## Brilliant college essay idea
One applicant structured the entire college application essay as a forensic analysis of the random contents of a backpack. The piece examined gum wrappers, crumpled notes and other small items as if they were evidence in an investigation.
> One applicant wrote his entire essay as a forensic analysis of the random items in his backpack. Gum wrappers, crumpled notes ...
The everyday objects became clues to habits, memories and personality, turning a simple inventory into a revealing narrative.
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**Author’s summary:** A college applicant turned a backpack’s clutter into a mock forensic report, using gum wrappers and crumpled notes as “evidence” to reveal character in a witty, memorable essay.
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Yahoo — 2025-11-29