<p>Does Yale prefer an essay that has an informal & heartfelt tone or an essay that sounds more formal, erudite, still genuine tone?</p>
<p>Make it sound like you.</p>
<p>^ This.</p>
<p>Mine is pretty personal and uses the grammar and vocabulary I use from day to day. Just write about something you’re passionate about, and the tone should take care of itself.</p>
<p>Yale prefers the tone that you prefer.</p>
<p>I’m encountering the same problem. I can’t decide if it’s a better choice to write about an experience from a personal, genuine standpoint or a more erudite, analytical standpoint.</p>
<p>In general I think that the essays written in the first style just sound a lot more convincing, give you a real picture of us as applicants… but I have reservations about submitting something that is not necessarily “scholarly” as an application to Yale…</p>
<p>You may be tempted to try to “elevate” your tone to seem more erudite. Resist this temptation, because the result will probably seem pretentious and phony.</p>
<p>May I suggest reading the following? Excellent advice despite its not being for or by Yale, IMHO</p>
<p>[Essays</a>, Admission Information, Undergraduate Admission, U.Va.](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html]Essays”>http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html)</p>
<p>^^ That is a nice article. I like how the author introduces his excerpts: </p>
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