How to Write an Angsty Common App Essay: A Guide for the Emotionally-Charged Applicant
Okay, so you’ve decided to write your Common App essay. You’re sitting there, staring at the blinking cursor, wondering how to get your tortured soul onto the page. You’re not just another high-achieving, well-rounded applicant. You’re a walking paradox: a tortured artist, a brooding intellectual, a sensitive soul yearning for deeper meaning in a world filled with… well, you know. You want to write an essay that screams I’m not like the other kids! And you’re right, you’re not. You’re special, you’re unique, and you’re ready to unleash your emo masterpiece onto the world.
Embrace Your Inner Angsty Teenager
The key to writing an angsty Common App essay is authenticity. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. This isn’t a time to pretend you’re the life of the party. It’s your chance to showcase your true self, the one who feels things a little more deeply, a little more intensely than everyone else.
Think of it this way. You’re not trying to write the perfect essay; you’re trying to write the real essay.
So how do you do it? Here are some tips:
1. Pick a Prompt That Speaks to Your Soul:
The Common App essay prompts are like a menu of emotional appetizers. Pick one that gets you thinking about your inner world, your deepest fears, your biggest triumphs, your burning desire to change the world… or at least make it a little less boring.
2. Don’t Be Afraid to Go Deep:
You’re not here to write a generic, feel-good story. Go deep into your emotions. Talk about the time you felt like a total failure. Describe the moment you realized the world wasn’t as fair as you thought it was. Let the reader feel your pain. Let them see your soul.
3. Use Vivid Imagery and Sensory Details:
Instead of saying “I was sad,” say “My heart felt like a lead weight in my chest, and every breath felt like I was drowning in a sea of despair.” The more vivid your descriptions, the more powerful your essay will be.
4. Embrace Your Inner Narrator:
Think of yourself as a writer, a storyteller, a chronicler of your own angst. Let your voice shine through. Use figurative language, symbolism, and metaphors. Don’t be afraid to get a little poetic.
5. Don’t Forget the “So What?”:
You’re not just a collection of dark thoughts and existential dread. You’re a person with a story, a purpose, a vision. Use your angsty essay to show how your experiences have shaped you, how your pain has made you stronger, how your unique perspective can contribute to the world.
6. Don’t Be Afraid to Be Vulnerable:
College admissions officers are human, too. They know what it’s like to feel lost, confused, and uncertain. They’re looking for students who are authentic, who can admit their weaknesses, who can be vulnerable without being self-pitying.
7. Read It Aloud:
Once you’ve finished writing, read your essay aloud to yourself. Does it sound like you? Is it engaging? Do you feel like it truly captures your unique voice? If not, keep revising until it does.
8. Get Feedback:
Ask a friend, family member, teacher, or even a professional essay editor to read your essay and give you honest feedback. They can help you identify areas where you can improve your clarity, flow, and overall impact.
9. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread:
This is especially important if you’re prone to grammatical errors or typos. Make sure your essay is free of mistakes before submitting it. You don’t want to give the admissions committee a reason to question your attention to detail.
10. Remember, You’re Not Alone:
Many students feel the same way you do. You’re not the only one struggling with existential angst, crippling self-doubt, and the overwhelming pressure to succeed. So don’t be afraid to let your true self shine through.
Example of an Angsty Common App Essay:
The world is a kaleidoscope of colors, but mine has always been muted, a faded tapestry of greys and blues. I’ve always been the quiet one, the observer, the one lost in a book while everyone else is dancing in the sunlight. I felt like a ghost, a whisper in the wind, invisible to everyone except myself.
Then, I found my voice. It wasn’t in a grand, dramatic gesture, but in a small, quiet moment. I was sitting in my room, listening to music that resonated with my soul, words that mirrored my own internal turmoil. I picked up my guitar, the one I’d always been too afraid to play, and started strumming. The sound was raw, unpolished, but it was mine.
I realized that my angst wasn’t a weakness, but a strength. It was the fuel that drove my creativity, the force that pushed me to express myself in ways I never thought possible. I began to write songs, poems, stories, anything that allowed me to translate the chaos within into a form that others could understand.
The beauty of angst is that it allows you to see the world differently. It makes you question everything, challenge assumptions, and fight for what you believe in. It’s not always easy, but it’s always meaningful. And for me, it’s what makes me… well, me.
Remember, your angsty Common App essay is your chance to be yourself, to let your voice be heard, and to show the world what makes you unique. So embrace your inner angst, let it fuel your creativity, and write a story that will stay with the reader long after they’ve finished reading.
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