Personal statement agony over here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, I'll play assuming that this isn't a free ad for the service referenced above.

Just write the 4th essay about why a college application's requirement of more than 3 essays is inappropriate.

I second this suggestion. Perhaps also go on about how personal statements are easily game-able, coach-able, and generally reward privileged students with lots of resources already. Perhaps also argue that they are racist. Then pivot to how, as a student at this school, you would seek to volunteer in the admissions office to try to drive positive change in the school's admissions policies.

This is exactly the kind of righteous impertinence that admissions folks love, for some reason.

[Anonymous]

In my experience, if there are multiple questions, at least a couple of them are pretty targeted. It's not four versions of "tell me about yourself." Are there any specific questions or unusual prompts that can relieve the pressure of talking about himself?

[Anonymous]

One student got in by writing “Black lives matter” in all of the allowable space provided it worked. Got him into Stanford. Google it.

[Anonymous]

Taking Stanford off the list, thanks for the heads up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Taking Stanford off the list, thanks for the heads up!

I'm sure you were a shoo-in.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, in retrospect, I think the essay writing and thinking about who he is etc. was good for my kid. It was a pain at the time, but that kind of reflective work just before you start college does have some purpose beyond just meeting application hoops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One student got in by writing “Black lives matter” in all of the allowable space provided it worked. Got him into Stanford. Google it.

Not surprising, they are always looking for the "edgy" kid to add spice to the sea of whites and Asians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One student got in by writing “Black lives matter” in all of the allowable space provided it worked. Got him into Stanford. Google it.

Must have been so refreshing to the admissions office. I know a kid with a ONE WORD essay accepted to Stanford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One student got in by writing “Black lives matter” in all of the allowable space provided it worked. Got him into Stanford. Google it.

He was pretty accomplished though...this isn't just a flukey gimic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One student got in by writing “Black lives matter” in all of the allowable space provided it worked. Got him into Stanford. Google it.

Must have been so refreshing to the admissions office. I know a kid with a ONE WORD essay accepted to Stanford.

The ONE WORD essay kid had a pretty unique life story and was very talented. Glad it worked for him (he's a small business owner today).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe this isn’t the school for him.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One student got in by writing “Black lives matter” in all of the allowable space provided it worked. Got him into Stanford. Google it.

Must have been so refreshing to the admissions office. I know a kid with a ONE WORD essay accepted to Stanford.

The ONE WORD essay kid had a pretty unique life story and was very talented. Glad it worked for him (he's a small business owner today).

He was getting in anyway, the one word essay was insignificant and thus meaningless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One student got in by writing “Black lives matter” in all of the allowable space provided it worked. Got him into Stanford. Google it.

He was pretty accomplished though...this isn't just a flukey gimic.

* gimmick

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One student got in by writing “Black lives matter” in all of the allowable space provided it worked. Got him into Stanford. Google it.

He was pretty accomplished though...this isn't just a flukey gimic.

Not really. Elite black students from elite NE private prep school. He knew the game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell your son to go out for a run and think of a personal statement. Of who he is and what he’s about.
And stay out of it, parent! You griping about HIS essay for HIS college application is making it harder for him. If he wants to attend this school, he writes the fourth essay (using nothing from the first three!).

When you have a difficult problem at work, do you not brainstorm/discuss with your colleagues? There's no reason that he can't get help from his parents to figure out a *4th* essay topic, which would be difficult for anyone.

Yes but this is not a “difficult problem” and this is something that can only be answered by your son.

And no, it really isn’t difficult for everyone.