Hello Matei,
You're not alone! People often have difficulty starting. The choices of topic are seemingly endless, and you want to make sure to end up with a unique essay that you are proud to submit. Below are a few pointers to help you get started:
Essay 1: What knowledge and experiences have you had living or working in a diverse community or organization? Please provide specific examples. (500 words)
Do not concern yourself with 'what the admissions committee wants to read.' This is about setting yourself apart from the crowd and answering this prompt in a unique, compelling, thoughtful and concise manner. Where are you from? Did you grow up in one city or town? Have you moved a lot? What is that city/town like? Is there much diversity in your school? What types of people do you encounter playing sports, doing community service, playing an instrument, etc.? What jobs, if any, have you had? Have you traveled much? What types of people have you encountered in your travels? What communities have been most dominant in your life? How are they diverse? How has this shaped you? Brainstorm by answering these questions. Once you get the thoughts flowing, something will emerge, and you will want to keep writing about it.
Essay 2: Please explain any obstacles you have overcome due to your neighborhood and/or community circumstances. (500 words).
Have you ever come up against any obstacles in your neighborhood? In your family? At school? On any team? In any group you're a part of? Have you been part of a disagreement? Has there been a shortage of funding for a community service organization? Have you stood witness to instances of prejudice? What are the difficult things you and your friends/peers/colleagues have had to deal with? Jot down a few, and then start to consider how, exactly, you overcame them. What did you learn from overcoming each obstacle?
Hope this helps. Best of luck with this difficult but rewarding admissions process!
Kind regards,
Brooke
Ivy Eyes Editor