<p>I started working on my first supplement. I started it off with lots of imagery and other creative techniques; however, after showing it to someone, he told me that it doesn't make sense to "flower" supplements because you have such a short amount of space. </p>
<p>The example he used was let's say you had 30 seconds to explain why a college should accept you, would you really waste 5-10 seconds of it using metaphors? Probably not...</p>
<p>He's not a professional college-essay-writer of any sort, but what he said does make a lot of sense to me. However, shouldn't I still want to stand out from the crowd--or is that just what the common-app essay is for? </p>
<p>Thanks! :)</p>
<p>Depends on the prompt, but some “flowering” is good. Just make sure that your creative techniques are actually helpful in creating an image of you. Literary devices just for the sake of literary devices will not help you and will distract the reader. The point of the essay is to showcase you, not your writing ability. Effective use of “flowering” makes the essay more enjoyable to read and enhances the subject. </p>
<p>You should try to make yourself stand out with what you have to say-- the way you say it is important, but secondary.</p>
<p>But as I said, it does depend on the prompt-- there are some essay prompts that push you in a more creative direction.</p>
<p>I wrote about tomato soup. I conveyed my personality through that damn soup. I expressed who I am through the workings of a clarinet, and even discussed the haven I find in my shower. I even talked about how I am like the ocean. </p>
<p>All of these essays worked because I was accepted to the schools I sent them too. Creativity is only a plus if it effectively communicates your personality. Don’t over do it. Creativity should not be misconstrued as “flowery” and verbose language. I always take a simplistic approach when it comes to wording but intertwine it with an intricate idea. Quite often, wordy essays express a weakness - a lack of command over language. You resort to a thesaurus as a safety since you can’t consolidate ideas effectively.</p>
<p>Don’t test adcoms. They read a ton every year, are reviewing you for an admit. It’s not a hs assignment, where the teacher has you experiment with new techniques, wacky humor or high intellectualism. And where he or she knows you and has a better chance of figuring out what you may mean.</p>
<p>Just craft a nice tale that shows your personal strengths. Don’t make them dig through the flowery to find your message. They only spend a short time on each app.</p>