I have an essay due Sunday which I have really labored over but I can't find the right way to write it. I have started and erased so many first paragraphs. The essay is:
At Villanova, we believe that an educational experience should transform hearts and minds. Please explain why you seek to become part of the Villanova community and the reason(s) behind your choice of academic major.

Does anyone have any ideas about how to make this more interesting while answering the question?

Thanks.

I think we would have to know what your major is in order to really help, since that's half of the question. That part of the question makes sense, but I have to say that the "transforming hearts and minds" is utter bullcrap. What the heck do they expect you to say? lol... I hate nonsense questions like this.

I beg to differ here. Proper, guided education can indeed transform minds and hearts. People usually stick to their own opinions. Everyone has that "i know all, i am right" sort of attitude. But during the course of your education, if exposed to the right environment and if guided well, ideas once thought were right, can be proved wrong, and vice versa (as long as you are not a staunch stubborn man of steel). Ofcourse, arguments also educate, for that matter.

I would advise you against erasing out whatever you have written. First, jot down anything and everything that comes to your mind, however silly it may sound at that time. Dont delete any idea or sentence till you finish your essay. Let your mind run wild. Once you have enough material to start contemplating, then you can put the puzzles together. You may be astonished with the beautiful end result this technique produces. I have personally experienced that physically erasing out some sentences also leads to that idea being permanently erased from my mind also. It is very hard to recollect or get back to it.
PS: This may not be relevant to your vilanova essay, but this was a general advise. Hope I didnt mislead you.

I hope I'm not too late to jump on this band wagon. But you might try using a tape recorder. Tell someone (while you tape) what made you choose Villanova and what you hope to get out of going to school there (besides a degree). Then just translate that to paper.

If you really want to score, align your response with the goals and missions of the university.

They'll be listed on the web site. Just mention a few or all of them in the context of your major, career, etc., and you're locked.

When I have no idea what to type, I just type lots, then edit. When you kick out a lot of thoughts and get them on paper then you have something to rearrange. If it's still in your head, you're still back where you started.

I am in a bit of a dilemma concerning my essays for Nova. It is kind of confusing but hopefully some of you will be able to help me.

I wrote one essay, which I am using for all of my schools, that focuses on a retreat which I attended and its effect on me. This essay fits perfectly into the Villanova essay prompt about a time where you have been transformed. However I need to write another essay for the common app. I am using the common app for two other schools besides Villanova and therefore would like to use this essay for my common app so that my other schools get it. This would of course mean that Nova would get the same essay twice.

For the Nova essay I would alter it to discuss some different things which I did not go into detail about in the main essay. Would this be acceptable or would they view this as lazy? I am having trouble thinking of another "transformation" experience which I could write about and I dont want to submit a poor essay. The only other option I have been able to come up with would be to write about 9/11 and its impact on me. I live in Brooklyn, so 9/11 had a great impact on my life and my community but I feel like the essay might be a little too cliche.

Sorry for the long post but if anybody could offer me any s***estions I would greatly appreciate it as I only have a few more days to sort this out.
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