Serious Thread actually

[CezeN]

For a scholarship.
I have no clue what I want to write about.
But, it has to be 250 words or less.
Anytopic of choice.

Any good suggestions?

[Rei]

Are there any parameters or preferences with respect to topic at all?

[CezeN]

Are there any parameters or preferences with respect to topic at all?

Nope, and there lies my problem.

It just says to write about a topic of your choice.
So, I have no direction. Too many different possibilites for me to decide, but it has to be a topic I can sufficiently exhaust in 250 words or less.

[BonitoDeMadrid]

Write about an exciting experience you had, something you love and why you love it, etc. Anything that you can write 250 words about with ease.

[CezeN]

Write about an exciting experience you had, something you love and why you love it, etc. Anything that you can write 250 words about with ease.

Except, that's not a good topic. That's like the type of topic they would ask you to write about on the State Mandatory English Test, which are super easy. That's like a lower level writing topic.

I need to write about something different, than what just any other kid would write about, if I want to stand out.

And that's why I'm coming to you older members, and smarter members.

[Oliver Dale]

I would write a piece of creative non-fiction. 250 words is not a lot to work with, so you need to make it stand out. I WOULD pick an exciting experience that you (and only you) have had, though, and reflect a little on what that means.

[powerfulcheese04]

What organization is giving the scholarship? Write about something that interests them, as an organization, and is meaningful to you.

[Yebra]

Write it on me. Naturally I'm far too interesting and important and clever to be summed up in 250 words, but given you don't know me that well you might be able to get the gist of it across.

[Jeesh_girl15]

This is a serious thread, Yebra.

[human.]

I know a kid who wrote one of his college essays on his beard. He's going to Stanford. =]

[ender1]

This is a serious thread, Yebra.

Lighten up.

[starlooker]

*pokes serious thread in the belly to make it giggle a little*

Seriously, pick something you can write well about. The topic itself isn't "lower level" or "higher level" -- your take on it is. A brilliant 250 word essay on the perfect peanut butter and jelly sandwich will probably be better received than a poor, rushed essay on the nuances of affirmative action.

Also, if you have too many ideas, stop, pick out 2 or 3 and just outline them, scatter write about them, play around with them. Try them on. Don't just sit there and reject idea after idea after idea for being too something, not enough something, too something else, not enough something else. You'll drive yourself crazy trying to come up with the perfect topic without actually getting anything done. (I've been there, believe me.) Even if you don't actually use the topic, the process of starting to write will set your brain on a more productive path.

[Petra456]

This is a serious thread, Yebra.

Yea Yebra, how dare you bring anything but seriousness into this thread!

[CezeN]

-_- writing about something I know alot about isn't the issue.

I just need something unique. And then, I can take it from there. Espeicaly if I'm not rushed into writing it.

Right now I'm considering writing about the topic picking process and my mindset when picking my topic.

[powerfulcheese04]

The thing is, Cezen, we can't tell you what to write about. The best way to write scholarship/personal essays is to write about something you're passionate about.

Otherwise, they tend to sound hollow. We can't tell you what you're passionate about.

Additionally, it's good to write about something the giving organization cares about.

(For example, I recently wrote an essay for a scholarship from the American Kennel Club, and while I am actually not into purebred dogs, I wrote about wanting to eliminate bad breeding practices, which is in line with their objective of promoting the welfare of all dogs.)

[starlooker]

I just need something unique. And then, I can take it from there. Espeicaly if I'm not rushed into writing it.

Uniqueness is not inherent to a topic -- unless you do write about an experience unique to you. And, actually, those are pretty hard to come by. Generally, though, the uniqueness comes from your personal take on the topic and the way your writing makes it memorable.

Right now I'm considering writing about the topic picking process and my mindset when picking my topic.

Yes. Do this. NOT to submit, but just to get you past the stage of, "ARGH! There are no topics in the world no one has thought of before!"

[Young Val]

Please skip the whole meta thing.

[CezeN]

Thanks for the advice.
Here is the link and scholarship:
http://www.zinch.com/Scholarships/Schol ... %2f&s=4367

Not for that big a scholarship, but I'm going for anything.

