve chosen.

If you’re really unsure about how to approach your essay, think about what part of your topic was or is most meaningful and memorable to you, and go from there.

Step 3: Structure Your Narrative

• Beginning: Don’t just spout off a ton of background information here—you want to hook your reader, so try to start in the middle of the action , such as with a meaningful conversation you had or a strong emotion you felt. It could also be a single anecdote if you plan to center your essay around a specific theme or idea.
• Middle: Here’s where you start to flesh out what you’ve established in the opening. Provide more details about the experience (if a single anecdote) or delve into the various times your theme or idea became most important to you. Use imagery and sensory details to put the reader in your shoes.
• End: It’s time to bring it all together. Finish describing the anecdote or theme your essay centers around and explain how it relates to you now , what you’ve learned or gained from it, and how it has influenced your goals.

Step 4: Write a Rough Draft

By now you should have all your major details and an outline for your essay written down; these two things will make it easy for you to convert your notes into a rough draft.

At this stage of the writing process, don’t worry too much about vocabulary or grammar and just focus on getting out all your ideas so that they form the general shape of an essay . It’s OK if you’re a little over the essay's word limit — as you edit, you’ll most likely make some cuts to irrelevant and ineffective parts anyway.

If at any point you get stuck and have no idea what to write, revisit steps 1-3 to see whether there are any important details or ideas you might be omitting or not elaborating on enough to get your overall point across to admissions officers.

Step 5: Edit, Revise, and Proofread

• Sections that are too wordy and don’t say anything important
• Irrelevant details that don’t enhance your essay or the point you're trying to make
• Parts that seem to drag or that feel incredibly boring or redundant
• Areas that are vague and unclear and would benefit from more detail
• Phrases or sections that are awkwardly placed and should be moved around
• Areas that feel unconvincing, inauthentic, or exaggerated

Start paying closer attention to your word choice/vocabulary and grammar at this time, too. It’s perfectly normal to edit and revise your college essay several times before asking for feedback, so keep working with it until you feel it’s pretty close to its final iteration.

This step will likely take the longest amount of time — at least several weeks, if not months — so really put effort into fixing up your essay. Once you’re satisfied, do a final proofread to ensure that it’s technically correct.

Step 6: Get Feedback and Tweak as Needed

After you’ve overhauled your rough draft and made it into a near-final draft, give your essay to somebody you trust , such as a teacher or parent, and have them look it over for technical errors and offer you feedback on its content and overall structure.

Use this feedback to make any last-minute changes or edits. If necessary, repeat steps 5 and 6. You want to be extra sure that your essay is perfect before you submit it to colleges!

Recap: From College Essay Topics to Great College Essays

Many different kinds of college application essay topics can get you into a great college. But this doesn’t make it any easier to choose the best topic for you .

In general, the best college essay topics have the following qualities :

• They’re specific
• They show who you are
• They’re meaningful to you
• They’re unique
• They clearly answer the question

If you ever need help coming up with an idea of what to write for your essay, just refer to the list of 53 examples of college essay topics above to get your brain juices flowing.

Once you’ve got an essay topic picked out, follow these six steps for turning your topic into an unforgettable personal statement :

• Write down all the details
• Figure out your focus and approach
• Structure your narrative
• Write a rough draft
• Edit, revise, and proofread
• Get feedback and tweak as needed

And with that, I wish you the best of luck on your college essays!

What’s Next?

Writing a college essay is no simple task. Get expert college essay tips with our guides on how to come up with great college essay ideas and how to write a college essay, step by step .

You can also check out this huge list of college essay prompts  to get a feel for what types of questions you'll be expected to answer on your applications.

Want to see examples of college essays that absolutely rocked? You're in luck because we've got a collection of 100+ real college essay examples right here on our blog!

Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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Frequently asked questions

Should i title my college essay.

You don’t need a title for your college admissions essay , but you can include one if you think it adds something important.

Frequently asked questions: College admissions essays

When writing your Common App essay , choose a prompt that sparks your interest and that you can connect to a unique personal story.

No matter which prompt you choose, admissions officers are more interested in your ability to demonstrate personal development , insight, or motivation for a certain area of study.

