The essay acts as your unspoken and informal interview. It is an integral part of your application and should be treated as so. It should start and end with a compelling and thought-provoking phrase of meaningful words. So, how could you start?
In a book I recently read, Firmin by Sam Savage, there was a poignant sentence which, for me, describes the beginning of a captivating college essay:
"I thought of that first sentence as a kind of semantic womb stuffed with the busy embryos of unwritten pages, brilliant little nuggets of genius practically panting to be born". As Mr. Savage states, "looking for the beginning is like trying to discover the source of a river", so do not start with the first line, this will come at a later time.
Start here, make notes for yourself. Think of who you are and how you want to portray yourself BETWEEN THE LINES to your admission's adviser. Jot down your paramount qualities including the ones you think are best about yourself and the ones your family and friends admire, as well. Now, write down some of your inner- most thoughts including your most memorable and formative experiences. Now, remember who you are as a student and a person. Write down what you want to accomplish in life and/or who you are as a student. Do you have a favorite book or learning experience? Do you have a talent or an admirable goal as a result of your academic/ social / medical experiences? Remember your process of life and write these references down. Sometimes it helps to talk these things out with a good friend, a family member, even an acquaintance or a teacher. (Some nice philosophical conversation with a stranger wouldn't hurt either.) Don't forget to write down these thoughts. You have officially started your essay!
An Essay is the combination of several personal narratives woven together. Don't worry about the beginning and the end. Just follow the process and write on. Once you have several drafts, you can start to weave the stories together with a common theme. This common theme will give you your innovative and compelling starting point, a poignant point which gives the reader chills, and the everlasting ending point which leaves the reader as your advocate!
Don't let the process overwhelm you, just go with it. It takes time and persistence. Start now before the pressures of senior year inundate you.