The organization doesn't really have anything about them, that I can write about. Right?

Meta thing?

[powerfulcheese04]

Well, clearly they care about higher education and the joint responsibility for paying for college. However, it is very open ended.

I would probably write something about how I've always dreamed about being a veterinarian and how financing this dream can be a big struggle.

[CezeN]

Well, clearly they care about higher education and the joint responsibility for paying for college. However, it is very open ended.

I would probably write something about how I've always dreamed about being a veterinarian and how financing this dream can be a big struggle.

Sounds good.
I might do that(though no about veterinarian)
How many scholarships have you won and essays have you wrote?

[Mich]

Meta thing?

Define: Self-referential; at a higher level.

A "meta thing" would be writing your essay about writing your essay. It can come across as something very self-important and arrogant, or, failing that, lazy. Oftentimes, in TV series or cartoons, this is how the main character gets an A or a scholarship. The opposite happens in real life.

Personally, I liked starlooker's take on the meta thing.

[CezeN]

It's a good thing I came to you guys for advice then.
Scholarship Essay Writing:
Lesson 1. Never do a meta thing.

[CezeN]

Okay. I've officially started writing my essay.

[Jeesh_girl15]

If you don't mind my asking, What's it about?

[CezeN]

What PowerfulCheese04 said, except about becoming a lawyer.

184 words so far. First college essay ever. -_-

[CezeN]

Okay I don't know if this would be considered like cheating...

But, is there anyone who would be willing to revise/proofread my essay, before I turn it in?(someone older and more experienced )

[Syphon the Sun]

Send it via PM when you're done and let me know when it's due.

[Gravity Defier]

Every time I see this thread, I want to start a new one that says "Joke Thread actually," which reminds me a little of Joker, which makes me laugh at the "Serious" in the title of this one because I can hear Joker saying "Why so serious, son? WHY SO SERIOUS?!"

[CezeN]

Every time I see this thread, I want to start a new one that says "Joke Thread actually," which reminds me a little of Joker, which makes me laugh at the "Serious" in the title of this one because I can hear Joker saying "Why so serious, son? WHY SO SERIOUS?!"

[CezeN]

Okay. I'm writing a reflective essay on this quote

Isn't it true that the smallest package in this world is a man wrapped up in himself?

I interpreted it as meaning that people who aren't always selfishly thinking about themselves, but about affecting others, are a gift to the world.

However, I would like to know how others interpret it. The scholarship is about picking a quote from a list, and writing an essay about it.

[Wind Swept]

As I started my way down the page, I was going to suggest you write 250 words about me and my greatness, but it would seem that you've decided to do so without my intervention.

[P3+J3^u!]

Okay. I'm writing a reflective essay on this quote

Isn't it true that the smallest package in this world is a man wrapped up in himself?

I interpreted it as meaning that people who aren't always selfishly thinking about themselves, but about affecting others, are a gift to the world.

However, I would like to know how others interpret it. The scholarship is about picking a quote from a list, and writing an essay about it.

I don't think what you interpret it as is particularly critical. I've always been taught that what they're looking for is really where you go from that explanation; whether you build a good, clear, logical defense for why this is a good interpretation of the quote, or simply assume that interpretation as an accurate base and write a short exposition about how it is relevant, what it implies, how people do/should react to it, stuff like that.

The purpose of these essays is (usually) to demonstrate your thought process, and oftentimes eloquence and writing ability (even if the judges are supposed to be impartial about the latter, and usually do a good job, subconsciously you favor someone who demonstrates perfect competence).


Disclaimer:
That said, I don't really know anything about writing these. I wrote a few, but mine were horribly corny, used carefully edited American English grammar, and mostly were just icing on top of my test scores and the other information my college's very small engineering department used to decide which aspiring engineers got scholarships (and they bestowed them quite liberally, so I have no idea whether my essays were ever even read).

[CezeN]

Okay thanks.
Though, I was just trying to see if I could work in other interpretations, with my own. If I felt I could pull it off.