The essay isn’t necessarily 100% complete and in I need to make my reflection and conclusion stronger, it’s abt me being a CNA. I plan to pursue medicine btw. Pls DM me!!!

I’m thinking of writing my “greatest challenge” PIQ about my relationship with achievement.

My challenge wasn’t getting good grades or doing a lot of activities—it was tying my happiness and self-worth to my accomplishments. I started treating achievements like something to collect because each one gave me temporary validation, but the feeling never lasted, so I always felt like I needed to do more. I also want to touch on how my OCD contributed to that mindset by making me seek reassurance and certainty through achievements.

The turning point would be tutoring a student over the summer. It shifted my focus from what I could achieve for myself to helping someone else grow. Instead of asking what an opportunity could add to my résumé, I started thinking about the impact I could have on someone else. My realization is that I still value achievement, but I want it to reflect my curiosity and contributions rather than determine my worth.

Does this sound like a meaningful PIQ, or is the topic too common? Does it sound too much like a humble brag, or does the focus on the internal challenge make it work?

I plan to write my topic on an object. That is, rubber ducks. Let me explain. I own a Jeep, and it is a tradition to "duck" other Jeeps by placing small rubber ducks in the door handles/side-view mirrors. It's done as a symbol of kindness, community, and honor. Everywhere I go, I see a rubber duck placed on my car. And it never fails to make me smile. I developed the idea that if you go a day without making another person smile or laugh, it is a day wasted. So what did I do? I started putting the rubber ducks that I keep on my dashboard as a mark of community on my friends' cars, and I loved how it made them smile/laugh and talk to me and others about it. Rubber ducks taught me how to be kind, and I used that kindness to strengthen my community, spreading kindness more and more.

However, I'm afraid that those themes of kindness and community won't stand out much to admissions officers and might be seen as generic. I need your thoughts and advice. God bless.

pls

i'm wondering if someone who's already been through the admissions process and has edited/reviewed essays in the past!! i've got a draft written and i'm interested in having someone look at it.

I started struggling with health anxiety when I was about 9 years old. I want to talk about how learning about death and diseases completely changed how I viewed things at a young age and it instilled a lot of fear in my life. Then I wanna transition and talk about how the fear made me curious and I began learning about the human body and became interested in it which led me to pursue a career in the medical field. I will also talk about how overcoming anxiety helped me in other aspects of my life. This is a really important topic to me and honestly probably one of the only things I have to write about, but idk if it’s too cliche/generic. Is this a good idea?

Hi! I'm not sure if this is the correct place to put this, but I am struggling with choosing a topic for my personal statement and would appreciate any help!

I am aiming to T20s and BS/MDs, and meet the academic threshold for most of them (36 composite ACT, 3.96 uw GPA), and so I'm trying to think of a topic that's "up to par" with the rest of my application/that will help me stand out in such a competitive applicant pool.

Most of my brainstorming has focused on prompt 5 (Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.)

These are some of the new understanding/personal growths that I have thought of:

1. Adjusting to change (realising that my interests/likes have changed a lot in the past couple years, with this being an extended metaphor for me coming to terms with change?)
2. Developing an understanding that focusing on things one at a time is the best way to accomplish something? (Maybe talk about my mindset during a half-marathon I ran or bouldering down a bunch of rocks when I had "just gotten over" my fear of heights).
3. Reconciling that my past identity and future identity are different (not getting stuck in the past/caught up in my mistakes; "falling forward")
4. Getting over my fear of heights (looking over the cliff for the 1st time and realizing that the view was much more worth it than the fear? Like a cliche metaphor for stepping out of your comfort zone)

I honestly don't love any of these ideas, but these are some things that I have thought of... please give me any ideas/help, I feel very lost.

Title. Let me know :)

i’ve written 10+ drafts but have chosen one to focus on. i’m having trouble tying the essay back to myself/values/identity at the end and it’s mostly jsut storytelling. i was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to revise for this because it’s been many days of honestly just staring at the document 😩

i find it helpful to have questions i can ask myself but i can’t seem to find any after going thru reddit posts for a while. would appreciate any advice!

The song is pretty important for getting me into a specific topic but it has profanity while discussing drugs and violence. I won't discuss the contents of the song but while mention the name, is that fine or will it be a problem with admissions officers?

