this essay type is a combination of all the others. you need to express yourself creatively, voice your thoughts strongly, be concise yet comprehensive, and most of all, you must write in a way that tells the examiner that you are ready for the challenges that await you in any university.
essay five: attach a picture of something that’s important or meaningful to you and explain it’s significance (main essay)
I have only ever owned two softball gloves. The first one was a cheap model that I bought during my first year as a softballer. I used it more for training than matches as I was not yet in the team. My second glove is the one you see in the picture. My teammates still remember what it looks like. They remember that I used to write things in my glove using a felt-tip pen or white-out. I just started doing it one day, and I never stopped. I'd write down important things on the back of it that I'd want to remember. It was a bit like stuffing an instruction manual into my glove so that I could refer to it during games. It was a very useful thing back then, when I still played softball. However, recently thinking about the things I had written in my glove, I realised that much of it can be applied to the way I live my life now. It was a solid work ethic in disguise. And it must have rubbed off on me. "Don't shut up." Being a first-base man, and one of the closest players to the batter, I had to constantly talk to him to put him off. Whether it was a sarcastic remark or a just a holler, I had to show the batter who I was and tell him that if he hit the ball anywhere near me, he'd definitely get himself out. Many people like to judge others by what they see on the outside. I learnt that if I show people that I am as sharp as they are, or sharper even, I can earn their respect. I enjoy speaking so much that I decided to join a public-speaking class when I was in secondary two. I have completed grade eight with honours and am now trying for my Associate of the London College of Music and Media degree in Oral Communication. I will be taking my written and oral exams at the end of this year. I find other ways to communicate to an audience as well. In my secondary school days, I used to print out a weekly sports newsletter of my own design, which I'd put up on my class notice board. Soon I had peers from several other classes who wanted copies for their boards. If I have something good to say, I always make sure people get to hear it. "Listen." In a softball match, knowing what's going on around is very important. Sadly, I lack an extra set of eyes. Thus, I learnt to use my hearing to tell me what I needed to know when my eyes were on something else. I fondly remember a time when I was in outfield and the ball went over my head. The batter was fast and was rounding second base by the time I got to the ball. Even though I had my back to the bases, I heard someone shout, "Three!" and that's where I turned and fired the ball without hesitating - to third base. My throw was spot-on and we got that out. If I didn't listen, I would have had to spin around and look. I would not have made the play in time. Listening is a great skill, though many people think very little of it. Seeing the deeper meaning in what people say is something I've learnt to do. (Yes, it takes practice.) It tells me what the person wishes they could say and I often know what they need even if they don't ask for it. Listening will get me far in life. It's the most under-rated ability that one can have. "Look around you." I played softball for the team. Our team didn't have star players. By looking around during a game, I'd remind myself that these are the people I'm playing for, and this renewed my desire to help the team come out on top. I still look around, but not at a team of softball players anymore. I see people who walk the streets, and among them, I see the less fortunate. People who can still make a difference, if only society gave them a chance. I'm a compassionate person and I believe in helping these people in whatever way I can. I tuition students at a school for disadvantaged children near my school on Tuesdays. I help the National Kidney Foundation here collect funds every year for patients who require dialysis. I do not expect to get paid for this someday. I already have been, and I'm just returning to society. "Aim further, Run faster, Jump higher, Be better." I wrote this as a challenge to myself. It's a target that can never be achieved, but in trying to achieve it is where it's magic lies. It's what drives me to turn the next corner, come face-to-face with an obstacle in life and to get through it with a smile. This glove has done more than just caught softballs for me. It has caught my dreams and aspirations and is slowly, but surely, turning them into reality. posted by i.d. at 9:21 AM
okay, this essay can be very painful to answer because most of us don’t indulge ourselves in “university-grade” intellectual pursuit like wondering when time began or how this universe came about or even why some people are obsessed with smelly or ugly people. (big up to my friend, pet.) thankfully, i do write poetry as a past-time and it has saved my arse once in this lifetime. if you are unable to come up with anything at all after a thinking for an extended period of time (2 minutes and 13 seconds approximately), then i suggest you run out right now to your nearest bookshop, grab about ten books on philosophy, bring them home, set up a nice warm fire by your couch, grab a hot cuppa chocolate, nestle in and then use them to start a bonfire so that you can write an essay on how much you find the nazi book-burnings intellectually stimulating.
honestly? write about something different, for starters. don’t use philosophy unless your teachers call you ‘sigmund jr.’ and you’re pretty sure you can explain complex things really simply. don’t use something too fantastic or extraordinary, because admissions officers can smell bullshit even when it’s still at the post office. ultimately this essay has to reflect the way you think. don’t try too hard to surprise them. just remember to write naturally. the words should flow like water in a river. (speaking of which, here’s a little something to think about for all those budding philosophers out there. can you jump into the same river twice? note the word ‘same.’)
