The Chicago Tribune ran a story last week about how many college applications now include short, quirky essay prompts that must be answered in 25 words or less, like:
My favorite thing about last Tuesday?—University of Maryland
Imagine you have to wear a costume for a year of your life. What would you pick and why? — Brandeis University in Massachusetts.
What is your favorite ride at the amusement park? How does this reflect your approach to life? — Emory University in Atlanta.
And there was some considerable debate on The Choice blog about whether or not these questions just add to the stress of an already stressful process.
My advice is to relax.
No college is going to reject you because they didn’t like the amusement park ride that you picked. These questions are colleges’ way of begging you to relax, be yourself and just answer the question without trying too hard to impress them.
“I completed my 84th hour of community service at the hospital where I’ve been volunteering since sophomore year” is trying too hard to impress.
“Playing Jenga with David, a 12-year-old patient at the hospital where I work. He beat me five straight times. But I got over it.” Now we’re talking.
Colleges aren’t trying to trick you. Just tell the truth and be yourself (which is good advice for all application questions…and life in general).
Anonymouse says
You know, the problem I find with these is that they are looking at a slice of your life through these questions and will extrapolate based on what you write. While being honest is nice, sometimes you might need to choose something that represents you well. For example, “My favorite thing about last Tuesday?” Well, I went volunteering, which was enjoyable as the little kids were fascinated by science once again, but on Wednesday, I actually went scuba diving – FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE and it was the best thing ever. In this case, choose Wednesday and lie. Yes, lie on your app.
Kevin, what’s your take on this?
-Anonymouse
Kevin McMullin says
My take:
1. You’re right about it being a “slice of life,” but you’re overestimating how much colleges will extrapolate from that slice of just 25 words. This should be the part of the application where you relax.
2. In a short response like this, I wouldn’t find the fact that you went scuba diving any more (or less)interesting than the fact that you volunteered. Both are slices from your life. Why not just tell the truth?
3. Stop worrying about what represents you *well*. If a friend asks you what you did on Saturday, do you make apologies and say, “But that Saturday didn’t represent me well!” Whatever you do represents you. I wouldn’t necessarily give the same advice for every long essay, but for a 25 word response, let your real life fly.