The Common App essay is your primary writing sample within the Common Application, a college application portal accepted by more than 900 schools. All your prospective schools that accept the Common App will read this essay to understand your character, background, and value as a potential student.

Since this essay is read by many colleges, avoid mentioning any college names or programs; instead, save tailored answers for the supplementary school-specific essays within the Common App.

Most importantly, your essay should be about you , not another person or thing. An insightful college admissions essay requires deep self-reflection, authenticity, and a balance between confidence and vulnerability.

Your essay shouldn’t be a résumé of your experiences but instead should tell a story that demonstrates your most important values and qualities.

When revising your college essay , first check for big-picture issues regarding your message and content. Then, check for flow, tone, style , and clarity. Finally, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors .

If your college essay goes over the word count limit , cut any sentences with tangents or irrelevant details. Delete unnecessary words that clutter your essay.

If you’re struggling to reach the word count for your college essay, add vivid personal stories or share your feelings and insight to give your essay more depth and authenticity.

If you’ve got to write your college essay fast , don’t panic. First, set yourself deadlines: you should spend about 10% of your remaining time on brainstorming, 10% on outlining, 40% writing, 30% revising, and 10% taking breaks in between stages.

Second, brainstorm stories and values based on your essay prompt.

Third, outline your essay based on the montage or narrative essay structure .

Fourth, write specific, personal, and unique stories that would be hard for other students to replicate.

Fifth, revise your essay and make sure it’s clearly written.

Last, if possible, get feedback from an essay coach . Scribbr essay editors can help you revise your essay in 12 hours or less.

Avoid swearing in a college essay , since admissions officers’ opinions of profanity will vary. In some cases, it might be okay to use a vulgar word, such as in dialogue or quotes that make an important point in your essay. However, it’s safest to try to make the same point without swearing.

If you have bad grades on your transcript, you may want to use your college admissions essay to explain the challenging circumstances that led to them. Make sure to avoid dwelling on the negative aspects and highlight how you overcame the situation or learned an important lesson.

However, some college applications offer an additional information section where you can explain your bad grades, allowing you to choose another meaningful topic for your college essay.

Here’s a brief list of college essay topics that may be considered cliché:

• Extracurriculars, especially sports
• Role models
• Dealing with a personal tragedy or death in the family
• Struggling with new life situations (immigrant stories, moving homes, parents’ divorce)
• Becoming a better person after community service, traveling, or summer camp
• Overcoming a difficult class
• Using a common object as an extended metaphor

It’s easier to write a standout essay with a unique topic. However, it’s possible to make a common topic compelling with interesting story arcs, uncommon connections, and an advanced writing style.

Yes. The college application essay is less formal than other academic writing —though of course it’s not mandatory to use contractions in your essay.

In a college essay , you can be creative with your language . When writing about the past, you can use the present tense to make the reader feel as if they were there in the moment with you. But make sure to maintain consistency and when in doubt, default to the correct verb tense according to the time you’re writing about.

The college admissions essay gives admissions officers a different perspective on you beyond your academic achievements, test scores, and extracurriculars. It’s your chance to stand out from other applicants with similar academic profiles by telling a unique, personal, and specific story.

Use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial to avoid distracting the reader from your college essay’s content.

A college application essay is less formal than most academic writing . Instead of citing sources formally with in-text citations and a reference list, you can cite them informally in your text.

For example, “In her research paper on genetics, Quinn Roberts explores …”

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 .

Most topics are acceptable for college essays if you can use them to demonstrate personal growth or a lesson learned. However, there are a few difficult topics for college essays that should be avoided. Avoid topics that are:

• Overly personal (e.g. graphic details of illness or injury, romantic or sexual relationships)
• Not personal enough (e.g. broad solutions to world problems, inspiring people or things)
• Too negative (e.g. an in-depth look at your flaws, put-downs of others, criticizing the need for a college essay)
• Too boring (e.g. a resume of your academic achievements and extracurriculars)
• Inappropriate for a college essay (e.g. illegal activities, offensive humor, false accounts of yourself, bragging about privilege)

To write an effective diversity essay , include vulnerable, authentic stories about your unique identity, background, or perspective. Provide insight into how your lived experience has influenced your outlook, activities, and goals. If relevant, you should also mention how your background has led you to apply for this university and why you’re a good fit.

