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Now that you've let the ideas of what you'd like to write on sink in, you probably have a small estimation of what you'd like to write on. And if you don't even have that, at least you have some idea of the kind if aspects you'd like to include. This may include...

• Life goals
• Life Experience
• Unique aspects of your past (childhood, accomplishments)
• Volunteer accomplishments

Context of a Topic

Now that you have an idea of what you'd like to include, you need to now put this into a context of a topic that will work. Many admission essays give you a breath of topics and lots of space in order to flexibly work with. A restriction you may not have had in mind could just be the length. Some application essays can be a short at 50 words in length. Also along with the topics, you should be able to bring in the particular school's reputation and put into context why you would be a good fit for this school in particular. Most students will be writing application essays for many schools, to have some uniqueness between them, will show to the readers. Just like a job interview, you should have done your research as far as the school you're applying for goes.

Before picking out a topic you should ask yourself another list of questions just to make sure you're on the right track. This list is provided by QuintCareers.com and EssayEdge. These questions will help you connect what you have just gathered about yourself to your particular school and centralize what you're going to be saying.

Criteria for Your Topic

· Have you selected a topic that describes something of personal importance in your life, with which you can use vivid personal experiences as supporting details?

· Is your topic a gimmick? That is, do you plan to write your essay in iambic pentameter or make it funny. You should be very, very careful if you are planning to do this. We recommend strongly that you do not do this. Almost always, this is done poorly and is not appreciated by the admissions committee. Nothing is worse than not laughing or not being amused at something that was written to be funny or amusing.

· Don't repeat information. Will your topic only repeat information listed elsewhere on your application? If so, pick a new topic. Don't mention GPAs or standardized test scores in your essay.

· Can you offer vivid supporting paragraphs to your essay topic? If you cannot easily think of supporting paragraphs with concrete examples, you should probably choose a different essay topic.

· Can you fully answer the question asked of you? Can you address and elaborate on all points within the specified word limit, or will you end up writing a poor summary of something that might be interesting as a report or research paper? If you plan on writing something technical for college admissions, make sure you truly can back up your interest in a topic and are not merely throwing around big scientific words. Unless you convince the reader that you actually have the life experiences to back up your interest in neurobiology, the reader will assume you are trying to impress him/her with shallow tactics. Also, be sure you can write to admissions officers and that you are not writing over their heads.

· Can you keep the reader's interest from the first word. The entire essay must be interesting, considering admissions officers will probably only spend a few minutes reading each essay.

· Is your topic overdone? To be sure, read over those essays again to make sure your topic is not overdone. If you do go for a classic topic, make sure to make it a unique or convincing answer to a classic topic can pay off big.

· Will your topic turnoff a large number of people? If you write on how everyone should worship your God, how wrong or right abortion is, or how you think the Republican or Democratic Party is evil, you will not get into the college of your choice. The only thing worse than not writing a memorable essay is writing an essay that will be remembered negatively. Stay away from specific religions, political doctrines, or controversial opinions. You can still write an essay about Nietzsche's influence on your life, but express understanding that not all intelligent people will agree with Nietzsche's claims. Emphasize instead Nietzsche's influence on your life, and not why you think he was wrong or right in his claims.

· In this vein, if you are presenting a topic that is controversial, you must acknowledge counter arguments without sounding arrogant.

· Will an admissions officer remember your topic after a day of reading hundreds of essays? What will the officer remember about your topic? What will the officer remember about you? What will your lasting impression be?

After going through your topic with the questions asked above, you should be able to have a few in mind that meet the criteria listed.

Here are some extra things to keep in mind...

1. If you're going to write about your personal struggles, make sure that the outcome of the essay is positive. You don't want your essay to end up being a pity-case. If anything you should show your own traits of determination, strength and perseverance. If you are doing up an application essay for a Graduate program however, this needs to relate directly to what you will be pursuing. Otherwise, it doesn't make much sense to just focus on your personal strengths in general.


2. The essay is your time to explain or make-up for other parts of your admission application that may not be given or mentioned through test scores. For example if you have great scores on the SAT and other tests but don't have extra-curriculars to list, you might want to write about why that is. Tell the readers what they don't already know. Maybe you didn't do that well as far as your GPA goes, why? Don't make it the central argument in your essay, but again you can prove something, move on and show why and how you can overcome this and be a great student of theirs.

3. According to QuintCareers, diversity seems to be a bigger and bigger concern of schools. This does not simply mean your race, sexuality, gender etc. That means incorporating this into your personal qualities and traits. How will diversity contribute to your experience on campus? How will this give you a different view point or perspective at school, your social life or beyond?

4. If you do mention weaknesses, you MUST, MUST, MUST explain them to dispel them. Otherwise, you're just digging yourself into a hole. You need to make a positive first impression, even if you're showing how you were low and now you're higher than high. The point here is to show why they should want you. Why take up space with your weaknesses when you can fill it with strengths? Choose positives over negatives.

5. Don't lie! Again, it goes back to job interviews. Your school application is much in the same way about honesty. In an academic setting, your honesty, academically, socially and beyond shows your character whole-heartedly. Be passionate and stay true to who you are, not something you want to be. Show them the strengths of what you know and what you can become out of who you are presently.

With these tips in mind, you'll be able to pick a suitable topic and be able to start writing the essay!

Continue Reading

Writing your College Application Essay: Part I
The first step in preparing your application essay is to brainstorm on what matters most...

Writing your College Application Essay: Part III
Now that you've got your brainstorming, ideas and topic in check there's a few more things...