Here’s a list of what to include in your college essay introduction:
This may seem obvious, but your child shouldn’t replicate the Costco essay by, say, writing about Costco, or Kroger, or Stop and Shop, or Safeway. (This goes for ordering from Papa Johns or another pizza place, too.) Stinson’s choice in topic worked because it was something truly specific and meaningful to her.
I wouldn’t have kept the “apex of consumerism” line. Like, it is. But that’s not what this Costco essay is about. That implies her favorite thing about Costco is supporting free-market capitalism.
"The Norwalk High School senior said the experience of being raised by two moms has helped him grow into his own version of manhood instead of letting his peers or society define it for him. He wrote about this experience in his college admissions essay, challenging social expectations that seem to equate manhood with demonstrating authority or not showing emotion. This did not reflect his experience growing up as the only male in the household, with two moms and a younger sister." Like he said: “Perhaps the expectations of males in society should be redefined: Acquiring authority through pursuing passion. Manifesting manhood through sophistication. Earning reputation by showing respect. Demonstrating strength through vulnerability.” []
The Costco Essay Deconstructed - Princeton College Consulting
Much dreaded and oft misunderstood, the college essay is an essential component of your admissions package – and for good reason. The college essay (or personal statement) is your opportunity to speak directly to the admissions committee in your own voice. It allows you to communicate what is most important and integral to YOU, and in doing so, what makes you different from the other applicants.
WHY IT WORKED: She took what could be a cliched Lifetime movie topic and turned it into a fire that fueled her premed passion and showcased her maturity. After her father died of pancreatic cancer, she not only helped raise her two younger brothers but also wanted to join the fight against the disease – and so it became the subject of her college admissions essay.
Much dreaded and oft misunderstood, the college essay is an essential component of your admissions package – and for good reason. The college essay (or personal statement) is your opportunity to speak directly to the admissions committee in your own voice. It allows you to communicate what is most important and integral to YOU, and in doing so, what makes you different from the other applicants.
In this essay, Stinson seems like someone who might be likely to start long philosophical discussions in the residential hall or encourage her physics study group to take a fifteen-minute break for an impromptu dance party or, of course, corral her roommates for a weekend trip to Costco. In other words, her essay suggests that she will be a great addition to her college community.
Why The Costco College Essay Is Crucial Reading
WHY IT WORKED: Describing a regular shopping trip to Costco may not sound revolutionary, but in this case, it worked because it served as a clever, original way to show her curiosity and advanced understanding of human dynamics and consumerism. This essay also uses humor and wit successfully to highlight her personality. Some key quotes: "I was a conquistador, but rather than searching the land for El Dorado, I scoured aisles for free samples. Before inevitably being whisked away into a shopping cart, I scaled a mountain of plush toys and surveyed the expanse that lay before me: the kingdom of Costco. I contemplated the philosophical: If there exists a thirty three ounce jar of Nutella, do we really have free will?" (Read more about and her full essay ).
[PDF] Five Ways to Go Wrong in College Essays
Here’s the thing: your college essay essay can be about literally anything, providing you present the topic in an engaging and original way. There is a famous , of all things.
Student Gets Into 5 Ivies With College Essay About Love for Costco
One of the most famous and impactful essays in the college admissions world is known as "The Costco Essay," written by a student named Brittany Stinson in her 2016 application to five Ivy League colleges (all of which accepted her). The essay provides a vibrant narrative of her curiosity and inquisitive nature, conveyed through a simple trip to Costco with her mom.
The Costco essay - the art of college application essays
Do you know what my actual takeaway is after reading through this whole thing again? This essay didn’t need to be about Costco. There is another, near-identical essay in which this girl is at an amusement park, or playground, or ice cream shop, or anywhere else with lots of exciting things that you can interact with. Finding wonderment in the only somewhat-extraordinary is a thematic device that extends well past a particular big-box store.
College Essay Costco Ivy League Accepted Student - Refinery29
It is commonly said that students should avoid “the 5 Ds” when selecting a college essay topic: Death, Divorce, Disease (including Depression), Drugs, and Dating. This is not to say that these topics are not important or worthy of being written about. The problem is many students fail to realize just how common they are as inevitable, albeit difficult components of the human experience. Your parents’ divorce, the death of your grandfather, or your addiction problem are no doubt important to your personal story, but they are not unique to you. When it comes to any of the 5 D’s, the admissions committee has almost certainly seen it before.