College Admission Essay: College Essay Topics To Avoid

[blancmerlot]

im going to write an essay with all of this topics - just to piss them off.

[amsmileybbn]

@PreCollegeCoach

I suffered a severe sports injury a month and a half ago and since then I've had surgery and have been unable to get around without a wheelchair. I'm focusing my essay on the realities I face as a (temporarily) handicapped member of society.and how this experience has given me a new perspective. Is this still considered a "deadly essay topic?"

[GettysburgLeadership]

@amsmileybbn It could be deadly, but if you frame it in such a way as to suggest that you are not attempting to draw sympathy from the reader, but to offer a perspective that teaches you something, it may work.

[GettysburgLeadership]

Most assuredly. You "get it." Good luck. Paul

[dacciani2012]

my grandfather died from Diabetes and Alzheimer's when i was 8, and since then ive aspired to become a doctor. would this essay work if i put almost no focus on the disease/death part and emphasized the influence/inspiration?

[TheMasterSlasher]

Hmm, I already wrote about taking a trip a couple of years back and for the first time seeing how the truly poor live. This experience has had an enormous impact on my perspective on life, so do you really think I should change it?

[PreCollegeCoach]

Good topic because it's not about you, but how you think about the topic is about you. Good luck! ~ Paul

[PengWinOne]

My dad is in a disabled sailor. I want to write about what I've learned from spending time with him and the other disabled sailors. Is that really a bad topic?

[0justcause]

lol each and every one of those were ones i was considering writing about. I had nothing else after that hahahaha

[PreCollegeCoach]

@0justcause I'm sure you can come up with an excellent topic, Great luck to you! ~ Paul

[FirstDegreeBound]

Great advice! I work with young people and emphasize similar things about the application process!

[PreCollegeCoach]

@FirstDegreeBound Thanks!

[VideoCollegeAdvisor]

Yours could be a great essay. Best of luck to you. Paul H

[mockingbird2013]

I was thinking about writing mine on the medical mission in Africa i will be attending. would this be considered your "trips" category. i would be giving medicine to the people who are without any medical care.

[JoannaBananaify]

You say not to talk about disease. But I've actually had leukemia relatively recently (about 3 years ago), went through chemo, and was cured. The experience is now a huge part of me that has greatly affected my outlook on life, and has inspired me to become an oncologist to turn the tables and help others deal with the disease I have personally experienced.

Now is that a bad topic?

[VideoCollegeAdvisor]

@JoannaBananaify I am very happy to read your comment, and I heartily suggest that you inspire others with your story. Paul

[PreCollegeCoach]

Of course.

[PreCollegeCoach]

@SpartnPride You think?

[GreatCommunistEmpire]

@PreCollegeCoach hi do u think its a good idea to write an essay about my life philosophy?

[crackerjack113]

sorry to break it to you and all the readers but this is completely wrong

the list of topics to avoid only exists IF you are a shitty writer

there's going to be thousands of essays on each and every single topic out there. you can make a jewel out of it, however, if you make it relate especially to you. for example, i wrote the relationship between my dad and i which i'm sure many thousands of people have done, BUT with the added twist where i talked about making banana pancakes in mornings

[ubermensch826]

how about this:

I'm sick so I have to take a pill everyday, but I can only take it once a day. Some days, i forget whether or not I've taken it so I constantly live in fear of dying the next day.

That would be awesome

[PreCollegeCoach]

@ubermensch826 My heart goes out to you.

[PreCollegeCoach]

Depends on your self-accomplishment, which you don't specify. So I cannot make a judgment. Always tell the college how THEY will benefit from your being there. If you are a volunteer worker, for exampe, and the college is dedicated to volunteer work in its own community, you will be a great match for them. But emphasize what you've done, not what you will do. Good luck.

