<p>We have spent the day watching the news and wondering if friends in Phuket and Penang are okay. Essay revision has suddenly become therapeutic. </p>
<p>My son's main essay is essentially done and is "fine"-and it draws attention to his primary "hook" if you will. It encapsulates why he is interested in what he is interested in, and how unique aspects of his life have brought him there. It is an essay only he could write and he has done a nice job. </p>
<p>He has written another essay for one of his schools that talks about a problem he confronted at school, the initiative he took in trying to solve it, and his response when things didn't go right. It conveys many of his best personal attributes in my mind. He wrote it originally as the "primary" essay, but in thinking about the aspects of himself he most wanted to portray, he decided to go with the other theme.</p>
<p>He will be sending the "problem solving" essay as an additional essay to the school he was deferred from ED- along with an additional recommendation (from a teacher he has only had this year who asked if he could write a recommendation!!). It wil also go to the school which requested it as an optional essay. </p>
<p>My question is, what about sending the "problem solving" essay as well to his other schools. He is trying to stay within word and space limits, he is not sending other materials (maybe an abbreviated resume, maybe not)- this "activity" appears on the resume, but not in the depth it gets in essay form. </p>
<p>I am loathe to suggest he overdo it. I think that his other materials present a cohesive picture of him, but this additional piece is just a different side...</p>
<p>Tragedy on such a scale has a way of putting other things in perspective.
If the problem was significant, I would suggest your S send on the essay. Unless the school strongly discourages additional materials, the worst that can happen is that the essay will be tossed out. But the chance is high that it will be read and will make an impact.<br>
My S wrote his additional essay on a topic that had partially been covered by a question regarding his most significant activity.</p>
<p>My suggestion is that you follow your son's lead. If he wants to send only the primary hook essay, especially for applications that don't invite supplemental materials, that's fine. My rationale is that, at this point, I think it's best that he be in control of what's going into his application and what's being left out. If he's comfortable having put all that work into the essay and only using it in one situation, I don't see a need to convince him to do otherwise. So much of the process is out of our children's control that it's good for them to be able to make discrete decisions and not be talked out of them.</p>
<p>I think it depends on the "voice" that comes thru. The suplemental essay S used was about applying as a junior (at last minute). It showed his sense of humor. His main essay was death of grandparents in prior year (I know, if I had read board at that time, NEVER would have let him use this topic). I mention these details to show how each presented his voice, but in differerent styles. Looking back, he could have skipped the grandparents essay.
If I recall, each school said he was permitted to send a supplemental essay if relevant, which in his case it was.
I think a deferral means a better chance than a wait list in April. It permits one to show strong interest, e.g., sending newest accomplishments, extra recc. Your S's supplemental essay could be viewed as, "does it speak to his character? Does it reveal more than rest of app does?" If your S is really proud of it, and wants to send it, why not? Anyway, just an opinion</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. The "feel" of the 2 essays is very different. The main essay is more introspective. The other, more action oriented. It definitely portrays him as a "doer" and also someone who rebounds from setbacks. </p>
<p>He likes both of them. I will ask him what he thinks, but I am thinking- "why not"...I just don't see how it could do any harm, so long as it is well written and not duplicating other information...</p>