Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This just seems like another way to increase the number of applications and artificially reduce the acceptance rate.

Bingo. It's perfect for lazy students and lazy AOs who don't want to bother reading essays. What a joke.

Anonymous wrote:This just seems like another way to increase the number of applications and artificially reduce the acceptance rate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For schools that don’t have a supplement, I would suggest a different type of personal essay that is more focused on your major’s origin story. You can still show your values, community orientation and other personal qualities but you need a different type of personal essay for your entire application to work. And in this case, you can easily add some language specific to the school in the last paragraph for two.

Alternatively, use the additional information section to create a short 100-150 word paragraph about the school. I think more professionals will be coming out with strategies on how to do this in the coming months so pay attention.

I really think it is a bad idea. if they wanted a why is essay, they would have asked for one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams

and Amherst too, I think -- they require a graded paper from high school instead

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For schools that don’t have a supplement, I would suggest a different type of personal essay that is more focused on your major’s origin story. You can still show your values, community orientation and other personal qualities but you need a different type of personal essay for your entire application to work. And in this case, you can easily add some language specific to the school in the last paragraph for two.

Alternatively, use the additional information section to create a short 100-150 word paragraph about the school. I think more professionals will be coming out with strategies on how to do this in the coming months so pay attention.

I really think it is a bad idea. if they wanted a why is essay, they would have asked for one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s been increase of selective schools dropping/without supplements for next cycle:
WashU (new/drop)
UVA
Tulane (new/drop)
Middlebury
Others??

I’m now reading that the personal statement should be customized for each school.

Did anyone do that successfully this year for UVA or Middlebury or another?

ANy chance UVA or Middlebury or others will bring them back? Or do people think they are gone for good?

Anonymous wrote:Williams

Anonymous wrote:For schools that don’t have a supplement, I would suggest a different type of personal essay that is more focused on your major’s origin story. You can still show your values, community orientation and other personal qualities but you need a different type of personal essay for your entire application to work. And in this case, you can easily add some language specific to the school in the last paragraph for two.

Alternatively, use the additional information section to create a short 100-150 word paragraph about the school. I think more professionals will be coming out with strategies on how to do this in the coming months so pay attention.

Anonymous wrote:There’s been increase of selective schools dropping/without supplements for next cycle:
WashU (new/drop)
UVA
Tulane (new/drop)
Middlebury
Others??

I’m now reading that the personal statement should be customized for each school.

Did anyone do that successfully this year for UVA or Middlebury or another?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For schools that don’t have a supplement, I would suggest a different type of personal essay that is more focused on your major’s origin story. You can still show your values, community orientation and other personal qualities but you need a different type of personal essay for your entire application to work. And in this case, you can easily add some language specific to the school in the last paragraph for two.

Alternatively, use the additional information section to create a short 100-150 word paragraph about the school. I think more professionals will be coming out with strategies on how to do this in the coming months so pay attention.

Most of these places don't even admit to major. Do the IECs who push this idea even talk to the AOs before they decide this is what they want? Or are they the IECs who don't have any friends in admissions because they have no real experience and don't try to create relationships?

Having been a T10 reader, sometimes this is done well and sometimes not.

The origin story essay works well for unique / niche majors and can make for a memorable candidate. Haven’t seen it executed well often for STEM but it does happen occasionally.

Writing about middle seats, cutting hair, rock bands - that’s not so memorable. It’s become a bit cliche.

And while AO don’t admit by major, we absolutely note it in our review (and highlight the ones we’ve been told to look for)! Major matters in committee even though no one is “admitted to a major”.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For schools that don’t have a supplement, I would suggest a different type of personal essay that is more focused on your major’s origin story. You can still show your values, community orientation and other personal qualities but you need a different type of personal essay for your entire application to work. And in this case, you can easily add some language specific to the school in the last paragraph for two.

Alternatively, use the additional information section to create a short 100-150 word paragraph about the school. I think more professionals will be coming out with strategies on how to do this in the coming months so pay attention.

Newby here, so apologies if this is a stupid question, but how does this work with the Common App? I thought you had to have one main essay that automatically goes to all the schools to which your student is applying?