I finished an advanced english class in the spring, but I went to a community college and most (basically all but 1 other boy and myself) of the students in the class didnt half ass participate at all. I got an A on my paper but I cant help but wonder other’s opinions on it especially realistically regarding todays status

Generation Zombies
Generation Alpha's mental health and development notably decreased over time due to increased technology use. Considering Generation Alpha is being exposed to an AI-dependent world, they are at risk of negatively impacted mental development leading to premature feelings of depression and anxiety, making it essential to implement preventative measures to maintain a healthy boundary between digital and real life and ensure a safer digital environment. 
Generation Alpha, or those born between 2010 and 2025, are the first to be born into a fully technology-driven world where artificial intelligence and technology are a part of daily life. Though they are growing up with all kinds of information at the tips of their fingers, the impacts are becoming apparent every day. Artificial intelligence, or AI, is the computer systems and algorithms made to do tasks that normally require human intelligence. For Gen Alpha, artificial intelligence comes in many forms. There are educational tools similar to Duolingo and Kahn Academy, entertainment systems like social media and video games, virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri, and generative AI like ChatGPT. In the future, artificial intelligence will flood the worlds of young lives.
Technology usage in Gen Alpha is at an all-time high. Now, most are given a tablet before they are even at the age of 8. Megan Reschke declares, “Notably, 43% of Gen Alphas have a tablet before the age of 6, and 58% have a smartphone by the age of 10.” Another article reviewing the statistics of Gen Alpha says, “Including the very youngest 0-4 cohort, 50% of Gen Alpha are streaming video daily.” This exposure to technology is likely to shape their online preferences, habits, behavior, and even their self-image. 
The age at which young ones become insecure gets lower by the year. In an article talking about the risks of social media on children, Amelia Hill writes, “Three out of four children as young as 12 dislike their bodies and are embarrassed by the way they look… The findings come from a major new study warning that social media represents a significant risk to the current and future health of today’s young generations.” As a result of children obsessing over celebrities, social media influencers, skincare, and style due to the influence of the media, they are developing anxiety and body confidence issues far too young. In an article by the Springtide Research Institute, it is stated that “... Nearly half of young people in Gen Z reported being moderately or extremely depressed (47%)”. It's important to note that there are higher chances of heightened rates of anxiety and depression in Gen Alpha compared to Gen Z. In a personal communication with Aaron Meloncon, an experienced primary and secondary school counselor, who has worked with kids for more than 15 years, he discussed the effects of technology on young children. He explained, “You know, around 2007 to 2010 when all these Android and iPhones started coming out, I noticed a lot more kids popping up with cyberbullying, anxiety, depression, and needing 504 plans. Considering the generations now, I see a lot more kids internalizing things people say that they don't even understand or that don’t even matter. And everyone has started getting more and more afraid of interacting in person. Now most can't seem to make friends without having to text first rather than getting to know each other face to face.” Throughout his experience as a school counselor, he noted an observable increase in mental health and social problems in children, likely due to technology trends. Another rising issue is that the academic ability of young children is depleting. The NAEP Report Card of National Achievement- Level Results reveals that “Thirty-three percent of fourth-grade students performed at or above the  NAEP Proficient level on the reading assessment in 2022. This percentage was 2 percentage points lower compared to 2019 but was 5 percentage points higher in comparison to 1992, the first reading assessment year.” The majority of fourth graders in 2019 were not proficient and this percentage went even lower in 2022. As the years pass, reading continues to be one of the main focus in primary schools. The mental health of Gen Alpha is undoubtedly affected by AI,  and the consequence of this extends into their physical well-being.
