She wrote her “Ivy League Essay” about Costco. And hot dogs.
Try not to start your college essay introduction with a cliché or a quote. Cliches have been read thousands of times by admissions officers, and they want to see something unique and interesting, not the same old things. And using a quote to start your essay isn’t a good idea, since it is meant to be written in your own words, not someone else’s.
Knowing how to properly structure your college essay introduction is important, but plenty of students tend to write too much in the introduction. Since you’ll need to save on word count, editing is an important skill to learn as well. College advisors or services can be great resources to help with essay writing coaching or for professional editing. There are also plenty of services out there which provide proofreading and feedback on your work. If you plan to apply to any of the essay, you’ll be somewhat familiar with the required short essay format and structure. Your college essay will be around 250-650 words maximum, so your introduction needs to be fairly concise. It’s best to keep your introduction just a few sentences long, so you’ll need to be very wise with your words and make the most of each one. You may also want to add a title to your essay. This is not a requirement and should only be included if you think the title adds something significant. Otherwise, leave it out. The introduction of your college essay is so crucial because it is what first grabs your reader’s attention. Like any good piece of writing, if you don’t snag your reader’s interest in the first sentence, they won’t be inclined to read the rest of your essay. And you need them to be interested and engaged so you can make your point. A college essay counts for a significant portion of your overall candidacy as a college applicant. It can even be your secret to . But writing essays is not easy, and introductions can be especially tricky for students to write. This is why plenty of college applicants hire to help them write their common app essays or . Even with medical disabilities you have to be careful. My daughter wrote an essay that touched on her physical disability without ever saying the diagnosis. It was a story about something she loved to do and how it made her feel. It was serious and funny. Her disability was alluded to but never stated. It was reading in between the lines. Grades, missing school and the like were never mentioned. It was not an excuse essay but one that hit it on the nail as to who she was. No one else could have written it. Reading some college essay introduction examples is a great place to start if you’re struggling to begin writing your college essay. The college essay is a significant hurdle for many college applicants but reading can help inspire your writing. Knowing how to write a killer introduction, though, is the first step, as the introduction of your essay can make or break your entire essay. In this blog, we’ll learn why the college essay introduction is so important, how to structure it and a step-by-step guide on how to write a killer essay introduction. We’ve also included some college essay introduction examples to guide you! I wrote my essay on my experience with PTSD and I got into all my top choices.
However, I think it really depends on the situation and the college. To some schools, it could be a red flag. They don’t want to be liable for the risks that are associated with students who suffer from mental illnesses. But for some, they can see the determination and the strength such a student could possess.
You can read her Costco Essay here:
Her Costco essay went viral after it was shared with . In it, Stinson detailed how her experiences with Costco grew to be a sort of "primer" on how her thought processes work. The essay itself is a delight to read, with the student describing each concept with a warm and almost childlike passion.
The Costco Essay Deconstructed - Princeton College Consulting
Brittany Stinson got widespread attention on the internet with a lighthearted essay about how Costco relates to her love for knowledge. The said essay helped admit her to 5 Ivy League Schools and Stanford University. She decided that Stanford is the "best fit" for her.
Ok Fine. Ill Write About the Awe-inspiring Costco Essay
What sets this essay apart is not an unusual or prestigious background, but rather how its narrative is crafted and the thought processes it showcases. This student used an ordinary trip to Costco and turned it into a lens through which to view her intellectual development. Every little observation she made in Costco led to a grander point about her curiosity and passion for learning, making it engaging for admissions officers to read.
The Costco Essay: What Makes It So Good?
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.
Essay About Love for Costco Wins Student Admission to Five Ivies
The personal statement format we provided is just a guideline—there is no perfect personal statement format that will always work. However, don’t do anything too crazy—like rhyming the whole time or submitting 100 words for a 500 word essay. But, remember that we learn the rules of the personal statement format so that we can break them. As long as the essay is grammatically correct, interesting, and true to who you are, you can get creative. Look for creative personal statement sample essays for inspiration.
Lessons from a Winning Ivy League Essay on Costco
A love for Costco gets you many things: free samples, $1.50 hot dog combos, and giant jars of Nutella. Incorporate these perks into a college admission essay like 18-year-old Brittany Stinson did, and you might end up with five acceptance letters to Ivy League universities. In a creative, food-driven narrative, Stinson describes how her weekly visits to Costco shaped her young intellectual mind: