Posts by flemtendo

flemtendo

Oct 31, 2010

Undergraduate / "Basketball and other aspects of sport" - Common App Extracurricular Short Answer [6]

I wouldn't have that concluding statement. It's obvious that you're just trying to impress an AdCom. It doesn't really sound natural.

Here's the way I like to look at this essay (common app activity): Can my extracurricular be replaced with another one? Is your essay unique to you and your experience playing basketball, or could a hockey player use it for his essay, simply replacing basketball and related content with hockey things.

For the most part, yours is pretty unique to you, its just you try to be too dramatic and impressive. Make it you. Not everything has to be a story.

flemtendo

Oct 31, 2010

Undergraduate / "Snowflake" - Common App essay-describe the influence of a person [6]

It's not too long. Too long is over 1100 words, I'd say. So worry more about your voice, grammar, and effect.

flemtendo

Oct 30, 2010

Undergraduate / "Curiosity Didn't Kill Me" - Critique on Common App Essay [6]

I assume this is for a supplement.

I think it's good, but I'm not sure if I would add the "Buffalo is right for me. Here's why..." part that the end. But then again, it works. And according to pragmatism, whatever works is good, so have at it.

As you have been told to stay away from the "look how I've changed essays," I have been told to not bring up the school. You've got a few grammar problems, but I'm sure your editors will pick them up. Print out the essay and scrutinize it that way. Its much easier than doing it on the computer.

flemtendo

Oct 30, 2010

Undergraduate / Unspoken standard? Inquiry about Common App Activity essay [6]

Some people find ways and personally I think it just says, "I TRYING TO IMPRESS YOU!"

flemtendo

Oct 30, 2010

Undergraduate / Unspoken standard? Inquiry about Common App Activity essay [6]

Hi all

Most essays that I've seen for the activity prompt on the Common App ("Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in the space below (150 words or fewer)") are written in anecdotal form where the author develops his activity through storytelling.

Is this a sort of unspoken standard? Because personally, I don't like that style for answering such a straightforward question.

However, the question might be furtively specific, asking the applicant to "briefly elaborate" a single extracurricular experience... Am I preaching to the choir or speaking nonsense here? I don't know.

I'd like to write about water polo because it is so important to me, but do I talk about it in a broad sense and the effects it has had on me, or do I limit myself to a specific event, incorporating the lessons I learned from that experience?

I'll post my essay(s) in a bit. I'll do one for each way I brought up.

Thanks.