<p>“Too bad 18 year olds are expected to have written books, won national competitions, “distinguished themselves nationally”.”</p>
<p>Well, my dd did none of that and got into top schools. She wrote a compelling essay about being a benchwarmer on her high school varsity team. Sure she had accomplishments, but most of them were in the context of her high school and regualar ECs.</p>
<p>Well at this point, it seems there’s not too much I can do in the way of EC’s or competitions, so I’ll just have to craft a compelling essay and resume. Thanks everyone! Btw I’m still open to suggestions on good sites for college essay writing advice and resume (FORMATTING ESPECIALLY! any templates and such welcome) crafting.</p>
<p>Derrick, you never know what opportunity might present itself–keep your eyes open for a summer internship or travelling opportunity or some other avenue that enhances your existing interests. ECs are not confined to the school year–and an amazing acceleration of talent and ability happens from the years 17 to 22. You never know what you could do over the summer.</p>
<p>So says me anyway.</p>
<p>haha, I have nothing to offer.
But I just have to shout out to a fellow Rocklander!</p>
<p>;) make rockland proud!</p>
<p>which school district?
clarkstown here.</p>
<p>Spring Valley HS!</p>
<p>haha, cool.
we own you in girl’s soccer btw.
;)</p>
<p>I wouldn’t know, I’m a guy.</p>
<p>hah, yeah i figured. just saying… :D</p>
<p>I’m back and I’m suffering from a bit of an ethical dilemma. I want the kind of frank answer that you’ve all been so kind as to provide me with:</p>
<p>How much should I emphasize that I’m an URM? I’m personally against making it a highlight in my essays and such, but at the same time I realize that advantages should not be neglected. From a purely STRATEGICAL standpoint, what do you think. After all, they’ll know I’m an URM once I check it off, right?</p>
<p>Are you African American? If so, list it. Your scores put you in the running for any elite school but your ethnicity is part of what distinguishes your app from all the other glorious apps.</p>
<p>I understand your squeamishness which is why I recommended that you retake the SAT I to push the score over 1450 so that if and when your Ivy classmates slap down their credentials–you can slap yours down with gusto–knowing that your scores are equal to, or better than, the average admit. mini says you needn’t bother–but if it isn’t a stretch to re-take them, I say it might be nice to have them in your pocket.</p>
<p>You might PM Northstarmom and sybbie with your essays to get their opinons on emphasizing race–if you decide to do so. I’d trust their opinions. Personally, I think that decision will be related to how race is tied into your ambition. That’s an opinion only.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That response right there shows you have “class.” Good luck to you in your admission applications. </p>
<p>After edit: I see you just asked the thread a direct question, which I will answer. Do what you think will make a statement consistent with your personal values in terms of identifying your ethnicity on your application. It may be noted by recommenders or by other sources of information that will get into the admission file, or it may not. The ethnicity question on the Common Application (which Harvard uses) is OPTIONAL, and several percent of the admitted students each year leave that question blank. I like to emphasize my “biracial” (OVER-represented ethnic groups as to United States college admission statistics) children’s commonality with other human beings, so I gently suggest to my oldest son that he leave that question blank. (But he may decide to do otherwise, as he applies to college from high school class of 2010.) Whatever you decide, decide to do what you’ll be proud to look back on years later, whatever the admission result.</p>
<p>It’s not unethical for you to check the ethnicity box. But you could say much more about yourself in your essay. Your ECs give you plenty of choice in this regard. Take a look at some anthologies of college essays to see what kinds work best.
I remember chuckling over an essay someone posted on CC, asking for reactions. It had to do with the author reluctantly becoming a convert to jogging. Nothing earth-shaking; she did not boast about curing cancer or wowing the crowds with the power of oratory. She demonstrated a wry sense of humor, especially at her own expenses. Equally important, she showed that she could really write! Another essay I recall liking was about how a particular kind of food reminded the author of happy times with her grandmother who came from another country. Several CC posters said the essay brought tears to their eyes (NB: Do not post your essay on CC–if you want feedback, PM to those who are willing to read it).
Start out by asking yourself: What do I want to tell adcoms about myself? And work from there.</p>
<p>
You may also find that what you write about best ends up emphasizing it or not. My son had a couple of false starts before he found the only essay he could stand writing. (About how he’d rather write a computer program to write the essay for him than write it himself.) I think you’ll know when you’ve got the right essay topic. If it were me, I’d try on several essay topics and figure out which one you like the best. Maybe you’ll talk about race, maybe you won’t. Yesterday on NPR there was a “This I believe” essay about not wanting to “act white”. It would have made a great college essay, but there are plenty of other great essays out there.</p>
<p>Sorry about reviving a stale thread, but I’ve progressed quite a bit because of the advice you guys offered, wrote an essay, and was wondering if anyone would like to critique it? If you do, please post here or PM me. Be as harsh and honest as possible.</p>
<p>You can PM me.</p>
<p>Thanks marite. Anyone else care to help me with my essay?</p>
<p>Derrick, I’m very good at evaluating essays. You may PM me if you wish.</p>
<p>Thanks, I’ll do that. Still open to anyone else who would like to evaluate.</p>
<p>you’ve got two of the best there, Derrick. you don’t want too many voices in your essay…try rewriting to suit those critics and you’ll be away.</p>
<p>cheers, that may be the nicest compliment I’ve received on CC. (Including being in marite’s company.) Particularly heartening since I’ve been receiving some particularly nasty & abusive PM’s from one poster today.</p>