As application season nears, we wanted to extend our Voices of Olin series (Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3) with a new installment from the Class of 2028. The college essay is an opportunity to showcase your individuality and as such, embrace the age old saying “there’s only one you.”
There’s no foolproof topic and these snippets reveal how an effective narrative can be crafted from any topic. You could write about X or Y or even Z!
Common App Personal Essay Prompt 1: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
Example 1: Mateo ’28 skillfully remarks on how boxing oneself in limits growth and clouds the ability to truly understand one’s identity:
Literary critic H.L Mencken, noted that "All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it." I'll admit I can't claim to have the best understanding of what it means to be American, Colombian or French. My perspectives are informed by experience, not conviction and those experiences are biased. Perhaps Mencken's underlying insight is that personal identity is inherently flawed, a subjective construct on how we feel about ourselves and how we wished to be perceived by others. If that is the case, count me in as a fraud.
Common App Personal Essay Prompt 6: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
Example 2: Althea ’28 opens with a great hook to draw the reader in and then uses a strong voice to convey personality:
Hear me out: Cars is actually a horror movie…
And I love conversation, especially with my family, because they're willing to say something outrageous in return, like that it's ridiculous that I'm scared of a children's movie. I can talk about everything with them: wonder how to make a pillow fort out of our dining room chairs that isn't taken down (parents 1, children 0), promise I won't microwave ice cream again (let's not talk about it), or bully my brother for wanting another Double Quarter Pounder with extra patties (have a little restraint).If I'm being honest with myself, I also use it as a distraction.
Common App Personal Essay Prompt 7: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
Example 3: Emma ’28 recalls a personal story that in turn showcases empathy and a passion for engineering that serves everyone – key for an Oliner.
"All living things deserve to see the sun," I whispered, peering into a miniscule, dark, timber enclosure where a lonely rabbit resides….
As I took Frosty on his first walk around the neighborhood in his custom carriage, a sense of pride rushed over me. Throughout this process, I faced several setbacks and was questioned at every turn. People asked me why I was doing all of this for a rabbit. Why I would go to such extremes for a creature who couldn't even talk? Yet, for me, there was never a question. I believe every sentient being, no matter how big or small, deserves a life of happiness and fulfillment.
Olin has a mandatory supplemental essay, like many colleges do. The purpose is to get a deeper understanding of you as an applicant and how you could thrive in the Olin community. With our deep desire to do good in the world we ask applicants to answer, What change do you hope to be a part of? Why is this particular change important to you?
Example 4: Enzo ’28 answers the supplement question by connecting to their local life and then more broadly thinking about their future global impact.
Home to both Billionaire's Row and the sixth poorest zip code in the state, New York is a place fragmented. Amidst these clashing realms, my dreams and aspirations take root. Witnessing the daily paradox of towering skyscrapers and socioeconomic divides fuels my commitment to utilize technology as a transformative force…..
Thus, accessibility in technology is not merely a feature; it is a fundamental principle that drives innovation, promotes diversity, and builds a more inclusive future for all. The issue does not have a single solution but rather requires a shift in mindful solutionism.
We hope this review of some successful and impactful essays we read for the Class of 2028 demonstrates how there’s no “right” way to write a college essay and there’s no one topic we’re looking to read about. This aspect of the application is truly an open-ended opportunity for you to share about who you are and how you might make a good fit for the Olin community.