NY Times on new application essays dabbling in so-called "identities"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what it means not to partake in "identification". Are you saying that your kid refuses to answer questions about their gender, or religion, or nationality, or family status or hobbies?

Everyone I know identifies as something.

If you're a white male, cis/het, not religious, UMC, family been here a long time and intermixed (generic European), truly what is there to say?

I'm not in this category but I feel like these Qs should be optional. Otherwise it is very cringe and fake.

You could write about your identity as teacher, scientist, artist, craftsman, writer, big brother, etc. What led you to define yourself as you do today.

College AO: "Oh, not a minority, then, or you would have mentioned it? On the reject pile you go."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what it means not to partake in "identification". Are you saying that your kid refuses to answer questions about their gender, or religion, or nationality, or family status or hobbies?

Everyone I know identifies as something.

If you're a white male, cis/het, not religious, UMC, family been here a long time and intermixed (generic European), truly what is there to say?

I'm not in this category but I feel like these Qs should be optional. Otherwise it is very cringe and fake.

Just pivot from non LGBTQ etc to something else that is a part of your identity. Legos. La Crosse. Summer spent flipping burgers at Wendy's. You can tell a good story about a glass jar. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bottle_Imp
You can tell a good story about an aspect of your personality, real or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a nothingburger. Sure, a kid *could* write about their race or gender, but much more interesting probably would be about identifying as or experience with so many other things!

The only one in their family not into sports
Someone who's only lived in suburbia
Someone who's traveled a lot or not at all
A perfectionist
Someone who always felt people had low expectations for them
A victim of a crime
Afraid of heights
A dog person
A good cook
Got really lost somewhere
Someone others looked up to or down on
First in family to go to college
Midwesterner
New Yorker
Child of parent with an interesting job that affected their life
Rollercoaster fanatic
...

Colleges have probably seen all those things a million times, and admissions officers are surely bored with them. Millions of kids applying every year, it is next to impossible to write a truly unique essay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everything about college these days...from the admissions process to the day to day culture of what "matters"... seems so backwardass stupid - I'm embarrassed for the administrators and the parents buying into it all....

Then why do you want to go to those colleges?

Part of choosing a college is choosing a community to join. If you don't value diversity in your community, why would you want to join a community like Harvard that places a high value on it? There are plenty of colleges you can get into based on stats alone. Often they are less expensive. Why not go there?

dp.. because many of them provide the launching pad to great careers and high paying jobs.

If you're elite enough to be able to get into a school like Harvard, then you do have an identity whether you like it or not.

I can just see it now... "How being rich shaped me: It's hard being rich. I have to live up to my parents' expectations. But, if I don't, I'll at least have my trust fund to live off of. So, AO reading this essay, being rich shaped me to not have to worry about anything. Never really had to work for anything. My identity is wrapped in my parents' money."

No the angle there is that you hate your parents greed, or your parents want to spend their money giving back, and you want to go to school to learn how to run a global nonprofit to to uplift poor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everything about college these days...from the admissions process to the day to day culture of what "matters"... seems so backwardass stupid - I'm embarrassed for the administrators and the parents buying into it all....

Then why do you want to go to those colleges?

Part of choosing a college is choosing a community to join. If you don't value diversity in your community, why would you want to join a community like Harvard that places a high value on it? There are plenty of colleges you can get into based on stats alone. Often they are less expensive. Why not go there?

dp.. because many of them provide the launching pad to great careers and high paying jobs.

If you're elite enough to be able to get into a school like Harvard, then you do have an identity whether you like it or not.

I can just see it now... "How being rich shaped me: It's hard being rich. I have to live up to my parents' expectations. But, if I don't, I'll at least have my trust fund to live off of. So, AO reading this essay, being rich shaped me to not have to worry about anything. Never really had to work for anything. My identity is wrapped in my parents' money."

Well, such uncreativity would NOT get you in. If you're actually smart enough you can craft an identity that doesn't make you sound like a prick.

Also why are you implying only rich people are elite enough academically to get into Harvard? I mean yes, I'm sure it helps. But there are kids who go to Harvard from the middle class and below.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The people opposed to this only do so because they think race or gender are the only way people identify and they are afraid that being white and cis may hamper their kid's college app.

But it is BS because there are so many ways your identity is defined. Physically, racially, culturally.

My husband wrote his essay on being an only child.


When I read the question from the article, “Tell us about an aspect of your identity or a life experience that has shaped you," I immediately thought of how much of my life has been shaped by my physical disability (missing a limb). In fact, I wrote about this in my college app essay in 1994.

