College Essay - Who Needs the Personal Perspective?

College Essay - Who Needs the Personal Perspective?The personal perspective is a central theme in most all of the college essays that I write. It is a primary concern of students during their college career. And it will probably be the predominant topic of the next four years of college. The personal perspective in a college essay is what will allow a student to establish that he or she has a unique viewpoint on a given topic, that he or she understands that one way or another, everyone has a view, and that this particular viewpoint does not necessarily need to agree with others.All too often, though, the personal perspective is pushed aside in favor of a view that can easily be characterized as the 'correct' view. In such cases, it can sometimes make sense to simply repeat the points made in the majority opinion, but it is more effective if you take a little time to find a way to distinguish yourself from the majority viewpoint.One way to achieve this in a college essay is to use al l the persuasive arguments that you can think of in your favor. Of course, your personal perspective should be part of every argument you make, so be sure to discuss this whenever you make a point of opinion. If, for example, you are critical of the prevalence of smoking in the movies, then by all means, state the reasons for this in your college essay.Remember, however, that if your personal perspective is clearly incorrect, you will need to bring this up in the essay. No essay can survive the loss of a reader because of the omission of an argument that supported a view that is not supported by the facts. So, think carefully about what your point of view on the subject really is, and be prepared to defend it.Another way to separate yourself from the crowd when writing a college essay about a particular topic is to offer a different perspective. Often, in a highly intellectual field like law or medicine, one can speak about a personal situation that is unique. For example, a person- in-law might tell of his discovery of a new case that stands out as being more favorable than the others that had come before it. If you have a different perspective, you might consider using this to differentiate yourself from the crowd.For example, law students might mention that they discovered an old case that has been neglected for years. Students in some other area of study might mention that they have found an alternate answer to a problem that is very hard to explain. Be creative and find places in your life where you have had to take on a new viewpoint. This may even be enough to convince a majority of the judges and editors that the college essay is worth a read.On the other hand, if your personal perspective seems to be all over the place, it may be time to consult an experienced student who can help you navigate that minefield. One way to come to terms with a bad personal perspective is to consult with an expert. They may help you see things in a different way that you d id not before.You have to realize that whatever you do, there is no substitute for coming to grips with your own personal perspective. Thus, it is really important that you have a sense of humor and don't expect to win every argument you get into!