[mysterymaskedman1]

@precollegecoach I am trying my best to get into rutgers univ

Please give me some guidelines which they'll look at and be amazed

I don't have so many great grades because of my big switch from private to public school

But do u think if I list my unique self accomplishment do u think they'll consider?

And one of their question. Is how will you benefit and contribute to our community ? How is a good way to answer that? Can I say that I will benefit from your community from taking in all the gre

[latinagirl554]

How do we know you are even a credible source?

I've taken college prep courses that state as long as our personal statement answers the question and there is no "bad topic." As long as our personality comes through along with our accomplishments, it doesn't matter what the topic is.

[PreCollegeCoach]

@latinagirl554 High school teachers don't talk to admissions people, which means they're generally out of touch with what is being sought. You would do well to talk to admission people first-hand instead of taking my word for it, or that of your prep teachers. The credible source here is the admission person. I simply report what I've been told by so many. You ask a good question and I wish you well.

[bsmitty101]

I mean... I broke my neck skiing, I think that is an exception to the no sports injuries rule.

[PreCollegeCoach]

@bsmitty101 It's better that someone else mention it, not you. By NOT mentioning it, you're signaling to the college that you're not going to use your injury as a cheap emotional tactic to manipulate your application's appeal. There are too many cynical readers in these admission offices who won't look favorably on what you've wriiten. Ask a teacher to mention the injury in your recommendation letter, and how you came back from the dead - so to speak - to move on with your life. Good luck.

[JulianTheGreat01]

@PreCollegeCoach Do you recommend not going for an emotional appeal at all? The experience I had during is unique and was in the field of what I'm applying for (film), and I was going to talk about how it effected me emotionally.

[dynastyman36]

crap i wrote about my disorder and already submitted it. should of watched this vid first. damn.

[PreCollegeCoach]

@coolintheshade If I were suffering from depression, I wouldn't consider it a cliche. But if you're referring to the topic of depression, it's more than a cliche: it's just depressing.

[PreCollegeCoach]

@coolintheshade No reader in an admissions office gets up in the morning hoping to read something depressing when they get to the office. Would you?

[linda83514]

WHY WONT REPLANTING IN THE RAINFOREST WORK?

doesn't college want the student who has passion of changing the world?

[PreCollegeCoach]

@linda83514 They want a student who has a passion for something, but replanting the rainforests has become a cliche and therefore not taken seriously.

[steffyoung]

why can't we write about sports injuries?

what if you tore your ACL?

[PreCollegeCoach]

@steffyoung The answer can be found in the video. Perhaps you missed it. That's okay. It can happen.

[pancakes6666]

@steffyoung cause mr.futurefootball star no one actually cares

[Calimouse3]

Don't know if it's just me, but I think the replanting in the rainforest in Costa Rica one could actually be interesting. I think it really depends about how well written the essay is, even if it's cliche.

[PreCollegeCoach]

@Calimouse3 You make a valid comment. Thank you.,

[08Suburban]

Can you let me know where you work so I don't have my kids pick your school? Maybe YOU are tired of all these topics but 17 and 18 year olds have just begun to live. They are excited about life and that essay is basically used to see if they can write well enough to attend college. If you are judging personality, ambition, and goals from a 12th graders paper you are making huge mistakes. Maybe you should just look at our FAFSA's and see if we can pay full tuition and admit them if they can pay.

[PreCollegeCoach]

@08Suburban I'm not the one who's tired of these topics. You've taken a shot at the messenger.

[08Suburban]

@PreCollegeCoach

apologies in that case.

[smertgopam]

Oh no, I wanted to make my teachers crazy by writing essays about death, illnesses, mental health issues, and Freudian theories!

Or to impress them with my medical knowledge and write something, using brutal medical terminology that they will begin to understand only months after reading my stuff ^^

Thanks a bunch ^^

Looks like I'd have to come up with a better way to impress my teachers^^

[djallusive]

can i write how im obsessed with spain because my other half is spanish although, i never found my history of my family in spain.

