<p>Although it’s worth mentioning that this year they added the (this is not a trick question) part to that question. I’d love to see what responses they got in years past that made that addition necessary!</p>
<p>“In my free time, I like to help rescue disabled puppies, raise orphans, and advance the cause of world peace. Sing it with me now, ‘Heal the world, make it a better place…’”</p>
<p>Ben once said someone wrote about changing diapers at the local hospital.</p>
<p>in my freetime i like to fiddle around… no i’m serious i play the violin for like hours on end</p>
<p>I love the violin!</p>
<p>do you play?</p>
<p>No… if there’s one thing I regret not doing, it’s not getting into music. I listen to classical music a lot though, and most of the pieces I like have lots of violin.</p>
<p>it’s all i have, why? because my teacher requires us to buy recordings</p>
<p>i wrote about the natural high i get from going on roller coasters and going skydiving without using the word “high” lol I love doing extreme things and well they are FUN…so I wrote about it. I guess I did what it asked me to do.</p>
<p>Speaking of rollercoasters/skydiving/extreme, fun things… </p>
<p>A few weeks ago I was flying (practicing stalls) with my flight instructor, and he decides to do one of those vomit comet parabolic thrill-ride things. </p>
<p>IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!! We did it again three more times. When he let me do it, I accidently pushed forward a little too hard and the checklist, pilot handbook, fuel strainer, and my backpack all hit the ceiling. </p>
<p>I couldn’t wait to tell my physics teacher afterward.</p>
<p>What a ‘jerk’ that must’ve been, czar. :D</p>
<p>“In my free time, I like to help rescue disabled puppies, raise orphans, and advance the cause of world peace. Sing it with me now, ‘Heal the world, make it a better place…’”</p>
<p>Mollie, your response sounds very simillar to my essays ;-). Actually, in my first essay, the theme was on trying to make the world a better place by searching for an alternative energy source. I discuss the smog in the third world, which leads me into my research (still in its infancy, of course) on hydrogen power.</p>
<p>Do you think this sounds too trite? I genuinely want to catalyze a lasting difference and, in the end of the essay, emphasize how MIT might enable me to contribute. </p>
<p>I’d greatly appreciate it if you could clarify your comment.</p>
<p>I think if you’re genuine about it (which you clearly seem to be, given that you’re doing actual research on the topic) it will show through. I was just making fun of Miss America contestant-like responses… I mean, if the writer doesn’t believe what he or she is writing, I don’t think Ben et al. will. :)</p>
<p>lol… zking786… miss america 2006?</p>
<p>That’s a relief! I truly do believe in what I’ve written. I hope it comes across that way. I’m not the best at expressing my thoughts. After all, I have already researched nearly two years, and don’t plan on quitting any time soon :-). </p>
<p>I truly believe there exists a remedy for our fuel crisis–possibly through modifying a microbe to more rapidly produce hydrogen, which can be substituted (via a retrofit kit I’ve contemplated) in the place of a fuel line. Though I’m in no way near that solution, I’m confident that, in the years ahead, collaboration will yield a viable and efficient hydrogen production method. Then again, there’s always nuclear energy…</p>
<p>In any event, are “Miss America contestant-like responses” common? I hope mine doesn’t seem like a typical response! I guess many people might be writing about wanting to make a difference in the world (community service, etc…).</p>
<p>“After reading the prompt, I thought it was clear that they were looking for the first (what we do for fun that balances our hard work with fun).”</p>
<p>Yes - this is exactly right. :-)</p>
<p>“Ben once said someone wrote about changing diapers at the local hospital.”</p>
<p>This was an example of an applicant who truly <em>didn’t</em> get the question. He thought that every single thing listed on the app had to show some grand higher purpose or meaning. Our question is trying to make a statement: that applicants shouldn’t spend every waking second doing things just to get into college. You need to take some time out of every day just for yourself. It helps you appreciate and digest the other stuff.</p>
<p>Great, Thanks Ben!</p>
<p>Hopefully I won’t have a problem. Since I discussed something I truly did for fun (tinkering with gadgets and mechanisms and refining my inventions, etc…) I don’t think it’ll look like I’m doing it for college. </p>
<p>Anyway, thanks for all your help!</p>