<p>I tried the College Essay forum but realized that this may be a generational thing… do you think adcoms would know what a “Bop-It” is? Thanks a bunch!</p>
<p>Some game or toy, right? My kids had one. I think it’s still in the garage.</p>
<p>I would and I am almost 50! Most adcoms may be younger than me :)</p>
<p>Whew! Okay thanks! I just mention it in passing in my Stanford roommate essay but wanted to make sure it’s somewhat well-know. Thank you guys!</p>
<p>Okay I actually have one more reference question to ask you guys (sorry). Have you heard of the Massacre at Mystic? This would be for the same essay… if not, how about the Battle of Waterloo? My last resort is the Homestead Steel Strike. Sorry if this insults anyone’s intelligence I just wanted to be doubly-sure! Thanks again! :)</p>
<p>No to Massacre at Mystic…unless that was the story behind that movie “Mystic River”. Battle of Waterloo…Duh…but I don’t know about the Homestead Steel Strike.</p>
<p>Do you mean the real battle of Waterloo or some game? </p>
<p>If you’re going to refer to things somewhat generational, like games, then I think you should indicate in your essay what it is to put some context around it. This could be as simple as saying “the game of …” but don’t expect that the reader has a thorough understanding of the game or has even heard of it.</p>
<p>If you’re applying to schools in the Pittsburgh area, the Homestead Steel strike is well known. I don’t know about other regions. My teenaged kids had Bop-it (and the deluxe version also).</p>
<p>I bet the admin people use google and wiki like the rest of us!</p>
<p>My immediate response.(without googling) A BOP is a blow out preventer, which is the unit that failed in the BP spill. Also stands for Bureau of Prisons as in [BOP:</a> Federal Bureau of Prisons Web Site](<a href=“http://www.bop.gov%5DBOP:”>http://www.bop.gov). Where the same BP execs should be.</p>
<p>Okay thanks all for the responses. After reading musicamusica’s response, I decided it’s better not to chance it so I substituted a chess board. I was referring to the real Battle of Waterloo (sometimes I just don’t know what is “common” knowledge… sorry) so I’ll use that instead of the Massacre at Mystic. Okay, thanks everyone!</p>
<p>I’m guessing a bop-it is one of those old inflatable clowns with the weighted bottom that you could hit in the nose, and it came back up for another “bop”. </p>
<p>The homestead steel strike is well known by historians.</p>
<p>Twist it , shake it pull it spin it…I’m 50, ours has working batteries and still sits in our family room! Every now and then someone plays with it for stress release.</p>
<p>I cannot fathom how you have an essay where a chess board was easily substituted into the sentence? Both cerebral-- but not an all the same.
Want to type the sentence for us-- ? Does your essay perhaps loose its punch with the chess board instead?</p>
<p>It’s for the Stanford roommate essay. here’s the the sentence and a little context. It’s not really important (as you see it’s just mentioned in passing) but I wanted to make sure I only used things people know.</p>
<p>I open the door slowly, but am alone in the room. Dropping my catapult, chess board, and Rubik’s Cube onto a bed, I run back down the stairs to unpack my remaining belongings from our light blue minivan. As the final historical-fiction novel is extracted, I shut the hatchback and turn to hug… </p>
<p>and so on. Thanks again everyone</p>
<p>I’ve never heard of it, but then again, I’ve never knowingly listened to a Lady Gaga song.</p>
<p>Yes, I know Bop-It. It was a popular birthday part gift when 18 year old son was younger. I have not heard of Massacre at Mystic. </p>
<p>Perhaps you could include web links (or you tube links) in the essay just in case needed?</p>
<p>I know what a Bop It is (and the last time I wanted to throw it out, my daughter wouldn’t let me).</p>
<p>If you are bringing both your chess board and your Bop It to college then I suppose it doesn’t matter. But the two games have different connotations – I get different images in my head when I think of a person who would bring them to college. Not to mention that, in terms of roommate relations, the Bop It makes noises and chess boards don’t.</p>
<p>If you’re going to use it in the essay, make sure to put a small explanation of what it is. As fireandrain says, it does have different connotations. Some people might think you’re talking about something crude…others will know exactly what you mean, so don’t chance it.</p>
<p>Yes. A Bop-It is a PTD (Parent Torture Device), also known as “the very, very special Christmas present from Aunt Agnes, which is so special that it must be kept at her house and used only when you visit her.”</p>
<p>I would stay away from anything that has to be googled. Can they? Sure. Will they be invested enough to take the time? Who knows. If yes, they may love it. If not, they may shake their head in confusion and move on. Not the result you are looking for.</p>