Topic for PS Forum

[Nicolena]

I am just having a really hard time coming up with a topic. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[rinkrat19]

Unless there's more to the story, I can't imagine how that topic would hold the reader's interest for very long. Plus it makes you sound kind of flaky, changing life direction after a long conversation with one person.

That said, a good enough writer can make 2 pages about sharpening pencils compelling. But that would take a REALLY good writer.

[Nicolena]

Unless there's more to the story, I can't imagine how that topic would hold the reader's interest for very long. Plus it makes you sound kind of flaky, changing life direction after a long conversation with one person.

That said, a good enough writer can make 2 pages about sharpening pencils compelling. But that would take a REALLY good writer.

What did you write about in your PS? What made you decide on that topic?

[rinkrat19]

Unless there's more to the story, I can't imagine how that topic would hold the reader's interest for very long. Plus it makes you sound kind of flaky, changing life direction after a long conversation with one person.

That said, a good enough writer can make 2 pages about sharpening pencils compelling. But that would take a REALLY good writer.

What did you write about in your PS? What made you decide on that topic?

I wrote about my college major, my job, my childhood, what magazines my parents kept in the bathroom when I was a kid, the sports I participate in, and a general theme of 'passion.' It wasn't the most fascinating piece of writing on the planet, but it had a lot about what makes me 'me'.

[nsbane]

The best way to get ideas is to read other PSs. There are books out there that have dozens of them. I bought 55 Successful Harvard Law School Application Essays - it's $11 on Amazon.

You don't have to read them all the way through. You pick it up once in a while and read a couple. And then take a week or two off, with it in the back of your mind, and then pick the book back up again and read it some more. You can see what other people wrote, get a feel for what you are "allowed" to do. I read a few that started out with a line of dialogue, the essay starting out in the middle of action (in medias res). It was amazingly effective. I didn't realize you were "allowed" to start a PS with a line of dialogue. But you can.

And then you also see what other people chose for topics, and you can reflect about your own life, what you could possibly use to say the same thing, or communicate the same idea.

Good luck. Hopefully you are sending your application in this fall and not trying to make the February deadline, so you have a lot of time.

[Moriarty]

Making a list helps. Lists of things you are proud of, life-moving events, role models, favorites, etc. can definitely move you in the right direction. Or write about something you're passionate about--that will make writing the PS easier. When your list is done, you can narrow down choices by impact/import/etc and write on the one that appeals to you most.

HTH