Many universities believe a student body composed of different perspectives, beliefs, identities, and backgrounds will enhance the campus learning and community experience.

Admissions officers are interested in hearing about how your unique background, identity, beliefs, culture, or characteristics will enrich the campus community, which is why they assign a diversity essay .

In addition to your main college essay , some schools and scholarships may ask for a supplementary essay focused on an aspect of your identity or background. This is sometimes called a diversity essay .

You can use humor in a college essay , but carefully consider its purpose and use it wisely. An effective use of humor involves unexpected, keen observations of the everyday, or speaks to a deeper theme. Humor shouldn’t be the main focus of the essay, but rather a tool to improve your storytelling.

Get a second opinion from a teacher, counselor, or essay coach on whether your essay’s humor is appropriate.

Though admissions officers are interested in hearing your story, they’re also interested in how you tell it. An exceptionally written essay will differentiate you from other applicants, meaning that admissions officers will spend more time reading it.

You can use literary devices to catch your reader’s attention and enrich your storytelling; however, focus on using just a few devices well, rather than trying to use as many as possible.

To decide on a good college essay topic , spend time thoughtfully answering brainstorming questions. If you still have trouble identifying topics, try the following two strategies:

• Identify your qualities → Brainstorm stories that demonstrate these qualities
• Identify memorable stories → Connect your qualities to these stories

You can also ask family, friends, or mentors to help you brainstorm topics, give feedback on your potential essay topics, or recall key stories that showcase your qualities.

Yes—admissions officers don’t expect everyone to have a totally unique college essay topic . But you must differentiate your essay from others by having a surprising story arc, an interesting insight, and/or an advanced writing style .

There are no foolproof college essay topics —whatever your topic, the key is to write about it effectively. However, a good topic

• Is meaningful, specific, and personal to you
• Focuses on you and your experiences
• Reveals something beyond your test scores, grades, and extracurriculars
• Is creative and original

Unlike a five-paragraph essay, your admissions essay should not end by summarizing the points you’ve already made. It’s better to be creative and aim for a strong final impression.

You should also avoid stating the obvious (for example, saying that you hope to be accepted).

There are a few strategies you can use for a memorable ending to your college essay :

• Return to the beginning with a “full circle” structure
• Reveal the main point or insight in your story
• Look to the future
• End on an action

The best technique will depend on your topic choice, essay outline, and writing style. You can write several endings using different techniques to see which works best.

College deadlines vary depending on the schools you’re applying to and your application plan:

• For early action applications and the first round of early decision applications, the deadline is on November 1 or 15. Decisions are released by mid-December.
• For the second round of early decision applications, the deadline is January 1 or 15. Decisions are released in January or February.
• Regular decision deadlines usually fall between late November and mid-March, and decisions are released in March or April.
• Rolling admission deadlines run from July to April, and decisions are released around four to eight weeks after submission.

Depending on your prospective schools’ requirements, you may need to submit scores for the SAT or ACT as part of your college application .

Some schools now no longer require students to submit test scores; however, you should still take the SAT or ACT and aim to get a high score to strengthen your application package.

Aim to take the SAT or ACT in the spring of your junior year to give yourself enough time to retake it in the fall of your senior year if necessary.

Apply early for federal student aid and application fee waivers. You can also look for scholarships from schools, corporations, and charitable foundations.

To maximize your options, you should aim to apply to about eight schools:

• Two reach schools that might be difficult to get into
• Four match schools that you have a good chance of getting into
• Two safety schools that you feel confident you’ll get into

The college admissions essay accounts for roughly 25% of the weight of your application .

At highly selective schools, there are four qualified candidates for every spot. While your academic achievements are important, your college admissions essay can help you stand out from other applicants with similar profiles.

In general, for your college application you will need to submit all of the following:

• Your personal information
• List of extracurriculars and awards
• College application essays
• Transcripts
• Standardized test scores
• Recommendation letters.

Different colleges may have specific requirements, so make sure you check exactly what’s expected in the application guidance.

You should start thinking about your college applications the summer before your junior year to give you sufficient time for college visits, taking standardized tests, applying for financial aid , writing essays, and collecting application material.