[PreCollegeCoach]

Sure. Just avoid words like ":obsessed" because use of superlatives is a substitute for clear and deliberative thinking. Oh! Be sure to capitalize the name of a country....

[PreCollegeCoach]

Diversity is becoming, if not already, the 8th topic you don't write about. It's just too general a topic. Good luck.

[revolution139]

I disagree. Those are topics to avoid if you can't write them without sounding cliché. A girl from my school got into Harvard and her essay was about a funeral. But she was very specific and made it very personal explaining the rituals and it was a very beautiful essay, but... I think only James Joyce could have written it better.

[PreCollegeCoach]

I can't respond without actually reading the essay. There is an EXCEPTION to every rule, and you're implying that she got into Harvard on her essay. I would rethink your conclusion.

[nigastolemyyoshi1]

i wouldnt go with the cancer thing because idk if colleges get alot of those kind of essays summited to them, but the avatar thing sounds pretty cool, you just have to make it work i guess

[nigastolemyyoshi1]

hey would writing how my family is in the military and how i travel alot and many different cultures and life styles and how my dad and brother went to war. please help

[PreCollegeCoach]

Very cool! Go for it! But narrow your topic.

[Kingsta1234]

oh and by advantages, i mean talents

[Kingsta1234]

is it ok to write a essay about How i changed from being an immature kid who never cared about school and never cared about my life into a well-matured kid who took use into his advantages. Like basically write what inspired me to change from what i was before and how i never used and expressed my talents.

Is that a good topic? PLEASE WRITE BACK! thank you!

[PreCollegeCoach]

It's a very good topic: it shows a progression of growth and what you learned that was valuable. Good luck!

[isGleeful]

I was writing about my brother's suicide, how it helped me understand death and life, and knowing how to grow through every situation good or bad, (which helps shape you into the person you are) Is this bad, because I am talking about death?

[PreCollegeCoach]

I'm not enthusiastic about your topic, but that's not to say you couldn't pull it off. I would have a teacher mention how you dealt with the suicide in a letter of recommendation. That way you give the impression - by NOT writing about the suicide - that you have gotten on with your life and are not using your bro's suicide as a cheap way to pull heart-strings in an admissions office soaked in cynicism. The very best of luck to you.

[graciekm]

Uh oh - you've got me worried.

My essay is one about my reconciling with my dad after he almost died in a plane crash. In it I talk about my parents' divorce that messed up our relationship, but in the end I talk about how the experience changed me, and how forgiveness is essential. I also talk about rebuilding the relationship.

I feel like this may be okay, but you seem like the man to ask!

(btw,I already submitted this essay and gotten into penn state university park, but not W&M or UVA yet..)

[PreCollegeCoach]

I wouln't be worried because the subject appears to be forgiveness and how you made something negative turn into a positive. Very powerful. I suspect you are a better person for it, and any college would likely be proud to have you as a student. Best of luck to you.

[ohgoodjoy]

*Is it okay to have listy essays? Ex: "I enjoy creme brulee and Mythbusters."

*"how will you use your blessings to help build a future of hope?" Is it ok to write about how a trip to your native country (which is third world) helped you form your dream? If not, how do you answer this kind of question without coming off as insincere? even if you really are sincere?

[PreCollegeCoach]

Excellent question! It's okay as long as you can give a concrete example of how. Focus on a single incident that gave hope to someone because of something you did. And keep it simple. Writng in generalities won't work, which will come off as insincere. If you cannot think of anything that happened on your trip, move on to another topic.

[iceman10101]

wht about my trip to costa rice that was 1 month and my community service and i didnt pay for it it was a scholarship i won i am poor and how it effected my view on the world

[PreCollegeCoach]

Have a letter of recommendation letter mention it. Stay away from the topic yourself. When someone else says what you did, it has more credibility.

[Abdullah19910]

When you say "Death" ?

