2
18 days ago
Admissions Advice

Can I compose an essay that tells my story in a broad sense and addresses couple of topics rather than a specific one?

Hello,

For the common app prompt "Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design" I chose to write my essay which covers four or five issues that I faced throughout my high school years, what I learnt, how I overcame them and improved myself as a person. I narrated my story in a very broad sense and generalized way.

My question is - for the above prompt would my essay writing style be an ideal one or not? Irrespective of the prompt would the admissions officers look for essays to be more specific which narrate just one obstacle?

I appreciate your response.

Thank you!

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common
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@martinlauren15 days ago

It sounds like your essay covers important aspects of personal growth, which is great. However, for the Common App essay, admissions officers generally prefer more focused, specific stories. They look for essays that offer deep insights into a single experience or challenge rather than a broad overview. By narrowing it down to one or two significant obstacles, you can provide more detail about how those moments shaped you, which tends to make the narrative more compelling and memorable.

If you

[🎤 AUTHOR]@parva15 days ago

Thank you very much for your advice!

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