Grinnell Supplement essay - what makes me an individual

Grinnell College is a place where students come to be part of a distinctive community. Tell us what makes you an individual and what you could bring to Grinnell, but also tell us about what you wish to take away from Grinnell College.

I may not be outstanding and great. I am a normal person, but I am unique because of my efforts to contribute.

My parents are doctors, who dedicate to improving the conditions of patients. Infected by my parents, I am engaged in helping people in need in my daily life. I offer seats for people in need in the bus; I help the blind go across the street; I volunteer to teach poor primary students; I organize a group of people to struggle for the better living of children slavery; I raised fund for the victims of earthquakes. Although what I do seem to be trivial, I am proud that I can stick to devoting for many years. I can rest in satisfaction of knowing that I do improve other people's lives. In the same time, I realize that I should learn more and cooperate with excellent and motivated people to achieve more.

I wish I could bring my willing to help to Grinnell. I understand that people in Grinnell are outstanding and great and I dream to be one of them. I want to organize people together and do things meaningful, which, I believe will not be trivial.

It would be my honor and prestige if I could attend Grinnell and contribute to Grinnell community with my full strength. I can meet the best teachers and the most passionate and smartest students, with whom I can share my dream of making the world a better place. I hope the knowledge necessary for achieving my goal and good relationships with the teachers and students are what I take away from Grinnell.

I wonder if I have answered the question clearly and exprssively. I want to show my readiness to help others and devote to the society. I want to show my willing to make friends with teachers and students and work together to contribute.

Thanks for any advice for revising the short essay :)

I apply for Grinnell too so please raise your awareness :))
"Although what I do seem to be trivial," (quoted) I think you should not be pessimistic of yourself. What you have done (as described in your essay) to me looks great :)) so you might think of deleting that sentence. And I think you should elaborate more on this essay.

Hope we both get in :))
goodluck,

Thanks very much for your advice.
I wonder if I have answered the question clearlly and expressively?

Hey I think it should be around 500 characters not 500 words.

I know, but uploading document is allowed, so I think there is actually no limit.
Thanks anyway :)

Actually from the essay prompt, it looks like 500 characters seem too little to adequately answer the prompt. So do double check at the admission website. :)

If the word limit is 500 characters, instead of 500 words, I would advise that you should stay close to that word limit. A little bit over 500 characters is fine. I guess the admission officers had their reasons for capping the word count at 500 characters (e.g. test our language abilty to write concise and succint content) if that is the case.

All the best :)

I am applying to Grinnell College too.
I am having trouble with writing first essay question. how did you elaborate your essay?
could you give me some examples?
and im not quite sure if i can write more than 500 characters either on the website or seperate documents

well, I just said that I first learnt Grinnell from Grinnell students in a foreign forum. And I then talked in few sentences about why Grinnell attracts me academically. I think you do not need to talk much in the first essay.