A Curiosity Personal Statement

[u/Dependent-String8609]

I've been thinking about my personal statement, and I've drafted quite a few to no avail. I definitely want to finish before the school year, and I have an idea that might work. I was thinking of writing about how being scared about going to a theme park and researching the science behind the rides there(like roller coasters for example) kind of assuaged me, but also made me realize how much information and concepts there are behind things I kind of see everyday but used to not think about --- examples include how things like mountains get more blue the farther away from them you go or how those doors at train stations open automatically when you scan a credit card. Im trying not to talk about these things too much, but more about how fear has shaped my curiosity to learn, and how going into high school I became more curious about everyday things for the fun of it. What do you think?

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[u/tarasshevckeno]

(Retired college counselor and admissions reader here.) I might work, but it's real-life specifics that will matter.

For what it's worth, here's my standard essays advice for students who feel stuck about essay topics. I hope at least some of it is helpful:

The tone of a college essay should largely be conversational, but not too informal. Contractions are fine. I used to say in the past "like you're writing a letter to a friend," but I'm pretty sure students today don't write letters or emails to friends much.

College essays tend to fall into two categories: helpful and not helpful. The best essays have what readers call extension. That means that they show through 2-3 explained examples how the main topic of their essay had positive effects on other parts of their lives (they shouldn't all be academic). To that end, essays that say a lot about a little tend to be strongest (by "saying a lot" I'm aware of the word limit).

One of the worst kinds of essays are ones that say (usually at the end), "I now know I can meet any challenge in the future." The problem is that the student hasn't actually written about such a challenge related to their essay topic. Readers see them many times per day.

My advice to students who are having a difficult time finding an essay topic is to consider the prompt about challenging a belief or idea. I call it the "gift" prompt, and as a reader I didn't see it used that often.

Think about yourself in sixth grade. Take your time. Now do the same for when you were in ninth grade. My guess is you probably like who you are now much more than compared to then. 

In order to get to where you are now, you needed to challenge a large number of beliefs and ideas. What's one (or the one) that has been the most meaningful/important for you? One that changed your life in 2-3 positive ways, both as a person and a learner. Can you provide and explain specific examples? How will you use the success in challenging this belief /idea moving forward?

We challenge beliefs and ideas all the time, and there are some that really matter.

[u/Dependent-String8609 → u/tarasshevckeno]

Thank you so much for replying! I like to talk about a lot of the things I learn with my friends who like hearing it - maybe I could write about that. For your second point about the gift prompt, I need to think on that - a lot of stuff feels like I changed my political views by talking with others, which might not be the best thing to talk on a personal statement.

[u/tarasshevckeno → u/Dependent-String8609]

Readers are firmly instructed not to bring their politics, beliefs, or preferences into evaluating applications. Most colleges want a lively variety of views on campus - it enhances learning. As long as someone's beliefs aren't so extreme as to make a reader fear violence or stomping on peoples's rights, I can't see it being a problem. I've admitted plenty of students whose beliefs/politics were almost 180 degrees away from mine, because they were truly really good fits for the school.

Readers are supervised and have to write up their reasoning for an admit, decline, or waitlist. Any reader letting their own beliefs get in the way would be in for a conference with their supervisor. Doing so repeatedly would likely get the reader fired (yes, it happens).

With beliefs and ideas, spend a little time reflecting. You might (or might not) find something that, looking back, really did make a difference. If not, look at the other prompts. What works for some students doesn't work for others!