<p>I kept thinking and thinking of what to write and came up with my experience of growing a beard. Through this, I would discuss how the beard has affected me as a person and as an individual. </p>
<p>What do you guys think? Personally, I feel like I could go somewhere with this but need some feedback.</p>
<p>Thanks guys</p>
<p>That sounds interesting. What’s your major though?</p>
<p>Psychology, figured the beard could symbolize my patience with others.</p>
<p>I think you should go for it.</p>
<p>i like it…its different</p>
<p>i like your idea…and i wish i could grow a beard–especially for no-shave november</p>
<p>In one of the college essay guides I had there was a quote from an admissions officer at Chicago (might have been an Ivy, can’t remember) who said that the single best essay he’d ever read was from a kid who talked about growing a beard and how differently he was treated when it got really long. It was all about how much we rely on our first-glance perceptions, how we stereotype people based on how they look. It was unique, insightful and it showed the kind of person he was.</p>
<p>So yeah, I’d go for it. It’s not really what topic you choose, but how you write about it.</p>
<p>^ haha that’s awesome</p>
<p>haha… nice username too… lol</p>
<p>where are you transferring? Most UC do not read personal statements for transfer students with the exception of Cal & UCLA… if you are truly serious about transferring, then I would stay away from that subject… it’s cute & funny but adcoms are not amused at those two schools when they are reviewing personal statements</p>
<p>yeah i agree with luvtoolearn. I don’t think an essay about your beard and how it has changed you etc is a good way to go. I may understand if the beard was used as a symbol to represent “growing” in your life but even then it may get too complicated for an essay reader who isn’t going to want to analyze what you have to offer further than just “reviewing” what you have to offer.</p>
<p>im going to have to disagree. i think beardy’s idea is very creative and unique. im sure the essay readers would be tired of reading “serious” essays where people obviously bs alot to make themselves look better. but with beardy’s idea, it brings humor into it.</p>
<p>also, how is his idea different from people who claim to be (for example) looked down upon because of their lifestyle which everyone writes about?</p>
<p>hell yeah go for it. </p>
<p>i grew out my beard (and hair) for religious reasons from december 07 until either june or july 08 when I got it all shaved off in india. being 6’3’', dark skinned (indian), and having super curly hair / curly beard DEFINITELY changed the way people perceived me. Becoming more self-aware also forced me to more critically examine the way i interacted in the world. so while it may seem arbitrary, beards can actually have a pretty profound impact on your life lol. If i was applying again i’d definitely write about my beard.</p>
<p>it’s not a matter of a serious essay vs “beard” essay. If there’s two candidates with both qualifications, and one is seriously stating what makes him stand out-from other applicants that doesn’t show on an application as opposed to one that hints at something with humor, guess whose probably getting in?</p>
<p>What someone may find humorous is not what others will find humorous with another.</p>
<p>chibi… because the adcoms are looking for statements that describe what they are going to bring to the university, how they contribute and overcoming serious adversity. I’m not going to sugar coat how incredibly difficult the curriculum is at Berkeley and the adcoms know it, that’s why they do a weeding out process when they review the applications because they want to make sure that the people transferring in can handle what is coming. I personally know an adcom at Cal and she told me that they are really skeptical about individuals who do not take it serious of how difficult Cal is and that they do get humorous statements. She also said that people who take difficult prereqs in the Spring right before transfer such as statistics are also looked at with scrutiny. All I’m saying is that he is not the first one to think of a creative way to write about something funny but how is that bringing something new to the university that benefits others? How does that show that he is going to be able to handle the curriculum?
At most of the workshops for personal statement writing they even advise you not to try and be funny so I suggest that if the op does decide to go with this that he is very careful about how he writes it.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your honesty, I appreciate the open criticism.</p>
<p>I agree with the no humor part, although Beardy has never indicated that his essay would be funny or humorous. There’s a difference between creative and funny; beardy’s essay could certainly be the former without the latter. He could write a serious, introspective essay that is still creative but not funny. I agree that he needs to be careful about what he writes but I think it’s a great idea.</p>
<p>I guess i see your point.</p>
<p>Are you serious?</p>
<p>That’s risky.</p>
<p>^^and you’re russkiy!</p>
<p>hahhaha</p>