essay four: elaborate on an idea that you find intellectually exciting
I've often dreamt of being a modern-day 'renaissance man'; a linguist, an artist, even a one-man-band. But most of all, a poet; a master of prose, who wields words so well, that no man can come close. Though not a school subject, my passion is immense. As i grow, it grows on me; the cycle never ends. It stirs me and excites me; it's my trusty companion. Through much of life's adversity, it has remained my stanchion. Eight years since I started; my skill and collection have since grown. I've won an award and thus, am reaping the seed I've sown. Great lessons abound in poetry, but those are for a literature test. I prefer the simple ones which (coincidentally) are the best. I used to write prolificly, churning out one a night. Hoping to see diamonds, all I ever saw was graphite. When inspiration dried up and I was left in the dark, I stopped pretending there was light, and started to look for a spark. My craving to write thus gave me an insatiable desire to read. Anything from anywhere; everything was material to me. Next I realised that to be the best that i can be, there is only one person I must challenge, and that person is me. I never compare my work to that of Plath or Shelley. I believe my word's worth more than Wordsworth's does to me! My friends enjoy my poems; they can see the life to it I have given. I shall soon publish my first collection; I have titled it 'Unriven.' To me, an author at this young age, the experience (more than money) matters most of all. I enjoy editing, designing and printing immen- (BUY IT! MY BOOK COMES OUT THIS FALL!). Jokes aside, my poems touch on love, life, friendship and faith. I don't, of course, expect my readers to agree with all that I say. My aim is to give them a new perspective; a chance to see the world through my eyes. After all, the true magic of poetry lies in reading between the lines. I am that sort of person; I love to help people and to help people love. That's why writing poetry, to me, is truly the stuff dreams are made of. posted by i.d. at 9:14 AM
the following is an example of an ‘activities essay.’ one of those essays that (rather obviously) requires you to elaborate on (and often, exaggerate) what you did other than study in school. don’t go on talking about how shiny those medals are because that’s not important, unless of course you’re talking about lots of gold medals and world records. the experience is important too if you’re a mediocre sportsperson like i was. if sports is not your cup of tea, then you’ll have to impress them with how brilliant you are at painting or dancing or stopping to smell the roses. god forbid that your college days were less ‘playing hard’ than ‘hardly playing.’
essay three: comment on an activity that you have listed that is especially meaningful to you and explain why.
When I transferred into Raffles Institution halfway through secondary school, I was not too worried about fitting in. I had adapted successfully to changes far greater in scope (different countries and languages) many times before. However, I was surprised to discover that the school no longer had a soccer (a passion of mine at the time) team. It had been disbanded after several fruitless years. That left me thinking hard about alternatives. I weighed my options and came up with softball. (Baseball, sadly, is still in its infancy here.) However, I soon realised that I faced three major set-backs. I was the only non-Chinese player on the team. Strike one. This same team had already been playing together, with much success, for two years. Strike two. I knew nothing about how the game worked. Strike three. But was I out? I persevered, training longer hours than the others. I worked on my technique constantly, even getting my father to bring home a wooden practice bat from his trip to America so that I could master the basics of batting. I studied the game in my spare time during weekends, learning all the rules (even some my coach wasn't too sure about!). Soon I had earned the respect of my teammates and coach, and I was rewarded with a place on the team: I played first base, outfield or designated hitter, putting my long reach to good use. We won the South Zone Championship and ended our season as 3rd-runners-up in the National Championships. As the tournaments came and went, I learnt that the team is above one's self. A winning attitude can win games. That's why I relentlessly cheered my teammates on, regardless of the score. Interacting with players (be they teammates or opponents), keeping morale high, organising people and sacrificing personal glory for the team became part of my work ethic. I was rewarded for maintaining this ethic in my other fields of interest. I was elected quartermaster for the soccer team in Raffles Junior College. My duties extended beyond the handling of equipment: I acted as the 2nd Vice-Captain for the team. I chose soccer over softball when I got to junior college because I felt I was ready for a new challenge. My passion for sports extended beyond the confines of school: I received my black belt in Taekwondo at age 14, and was selected for the National Sports Excellence team two years later, all the while training at a private institution. With my voracious appetite for improvement and my enthusiastic team, I managed to bag two bronze medals in separate national open competitions. My continued success in my endeavours stem from the renewed self-confidence that softball gave me. It taught me simple lessons, and more importantly, gave me the desire to learn, explore and persevere. I may one day forget all the techniques of batting, fielding and throwing I have learnt through softball. However, the one thing that will remain indelibly etched in my mind is that I refused to get struck out even before I had stepped on the turf. posted by i.d. at 8:54 AM
this essay incorporates most of my lessons into something that is short and easy-to-read-and-digest:
essay two: most writers seek help in their work? who did you ask for help and what help did they provide?
