Hey, I've heard there's this super legendary college application essay floating around out there that's famous for how well written and effective it was. If anyone could provide some info on this, maybe some tips I can glean from it or even links to check it out, I'd appreciate it so much!
The essay you've likely heard about is famously referred to as the "Costco essay." It was written by a high school student named Brittany Stinson, who was subsequently accepted into five Ivy League schools (Yale, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, and Cornell) and Stanford in 2016.
The Costco essay is unique and stands out because of its creative concept. Brittany used her experience exploring a Costco wholesale store as a metaphor for her intellectual curiosity. The beauty of the essay lies in its ability to turn a seemingly mundane experience into a fascinating journey. And this could be one way to approach your own college essay: by finding the extraordinary in your everyday life experiences.
Here's how the beginning of the essay reads: “My Costco story begins in Paris. At a hotel conference room, I saw a nuclear fusion of ideas that challenged my preconceived perceptions of physics and enlightenment. Surrounded by thousands of stars, the visions of cosmogony in my mind transitioned into the intergalactic battlefield of Costco.”
Moving forward, however, be cautious about trying to imitate this or any other successful essay too closely. Each student’s experience and writing style is unique. It's wise to learn from examples like the Costco essay, but it's crucial to develop your own voice. Additionally, you should center your essay around your own experiences, thoughts, and passions. Remember, colleges are not just interested in your writing skills, but also how well you can reflect on your experiences, your ability to self-analyze, and your unique perspective.
Try to avoid cliche essay topics, like moving to a new school or suffering from sports injuries. Instead, focus on an experience or a moment that shaped who you are today, or that captures one of your fundamental characteristics or beliefs. For instance, instead of writing about how your soccer team finally won the championship, write about how the dedication and rigor demanded by your team helped foster your determination and resilience. The key is to capture yourself in your narrative subtly, and to tell a story only you can tell.
To wrap it up, while examples such as the Costco essay are inspiring, your best bet is to stay true to yourself and your experiences when crafting your own college application essay. Start by brainstorming a diverse list of life experiences, values, and interests that define you as an individual and then explore which of these can form an engaging and personal narrative.
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