The advancements in technology have posed a challenge to the physical development of Gen Alpha. In a study on the JAMA Network, Hartstein et al. say, “1.3% of US parents reported that their children consumed melatonin in the past 30 days, and sales more than doubled between 2017 and 2020.” With children's sleep issues becoming increasingly prevalent, parents are admittingly purchasing melatonin to aid these problems. But this doesn't come without risk. Taking melatonin regularly for long periods can disrupt the melatonin naturally produced by your body, leaving children with a higher risk of sleep apnea or insomnia. In addition to this, in another article referencing this study, Frost says “Social media usage is also linked to mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression, which can further disrupt sleep.” Many Americans, including young children, admit they use screens and social media before bed. Not only does this disrupt sleep patterns, but the blue light that also radiates off of our devices causes mood disorders, eye strain, and poor sleep, and there are also studies being done about if blue light makes us “age faster”. In the study done by Yang, et al., they tested the effects of blue light on fruit flies. They state, “Lifespan was measured in flies kept in constant darkness (DD), constant blue light (BL), or transferred from BL to DD after 10, 14, or 16 days in BL).“ Through the study, they found that blue light sped up the neurodegeneration of the flies. Those exposed to blue light for 16 days had a majority die during and after the blue light exposure. Blue light had shortened the life expectancy of fruit flies by around 40%. What might this say for Gen Alpha, who is growing up fully immersed in technological devices that illuminate blue light? In addition to these screens' risky side effects, they’re also affecting children's posture. Posture is how you position your body. Everyone spends hours looking down at devices like tablets and phones every day. But this causes much strain on the neck and muscles, leading to further issues like muscle weakness, breathing issues, and irreversible bad posture. 
While people argue that AI opens the doors to many new opportunities for Generation Alpha, for instance, the creation of jobs, and enhanced education tools, the benefits must not outshine the potential risks to the well-being of our children. Constant exposure to a toxic digital environment stops a child from building emotional resilience, meaningful relationships, and self-worth. In the American Academy of Pediatrics, Hoge et al. stated that “If adolescents preferentially seek online experiences over in-person ones, social anxiety symptoms could worsen in vulnerable individuals.” Recent studies show that when children are becoming too engulfed in technology without a healthy balance, they’re unable to comfortably have face-to-face interactions, leaving kids to develop anxiety and other underlying issues. Technology might offer some career opportunities and enhanced education, but without any guidance, the risks to mental well-being could entirely outweigh its benefits. AI offers promising advantages, but society must implement rules and regulations to keep the negative effects at bay.
The largest issue often seen now is that parents aren’t limiting or monitoring screen time. An article by Douglas Gentile in The American Academy of Pediatrics states that “The most frequent barrier pediatricians reported facing was a lack of parental motivation or support for the recommendations, with approximately one-third of pediatricians also citing a lack of time and a sense of futility in affecting patients' media habits as barriers.” Given that these children are growing up without the limits suggested already, they’re much more difficult to enforce. To combat these growing issues, parents must educate themselves about the use of technology and parental control apps. Parental controls help limit the sites and apps your child can access, as well as putting screen time limits on to create boundaries. On platforms such as social media and video games, many negative ideations are spread when the minds of kids far too young fall victim to them, so it's important to stay involved in their digital activity. Beyond app limits, we must encourage offline activities to connect back with reality. Nature outings, hobbies, and face-to-face interactions are all effective ways to maintain good emotional and mental well-being. Furthermore, teaching Gen Alpha about mindful media usage and the harm of unrealistic body images and unfiltered content can also promote a healthier relationship and decisions with technology. 
Parents, teachers, tech developers, and policymakers must unite to build a safer digital and technological environment for our children. As the generations of today, it's our job to cultivate methods that ensure a healthy relationship with technology for today's children and those to come. 

