<p>That’s great advice for future applicants, CalAlum, and I wish I had focused a little bit more on that before I started my application. </p>
<p>The only issue I have is with the idea of colleges accepting kids based on their one unique factor. There is no doubt in my mind that all of the “unique” kids can ALSO handle the work, I’m just not sure whether “I’m the only person in my school who has been yodeling since she was three” should hold priority over “I’m passionate about and committed to my subject, I excel in it on a daily basis, and I will continue to excel”, even though the yodeler is clearly more unique. It seems like people who fit the second description routinely get rejected from HYPSMIT, and I think it’s just a shame. And what if you really do enjoy something non-unique/stereotypical/boring? Ski-jumping does not appeal to me and neither do cattle driving or varsity athletics. I haven’t found any hobby that “stands out” that I want to pursue (and it’s not for lack of trying), so my application was full of science/research/artsandcrafts/singing/things that EVERYONE does. But I wrote about really want I enjoy, and I can’t help that all of my hobbies happen to be popular. And I don’t excel enough in any of them to be counted as any kind of superstar, so I’m sort of in this awkward middle ground where I’m just Average. At the same time, I know that I could do well at any of the ivies – likely, better than a yodeler or a ski-jumper. </p>
<p>But anyway, there’s nothing I can do about it, and my applications are done anyway, so I guess just live and let live, eh? :)</p>
<p>Edit:// Oops, sorry mollie, didn’t see your post before I posted – thanks for the clarification on what a grant application is like, I guess it’s more similar to a college app than I thought! I’m hoping it is less focused on the scientist’s personality though? Because I’d love to go into some sort of research and writing about what kind of person I am on an informal level again would just be miserable hahah.</p>