Sorry if it offends you that I was shaped by this, and that I shouldn't have written about it. I know some of you want to believe or downplay the experiences of others as cashing in on "trauma," but you are so far off the mark.

I agree. Would also add that people who experience true trauma, don’t write about it. My dad was shot when I was a kid. Only now do I speak of it… I’m 50. The idea that kids are trotting out trauma for a college essay is a fantasy of boring UMC folks who are dying for a way to get their slightly above average kid to stand out from other slightly above average kids. Your anxiety is showing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what it means not to partake in "identification". Are you saying that your kid refuses to answer questions about their gender, or religion, or nationality, or family status or hobbies?

You're lumping a few things together here, but yes, you're right. My kid refuses to answer questions about all of these things unless they are necessary for a legitimate purpose. For instance, a medical doctor might need to know about their biological sex to correctly diagnose symptoms. Otherwise, it's nobody's business, and especially not some random AO's.

Anonymous wrote:Everyone I know identifies as something.

Get around more and talk to people outside your "bubble." Not everyone is constantly obsessed about "gender," not everyone follows a religion, and few people can choose their nationality.
Many are fed up with the constant emphasis given to these by some.

You're saying a kid who is good enough to get into Harvard doesn't have some kind of community they belong to, like maybe they're obsessed with something since childhood, say rocks and geology, so they identify with other nerdy kids? Maybe they identify as a musician because their entire life centers around their love of music and playing instruments. Maybe they identify as the caretaker in their home because they are from a one parent family and their parent works long hours to pay the bills, so they have stepped up to take over chores especially for the younger siblings. Frankly, if you don't have something to say about yourself that makes people want to know more, you probably don't belong in a school like Harvard no matter how high your SAT score is. There are way more kids scoring 1600 than Harvard can admit. Good to have a way to wean out those who don't have something interesting to contribute in one way or another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everything about college these days...from the admissions process to the day to day culture of what "matters"... seems so backwardass stupid - I'm embarrassed for the administrators and the parents buying into it all....

Then why do you want to go to those colleges?

Part of choosing a college is choosing a community to join. If you don't value diversity in your community, why would you want to join a community like Harvard that places a high value on it? There are plenty of colleges you can get into based on stats alone. Often they are less expensive. Why not go there?

dp.. because many of them provide the launching pad to great careers and high paying jobs.

If you're elite enough to be able to get into a school like Harvard, then you do have an identity whether you like it or not.

I can just see it now... "How being rich shaped me: It's hard being rich. I have to live up to my parents' expectations. But, if I don't, I'll at least have my trust fund to live off of. So, AO reading this essay, being rich shaped me to not have to worry about anything. Never really had to work for anything. My identity is wrapped in my parents' money."

Well, such uncreativity would NOT get you in. If you're actually smart enough you can craft an identity that doesn't make you sound like a prick.

Also why are you implying only rich people are elite enough academically to get into Harvard? I mean yes, I'm sure it helps. But there are kids who go to Harvard from the middle class and below.

Omg you’re ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people opposed to this only do so because they think race or gender are the only way people identify and they are afraid that being white and cis may hamper their kid's college app.

But it is BS because there are so many ways your identity is defined. Physically, racially, culturally.

My husband wrote his essay on being an only child.


When I read the question from the article, “Tell us about an aspect of your identity or a life experience that has shaped you," I immediately thought of how much of my life has been shaped by my physical disability (missing a limb). In fact, I wrote about this in my college app essay in 1994.

Sorry if it offends you that I was shaped by this, and that I shouldn't have written about it. I know some of you want to believe or downplay the experiences of others as cashing in on "trauma," but you are so far off the mark.

I agree. Would also add that people who experience true trauma, don’t write about it. My dad was shot when I was a kid. Only now do I speak of it… I’m 50. The idea that kids are trotting out trauma for a college essay is a fantasy of boring UMC folks who are dying for a way to get their slightly above average kid to stand out from other slightly above average kids. Your anxiety is showing.

Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say no one who experiences true trauma writes about it. PP above you said she wrote about her trauma for her essay and I would characterize hers as true. But I didn't write about mine for my college application. Maybe now I would, decades later and having processed it more and realized why the F wouldn't I make lemonade out of the lemon life gave me? It certainly has shaped my life and my character.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everything about college these days...from the admissions process to the day to day culture of what "matters"... seems so backwardass stupid - I'm embarrassed for the administrators and the parents buying into it all....