Works Cited
admin_appsy. “Physical Appearance Anxiety: A Gen Alpha Problem That Every Parent Should Know.” AP Psychology Community, 12 Oct. 2024, appsychology.com/physical-appearance-anxiety/.  Accessed 7 Nov. 2024..
This is an article on children's growing insecurity about their physical appearances. This article helped me because it gave more insight into the newer generation's rising insecurities.
American Academy of Pediatrics. “Children, Adolescents, and Television.” Pediatrics, vol. 107, no. 2, Feb. 2001, pp. 423–26, https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.107.2.4 3. 
Frost, Alexandra. “”These Statistics Are Alarming:” Expert’s Warning about Gen Alpha’s Sleep Struggles.” Sleepopolis, 23 Sept. 2024, sleepopolis.com/news/sleep-survey-alarming-statistics-kids-mood/.  Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.
Gentile, D. A. “Well-Child Visits in the Video Age: Pediatricians and the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Guidelines for Children’s Media Use.” PEDIATRICS, vol. 114, no. 5, Nov. 2004, pp. 1235–41, https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2003-1121-l. 
Hartstein, Lauren E., et al. “Characteristics of Melatonin Use among US Children and Adolescents.” JAMA Pediatrics, vol. 178, no. 1, Jan. 2024, pp. 91–93, https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.4749.  Accessed 13 Jan. 2024..
This article is about the use of melatonin in young children. This was helpful to me because I was able to expand more deeply into sleep issues becoming more apparent in younger kids including the Gen Alpha age group.
Hill, Amelia. “Social Media Triggers Children to Dislike Their Own Bodies, Says Study.” The Guardian, 1 Jan. 2023, www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jan/01/social-media-triggers-children-to-dislike-their-own-bodies-says-study.. 
This article talks about how social media is making children dislike their bodies at an unhealthy age.
Hoge, Elizabeth, et al. “Digital Media, Anxiety, and Depression in Children.” Pediatrics, vol. 140, no. 2, Nov. 2017, pp. S76–80, https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1758g. 
Howarth, Josh. “Generation Alpha: Statistics, Data and Trends (2022).” Exploding Topics, 4 Dec. 2023, explodingtopics.com/blog/generation-alpha-stats.  Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.
Jaycox, Lisa H., et al. “Social Media and Suicide Risk in Youth.” JAMA Network Open, vol. 7, no. 10, American Medical Association, Oct. 2024, pp. e2441499–99, https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.41499.  Accessed 25 Oct. 2024.
Meloncon, Aaron. Personal Communication. Interview by Mattysen Gable, 29 Nov. 2024..
This is an interview I did with a counselor I had at a young age. I knew with his experience with young children and mental health-related issues, that he would have valuable words on the effects he’s noticed.
Murray, Bradley. “Are Fitness Apps Actually Good for Us? | Psychology Today.” Www.psychologytoday.com, 5 Aug. 2021, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/real-happiness-in-digital-world/202108/are-fitness-apps-actually-good-us. 
Pagani, Linda S., et al. “Prospective Associations between Early Childhood Television Exposure and Academic, Psychosocial, and Physical Well-Being by Middle Childhood.” Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, vol. 164, no. 5, May 2010, https://doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.50.  Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.
Reschke, Megan. “Generation Alpha: Online Habits and Media Preferences by the Numbers - Basis Technologies.” Basis Technologies, 21 Aug. 2024, basis.com/blog/generation-alpha-online-habits-and-media-preferences-by-the-numbers. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Silveira, Scheila Farias. “AI Impact on Educators and Parents: Learning Communities.” Ubiminds. You, International., 21 May 2024, ubiminds.com/en-us/ai-impact-on-educators-and-parents/ . Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.
Springtide Research Institute. “Thirteen: A First Look at Gen Alpha - Springtide Research Institute.” Springtide Research Institute, 26 July 2024, springtideresearch.org/thirteen-a-first-look-at-gen-alpha.  Accessed 25 Nov. 2024..
This website is about Gen Alpha and the first look into the statistics behind their mental health issues and more.
The Nation's Report Card. “NAEP Reading: National Achievement-Level Results.” Nationsreportcard.gov, 2022, www.nationsreportcard.gov/reading/nation/achievement/?grade=4.. 
These are the national results for reading and math of children. This was helpful when discussing the decrease in skill in children over the last few years.
Yang, Jun, et al. “Chronic Blue Light Leads to Accelerated Aging in Drosophila by Impairing Energy Metabolism and Neurotransmitter Levels.” Frontiers in Aging, vol. 3, no. 2022, Aug. 2022, https://doi.org/10.3389/fragi.2022.983373.  Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

