Posts by hutch428

hutch428

Dec 19, 2011

Graduate / Application information for a foreign person (the whole essay is to fit in 1 page?) [2]

If it says __ pages double spaced, it means they want you to fill up that much of the page already double spaced. I.E. if they said 1/2 page double spaced, they want you to write 1/4 page single spaced. 1 page double spaced = 1/2 page single spaced.

a 1/2 page double spaced essay seems really short.... what school is that?

hutch428

Dec 19, 2011

Undergraduate / 'Computer as the greatest source of inormation' - MIT Pleasure Essay [6]

Thank you for that extremely insightful and thought-provoking comment. I don't think I would have gotten in anywhere with out your statement that my essay is "kind of listy".

What would anyone suggest i change?

hutch428

Dec 19, 2011

Undergraduate / 'Building my own desktop computer' MIT Pleasure Essay [3]

MIT Pleasure Essay

We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do for the pleasure of it. (*)(100 words or fewer)

After about 3 months of research and persuasion, I finally convinced my parents to allow me to build my own desktop computer in the winter of 2010. Since then, my computer has been one of my greatest sources not only for information, but also for entertainment. Whether I'm browsing YouTube, playing competitive Team Fortress 2 matches with my team, editing recorded clips of those matches into movies, or simply talking with friends on AIM, I have found that when I have the time to do something just for enjoyment, I can always find that enjoyment in front of my computer.

What is your take on this essay? Still too listy? Or is it good?

I also have the beginning part of this essay, if anyone has suggestions as to how to change the beginning or if i should dive into the essay, don't hesitate to respond.

What attribute of your personality are you most proud of, and how has it impacted your life so far? This could be your creativity, effective leadership, sense of humor, integrity, or anything else you'd like to tell us about. (*) (200-250 words)

For 3 years, I did nothing but fall during my attempts to snowboard down the bunny hill at Blue Mountain in the Poconos. But I never quit and went back to skiing, even though I knew I was a good skier. And it paid off; as I write this essay, I am on the plane to Colorado to board down the un-groomed terrain of Copper Mountain.

hutch428

Dec 19, 2011

Undergraduate / Life is a Game - Common App Essay (Stanford, Harvard, Columbia) [7]

Maybe you should condense it into a single game, instead of talking about 3 alone. The essay seems too much like a "3-pronged" essay that you are forced to write in freshman year of high school.

The games of Angry Birds and Risk just seem to be subsets of Scrabble in this essay. Instead of talking about how parts of your life are like different games, talk about how parts of your life are like parts of a single game, possibly Scrabble, or possibly the others: it's your choice.

If you condense this into an essay only about 1 game, I don't think you will have difficulty cutting it down to the 500 word limit.

Also, by the way, Common App does give a little bit of leg room with the essay. If you go a little over the limit, but the essay fits in the designated space, then you should be fine.

hutch428

Dec 19, 2011

Undergraduate / 'Computer as the greatest source of inormation' - MIT Pleasure Essay [6]

I don't really think you understand the essay very well. Building a computer is not a hobby, it's a 1 time thing that you do once every maybe 5 years. The essay was more about what i do on my computer. I built the computer so i could do the things that i mentioned in the essay. I also dont really think the MIT admissions officers will care all that much about the contents of my computer in an essay in which i am supposed to write about what i do for fun.

hutch428

Dec 19, 2011

Undergraduate / 'Computer as the greatest source of inormation' - MIT Pleasure Essay [6]

This is my essay response to the MIT question: We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do for the pleasure of it. (*)(100 words or fewer)

Since I built it in the winter of 2010, my computer has been one of my greatest sources not only for information, but also for entertainment. Whether I'm browsing YouTube for informative or funny videos, having 6-player Minecraft adventures with some friends on my server, reading headlines on Google News, playing competitive Team Fortress 2 matches with my team, editing recorded clips of those matches into movies, or simply talking with friends on AIM, I have found that when I have the time to do something just for enjoyment, I can always find that enjoyment in front of my computer.

I don't have much of a problem with the form of the essay (although if you have suggestions, feel free to add them), mainly I'm worried about content. Does this answer the question? Is it too listy? If it is too listy, how should I fix it?

Essay limit is 100 words, essay is 100 words :/

Thanks ahead of time.