Hey everyone. These are my Tufts Supplement essays, please read them and tell me what you think! There's a 200 word limit on each (but they said it was okay to go over a bit). Really nervous about putting it up. Thanks!!
--------------------------
There is a Quaker saying: ''Let your life speak.'' Describe the environment in which you were raised--your family, home, neighborhood or community--and how it influenced the person you are today.
"GO TO SCHOOL" has been drilled into my head since I was young. Even when I was shooting snot out of my nose like cannon fire, my parents told me to go to school. At the age of six, I was confused as to why they were so adamant about going to school. I didn't see it as anything particularly important at the time. After all, school consisted of chatting with friends, playing tag and singing songs. To my parents however, it was the most important aspect of living in America. Despite making little money each month, my parents never hesitated when I showed interest in a new book or expressed need for more pencils and paper. When I begged them for a Gameboy, Pokemon cards, or candy, I got shot down instantly.
Their persistence and support of me going to school taught me the importance of foresight: to look at everything and see how it would affect me in the future. While candy lasted a couple of minutes, cards a couple of weeks and Game boys a year or so, I realized that an education would last me a lifetime. This way of looking at things allowed me to sit through classes where I feel little interest in. Even if I didn't like the class, I forced myself to like it anyway because it may help my the future. And that's what I'm after-- the future.
---------------------------------------
Self-identity and personal expression take many forms. Use the richness of your life to give us insight: Who are you?
I am an indecisive person who takes a long time to order at a restaurant. When the waiter comes up to me and asks, "Ready to order?", my first response would almost always be, "Oh no, they all look so good! I just can't decide!" The waiter would then leave me for another five or so minutes to return to the same, "Oh please, just another couple of minutes!"
Many people misinterpret this part of me as needing guidance. In actuality, it's the opposite. I take pride in deciding what I want to eat; it just takes me a heck of a long time to do it. I would look at each item on the menu and ask myself a series of questions. For example, when I see something new on the menu, questions like these would pop in my head: a) Is this good?; b) do I want to eat this?; c) what's that on the plate?; d) how big is it?; e) can I afford it?; f) would I be too full for practice later?; g) do I want this or that?; h) should I get a drink?; and i) what happens if I don't like it? In the end though, all of that consideration goes to waste and I decide to choose my usual. I guess I'm not much of a risk-taker either. People call me "a picky eater" or suffering from "OCD"-- I don't. I call it planning ahead.
I'm also applying to Tufts =) and I really like your responses a lot. I can completely relate to you first response because my parents were like that too.
Just one thing>> in the first response you said: "...classes where I feel little interest in. Even if I didn't like the class, I forced myself to like it anyway because it may help my the future."
It's good to be honest, but I don't know if you want to say that you "forced yourself to LIKE classes." Maybe you could say your perspective allowed you to sit through "challenging classes." Or it allowed you to "persevere through the class because you knew they would benefit you in the future." (something along the lines of that ) I just think that it might not be the best to say that you forced yourself to like something--how about, you gave yourself the chance to learn to like a class??
Well, this is just a suggestion, so if you like it the way you have it, that is fine too. Overall, I do like your responses though. I think they're very good =)
Their persistence and support of my education taught me the importance of foresight: to look at everything and see how it would affect me in the future.
This way of looking at things allowed me to sit through classes that I felt little interest in. Even if I didn't like the class, I forced myself to like it anyway because it may help my the future. And that's what I'm after-- the future.
---------------------------------------
OOPS I just read yfungs response and realized this has already been edited perfectly:)
good luck in school!!