So you mean we shouldn't write about the death of a loved one or some one close to you like your mom or dad, or you mean death in general.

Thank you

[PreCollegeCoach]

Good question. You can get away with mentioning a death of someone - anyone - in ONE line, but it ought not be the focus of your essay, or used as a "stimulus package" that attempts to energize your expanded understanding of the meaning of life. Not a good idea. Just be safe and stay away from the topic.

[000DSG000]

can i write about peoples ego(how everyone is selfish), world peace(how its never going to happen), stereotypes(the american way of thinking, even if you say no.. im not like that, you still have those thoughts inside of you), religion(worst man made invention in history). ?

and can you tell me about sat essays is it alike ? - i know i have to write about myself and my experiences stuff like that but don't get it really well

[PreCollegeCoach]

What you want to write about is a recipe for a disastrous essay. Stick to my recommendations throughout these postings. And good luck to you.

[PreCollegeCoach]

You have a good idea, but it's all in how you "frame" the issues. Be sure you don't come across as looking naive. For example, stay away from the Rodney King formula that asks, "Can't we all just get along?" Be realistic even if it meand your inability to resolve an issue. Admission readers prefer to see how you handle an issue as opposed to what you may suggest as a solution.

[sunnii111]

how about writing that the reason i want to be a doctor is because of a tv show i used to watch??? is that good?

[PreCollegeCoach]

I like it.

[PreCollegeCoach]

@sunnii111 Go for it.

[Calimouse3]

@sunnii111 I hope you're talking about House. XD That would be awesome!

[rainpaw4]

@sunnii111 is it House? lol i was actually tempted to write the same thing

[HyruleHero101]

Hm, I wrote about my favorite hobby (sneaker collecting), is that alright?

[PreCollegeCoach]

The topic got my attention. You're off to a great start! Good luck!

[PreCollegeCoach]

Sneakers? Sounds like it will stink. Just kidding. Looks like a great topic if you can be creative. Good luck!

[Arch91]

is writing about a trip you took by yourself ok??

[PreCollegeCoach]

With the economy of words you are using, do you think you could elaborate a little bit more?...

[Arch91]

i wrote about a trip i went on alone without my family which changed my perception towards other people...i have to submit it for my UC apps soon

[PreCollegeCoach]

It could work as long as your ending indicates a writer who learned something valuable. Best of luck to you!

[yasscanadian2008]

Hey I passed the essay test with writing about death , !!!!!!!!!!!!! ?

[PreCollegeCoach]

Congratulations!

[RobSchneeberger]

The reason writing sucks is because all teachers have their different personal bias's about what papers have "cliche" topics. My advice would be to just read your teacher and write what they like, otherwise they will fail you regardless if you have a decent essay or not.

[PreCollegeCoach]

Your teacher doesn't work in the college admissions office. You're writing an essay for colleges to read. Good luck with your essay.

[RobSchneeberger]

Same concept, even good essays with cliche topics will get anyone admitted. You act like university admission essays are graded hard.

[nicnac115]

when i visited stanford, someone asked the director of admissions what were the most memorable essays and she said shed gotten some really good ones about sports injuries and medical problems people have overcome. i think it all depends on how you tell your story.

[PreCollegeCoach]

A very valid point. It's just that the standard essays don't rise to a level that's meaningful

[MattyPure]

hey this video really helped me. i was thinking about a divorce topic but i didnt know that it was that common to see. Hmm i guess ill stick with my lifegaurd training [im not that athletic so it was a big achievement for me ;) ]

[PreCollegeCoach]

Funny!

[masterjai423]

why is a trip a bad college essay topic??

[PreCollegeCoach]

Trips are considered contrived - something daddy did to get something on a blank resume for college.

[masterjai423]

@PreCollegeCoach i don't think all trips can be considered contrived...i'm involved in extracurriculars (my resume is actually quite large), i get good grades and take a rigorous courseload, and i'm not rich. would a trip to one's home country in my case be considered contrived?

