Monstrous Mistakes???

Colleges & Universities Yale University
1

<p>I’ve read a bunch of books about how to get into the Ivys (specially Yale), the best essay topics, and what looks great in your application… but I was wondering which are the gross mistakes that one person can do in a application. I mean, what is definitely a no-no on a application to Yale?</p>

2

<p>writing “specially” instead of “especially”</p>

<p>but seriously, i don’t really know. try not to sound arrogant or full of yourself. don’t write an essay on why you want to go to Harvard. don’t include stupid awards like Who’s Who, National Youth Leadership Forum, National Honor Roll, etc. if you’re smart, you’ll know what not to write.</p>

3

<p>you should check your AP English book first or take a look at this website:</p>

<p>[Especially</a> or Specially?](<a href=“http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000287.htm]Especially”>Especially or Specially?)</p>

<p>it is SPECIALLY, not ESPECIALLY.</p>

4

<p>ANYTHING that isn’t true. Claiming to be an office holder of some club, when you aren’t even a member. Exaggerating your service hours. Ever so slightly changing your GPA in an upward direction. The silliest mistake of all, telling them how much you want to go to Harvard.</p>

5

<p>no, it’s Especially. it’s idiomatically correct in the English language no matter how many internet websites say otherwise.</p>

6

<p>An annoying discourse on the English language. Admissions officers hate those.</p>

7

<p>Don’t defend a low grade by explaining that your teacher was jealous of your brilliance.</p>

8

<p>having the Frankenstein creature write your recommendation might be an especially monstrous mistake</p>

9

<p>it’s specially</p>

10

<p>Ah, the es/specially debate reminded me of a class in high school where the teacher kept trying to convince us that the word was ‘especially’ only to be yelled by a normally quiet asian girl. Good times.</p>

<p>And the biggest mistake I’d say I’ve witnessed: Writing your essay not about Columbia, but about ‘an ivy league college’, in an effort to save time and use it with every ivy you want to apply to. </p>

<p>COME ON! Do a ‘search& replace’ at least if you’re not going to write a different essay for every school- which you should.</p>

11

<p>“COME ON! Do a ‘search& replace’ at least if you’re not going to write a different essay for every school- which you should.”</p>

<p>Maybe the person was overly anxious that they’d make the awful mistake of switching the essays.</p>

12

<p>Since nobody really knows unless they were present during decision-making, all we can do is speculate and pass on what the adcoms themselves say:

  1. getting the name of the school wrong, including misspelling it, having another’s school’s name in the essay, and having the Why School X? essay be interchangeable with another school.
  2. writing your personal essay about another person, making the school want to admit that person instead of you e.g. My grandmother was so inspirational etc.
  3. Being cliche, predictable, bland or boring in the essays, or being risque, too edgy, inappropriate in the essays.
  4. Sending way too much stuff or doing anything over the top or gimmicky.
  5. Missing deadlines, not submitting required stuff.
  6. Bad grammar, spelling errors.
  7. Appearing too packaged, apparent that an adult has done part of the application. “If it sounds like a 47 year old lawyer wrote it, then a 47 year old lawyer probaby wrote it.”
  8. Telling them how great their college is, they already know that.
  9. Appearing as if you have a sense of entitlement, “I was destined to go to Yale”</p>

<p>People have speculated:

  1. Some gcs and teachers can torpedo you intentionally or inadvertently with word choice on recs. E.g. “hardworking, diligent” etc. In case you did not know, these are BAD words.
  2. Lack of focus or passion
  3. Appearing interchangeable with another student of your demographic.
  4. Not doing everything that was recommended, just submitting what was required. E.g. extra subject tests, optional essays etc.
  5. For some schools (WUSTL) not showing enough interest by visiting.
  6. Taking standardized tests way too many times.
  7. Being a girl, being Asian, being too well-rounded, etc.</p>
13

<p>Wait, but how can you get your GC to not use those words on recs. My GC will write recs for another 200 people so she’ll probably use those and other bland words…and it’s not like I can send her a note telling her what words not to use…</p>

<p>Now I’m sad.</p>

14

<p>I am the epitome of #7 from broetchen’s list. Woohoooo!! </p>

<p>oiii…</p>

15

<p>^ but mihan, it could be worse, you could be from New Jersey or Long Island…</p>

<p>jk</p>

<p>I just included the things on that list, that people often speculate works against them. It certainly doesn’t have to, especially since there is only one you. You are not defined by a demographic. Don’t be discouraged by what was meant somewhat tongue-in-cheek.</p>

16

<p>Haha, of course. I’d like to think my asianity just cancels out the “Iowa advantage” so I’m on equal ground as anyone. ;)</p>