<p>im writing my essay on my experience last year in Nigeria. i went to an international school first, then a local village school . The essay will be on my experience in the local school. however, i experienced so much there . ( such as beating the students or making them cut the grass with a cutlass being the main form of discipline, having to shave off all my hair, taking a “bath” outside with just a bucket of water, having all of my stuff, even my underwear, stolen just because i was from America , etc ) but i dont know how to fit ALL of that into 500 words ? any advice ?</p>
<p>Think about what you want the adcom to take away from your essay. You want the essay to reveal your personality, character, passions, etc. With that in mind, I’d avoid</p>
<p>(1) Submitting what is basically a long list of things you saw when you were there. That doesn’t say anything about YOU.</p>
<p>(2) Writing about your observations. Going to school in Nigeria isn’t like going to the zoo - you aren’t watching things through a glass window.</p>
<p>(3) Writing about your experiences in the sense that this and that happened to you. That makes you seem passive.</p>
<p>But there could be ways to focus on one or more of the events you listed, and turn them into an interesting essay. For example, the “just because I’m from America” aspect suggests you were a minority at your school in Nigeria, and you experienced discrimination because of it. If you aren’t typically a minority student in the US, then that could be the basis for some interesting reflection (and it would fit perfectly into the common app diversity essay!). As another example, if you are a girl, you could reflect on the significance of the hair-shaving event.</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>it did help ! i might actually look into that shaving-hair part. thankss :)</p>