[PreCollegeCoach]

No, but don't plant any rain forests or go squirrel hunting :^)

[weaveral1]

Right, plus the person reading isn't rich. They may not want to read about your expensive trip. They may also not be your religion, so missionary trips are dangerous territory too.

[KangarooBird121]

frikken hell i talked about all those things

[sloth245]

awesome video coach!!!!!!!!!

[superlardbucket]

Oh thank God! I just finished my essay, and sent my application to the college I'm absolutely hoping for, then I saw this and got worried, since my topic was a bit... out there...

[MASTERMARK360]

thanks paul u da man

[countrymusicfan39]

I gotcha! Your other videos are cool. I watched the Letter of Recommendation and agree lol

[countrymusicfan39]

My professors actually disagree. We have had about 4 essays so far and 3/4 were on the subjects that you just mentioned. so i think that different colleges look for different things

[PreCollegeCoach]

That's possible, but that doesn't change what most college admission people have told me.

[aeronavel]

The essay I'm writing at the moment, deals with my frequent visits to the local basketball court. It's basically talking about how interacting with these people who I once thought were so different from me (economically, socially, culturally) has taught me to be more patient before making assumptions about people. Is this a risky subject? I'm also hispanic, and I felt this could be an opprotunity to tie that in.. what do you think?

[PreCollegeCoach]

I like your idea.

[hippoman888]

I kno you said dont talk about trips but what about a mission trip I went on to mexico? and my experience there...it relates to my passion

[PreCollegeCoach]

Very appealing first sentence, and it looks like a good essay. Good luck!

[SmashingShinyRay]

As far as travel - what about having studied abroad in a group that doesn't accept but a limited amount of select student a year? I don't see the problem with making a one sentence statement about that... as in 'this happened - end' and not 'this happened and it was super fantastic and it was super elite and super blah blah blah brag brag.'

[SmashingShinyRay]

Excuse me, I forgot to make 'student' plural... (ha - ha- ha) :p

[PreCollegeCoach]

Most appealing - honesty, a little self-deprecation works, and the jewel they seek is any evidence of leadership (humongous topic so be careful). Extra Cir's Business greats = anything that shows a complete immersion in business-related activities to demonstrate your total commitment. I do nothing that focuses on international students. Hope some of this helps you.

[sakibulhaque]

Hey can you make a video with detailed pointers on what gimmicks to avoid on application essay...and what personal traits stated in the application essay would the adcoms find most appealing...what are the cliched topics...also what (specific) Extra Curriculars and awards would make a Business School undergrad candidate exceptional...also how should internaional candidates go about on seeking MOST POSSIBLE financial aid from Universities in USA's today's economic scenario...thanks in advance

[utuber586]

"that won't go over AT ALL" lol

[PreCollegeCoach]

Huh?

[Silentkill666]

Is writing about the ID movement and its methods of using informal logical fallacies to advance its cause a good topic?

[PreCollegeCoach]

Pages? No...500 words is a standard max. Too much detail is sleep-inducing. Explain how you got to the results, and make sure it's credible. That means you have to have credible specifics - some detail, but not a tsunami. Good luck!

[trotnixonforprez]

Hey im planning on writing about my maturation by using examples from karate that I did and a relgious process (going to Mecca) i did. Is this topic a good to go or should I change it??

[PreCollegeCoach]

You're good to go. Be sure to read what I advised other students to do.

[trotnixonforprez]

Thanks!

I just finished my essay. How many pages do you think is enough? I have about 1.5 pages without double spacing. And how much emphasis do you think should go into the background story? Like the actual journey to Mecca or how I first joined karate, would you put a lot of detail into that or just mainly focus on the results of those activities? Thanks for any help!

[AlphaHunters]

THANKS!!!!! THIS HELPS A LOT!!!

[PreCollegeCoach]

You're welcome. Pass it along to your friends.

