3 Tips For Writing the Why Major College Essay | STEM/Computer Science Edition

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares essential tips for crafting a standout 'Why Major' supplemental essay, specifically for computer science. Using a real-life example, the speaker demonstrates how to transform a decent essay into an impactful one by focusing on emotional depth, vulnerability, and unique personal connections to the field. By moving beyond technical achievements, the speaker emphasizes the importance of showcasing personal growth, resilience, and the human side of the applicant. The video offers actionable advice to help students create essays that truly reflect their passion for the major.

Takeaways

• 😀 Emotion is key: Start with a strong emotional hook to capture attention.
• 😀 Personal stories resonate: Highlight personal experiences, like the student’s grief, to add authenticity.
• 😀 Use coding metaphors: Use programming analogies to describe personal growth and problem-solving.
• 😀 Avoid vagueness: Don’t let your solution feel generic—make it personal and unique.
• 😀 Answer the prompt directly: Always circle back to why you're drawn to the specific field of study.
• 😀 Show vulnerability: Let your personal challenges guide your motivation for the field.
• 😀 Don’t over-focus on achievements: The essay should humanize you, not just list accomplishments.
• 😀 Create connections between real life and your field of interest: Relate personal experiences to academic pursuits.
• 😀 Keep it brief but impactful: For short essays, aim for 1-2 examples or metaphors, rather than overcrowding.
• 😀 Revise and polish: Continuously improve the essay with editing to make it a strong contender.

Q & A

What is the main focus of this video script?

The video script focuses on providing tips for writing a compelling 'Why Computer Science' supplemental essay for college applications, particularly improving a decent essay to make it more emotionally engaging and personal.

What is the key advice for making a 'Why Computer Science' essay stand out?

The key advice is to incorporate emotion and humanity into the essay. Rather than just listing achievements or technical skills, applicants should highlight how studying computer science makes them feel and how it has impacted their personal life.

How does the speaker suggest enhancing the essay's opening line?

The speaker suggests using clever formatting and phrasing to grab attention. For example, the phrase 'if x exclamation point equals grief print smiley face' uses coding language to set the tone, making the opening both engaging and thematically relevant.

What problem is identified with the original essay's second half?

The problem with the second half of the original essay is vagueness. It is too generic, and many students who have basic coding knowledge could write something similar. The speaker recommends focusing on the unique emotional journey the student experienced, such as using computer science to cope with grief.

Why does the speaker emphasize avoiding bragging about achievements?

The speaker emphasizes avoiding bragging because the goal of the essay is to humanize the applicant, showing they are more than just a list of accomplishments. The essay should highlight personal experiences and emotions, which cannot be conveyed in a resume or activities list.

What is the suggested approach for linking personal experience with computer science in the essay?

The suggested approach is to create personal, meaningful connections between real-world experiences and computer science concepts. For example, the speaker discusses drawing parallels between solving technical problems in coding and overcoming personal challenges, like grief.

How can a student make their 'Why Computer Science' essay more unique?

A student can make their essay more unique by focusing on how computer science helped them through a personal challenge, such as grief or a difficult life situation, and demonstrating how it provided them with emotional relief or a sense of purpose.

What does the speaker mean by 'elevating' an essay?

'Elevating' an essay means refining it to make it more engaging, polished, and emotionally resonant. This involves improving the opening hook, enhancing the emotional depth of the narrative, and making sure the essay uniquely reflects the applicant's personal connection to computer science.

What role does vulnerability play in writing a strong 'Why Major' essay?

Vulnerability plays a key role because it allows the applicant to share personal, emotional experiences that show their human side. This helps the essay stand out, as it makes the applicant relatable and authentic, rather than just a list of academic achievements.

What is the significance of the line 'grief and computer science aren't all that different'?

The line 'grief and computer science aren't all that different' illustrates how the student uses computer science as a therapeutic tool to cope with their grief. It draws a parallel between the process of solving coding problems and overcoming personal challenges, which makes the essay both unique and emotionally meaningful.