Then why do you want to go to those colleges?

Part of choosing a college is choosing a community to join. If you don't value diversity in your community, why would you want to join a community like Harvard that places a high value on it? There are plenty of colleges you can get into based on stats alone. Often they are less expensive. Why not go there?

dp.. because many of them provide the launching pad to great careers and high paying jobs.

If you're elite enough to be able to get into a school like Harvard, then you do have an identity whether you like it or not.

I can just see it now... "How being rich shaped me: It's hard being rich. I have to live up to my parents' expectations. But, if I don't, I'll at least have my trust fund to live off of. So, AO reading this essay, being rich shaped me to not have to worry about anything. Never really had to work for anything. My identity is wrapped in my parents' money."

Well, such uncreativity would NOT get you in. If you're actually smart enough you can craft an identity that doesn't make you sound like a prick.

Also why are you implying only rich people are elite enough academically to get into Harvard? I mean yes, I'm sure it helps. But there are kids who go to Harvard from the middle class and below.

Omg you’re ridiculous.

^^^Lol at the lack of self-awareness.

[Anonymous]

Just make something up like everyone else

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what it means not to partake in "identification". Are you saying that your kid refuses to answer questions about their gender, or religion, or nationality, or family status or hobbies?

Everyone I know identifies as something.

If you're a white male, cis/het, not religious, UMC, family been here a long time and intermixed (generic European), truly what is there to say?

I'm not in this category but I feel like these Qs should be optional. Otherwise it is very cringe and fake.

You could write about your identity as teacher, scientist, artist, craftsman, writer, big brother, etc. What led you to define yourself as you do today.

College AO: "Oh, not a minority, then, or you would have mentioned it? On the reject pile you go."

And yet except for HBCU's, most colleges are overwhelmingly white. How does that work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what it means not to partake in "identification". Are you saying that your kid refuses to answer questions about their gender, or religion, or nationality, or family status or hobbies?

Everyone I know identifies as something.

If you're a white male, cis/het, not religious, UMC, family been here a long time and intermixed (generic European), truly what is there to say?

I'm not in this category but I feel like these Qs should be optional. Otherwise it is very cringe and fake.

You could write about your identity as teacher, scientist, artist, craftsman, writer, big brother, etc. What led you to define yourself as you do today.

College AO: "Oh, not a minority, then, or you would have mentioned it? On the reject pile you go."

And yet except for HBCU's, most colleges are overwhelmingly white. How does that work?

1. why do colleges need to reflect society?
2. most higher achieving kids are white or Asian
3. most students who are apply are white or Asian, so colleges are a representation of the applicant pool, not the general public, but even so, the majority of people in this country are white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what it means not to partake in "identification". Are you saying that your kid refuses to answer questions about their gender, or religion, or nationality, or family status or hobbies?

Everyone I know identifies as something.

If you're a white male, cis/het, not religious, UMC, family been here a long time and intermixed (generic European), truly what is there to say?

I'm not in this category but I feel like these Qs should be optional. Otherwise it is very cringe and fake.

You could write about your identity as teacher, scientist, artist, craftsman, writer, big brother, etc. What led you to define yourself as you do today.

College AO: "Oh, not a minority, then, or you would have mentioned it? On the reject pile you go."

And yet except for HBCU's, most colleges are overwhelmingly white. How does that work?

Right! Everyone here seems to the URM are flush with college degrees. Only 43% of white people have college degrees. 72% of Asians have college degrees. But yes URM dominate in the application process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what it means not to partake in "identification". Are you saying that your kid refuses to answer questions about their gender, or religion, or nationality, or family status or hobbies?

Everyone I know identifies as something.

If you're a white male, cis/het, not religious, UMC, family been here a long time and intermixed (generic European), truly what is there to say?

I'm not in this category but I feel like these Qs should be optional. Otherwise it is very cringe and fake.

You could write about your identity as teacher, scientist, artist, craftsman, writer, big brother, etc. What led you to define yourself as you do today.

College AO: "Oh, not a minority, then, or you would have mentioned it? On the reject pile you go."

And yet except for HBCU's, most colleges are overwhelmingly white. How does that work?

Right! Everyone here seems to the URM are flush with college degrees. Only 43% of white people have college degrees. 72% of Asians have college degrees. But yes URM dominate in the application process.

About 11% of AA finish college. Not so many. Why do we spend so much time talking about them?