Be mysterious or intriguing. Your introduction needs to relate to the rest of
your essay, but there can be a small detail that makes the admissions officers
wonder what you are up to. Are you writing about how your music teacher
has influenced you? You might begin by describing him playing his cello in a
few detailed sentences. Don’t mention that he is your teacher, or that he has
helped shaped your love of music yet. The reader will wonder who the mys-
tery man is, and want to read on to find out.
■