[PreCollegeCoach]

Imagine yourself as an artist with the PRECISION of using a scalpel. I don't get the Louvre reference; if you mean the Mona Lisa, I'm more mystified. Be simple, be obvious, and a touch - not a hammer blow - of subtlety will do the trick. Good luck, Doctor DaVinci.

[sasaspeaks]

i just finished writing my college application essay. I want to become a surgeon yet I'm a really good artist so i talked about my love for art and how every time i outline a painting i actually imagine myself using a scalpel; hands all steady and slowly!! i ended it up by saying that a painting in the louvre means nothing to a smile on a person's face. what do you think?

[PreCollegeCoach]

No. I have a separate college admissions advisory service where I charge money for it. Part of the service is to guide students through the essay process, not to rewrite it. Remember that the essay should be the easiest essay you write this year because the topic should be about what you know, what you've experienced, and what you've learned from that experience. You are the world's leading expert on what YOU know. It's the 6th topic question on the Common App = topic of your choice.

[xaviermoose]

just out of curiosity, do you take college essays to revise? I mean, I don't really have much humor in mine, but all i really do is stress the idea that I don't belong to any sort of clique because I don't feel like one certain group can really define who I fully am

Unfortunately, the name xaviermoose doesn't mean anything other than the fact that it combines an animal I like with a school

[xaviermoose]

I am planning on writing an essay that deals with trying to find who you really are with the humor of being an adolescent male...too boring?

[PreCollegeCoach]

You'd be better off writing about your YouTube ID, xaviermoose. Seriously, humor is too tough to pull off, and I would stay away from it. This is your only shot, which means you have a 50-50 chance to doing it right. With those odds, assume you're losing.

[sumomania66]

I wrote about a medical mission in Honduras and how it changed my attitude. Is this a good topic?

[PreCollegeCoach]

Yes. But no rainforest replantings, please.

[StarlightApology]

What can I say, I like your videos so I've subscribed. :)

Anyway, I have a quick question.

For my college essay, I wrote about my love of speech and debate (it's my most time-consuming extracurricular activity) - how I've done public speaking events since I was four feet tall, how I qualified to state and nationals, etc. Is this a good topic, or should I change it to something else? Forensics is what I love, and I can't imagine writing about anything else...

[PreCollegeCoach]

Your ability to debate is an excellent topic because colleges are NOT used to seeing applicants who can write, let alone write about debating, a rare talent that every college would love to see in an applicant. Use a story to make your point so the the reader is convinced of your passion. Every college applicant should envy you!

[free2care4no1]

I wrote about the trip I took between my junior and senior year when I spent three weeks in Costa Rica replanting the rainforest. Am I in trouble?

[PreCollegeCoach]

Submit another essay fast. Apologize to the admission people that you didn't mean to punish them with something that - on second thought - would create little warts all over your application. If it's any consolation, there's a college out there masochistic enough to accept whatever you send them. Good grades and SAT scores may tip the balance in your favor.

[bunnyrabbit193193]

Thank you for your video. I'm pretty sure I'm avoiding these topics. I'm planning to work on my admission essay from now. And I'm still not sure what to write about. I want to major in pre-pharmacy. Because my mom has always been in bad health condition with tons of different illness, and she and my dad have been trying so hard to send me to the US to study. And I want to be able to take care of my mom later on by studying about medicine. Would this be powerful enough?

Thanks

[PreCollegeCoach]

As a foreign student, write it with passion, sincerity, and with a single theme summarized in the last sentence. It could be a winner. As a US student, I would likely discourage you.

[Hustino07]

I was planning on writing about a girl I met who had cancer. She was the YMCA salute to courage for 2007 and I met her in person and this inspired me to go into a medical field career...Is this deadly? I mean it is a personal thing, and it has to do with disease but it also shows why I want to be a doctor.

