50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays

Feel Confident about Your Topic
“Leave plenty of time to write your essays. It took me a good two months 
to finally come up with my final product. I tried to use the topics provided first 
because I thought if I came up with my own topic they would not like it. I tried 
using two of their topics before I finally decided to take a chance and make my 
own. It was the best decision I made. I just did not feel confident about the 
other topics. I guess that is my other advice. Feel confident about your essay and 
the topic you choose. Make sure it highlights what you want everyone to know 
about you. Also, I would not recommend making up a story.”
—Victoria Tomaka, University of Chicago