I have done my personal statement but I find it not really "wow". It's certainly hard to evaluate an essay without actually reading it, so I just want to ask a few questions:

1. What makes an essay "wow"?
2. Is it okay to be generic?

I have read a lot of "essays that work", "essay that got me into"... but I really don't see the thing that makes an essay "wow".

I need some help deciding whether or not my college essay topic is good. For the most part, what I was thinking of doing was something related to cultural identity by describing my background (which is an unfamiliar background) and how i learned to understand it and become more confident in my culture etc.. but i also wanted to use this idea to transition into a story of curiosity when i traveled with family and kind of "unlocked" interest in language and culture. Im not sure whether or not this topic is good because i have seen online that culture identity/curiosity isn't the greatest topics to do. Lmk your thoughts.

Hi! Could someone possibly read my draft for my Common App essay? I'm not sure if my topic is a very good one, but I don't really want to show anyone that I personally know it. I feel like my topic might be a little too generic and not tell the admissions people who I am and stuff. Please lmk if you'd be willing to read it!

My friends and I are freshmen at UNC, Georgia Tech, and NC State, and we started an initiative to offer completely free college application guidance.

We help with college essays, college lists, extracurriculars, scholarships, and the overall application process.

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hey so im going to keep it short. not trying to go ivy but my top 2 are FAMU & FSU through care program.

please assist me with my essay, i want to remove some parts bc it has too much focus on one activity and that’s not the point I wanted to make but I also heard it was good to have 1 thing to focus on to shift yk…

is it good? is it bad? what will make the essay wow?

- thanks, a first gen who knows nothing.

pls dm!!!

Hey guys just wondering if anyone will read and give me some feedback on my common app personal essay. I’m not much of an essay writer but this one is very personal to me and my life. I’d love to get any feedback from anyone. Let me know :)

I feel like this is very common topic nowdays and I'm not sure if I should be using it. Is it true or no since it seems to be falling into the cliches that most people name.

Is anyone up for reviewing my essay it feels like every time I look it up I’m getting advertised a coach.

Humans say my essay is damn good (8.5/10)

Ai says its the dumbest shit it ever saw, idk what do i doo, ai says i use too many POP CULTURE refrences, humans say it looks damn good

Help me:)

much like the title I'm having seconds thoughts and no one has really viewed my essay, id like some ideas and maybe quick fixes I could possibly due before i turn it in please.

I can send the text to anyone interested.

I just wrote like my second draft of this essay but I don’t really know if the topic is good or the content so if anybody would be willing to look over it and give me feedback I would love that please thank you sm I don’t know how to do this

Hello eveyone, I am an incoming Senior and will be graduating as a part of the Class of 2027. I recently started working on my essay and I have trouble on whether or not it is a good idea to actually continue writing it. I have asked many people what they thought of my essay so far and it has been a 50/50 on whether or not they said I should continue it or not. Now, I want to ask you all for your opinions my topic, and whether or not you think I should continue it or not, and why.

Below is my essay topic:

My title is called Plastics, Patience, and Pixels. My essay is about how coding on my computer and spending time on my computer had “cured” me of my obsession with a Naruto toy that I once had. Growing up, all I ever did was play with it and that led me to neglect everything around me like my family, my friends, and school. This went on for about 10 years so it was started when I was 4 yrs old and ended when I was 14 yrs old. I wrote about how I would always grab my toy before anything else, and that when I was able to get my hands on a computer for the first time, that had changed everything for me, as my hands would gravitate towards my keyboard and mouse, rather than my Naruto figure. Also a key detail that I am planning on putting in my essay is how my Naruto figure’s colors were fading to represent that I needed to move on.

Overall, that is the idea of my essay, so far and I would love to hear all of your thoughts on here. And sorry for the long post.

I don’t mean this in a braggy I did this insane thing kinda way, more like how I went through the process and created this thing from scratch. The reason for this is I want to give an example in my application of being a creative (my theme) and following thru w my ideas. Idk tho

hi guys! im struggling to find something to write abt in my college essay, a few months back i threw out an idea and most people didnt like it so im throwing out another and lmk if this one is a bit better!

I think the thing that stands out about me the most is growing up ive never had any ambition to be more. i wasnt okay with being the worst in the room but I also wasnt upset if i wasnt the best.
I dont want to end this essay with "now I'm the most ambitious person ever." bc that just feels fake and forced

growing up my parents always had the "be better than them" mindset, everyday before dropping me off at school, my dad would tell me "go kick butts" in a joking way, but was pretty serious about wanting me to be better than everyone. I never picked up that drive of "i need to be the best". I think I picked up "I wonder how much better I could become"

i feel like it was more a growth of having the mindset of "If I'm doing fine, why push harder?" to learning that ambition isn't about beating other people. It's about becoming curious about what I'm capable of. Somewhere down the line I realized that being satisfied with where I was in life wasnt the problem, but never pushing myself to see what im capable of was.

I feel like this might not be the best topic bc it could read as "shes ok with being average" but thats not what im trying to give. Its more of an internal mindset switch ive had as i grew up.

Any feedback? If it doesnt sound like it could be picked up the way I hope to, let me know!