[PreCollegeCoach]

This is the exception to my rule. I think your approach is solid, but you'd better convince as to how this experience - among others I hope - is leading you toward the medical field. Keep it as objective as possible without reading like a clinical report of your feelings about it. Express your head as well as your heart.

[Hustino07]

I basically I said that because she was so optimistic through her ordeal (Painting her bald head, playing with the little children, her catch phrase was "I'm good to go", etc) that it makes me want to be able to help others and help them stay optimistic and by meeting her I see how that can be done, even from a medical approach. Any suggestions? I can send you a link to her story if you wanna see where I am coming from.

[PreCollegeCoach]

Focus on the why's of your interest. Are you an optimistic person? And if so, how did that outlook come about? Is there a match between your outlook and the outlook that's needed to sustain such people who may be in denial, or have incrediblel courage? Send me the link.

[dancetildawn13x]

Uh oh. Having just watched your video, I am now concerned about my essay. I wrote about my experience as a beach lifeguard; we recovered the body of a man whose heavy drinking led to his death. I segued into a discussion on my position as president of a club which opposes poor decision making in young adults and concluded with the thought that the tragedy was preventable and I would like to help peers make better decisions. Am I in trouble??

[PreCollegeCoach]

Not at all. You use a terrific illustration to make your point, which also qualifies you to lead your peers to better decisions. Powerful!

[lolface524]

hey so thanks for the tips.

i was planning to write about when my dad left me when i was a kid and how he never wanted to see my family again.

and growing up without a father figure in my life.

has that been overused? do you think that would considered a "deadly topic"?

[PreCollegeCoach]

Not deadly. It's better that a letter of recommendation discuss the issue(s) to imply that you have risen above it all and went on with your life. It could have greater impact by NOT mentioning it. Hope this helps.

[huh37890]

THANKS for the tips in all of your videos! I'm hoping to attend Harvard, Johns Hopkins, or any of those top schools...

[PreCollegeCoach]

You are entirely welcome, and I wish you well.

[jichyi]

I totally agree..

[jichyi]

topics about race are also overly used right? many example essays I have seen are all about being a minority..

[PreCollegeCoach]

Topics that illustrate a writer's "victimology" is often considered a waste of the reader's time; it's viewed as a cheap way of pulling at the heart-strings of the admissions office to gain favor. Big mistake. Minority students who do NOT draw attention to their ethnicity are often considered as having a greater ability to transcended and handle their own problems with a quiet courage. That's a huge plus. Better to have someone write a letter of recommendation mentioning ethnicity.

[PreCollegeCoach]

Just be sure you get your historical facts straight! Good luck.

[PreCollegeCoach]

Great topic - indicates that you have initiative, maturity, and foresight. Don't state this in your essay as it will become obvious to the reader. Indicate the mistakes you made along the way. Why? Admission readers don't want to read about how great you are as a business person, or that you made $10,000 in your first week (even if you did!), but what you learned from your mistakes; humility is sacred to admission readers. Play to it. And always illustrate any general statements.

[ArAtEuC]

Thanks!

[ArAtEuC]

As Im sure you know you can pick the essay where you pick an open topic. Im really interested in business and have my own little business that ive started. Can i write my essay about that and how im so "into business"? Thanks

[PreCollegeCoach]

Terrific topic. Avoid self-congratulatory statements. Tell the reader what you're doing to become successful, and be specific with examples. Admit any mistakes you've learned along the way; it'll signal a life-lesson you've learned. In short, do a "show and tell": TELL the reader what you want him to know, and SHOW him how you're doing it. It's not important to look wise, but wanting to learn how to be successful. That's wisdom's first sign. That's what your SHOW will do. Best of luck to you!

[PreCollegeCoach]

You have a great topic here for 3 reasons: it shows initiative (read: leadership, which colleges love) courage, and a hands-on approach to your subject. No lousy theories. Be sure you tell a story of how and why. Love it!