Lessons from Brittany Stinson’s Viral College Application
Words: 2301 1193Introduction In 2016, high school senior Brittany Stinson gained widespread attention when her college application essay went viral. The essay, which helped secure her admission to five Ivy League schools and Stanford, used an extended metaphor comparing her intellectual curiosity to childhood experiences at Costco. The "Costco essay," as it came to be known, transcended its original purpose as an admissions document to become a cultural touchpoint in discussions about college applications, personal narratives, and effective writing strategies. Its success […]