How can I write a compelling college essay about my experience with dance?
Dancing has been a significant part of my life since I was five, and I'm seriously considering making it the focus of my college essay. But I'm worried that writing about dance might come across as cliché since it seems like a topic a lot of people choose. I've got personal stories about perseverance from injuries, teamwork during performances, and even how choreography has taught me discipline, but I'm not sure how to make my essay stand out.
For those who've written about dance or other common extracurriculars, what approaches made your essays unique? Is it better to write about one specific moment, or should I talk about how dance has shaped me as a person over time? Any advice or examples would really help as I'm pretty stuck on how to start.
For those who've written about dance or other common extracurriculars, what approaches made your essays unique? Is it better to write about one specific moment, or should I talk about how dance has shaped me as a person over time? Any advice or examples would really help as I'm pretty stuck on how to start.
4 months ago
•
18 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
Writing about dance can absolutely make for a compelling college essay—as long as you approach it with a unique perspective and focus on moments that genuinely shaped you. Since dance is a popular topic, specificity and authenticity are your key ingredients to making your story stand out.
Instead of giving a broad overview about how dance shaped your life, try zooming in on one specific moment or experience that had a profound impact. Think about a time connected to dance when you faced a difficult choice, confronted a fear, or learned something essential about yourself. Moments of vulnerability, surprise, or growth tend to make for the most memorable essays. For example, rather than explaining generally how you recovered from an injury, you might vividly recount the moment you realized your passion for choreography while sidelined, describing a small but meaningful event—like the first time someone performed a routine you created, and how that shifted your identity within your dance community.
You could also focus on a moment of conflict or realization that occurred during a rehearsal or performance. Maybe you clashed with a teammate over creative direction and had to figure out how to collaborate for the good of the group. Writing in detail about one such experience, including your thoughts, emotions, and what changed for you by the end, will offer admissions committees insight into how you think and respond to real-life challenges.
Here’s an approach to consider: open your essay with a vivid scene—maybe the tense silence backstage before a big competition, or the feeling of your feet refusing to move after your first injury. Let that single moment serve as a lens through which you discuss the bigger lessons dance taught you, like resilience, leadership, or creativity. That way, you’re showing, not telling, how dance shaped who you are, while anchoring your essay in a concrete story.
In summary: Specific, personal stories set your essay apart. Focus on a pivotal moment and use sensory details and reflection to illustrate your growth, rather than summarizing your dance journey. This will allow your passion and individuality to shine through, making your essay both compelling and memorable.
Instead of giving a broad overview about how dance shaped your life, try zooming in on one specific moment or experience that had a profound impact. Think about a time connected to dance when you faced a difficult choice, confronted a fear, or learned something essential about yourself. Moments of vulnerability, surprise, or growth tend to make for the most memorable essays. For example, rather than explaining generally how you recovered from an injury, you might vividly recount the moment you realized your passion for choreography while sidelined, describing a small but meaningful event—like the first time someone performed a routine you created, and how that shifted your identity within your dance community.
You could also focus on a moment of conflict or realization that occurred during a rehearsal or performance. Maybe you clashed with a teammate over creative direction and had to figure out how to collaborate for the good of the group. Writing in detail about one such experience, including your thoughts, emotions, and what changed for you by the end, will offer admissions committees insight into how you think and respond to real-life challenges.
Here’s an approach to consider: open your essay with a vivid scene—maybe the tense silence backstage before a big competition, or the feeling of your feet refusing to move after your first injury. Let that single moment serve as a lens through which you discuss the bigger lessons dance taught you, like resilience, leadership, or creativity. That way, you’re showing, not telling, how dance shaped who you are, while anchoring your essay in a concrete story.
In summary: Specific, personal stories set your essay apart. Focus on a pivotal moment and use sensory details and reflection to illustrate your growth, rather than summarizing your dance journey. This will allow your passion and individuality to shine through, making your essay both compelling and memorable.
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Camille Luong
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
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5.0 (5 reviews)