<p>Oh ****. I totally misread that as at LEAST 250 words somehow. Time to cut down some essays…</p>
<p>it is AT LEAST</p>
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<p>I have my commonapp open right now and this is what it says.</p>
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<p>You are only given 1800 characters to work with, which would be around 350 words max.</p>
<p>How’s everyone doing on the apps now? 
I mainly have to worry about my school forms now (i.e. my transcript, Secondary School Report, etc.)…</p>
<p>I’m nearly done with my common app essay, and just have to finish the supplements. The intellectual vitality essay is giving me a hard time, though.</p>
<p>Here’s a tip for the intellectual vitality essay: what are the topics you like to explore, investigate and read about, purely out of curiosity? Are there any scientific, literary, political, cultural or other developments that you stay on top of because you find them inherently fascinating (not because they are “assigned”)? There’s a virtually infinite range of topics that can make an outstanding intellectual vitality essay, so don’t worry about trying to pick a subject that sounds “intellectual”; it’s your approach to the topic, rather than the topic itself, that reveals the extent of your intellectual vitality. Good luck.</p>
<p>Wow, I took a look at the Stanford 2014 thread and I was amazed 
5000+ posts and everyone there was so lively. Reading it almost felt like a story - something taken out of a book, where the characters all lead their lives in their own way, and an epilogue which talks of where they finally went. Here’s to the 2015 thread matching, or even topping that! I’m sure there are great people in this cycle :)</p>
<p>These threads just gave me inspiration to get myself to rework all my essays, haha.</p>
<p>^</p>
<p>yup. Last year we were epic. This year, we must be EPICER !</p>
<p>Hmmm… it’s debatable as to whether “epicer” is even a word, but eh, I share your feeling XD</p>
<p>^</p>
<p>It’s called neologism :p</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, zenkoan. I think I know what i’ll write about now.</p>
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<p>Indeed 
So in order to make this thread more interesting, we probably need a topic that is just as interesting…</p>
<p>There was a similar topic to the intellectual vitality essay for the Brown application a few years back… I read a phenomenal essay by one of my friends who was accepted that I encourage you all to consider. Instead of talking in general terms, about ideas or events he liked, he gave one specific anecdote. There wasn’t much explanation, just a telling of a story. It was very, very moving and I only hope I have emulated his attitude in my essays :/</p>
<p>^ That sounds like my Common App essay… it was moreso in a narrative rather than expository format. Hopefully I got my point across :)</p>
<p>We can’t let this thread die! Like you guys are all saying, last year’s was definitely epic. We need to surpass its reputation!</p>
<p>We only have 46 days in between now and the RD deadline. So without further ado:</p>
<p>How’s everybody feeling about their applications? Submit yours yet? Where else are you applying? Stressed yet? Anxiously waiting for the REA applicants to receive their decisions in order to see the results? Do you have friends who applied REA, forcing you to worry since they’ll receive their decisions before you? Are you trying to work or play sports to distract your mind?</p>
<p>There are some basic questions. Let’s begin!</p>
<p>So for me, I’ve written each essay. I’ve had two teachers proofread the supplements. However for the “Why Stanford” essay, they both unknowingly disagree with each other about what I wrote. So now I’m thrown as to whether or not I should write differently according to one or the other. Pretty much all of the application itself is complete. I’m just waiting on recommendations to be written and I still need to fill in a couple short answer questions. I’m applying to UCs Irvine and San Diego; CSUs Long Beach, SF, SJ, SD; privates Stanford and Pepperdine. I have to admit that I’m indeed stressed. My essays (in my eyes) don’t look “good enough” - I keep believing that they aren’t written in such a way that the admissions committee will love, or that the content matter isn’t up to snuff. I’m going crazy because a good number of my friends applied via REA. They’re all complaining about waiting until ~ Dec 15th and I need to keep reminding them that the time between me submitting my own application and receiving a decision will be much longer. PLUS I need to deal with their decisions next month. I don’t have any sports or a job. But I am trying to keep my hobbies alive. Hopefully they’ll distract me at least a teeny bit.</p>
<p>What about you guys and girls?</p>
<p>Well, I am incredibly grateful to say that I’ve been accepted into the class of 2015… I applied early action, obviously.</p>
<p>I REALLY like Stanford, and am a legacy that will be applying RD. I’m just worried that I automatically won’t be accepted because they just accepted a girl from my school REA. :l</p>
<p>I justt finished my supplement! Gonna submit tomorrow morning. I’ve been falling in love with Stanford more and more. However, as an international student needing aid, I know my chances are very very slim. From what I’ve heard, Stanford doesn’t give all that much aid to internationals. (Correct me if I’m wrong.)
Once I really got down to it, I enjoyed the supplement weirdly. </p>
<p>Congratulations Natalie!</p>
<p>II just became a RD, as I was deferred. Grrr. It’s a second chance though!</p>
<p>Beats outright rejection. Though I’m preparing for that with Yale. Just in case.</p>