Yes, but make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, respects the word count , and demonstrates the organization’s values.

If you plan ahead, you can save time by writing one scholarship essay for multiple prompts with similar questions. In a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, you can group or color-code overlapping essay prompts; then, write a single essay for multiple scholarships. Sometimes, you can even reuse or adapt your main college essay .

You can start applying for scholarships as early as your junior year. Continue applying throughout your senior year.

Invest time in applying for various scholarships , especially local ones with small dollar amounts, which are likely easier to win and more reflective of your background and interests. It will be easier for you to write an authentic and compelling essay if the scholarship topic is meaningful to you.

You can find scholarships through your school counselor, community network, or an internet search.

A scholarship essay requires you to demonstrate your values and qualities while answering the prompt’s specific question.

After researching the scholarship organization, identify a personal experience that embodies its values and exemplifies how you will be a successful student.

A standout college essay has several key ingredients:

• A unique, personally meaningful topic
• A memorable introduction with vivid imagery or an intriguing hook
• Specific stories and language that show instead of telling
• Vulnerability that’s authentic but not aimed at soliciting sympathy
• Clear writing in an appropriate style and tone
• A conclusion that offers deep insight or a creative ending

While timelines will differ depending on the student, plan on spending at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing the first draft of your college admissions essay , and at least 2–4 weeks revising across multiple drafts. Don’t forget to save enough time for breaks between each writing and editing stage.

You should already begin thinking about your essay the summer before your senior year so that you have plenty of time to try out different topics and get feedback on what works.

Your college essay accounts for about 25% of your application’s weight. It may be the deciding factor in whether you’re accepted, especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurricular track records.

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.

Cliché openers in a college essay introduction are usually general and applicable to many students and situations. Most successful introductions are specific: they only work for the unique essay that follows.

The key to a strong college essay introduction is not to give too much away. Try to start with a surprising statement or image that raises questions and compels the reader to find out more.

The introduction of your college essay is the first thing admissions officers will read and therefore your most important opportunity to stand out. An excellent introduction will keep admissions officers reading, allowing you to tell them what you want them to know.

You can speed up this process by shortening and smoothing your writing with a paraphrasing tool . After that, you can use the summarizer to shorten it even more.

If you’re struggling to reach the word count for your college essay, add vivid personal stories or share your feelings and insight to give your essay more depth and authenticity.

Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit to write a developed and thoughtful essay.

You should aim to stay under the specified word count limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely. However, don’t write too little, as it may seem like you are unwilling or unable to write a detailed and insightful narrative about yourself.

If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words.

In your application essay , admissions officers are looking for particular features : they want to see context on your background, positive traits that you could bring to campus, and examples of you demonstrating those qualities.

Colleges want to be able to differentiate students who seem similar on paper. In the college application essay , they’re looking for a way to understand each applicant’s unique personality and experiences.

Your college essay’s format should be as simple as possible:

• Use a standard, readable font
• Use 1.5 or double spacing
• If attaching a file, save it as a PDF
• Stick to the word count
• Avoid unusual formatting and unnecessary decorative touches

There are no set rules for how to structure a college application essay , but these are two common structures that work:

• A montage structure, a series of vignettes with a common theme.
• A narrative structure, a single story that shows your personal growth or how you overcame a challenge.

Avoid the five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in high school.

Campus visits are always helpful, but if you can’t make it in person, the college website will have plenty of information for you to explore. You should look through the course catalog and even reach out to current faculty with any questions about the school.

Colleges set a “Why this college?” essay because they want to see that you’ve done your research. You must prove that you know what makes the school unique and can connect that to your own personal goals and academic interests.

Depending on your writing, you may go through several rounds of revision . Make sure to put aside your essay for a little while after each editing stage to return with a fresh perspective.

Teachers and guidance counselors can help you check your language, tone, and content . Ask for their help at least one to two months before the submission deadline, as many other students will also want their help.

Friends and family are a good resource to check for authenticity. It’s best to seek help from family members with a strong writing or English educational background, or from older siblings and cousins who have been through the college admissions process.

If possible, get help from an essay coach or editor ; they’ll have specialized knowledge of college admissions essays and be able to give objective expert feedback.

