She wrote her “Ivy League Essay” about Costco. And hot dogs.
Brittany Stinson’s academic excellence and her captivating Costco essay opened the doors to some of the most prestigious universities in the world. Let’s explore each of these institutions and the significance of her acceptance into not just one, but five Ivy League schools, along with Stanford University.
WHY IT WORKED: Describing a regular shopping trip to Costco may not sound revolutionary, but in this case, it worked because it served as a clever, original way to show her curiosity and advanced understanding of human dynamics and consumerism. This essay also uses humor and wit successfully to highlight her personality. Some key quotes: "I was a conquistador, but rather than searching the land for El Dorado, I scoured aisles for free samples. Before inevitably being whisked away into a shopping cart, I scaled a mountain of plush toys and surveyed the expanse that lay before me: the kingdom of Costco. I contemplated the philosophical: If there exists a thirty three ounce jar of Nutella, do we really have free will?" (Read more about and her full essay ).
But what really set her apart was her now-famous “Costco essay” that got her accepted into not one but five Ivy League schools. In this blog, we’ll delve into Brittany Stinson’s GPA, her Costco essay, and the Ivy League schools that recognized her outstanding potential.
One such standout piece is the now-infamous Costco essay.
I wouldn’t have kept the “apex of consumerism” line. Like, it is. But that’s not what this Costco essay is about. That implies her favorite thing about Costco is supporting free-market capitalism.
Stinson's essay began, "Managing to break free from my mother's grasp, I charged. With arms flailing and chubby legs fluttering beneath me, I was the ferocious two year old rampaging through Costco on a Saturday morning. My mother's eyes widened in horror as I jettisoned my churro; the cinnamonsugar rocket gracefully sliced its way through the air while I continued my spree."
The Costco essay serves as a reminder that your child’s college essay does not have to be a story about overcoming adversity or an in-depth account of your child’s path to an academic or extracurricular achievement. With careful execution, any topic can be used to help your child convince an admissions committee that they would be a great addition to the student body.
"The essay is really where it's important to show your personality and what gets you going," she told ABC News. "I knew that an essay about Costco would certainly be memorable -- whether the admissions' officer liked it or not."
The Costco Essay Deconstructed
In the following Q&A about her Costco essay, Brittany took the time to share details, advice and tips about how she brainstormed and wrote her Costco essay. How generous is that?
I dont think the Costco essay is exceptional, heres my opinion
Do you know what my actual takeaway is after reading through this whole thing again? This essay didn’t need to be about Costco. There is another, near-identical essay in which this girl is at an amusement park, or playground, or ice cream shop, or anywhere else with lots of exciting things that you can interact with. Finding wonderment in the only somewhat-extraordinary is a thematic device that extends well past a particular big-box store.
Ill Write About the Awe-inspiring Costco Essay
Of course the Costco essay played a role in her admissions coup—though it’s impossible to know how much it counted. And Brittany says she put a lot of effort into and crafting a readable piece that revealed her personality and character.
The Costco Essay: What Makes It So Good?
Hi! This is Brittany! The girl who wrote the essay above. Funnily enough, I actually used this website to help guide a lot of my application essays, including this one. So I guess this would be the perfect opportunity to say thank you! I feel like my essays definitely strengthened my entire application.
Essay About Love for Costco Wins Student Admission to Five Ivies
Besides the predictable backlash from Internet trolls and haters, the assumption that this Costco essay earned Brittany all these stellar acceptances disturbed her the most.
Lessons from a Winning Ivy League Essay on Costco
All Costco is in this essay is a vehicle for her to explain how she thinks and feels. I covered it in the “Show don’t tell” section after the second paragraph. And that is by far the most compelling paragraph in the essay. I found myself less enamored with what came after, simply because I don’t think I got that same sense of discovery or interest about either the store or her.