I'm a high school teacher.. and I will tell you that essays are important. There's a writing section now on the SAT, and that's because student writing has declined over the years (I've seen it happen).

What I would do if I were you is to write about something that you're truly passionate about, so long as the essay is free choice. Pick something that you did that can have a positive influence on other people. You can write about autograph collecting, how by writing to celebs in different countries you're trying to expand your horizons by getting to know people from other countries, and how it's improved your vocabulary.

Treat the essay (at first) like a personal journal entry, and modify it from there. Just freewrite and see what you come up with.

Selise

Good luck with your college Essay. The first trick to writing is to write what you know. It's always easier to sit at the computer and type off of the top of your head than having to keep stopping and research.

To be honest, to most schools the essay is pointless as sunkissed stated. Not all though.

Plenty of schools will now take a written essay or as said a short, 250 essay. But if you don't have outstanding grades or SATS, then your essay is obviously important. It's usually just a reflection of you and how well you can actually write (but so many of these essays are edited by one, two, even three teachers that it may not be YOU writing it at the end...well depending on what your current school environment is like!).

Don't fret too much about it, but don't totally disregard it either.

Good luck again!

Honestly, colleges don't even read essays. I have a friend who said as a joke the reason he should be accepted is because he's good looking. Did he get in? Yes. But it's really good to see you preparing at such a young age - that was my biggest mistake! If you have good grades, and do good on the SAT you should be fine . If you get the option to choose between a topic or writing a personal statement, do the personal statement. It's much easier to write good things about yourself and why you should attend the university. Good luck!!!

Thank you so much, guys!

In the US, we usually have an option: Personal statement, or personal essay...the essay is supposed to reflect YOU, but doesn't neccessarily have to be all about you.

It's actually a pretty loose system,...some schools will now accept a graded high school paper!

blimey, so is writing an essay the standard thing for applying in the us? i thoiught writing my personal statement was bad enough dont think i'd have enjoyed that, especially if its so open ended. good luck with it all anyway {thumb2} my ucas days are behind me now...it was all worth it in the end

I've just recently completed the whole application process & everything turned in (I'm applying to a school in NYC too! But not NYU..haha I don't think I could get in there !) and I chose my essay on "A Fictional or Historic Character that has somehow affected you." I wrote about how Jean Valjean (from Les Miserables) and also Sydney Carton (from A Tale of Two Cities!) affected me in positive ways.

If you haven't done so yet, sign up for the Common App, and just add a random school (NYU might actually be on there) and when you get to the end of the Application process (which you can just click on the side), theres about 7 topics that they suggest, or your own! Hopefully this helps!

My college counselor told me not to write about how great the college is (they already know that). Try writing about something that drastically changed your life. It is their time to read about you and who you are. Try writing about your hobbies (autograph collection). or about a special Community Service project you did. Try that, if not let me know and I can help you think of more ideas. I'm at the same point your are, but my school makes you write them your sophomore year. But it is a great idea to get a jump start on an essay. Also have one of your English Teacher check it for grammatical errors.

Hope that Helps,

Peanut1234

lol not really. i don't like my school much.