My essay I used for BU and UCs....

Applying to College
1

<h2>Too arrogant?</h2>

I am a believer in what Nietzsche deemed to be the ubermensch, which literally translated means the “ultimate man”. This “ultimate man” is willing to risk his own well being in order to enhance humanity. He makes an indefinite effect, an inerasable mark on history. His name need not be in a history textbook, yet he or she is the man or woman responsible for causing those events to happen. I have dedicated myself to this concept, as I believe that I have the potential to be an ubermensch. It is a bold claim, but I believe that by aspiring to the loftiest of goals, I will come the closest to the dreams that I have set before myself.

In recent times, the concept of the ubermensch has been symbolized in Superman, the legendary icon of Truth, Justice, and the American Way. In Jeph Loeb’s Superman For All Seasons, Superman states what I believe to sum up the entire philosophy: I could have done more. I am a perfectionist, never satisfied by my work. I punish myself for every personal failure, and when I live up to the lofty expectations I have set for myself I am merely content. However, I am not a pessimist. Pessimists see nothing but the negatives in life, and see no value in the best aspects of life. I see the value of love, courage, dignity, and beauty; however, I cannot simply forgive myself when I fail to live up to my high standards. I cannot simply shrug it off, and go about my merry way. I am driven by a deep inner force that compels me to work harder, and reach the absolute peak of my abilities.

I feel as if I am on the cusp of greatness, reaching for a better tomorrow, yet being crushed by the reality of the present. I am an idealist, hoping that somehow, someway, the world can further evolve to reach its highest potential. I do not wish to simply make money, fall in love, and have the white picket fence home. I want to do more, see more, take part in more than just my self-satisfaction. I have taught myself to reach for the heavens, and even if I never reach them, I know that my attempt will not be in vain. Friedrich Nietzsche stated, “I know of no better life purpose than to perish in attempting the great and the impossible. . . .” It is this philosophy that I have adopted as my mantra; I push on in the hopes that I will leave a lasting legacy on the world that has raised me and taught me so much.

2

<p>i think it’s better to focus on a specific event in your life instead of stating your ideals… and to be honest, it was kind of dragging.</p>

3

<p>It was only slightly pretentious, though you might want to take out “crushed.”</p>

<p>However, one thing that will nearly kill your essay (from what I hear) is starting a lot of sentences (at least straight-forward ones) with “I.” You did it 11 times.</p>

4

<h2>Well hm… thats rather disappointing. I went the ideal route because I intepreted a personal statement to show who I am, not a typical “here’s what I did” etc. that said… does this one work as a general essay? I’d have to switch out the uni name and stuff… but does it work?</h2>

<p>Ever since I was a child, I always loved to tell a story. I was never interested in Hot Wheels cars; I was the kid who could always be found playing with my action figures, using them to create my own little world. Going into my Junior year of High School, I saw myself in the future as a politician or working for the government in some way. Two experiences and a year later, I am now on a drastically different path.</p>

<p>I took a course called Technical Theatre, to complete the Fine Arts requirement at my High School. The class offered me a broad array of opportunities; I learned the logistics of creating a production, the responsibility of being in charge of a brand new 1526 seat theater, and the importance of proper lighting and scenery in an artistic production. When my instructor told us that “we do everything but the acting”, he wasn’t lying. We build the sets, we aim the lights, we sell the tickets, we usher during events, and we are responsible for maintaining the theater. It’s taught me that in order for a production to be successful, every element in a production has to do its job, regardless of its size. I never realized the simple joy of watching my own project come together until opening night of our first play, when everything seems to magically click together to create a truly unique experience. </p>

<p>While Technical Theatre ignited the spark, it was outside the school where I truly got to see if I could work in the Film Industry. While most of my peers spent their summer lounging in the sun, two close friends and I spent our summer attempting to create our own short film. We bought the equipment, wrote the screenplay, and filmed it ourselves. Entitled Fallen Rayne, it told the story of a teenage girl trapped in the confines of suburbia, without a direction or purpose. This project has taught me that the best way to learn something is to experience it. While crafting the screenplay I realized that I loved what I was doing, and that I had a natural talent for it. Since then, every time I have some spare time I’ll write a few pages worth of a screenplay. I write not to understand others, but to understand myself.</p>

<p>My dream is to come into work every day and be able to work with other artists to craft a screenplay that not only tells a compelling story, but is able to make people think about their lives. I have always believed that the true innovators and leaders of our country are not politicians or businessmen; it is the artists who pave the way for social change. That is why I wish to embark on a career into the arts; to have the ability to change our country in a positive matter. Film and Television are ways to express our philosophies, a conduit to the creator’s dreams, emotions, and beliefs. My experiences, both inside and outside the classroom, have led me on a path to Film and Television, which I hope to follow as a student at Boston University.</p>

5

<p>Also, the Nietzsche bit is sort of frightening. You are aware that the Nietzschian Ubermensch “transcends” “slave morality”–things like love, kindness, forgiveness, and sacrifice? Do you really want to present yourself as either a) being against those things or b) entirely missing the point of Nietzsche’s argument?</p>