When revising your college essay , first check for big-picture issues regarding message, flow, tone, style , and clarity. Then, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors.

Include specific, personal details and use your authentic voice to shed a new perspective on a common human experience.

Through specific stories, you can weave your achievements and qualities into your essay so that it doesn’t seem like you’re bragging from a resume.

When writing about yourself , including difficult experiences or failures can be a great way to show vulnerability and authenticity, but be careful not to overshare, and focus on showing how you matured from the experience.

First, spend time reflecting on your core values and character . You can start with these questions:

• What are three words your friends or family would use to describe you, and why would they choose them?
• Whom do you admire most and why?
• What are you most proud of? Ashamed of?

However, you should do a comprehensive brainstorming session to fully understand your values. Also consider how your values and goals match your prospective university’s program and culture. Then, brainstorm stories that illustrate the fit between the two.

In a college application essay , you can occasionally bend grammatical rules if doing so adds value to the storytelling process and the essay maintains clarity.

However, use standard language rules if your stylistic choices would otherwise distract the reader from your overall narrative or could be easily interpreted as unintentional errors.

Write concisely and use the active voice to maintain a quick pace throughout your essay and make sure it’s the right length . Avoid adding definitions unless they provide necessary explanation.

Use first-person “I” statements to speak from your perspective . Use appropriate word choices that show off your vocabulary but don’t sound like you used a thesaurus. Avoid using idioms or cliché expressions by rewriting them in a creative, original way.

If you’re an international student applying to a US college and you’re comfortable using American idioms or cultural references , you can. But instead of potentially using them incorrectly, don’t be afraid to write in detail about yourself within your own culture.

Provide context for any words, customs, or places that an American admissions officer might be unfamiliar with.

College application essays are less formal than other kinds of academic writing . Use a conversational yet respectful tone , as if speaking with a teacher or mentor. Be vulnerable about your feelings, thoughts, and experiences to connect with the reader.

Aim to write in your authentic voice , with a style that sounds natural and genuine. You can be creative with your word choice, but don’t use elaborate vocabulary to impress admissions officers.

Admissions officers use college admissions essays to evaluate your character, writing skills , and ability to self-reflect . The essay is your chance to show what you will add to the academic community.

The college essay may be the deciding factor in your application , especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurriculars.

Some colleges also require supplemental essays about specific topics, such as why you chose that specific college . Scholarship essays are often required to obtain financial aid .

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Name dropping in 'Why us' secondary essay

• Thread starter Zen Arcade
• Start date Jun 19, 2019

Full Member

• Jun 19, 2019

Keep it vague.  

the evil queen of numbers

I agree. You never know if someone who does not think highly of the person whose name you mention will read your application and form a negative impression (even unconsciously) of you because you know (or even know of and admire) someone they don't respect.  

EdgeTrimmer

Probationary status, deleted480308.

srk2021 said: How about can applicant say he went to on campus daycare while parent attended the same medical school and interacted with faculty since then? Click to expand...

sb247 said: No one cares where you went to daycare Click to expand...

MemeLord said: “I’ve wanted to attend your school ever since I was born. In fact, I already have.” Click to expand...

gonnif said: I strongly concur. However, saying that you did speak at length to an M1 who you met via SDN and learned X, Y, & Z about their school can be helpful. I would further suggest that even if this should come up at interview you should respect privacy Click to expand...

deleted972488

• Jun 20, 2019

LizzyM said: I agree. You never know if someone who does not think highly of the person whose name you mention will read your application and form a negative impression (even unconsciously) of you because you know (or even know of and admire) someone they don't respect. Click to expand...

EmbryonalCarcinoma said: Does this still apply if you have a relative who went to the school? Should you keep it vague in case they don’t respect your sister? Click to expand...

LizzyM said: If they ask specifically if you have a family member who attended or currently attends the school, you can say "my sister is a 2015 graduate". You don't have to name her. Then again, if you have the same last name and it is not a super common last name, then they might just figure it out. I can say that I do know of a few faculty members who I think are jerks and when I see someone name one of them as someone they look up to and want to emulate I just have to bite my tongue. It is less likely that I know a student or would know which students were a problem (uncooperative, argumentative, entitled, etc). Click to expand...

gonnif said: That is cute and ice breaker. I normally advise applicants to stay away from humor but this cute, use it. It leads directly into having a parent physician alumni Click to expand...

