college essays about eczema

Help with common app essay introduction?

I want to write my college about how i’ve been struggling with eczema for my whole life, and how it’s helped me grow stronger and shaped who I am as a person. For those of you who don’t know, eczema is a skin condition that causes inflammation, rashes, and severe dry skin. I’m having trouble coming up with a good hook/introduction. Does anyone have any ideas and are willing to share with me?

Do you have to write about eczema? Why not something that you do in your free time? Do you really have to give a sob story about having a skin condition that 35 million Americans have? Sorry if I seem rash, but it also doesn’t seem realistic… I can succeed academically because my eczema pushes me to do so?

@hhjjlala I understand where you’re coming from, and I completely agree with your points. I guess I should have made it a little more clear how I was gonna approach the topic in my essay. I wasn’t really going for the “sob story” at all and I’m definitely not going to imply in any way that eczema has pushed me to succeed academically, because I agree with you- that sounds (and is) unrealistic. From what I’ve learned from my college counselor, books etc, a successful college essay talks about something inherently important to a students life, whether it be mundane or unique, and how it has affected, shaped, or changed a student’s character or view of life. To many people, eczema might only be worth talking about in a “sob story”, but for me, I’ve really learned a lot from dealing with eczema. I’m not going to go in detail about everything here, but basically, my years struggling with eczema has changed my views on myself, and also science. I know it’s not the most unique/interesting topic, but it’s the best that I can come up with so far.

Think about the admissions committee meeting. Your app comes up for discussion, and the person speaking for it says, “yes… this is the kid who overcome eczema”. I think your struggles have been real, and this topic is important to you. However, the goal of the essay is to both reveal something more personal about yourself, and also to make them want you on campus. You don’t have to take the topics literally, and most applicants have several aspects of themselves they can choose to present. I’d suggest you figure out something else interesting about yourself to write about, then figure out how to fit it into one of the prompts.

@intparent I have already written the essay, but have also written a few others I agreed with you that a college essay about eczema does sound quite pathetic. However, my college counselor encouraged me to write out a draft anyways, just to see how far I can go with it… After reading so many negative comments about this topic, I am feeling a bit insecure about this essay. I was wondering if its possible that I PM you my draft to read, and you give me your really brief/general opinion regarding the essay as a whole, and not just the idea of the topic? That way I can decide whether I really should trash this idea or not I’m so sorry for bothering you

If I were you, I would probably try to approach it into a fun way, so it doesn’t turn into a sob story. Maybe something like… I have an itch for science. It is a little hard to come up with something without really knowing we’re you are going with the story.

You are on the right point buddy. Everyone has their own style of writing. But the link you attached here is helpful. Thank you!

First of all please ignore these people or at least take their opinions with a grain of salt. These are the kinds of people that suggest writing about an after school activity or winning an international competition yet don’t realize that 1000s of people are going to be writing about the same activity. Its almost impossible for everyone to write an essay that has a completely unique topic. It’s not possible. What colleges want to see is how your topic made you who you are today and how it will inspire who you are tomorrow. Don’t feel compelled to talk about something that you are not passionate about because THAT is what will be a true turn off to colleges.

OMGGG I have eczema too! I have actually thought about going into dermatology becuase of it. #dailyeczemastruggles .

Lol ok now to get realistic. So these people on the threads are kinda of rash, but have it in perspective. An essay topic can be about anything. I’ve talked to an ivy league admissions counselor who told me his favorite essay was by this girl who wrote about going out to eat with her friends after a game. I’ve also read an essay by this kid who got into Yale about how he used to wash his car…I’m not kidding.

The point is that the real issue is HOW you write about it. If you use amazing symbolism, surprising and new metaphors, and somehow show profound ideas/thoughts on your topic then it’ll work. But generic essays most certainly do not. It depends if your writing skills are sufficient enough to turn a semi-common topic such as eczema and turn it into something no one would’ve thought of. Bring in new perspectives and ideas people would’ve normally never encountered just looking at it form the outside.

If you don’t think you can do that effectively, then it might be a good idea to choose another topic.

^ Nope. What colleges want is to learn something about you that makes them want you in their community. That’s according to what that school values and wants.

If the real “you” likes to stare at the ceiling and your essay claims it makes you a better person, that’s not a topic for college admissions. If you collect old bits of pencil lead and think that’s “you,” you may have quite a time convincing adcoms you understand what they look for. The fact that it might be unusual/unique is no help, if it’s not relevant. Pick a topic that shows the attributes those targets want to see. Attributes.

No, it’s not meant to be like a hs essay, nor full of symbolism and metaphors. No one grades them or doles out a little award. Think.

@lookingforward ^Nope right back at yah. I love how you completely and outright rejected everything I said. Unless you are a college admissions counselor, you hold as much credibility as anybody else and can’t say for sure what exactly a college does and doesn’t want in terms of topics.

First, this argument is based on the fact that an individual wants to write about a topic such as eczema, which is arguably common among the population. And in writing such topic, symbolism and showing how physical experiences led a progression into shaping one’s psyche is absolutely crucial. Honestly, I would be astonished if you found a college essay out there that didn’t have symbolism and metaphors to show the interconnection of ideas.

The fact that a topic is unique and unusual is EXACTLY what makes it relevant. An essay should be written to portray one’s own individual character. And in doing so, it should produce an essay that only this specific individual would be able to write.

So yes, actually, an essay about staring at the ceiling would be suitable if it was written with profound meaning. Just like this girl who wrote about going to Costco. COSTCO. Notice her heavy reliance on symbolism and metaphors…becuase her topic is evidently unusual/unique.

http://www.businessinsider.com/high-school-senior-who-got-into-5-ivy-league-schools-shares-her-admissions-essay-2016-4

Help with common app essay introduction?

Related Topics

CONNECT WITH US