College Admission Essays: Ten Myths about the College Essay

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With the same fervor that people exhibit while explaining their most recent Elvis sighting, college applicants tend to tell each other the truth (the whole truth and nothing but the truth) about the admission essay. The only problem is that lots of what “everyone knows” to be true about the essay is pure myth.

Writing Style Doesn't Matter

“It’s what you say, not how you say it.” Heard that one before? This concept is a close relative of the also untrue “It’s the thought that counts.” (Right, like I don’t care that you gave me an almost dead bouquet of flowers for my birthday instead of the CD player you purchased for your other best friend.) Of course the admissions committee is interested in what you have to say, and you should expend plenty of time and care choosing a topic for your essay.  But how you express yourself is also important. You’ll have to write tons of papers in college and graduate school, and the institution wants to know that your skill level is up to par. So don’t skimp on the writing effort. Draft and redraft until you’ve got a logical, focused, creative piece. And (she said in her sternest English-teacher tone) check your grammar and spelling. They do matter.

Finding the Right Topic Is No Big Deal

The flip side of the preceding myth is that the topic of your essay is not important. “You can write about anything as long as you write well.” Not exactly. True, zillions of topics are possible winners, depending upon how you handle them. But the admissions committee wants to see something of significance to you. If your essay leaves them scratching their heads, asking, “Why did this applicant tell me all this stuff?” you’re in trouble. And if you can’t figure out why you told them all that stuff, you’re in bigger trouble. Bottom line: Spend more than a couple of nano-seconds selecting a topic that reveals an important aspect of your experience or personality.

Focusing on a Certain Topic Guarantees Admission

This myth is more persistent than the aforementioned “Elvis is still alive” theory and just as silly: Write about your mother and they’ll definitely take you. Hahvah wants something with a lot of book titles in it. Agonia accepts only people who mention current events . . . especially wars . . . they love wars. Nope! No shortcuts here! You have to discover and develop your own topic and write it well. Accomplish that task, and you’ve taken your best shot. Then you’ll either get in or you won’t. The application process has no guarantees at all, ever, for anyone, and people who tell you something different are indulging in wishful thinking.

Discussing Any Topic Is Okay

Okay, this is a myth that comes close to the truth. But only close. If you handle a topic properly, nothing is an automatic rejection. However, warning flags may go up if the admissions committee reads about unresolved problems that are likely to cause trouble for you — and for the college — as you move on to the next level of study. So if you haven’t managed to finish even one homework assignment all year, if you have a persistent desire to cut class, or if something even more serious impedes your academic or personal life, seek help from a guidance counselor or trusted adult. And until you’ve got the situation under control, write about something else.