College Essays

University of Michigan

Prompt: Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it (max 300 words).

Essay:
I’ve always loved food. The moment I transitioned from eating pureed peas to full size
meals marked the start of my journey into the food-loving community. I used to dread the times when traditional Indian meals were forced into my mouth however, now I pride myself on the diversity of food that I have been exposed to. As a child I never had input as to what restaurants my family ate at, and very often my meal was ordered for me. Over the years, as my palette developed, spaghetti and meatballs turned into sesame crusted tuna on a bed of pumpkin risotto. In the last month alone I’ve dined at restaurants specializing in Filipino, Greek, and Ethiopian cuisine.
My love of experiencing a cultural variety of food travels with me as I vacation
worldwide. No matter where I am, I choose where my family and I will dine. Hours of research factor into my decision as I read reviews, take note of Michelin stars, and evaluate the overall authenticity of each restaurant. As a self-proclaimed connoisseur I regularly converse with adults about new innovative recipes, and bond with them over their shared love of diverse dining. My love of various cuisines has led to my infatuation with the Food Network. To this day, every family dinner is marked by the familiar voice of Ted Allen saying “You have been chopped.” Ultimately, living life as a foodie has allowed me to watch how food truly does bring people of all backgrounds together as one.

Tips for Writing:
Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and take an abstract approach because there is not one specific answer that colleges are looking for. You do not need to reach the maximum word limit, I only used 253 out of 300 provided words in this prompt; there is no need to add words just to add them. When writing a short supplement ranging from 150-300 words try brainstorming multiple ideas and drafting essays for each idea because you may go in a completely different direction than you originally thought. Make sure to have teacher’s, counselors, and siblings read your essays because having even just one more set of eyes will give a great outside perspective. Don’t be afraid to add a little humor to the essay. Admissions officers are used to receiving dry, boring essays; however, if you can spice it up and make them laugh even a little that could give them some insight into the type of person you are. Don’t be cliche and do not save the essay for the last minute because it will not be your best work no matter what.

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