Picture this: You are sitting at a desk, for hours on end. You read hundreds of essays from applicants, all trying their best to seem impressive (but without overdoing it),  unique (but not to the point where they wouldn’t fit in as a valuable asset to the institution), and smart enough (most likely by using  a thesaurus to find big words that no one really understands). Hard as they try, the attempt to seem impressive becomes a futile endeavour after the first 10 essays are read. They all carry serious, professional tones (which most people would deem appropriate for a college admissions essay) mentioning things like, “in my experience as a member of (insert generic extracurricular activity to appear responsible such as ASB, sports teams, or volunteer programs)”

This was the image in my head when I pictured my admissions counselor. Writing my essay, I knew I’d met the mark: I could  mention my experience as an ASB representative, mock trial captain, or green team and French club president. I could talk about experience on track, my near perfect GPA,  or my 600+ hours of community service. My options weren’t limited; I knew I could play it safe, but I really didn’t want to. My admissions counselor could read my laundry list of accomplishments in my resumé. There had to be something more I could write about.

Again, the image of a bored admissions counselor came to mind, so I decided to take a risk. Everything I was advised not to do is what I did. I was told to use the essay as another opportunity to highlight my accomplishments, to avoid jokes because everyone has a different sense of humor, and I was told, under no circumstances should I even reference profane language. I prayed my admissions counselor a) had a sense of humor, b) was a feminist, and c) wouldn’t shred my essay the minute she read the title: Bitch. I began my essay with, “I have always been described in one of two ways: first, assertive, and second, a much more negative locution of that– a term which would be unwise for me to include in a college application essay, but a blank I’m sure you can fill in. (Personally, I prefer what some may call the euphemism, though the latter works just fine).” I mentioned a few anecdotes, but not a single major accomplishment. I wanted the essay to stand on its own, organically; I wanted it to be something I could be proud of. A laundry list would not be enough.

In hindsight, my decision may have been a tad unconventional, and perhaps even unwise, but when admissions offers with scholarships arrived in the mail, I had few regrets. I don’t know that my essay falls cleanly into the genre that is college admissions essays, nor do I know that I would recommend this same approach to everyone, but I do know that authenticity should never be sacrificed for the sake of pleasing others.