<p>For my common app short answer question I have an essay that I am very happy with about how my experience on debate has prepared me for scientific research and a career in a math/science field (although it’s a bit long, closer to 200 words, but I think it is very strong). For the supp. essay I was thinking of one of the following
research- something semi-unique, but I don’t know if I can make this a really deep, insightful essay, but I could potentially make it impressive
math team- talk about how I like math basically… maybe mention math camp? I dunno
I could talk about instrumental music… but once more doesn’t seem like a great idea
vocal, even though I just started this year and am not all that good </p>
<p>So basically it’s between research which I’ve done for a while now and might even get to publish a paper and the end of the year or vocal, which I’m not great at but I’ve learned a lot about myself from it. Would it be shooting myself in the foot to talk about something that’s been meaningful to my personal development (vocal) instead of something that might show more of my intellectual side? What do you guys think?</p>
<p>btw, my common app essay is just a chat with my friends and myself basically, it shows how I love to learn and how both friends and thinking about things are important to me</p>
<p>If it is good, I would definitely use the 200 word short answer essay that you prepared if I were you. As for your supplementary essay, choose a topic that you can write about straight from your heart. The one that comes across as most like you will be the ticket. Keep in mind however, that you probably don’t not want to write about something that is not impressive, even if you are passionate about it (like beating your favorite video game :P).</p>
<p>So vocal… it is not impressive in its own right, but rather in light of all this complex stuff behind it (god that made no sense…). For me it was really an issue of getting over my fear of failure and challenging myself. It involved a lot of personal growth, a gain in confidence, and a feeling that (as cliche as this sounds) that I really can do anything I put my mind too. I think the impressive part is that I was scared to death of taking the vocal class, but I took it anyway, realizing that I needed it for the sake of my personal development. And that might sound REALLY cheesy, but I’d do my best not to make it sound that way in the essay. The essay would be about always challenging myself and never taking the easy way out, and the value of doing that. I could easily put some interesting spin on it as well. Could that make for a good essay? Or should I go for the research one, which might be less personal but potentially more impressive? On one hand, it seems like it would be a shame to not write about research, but on the other it would be a shame to write an essay about a topic that I don’t feel I have anything meaningful to discuss!
Please help! Your opinions would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Hey marlgirl–
Well to me, i think the essay is a great time to show yourself that is not just numbers…so even though I can’t really tell what your essays will be like, I’d say just write about something that means the most/has affected you the most. And if that happens to be about your vocal experience, by all means write about that!! Good luck!! :)</p>
<p>Singing is fun to write about. All that matters is how important it is to YOU. Some singers I know are really, really good, but they treat it so competetively… it would be so awesome to write an essay about singing and not talk about stupid awards. If I were to write about my choir, I’d write a crazy essay differentiating those people who are awesome singers and just use choir to study and the kids who just like singing and cause chaos, y’know? As long as you express your personality, it all sounds good to me.</p>
<p>But would it be dumb to not talk about research? I bet a lot of people write essays about singing. I’m a little afraid of putting my heart into the essay <em>too</em> much… like trying to explain exactly why I was scared to sing is hard to do. I guess I should just write the essay and see how it turns out?</p>