About the Essay

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>So I'm answering the following prompt: Describe the world you scome from, for example your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations?</p>

<p>I have written my essay now (550 words). My question is, my essay is very ... lax. I interpreted the question to be: "Show me what your life is about, the people you work with, the things you do, and why you are an overall badass."</p>

<p>So I wrote this very unfocused essay. A lot of people think it's crap at first, but once they read it and think about it, they see that the structure of the essay convey's just as much as the actual content. It's very blunt, and straightforward when you read it, but really, it answers the prompt indirectly.</p>

<p>I'm not sure if I should use this kind of essay. It's a big risk, but another emphasis is how many risks I have taken in my life (most calculated, but in the end just gut decision).</p>

<p>I'm kinda tense about this because while I love this essay, I've dreamed of MIT my whole life, and this is just hard...</p>

<p>If anyone could read it, I'd appreciate it a lot.</p>

2

<p>Remember show them not tell them.</p>

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<p>If you feel it answers the question well, uniquely, and truthfully in coherent English, then I don't see why you couldn't use the essay. =)</p>

4

<p>i agree with mikentehmaddog: i also think it's much easier and more effective "showing" - writing an specific anecdote or something similar - to convey what ur trying to say. better than "I did this/that/oh and that" format. (altho different tastes work with diff ppl).</p>

<p>u may also wanna try to limit the # of ppl u get advice from, cuz otherwise it's really easy to lose ur own "voice."</p>

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<p>I think what you're saying is that the style of the essay (informal and blunt) depicts as much about you as specific details in it, which seems really interesting.
I'll try to give you my opinions on it if you pm me.</p>

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<p>I'd be happy to read it if you PM it to me. :)</p>