CollegeVine College Essay Team August 9, 2022 9 Essay Breakdowns,Essay Guides 2022-23

How to Write the Oregon State University Essays 2022-2023

Hint: this is about an event, but also about your core identity, culture, or values. You should use this space as an opportunity to explain aspects of your personal background that would not otherwise be readily apparent in your application. This could range from any academic performance difficulties to financial hardship your family is experiencing. Maybe you suffered from a concussion in your sophomore year, and your grades dropped because you had trouble focusing. Maybe you couldn’t participate in as many extracurriculars because your parents both worked, and you had to take care of your younger siblings. Or, maybe, your dyslexia is a major impediment in your learning. 

Make sure the problem is significant: while there is no right answer to the prompt, avoid superficial topics such as getting a C on a single test or bickering with your sibling. Writing about minor setbacks will make it seem like you haven’t thought hard enough about your autobiography.

The problem is only half the essay: whatever you choose to write about, demonstrate your ability to persevere and overcome something. Consider writing about: 

1. How your perspective changed
2. How your values changed
3. Something you had to compromise about
4. Strategies you used
5. A goal you set
6. A belief you gave up 
7. A fear you conquered

You have only 100 words: be brief! Avoid long, complicated anecdotes or metaphors, and explain yourself quickly.

Nod towards the future. Conclude by summarizing how your way of looking at the world is different, and what you plan to do with that knowledge. Mention any problems, either with yourself, your circles, or society, that you’ve been inspired to deal with. 

For example: 

“Whenever a teacher asks me to read aloud in class, I experience a feeling I can’t define. It straddles embarrassment and fear, frustration and anger. 

I have struggled with dyslexia my whole life. 

After years of specialists, I began to love reading, but only under certain conditions: privately and slowly. In class, I drag my finger along the words and try to remain calm. 

At first, I was frantic to “fix” myself, but I’m learning to accept that I read differently from others. Dyslexia will always be the albatross around my neck, and yet, I choose to keep climbing. I find the feeling of success is greater than the temporary embarrassment of inverting sentences or mispronouncing words. I’m not ashamed of dyslexia, because I want to show others that they shouldn’t be, either.”

This example is a good start, because it pinpoints a problem, highlights a personal shortcoming, and gestures to how the narrator solves her own problems and a larger, societal problem. 

It’s also fantastic in that it starts with a jolt of emotion and includes concrete details (“I drag my finger along the words”). And in an essay about reading, the Coleridge allusion doesn’t hurt, either. 

Your answer to this prompt should focus on how you will be inclusive and challenge discrimination.  At the forefront of your mind, remember: the question is not “What do you believe?” but “What will you do?” It may be a good idea to brainstorm a list of verbs. If you like certain OSU programs (nouns), what verbs to those programs perform.

Touch briefly on your motivation. This could be through a cultural backstory or “identity,” which can give you a sense of the actions you want to perform. For instance, someone who has experienced discrimination or ostracization might have a clearer view of what policies, laws, or initiatives are needed to address the problem. Note that “identity” isn’t a concrete list of topics OSU wants you to pick from: don’t feel like you have to come at this through the traditional descriptors of race, color, class, gender, creed, and sexuality. You may not feel qualified, and you may not want to discuss such sensitive topics. Instead, you could talk about other “identities”: a misunderstood hobby; regional origins; speech patterns or dialect; types of learners; access to computers and resources; clothing and appearance; lifestyles and cultural differences; housing; age; intra-group conflict; etc. 

Instead of “identity,” you might choose to orient your essay through a values lens instead. How have your values shaped who you are? How do your values alight with OSU’s values of acceptance, diversity, and inclusion?

Remember to relate it back to OSU. They actually hide the most important part of the prompt towards the beginning, and that’s OSU’s environment. Although your inspiration for combating oppression might come from a distant place, like your parents’ time living in the USSR, you should angle your focus back to what you want to do on campus. 

Here’s an example: 

“Growing up, my seven-person family lived in a two-bedroom apartment. I wore secondhand, dated clothes, which drew ridicule from my classmates. When I came home crying, my mother would play the song “Coat of Many Colors” by Dolly Parton—a ballad which teaches us that being rich with love is the only thing that matters. 

Dolly made me feel better, but I wish her kindness towards those with financial problems could have been practiced culturally and publicly – not just in the privacy of our home. And because finances is such a pressing topic in college, I want to do my part to make its discussion less taboo. My current priorities include volunteering as a tutor for students in need and pressing health centers to address socioeconomic obstacles to services. As an aspiring engineer, I would also love to join OSU’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders, to apply my skills at design towards needed projects in disadvantaged regions.” 

It might seem like 100 words isn’t enough, however, you should be able to pack in a lot of details! This essay “works” because it presents a quick anecdote about how this goal is personal to you (in this case, a personal experience with poverty) and your goals to make this interest actionable at OSU (Engineers Without Borders, volunteering, etc.).

For this question, it’s best to begin with a clear list of 1-2 general goals, and then move into specific actions towards them. Don’t think small: a general goal might be a broad characteristic you want to acquire (cosmopolitan, organized, financially stable). By having such a large goal, you will 1) be able to think of contributing actions and projects more easily, and 2) show OSU your priorities on a macro level. Big goals and life aspirations aren’t bounded by time: for example, my Italian 102 class might be over, but my desire to reconnect with my family’s roots in Palermo is a lifelong quest that will continue to bear fruit. 

Remember the limit. Because you only have 100 words, forego flowery language and anecdotes, although you should still put some interesting detail into your chosen example (“that demonstrates your work ethic”). 

Brainstorm examples of “work ethic.” This could mean a lot of things. Food for thought:

1. A project that took an exceptionally long time
2. A project for which you hunted down elusive information
3. A subject that pushed you out of your comfort zone
4. A journey with multiple long steps
5. A time you stayed up late, or got up early
6. A time you were on the cusp of giving up
7. A risk you took
8. An instance where you were tempted to cut corners or cheat
9. A time you paid attention to the smallest detail
10. A time others told you your product was “good enough,” but you kept perfecting it
11. Something that required an investment of effort, money, or resources
12. A task that put you through boredom, tedium, or pain

OSU wants to hear that you’re willing to engage in the parts of your interest that don’t involve “fun,” “passion,” or “inspiration.”

Your essay might look something like this, or follow a similar structure:

“My goals have always been simple: to do my personal best, treat others kindly, and foster a welcoming community. While all of these can intersect, I have found myself emphasizing “community,” especially in my final year of high school. After four years on the Student Council, I noticed a massive inequity between the lowerclassmen and the upperclassmen. Freshman and sophomores were often scared to speak at meetings, and sometimes, offered no contributions to the discussion. Inspired by my brother, who attends OSU, I brought in a copy of routine Guidelines for Dialogue: assume best intentions, don’t interrupt, and acknowledge impact versus intent. For two weeks, I kept data on how often members spoke, which proved the disparity. I presented it to the Council, and I offered a 3-Step Plan to make all voices heard. It was a success, and our community became more welcoming. I should know: I kept logging the data.”

This is an effective answer, because it presents a broad goal (“community”) at the outset – and also in the conclusion. The narrator discusses a concrete strategy that demonstrates “work ethic” – in this case, going above and beyond to generate persuasive data. Even without the bonus points for having an OSU brother, this essay would mark the applicant as someone who walks the walk when it comes to goals.

Where to Get Your OSU Honors College Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your OSU essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool, where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!