Like Yoda to the young Luke Skywalker, my wise elder brother descended upon me from the mist in my time of need. (Of course, my brother didn’t speak funny, which made things easier for both of us.) I was lost and confused; writing draft after draft, and being unsatisfied with all of them. His arrival was timely. He sat down with me and gave me simple advice, drawing from his days of college applications and essay-writing. “The essays you write must reflect who you really are,” he said. “Remember that there are no right or wrong answers.” I nodded in both awe and appreciation. I scribbled these wise words down on a piece of paper. There was more. “Use concrete evidence to support your claims.” Yoda peered over my shoulder as I wrote my essay. He pointed out things I shouldn’t put in and explained to me why. He stopped me when I was about to digress. He made sure that my essay was concise, coherent and complete. He stopped short of rolling The Force up into a ball and stuffing it down my throat. He vanished soon after, leaving me to digest these words of wisdom and to rewrite what would become my final draft. Finally I saw something that I could put my name onto and be proud of. He helped me put the personal in ‘personal statemnt’ and later, to point out that the word after the second ‘personal’ in the sentence above is missing an ‘e.’ I bet Yoda can’t proofread. posted by i.d. at 8:27 AM
Chapter 1: Writing Essays
Essay-writing is a very difficult part of applications for some. It can be confusing, and sometimes, much thought is required before you can decide on what you want to write and especially, how you want to write.
Universities use essays not only to understand your achievements or goals, but also to see how you think and express yourself. The latter two are very important to your application and it is vital that you let them know that you're capable of thinking out-of-the-box. and most importantly, not afraid to show that you can.
I can't teach you how to write these essays because they're essentially an extension of your own personality. You must write what you wish to and in a way you see fit. But I must stress these few points:
1) The essays you write must reflect who you really are. Not who you'd like to be. Or who you wish you were.
2) There are no right or wrong answers.
3) Use concrete evidence to support your claims.
4) Always, always, ALWAYS check for typos, spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. These can take a lot away from the strength of your essay. You wouldn't want to hire a lawyer whose business card has a mistake that reads 'professional lyer.'
5) Make every point coherent, concise and complete. There must be a flow to your essay and you must sum up your point in a few sentences.
6) Do not hesitate to cut out stuff that looks unnecessary. There is no place for sentimentality in essay-writing. It is as cold and uncaring as the world we live in.
To illustrate my points, I've included some essays of mine for your perusal. Of course, I probably HAVE made typos, spelling mistakes, and grammatical errors as well as to flout just about every rule I've mentioned above in one way or another, but I don't really care. So there.
Essay 1: Essay for applying to Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
I met D*ke at the bus stop. It was raining and the bus was late, so we started up a conversation. We talked about our lifestyles and our ways of thinking. D*ke seemed very laid-back and calm. He knew his stuff but didn't settle for just that. He seemed to constantly come up with new and unique ways to express himself. I liked his creativity. We talked about poetry-writing, one of my favourite hobbies. I told him I was in the process of publishing a collection of my poems, entitled 'Unriven.' He smiled. He told me I could do much more than that if I really wanted to.
I asked him what he meant by that. "You need the right resources. You need the right minds working for you. You need someone who can encourage you to take risks and responsibility and I can do that for you," he said. "Where are you going?" I asked. "Around," he replied, not missing a beat. I pressed on. "Around where?"
"Looking for people like you."
He had a very flexible way of thinking. He believed a little bit of this and a little bit of that was good for people, if they had the right guidance and the right infrastructure around which to build their dreams and aspirations. He said he could teach me; not what other people wanted me to learn in their own rigidly constructed courses, but rather, what I wanted to learn based on my talents and my interests. The bus pulled up alongside us and the doors swung open. Without a thought, I followed D*ke and boarded. We sat down together and resumed our conversation.
He raised an eyebrow and eyed me suspiciously. "Are you afraid of taking risks?"
"No," came the reply, "I'm not. I've taken all sorts of risks, from changing schools halfway through my education, between secondary two and secondary three to bungee jumping in Australia. I always try to conquer my fears because, in the end, who dares, wins. Trying new sports or diving headfirst into a new subject like philosophy, are risks I am always willing to take. You know, we've got a lot in common. Teach me. Something tells me there's much I can learn from you, D*ke."
"You think so?" He asked. I put my arm around his shoulder and smiled. "I expect you to surprise me, D*ke. And I know that if I follow you, sooner or later, I will surprise myself."