Some people will claim a legacy connection if asked and if their parent(s) were residents or fellows at the affiliated medical center. I'd say, a bit tongue in cheek, if the school sends you solicitations for donations, you can call yourself an alumnus. As for people your son has known since they were 2, the "do you have famliy members" thing pretty much means parents, siblings, grandparents, maybe aunts and uncles (certainly if it is aunts and uncles and parents and grandparents -- super legacy applicant) but no one expects a listing of people on the faculty you know socially or that your parents know professionally.  

LizzyM said: Some people will claim a legacy connection if asked and if their parent(s) were residents or fellows at the affiliated medical center. I'd say, a bit tongue in cheek, if the school sends you solicitations for donations, you can call yourself an alumnus. As for people your son has known since they were 2, the "do you have famliy members" thing pretty much means parents, siblings, grandparents, maybe aunts and uncles (certainly if it is aunts and uncles and parents and grandparents -- super legacy applicant) but no one expects a listing of people on the faculty you know socially or that your parents know professionally. Click to expand...

• Jun 21, 2019

srk2021 said: School doesn't seek solicitations (It's a T10 public school) . I am not referring to "do you have family members" question, but why this school type of question. He was allowed to sit through few presentations at small conference hosted by this school recently and I am wondering if he can mention that. Click to expand...

Alta California

srk2021 said: Are residents and fellows considered alumni at medical schools? Click to expand...

gyngyn said: Residents and fellows are chosen by the hospital, not the affiliated medical school. As such they are not considered alumni. Click to expand...

LizzyM said: I think that this depends, somewhat, by school. At my med school they get a section in the alumni magazine for career and family updates and their house staff graduation year is noted whenever someone who did post-graduate med ed is named. Click to expand...

LizzyM said: I'd suggest mentioning that the student attended these conferences in [specialty area] and was impressed with the level of [teaching/engagement/faculty student interaction-- whatever] but not mention specific faculty members by name. This is exactly what I mean when I say that the reputation of the person you'd be naming many not be 100% positive and it could taint your kid's chances there. Click to expand...

• Jun 22, 2019

Does the same go for name dropping alum? Or should you just say in talking to an alumni of X school?  

(super fluffy)

• Jun 23, 2019

blurb_123 said: Does the same go for name dropping alum? Or should you just say in talking to an alumni of X school? Click to expand...

Angus Avagadro

Infernal Internist / Enigmatic Endocrinologist

• Jun 24, 2019

deleted819639

• Aug 16, 2019

If I talk about a time that I spoke to a school's PD in an info session in a "Why Us?" essay, and mention the PD by name, would that still be too overt? Or would it not matter since this figure is well known in the program anyway?  

Silence_Water_Hope said: If I talk about a time that I spoke to a school's PD in an info session in a "Why Us?" essay, and mention the PD by name, would that still be too overt? Or would it not matter since this figure is well known in the program anyway? Click to expand...

EmbryonalCarcinoma said: I would say use the information you learned from going to the session to craft your response, but naming the PD will not benefit you and will detract from your overall message. “I met the PD once” is not a good response for “why us?” Click to expand...

Silence_Water_Hope said: Right, I would focus more on the interaction and what I learned rather than the PD, and the essay would read something more like "I had a chance to meet Dr. _______ at _______, where we discussed X, Y, and Z about the school." then go onto talk about X, Y, and Z. I am wondering whether bringing up the fact that I discussed these things with the PD would be considered as me being interested in the school or just obnoxious name-drop. Click to expand...

LizzyM said: You are missing the point. "I had a chance to meet with a faculty member from the xyz department at [event] and we discussed X, Y and Z about the school" Don't name names. Click to expand...

• Aug 17, 2019

82Scout said: What if there is a particular faculty/dean that works on x program or has accomplished y for the campus and that is one of the things that attracts you to the school. Is it too much to discuss their name and accomplishment as to why us? Click to expand...

• Oct 8, 2020

How about can applicant say he went to on campus daycare while parent attended the same medical school? Click to expand...

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