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The 12 Questions for College Application Essays

[Since we've got an 11th grader and the college entrance will be coming to us before we fully realize it--it's just next year!--we need to do something to get ready. The first thing, we find, is that kids have to write an essay (at least one, maybe more) for their college application file. Many high school students would apply for more than 1 college or university and chances are each college/university may have their own different topic for students to write their essay on. A couple of applicants I know sent as many as 10 applications and they probably wrote as many as 10 essays (maybe fewer, since some topics are so similar they can just do some modification with an old version). Good thing is they should have no problem writing an essay, after many years of honing their writing skills in English classes, much better than their parents whose English is always their 2nd language.
But what topic to write?
There are plenty guide books on writing essays for college application. Here is a copy of some guidelines from a book by Sarah Myers McGinty for reference.]

The “You” Question

Most of these boil down to “tell us about yourself.” Some examples:

1. A personal statement

“Write an essay which conveys to the reader a sense of who you are.” (Columbia U.)

“Complete a one-page personal statement. You can use the personal statement to highlight special interests, talents, goals, or unique experiences.” (James Madison U.)

“Who are you? Eugene Lang College acknowledges the unique characteristics of its applicants…. Provide us with a creative definition of yourself.” (E. L. Col.)

2. Describe a significant experience, interest, challenge, or value

“Describe an achievement, significant experience, or challenge that you feel has been important in strengthening your personal values.” (Bentley Col.)

“Recall an occasion when you took a risk that you now know was the right thing to do.” (U. Penn)

“Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.” (Common Application)

3. How have you grown and developed?

“Describe a situation in which you have made a difference in your school or community and what you learned from that experience.” (Gettysburg Col.)

“Explain a time when you experienced or learned a custom that was new to you” (Juniata Col.)

“In the space provided below or on a separate sheet if necessary, please describe which of these activities … has had the most meaning for you and why.” ( Common Application)

The “Why Us” Question

These questions focus on your choice of school or career as self-reflective. Some examples:

4. Why have you selected College X?

“What do you think you would gain from the educational experience at Bryn Mawr and what would you contribute to the community?” (Bryn Mawr Col.)

“Please compose an essay about yourself that tells us how you will help the university to carry out its mission.” (U. of San Francisco)

“What are the qualities and characteristics of Davidson that appeal to you, and what contributions do you anticipate making as a Davidson student?” (Davidson Col.)

5. Why have you chosen this program or profession?

“We would like to know, in no more than 500 words, what experiences have led you to select your professional field and objective.” (Boston U.)

“On what kind of projects do you enjoy working? What kind of problems do you enjoy solving? What area of engineering interests you most?” (Johns Hopkins U., engineering programs)

“Please submit a one-page essay that explains why you have chosen your major, department, or program. This essay should include the reasons why you’ve chosen the major, any goals or relevant work plans, and any other information you would like us to know.” (Carnegie Mellon U.)

The Creative Question

6. The issue question

“Briefly discuss a current global issue, indicating why you consider it important and what you suggest should be done to deal with it.” (Georgetown U.)

“Our world has seen some major advancements in technology over the past 10 to 15 years. Is this a good thing?” (Lehigh U.)

7. The hero or influential person question

“What character or characters from fiction, film, theater, or television intrigued you or taught you something and why?” (Barnard Col.)

“Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.” (Common Application)

8. The cultural work/fiction question

“If you could recommend one work of fiction to your UNC classmates, what would you ask them to read and contemplate?” (U. of North Carolina)

“What cultural work (a specific work of literature, art, dance, music, or science) has had a significant impact on your life?” (Spelman Col.)

9. A quotation to comment on

“In his autobiography A Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela writes, ‘There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.’ Tell us about an unchanging place to which you have returned … How does its constancy reveal changes in you?” (U. of Chicago)

“French Enlightenment philosopher Denis Diderot once wrote: ‘The aim of an encyclopedia is to collect all knowledge scattered over the face of the earth, to present its general outlines and structure to the [people] with whom we live, and to transmit this to those who will come after us, so that the work of past centuries may be useful to future centuries, that our children, be becoming more educated, ay at the same time become more virtuous and happier….’ What values and attitudes does Diderot reveal? What are his assumptions? Do you agree with his analysis of the benefits of education?” (Trinity Col. Washington, D.C.)

10. Imagining the future

“What are your personal goals and professional plans upon completion of college?” (Loyola Col.)

“You have just completed your 300-page autobiography. Please submit page 217.” (U. Penn)

11. An academic essay or school paper

“Please submit an original graded paper.” (Simmons Col.)

“Please attach a 2-5 page analytical essay written for one of your classes in the eleventh or twelfth grade. The paper must include your teacher’s comments and your grade.” (Vassar Col.)

“Please submit a copy of a research, expository, or creative paper (in the English language) with instructor comments.” (Reed Col.)

12. Others (Surprising and Hard to Categorize)

“Step out your front door and tell us what you would change about what you see.” (Lehigh U.)

“Discuss the importance of creativity as a means of expression and the influences that have been most important in your own creative endeavors. To supplement your written essay, you may also provide examples of your work.” (Earlham Col.)

“Design an experiment that attempts to determine whether toads can hear. Provide the rationale for your design—explain your reasons for setting up the experiment as you did. Strive for simplicity and clarity…. There are many imaginative ways to approach this problem; you do not need to be a scientist or to do any special research in order to respond well.” (Bennington Col.)

“Please list three subjects of interest that you have not had the chance to study. Choose one of these, and in a paragraph or two explain what piques your curiosity about this subject and how you would attempt to learn more about it.” (Bard Col.)

“If at the end of your four years at Pitzer we were to recognize you by citing your contributions to the Pitzer community, what do you think we might say about how you made a difference here?” (Pitzer Col.)

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