<p>I just got the MIT application mailed to me today. I took a look at the personal essays, then suddenly realized how lame my life was. I've never really had any "life-ending" moments if my life (disregarding actual life-threatening situations), nor is there anything interesting or life-changing about the place i live in. So... that means i'm probably going to have to pull out a lot of b.s. out of my @$$to make this essay work. do any of you feel the same way as me?</p>
<p>In the disappointment essay, MIT wants to see that you can handle living outside Utopia. Everyone at MIT was one of the smartest kids around in their high schools. It follows that kids who are so successful tend to have had relatively functional home/personal lives. We're a pretty lucky lot in that sense. The fact that you don't think you've had any huge problems in your life is a good thing. It means you're not the type to freak out over an A- and such. You see the bigger picture. That said, this may not be the essay choice for you.</p>
<p>The fact that you don't think your community has influenced you significantly means you AREN'T seeing the bigger picture. I promise that the world is not a homogenous place - what makes you you? Did you fit in at your school? Were you always supported and encouraged by your parents? Did you have a special mentor who pushed you? Were you the smartest kid around, or did you have a bunch of like-minded friends? Nobody exists in a void. MIT doesn't only admit students with dramatic life stories. And yours probably isn't as boring as you think.</p>
<p>thanks a lot! I just wrote the post out of my initial suprise at the topics: it's the first application i've gotten so far. I haven't sat down and seriously thought about it yet, but when i do i'll probably find something good to write about. I'll probably go for the "write about your world" topic, like you suggested.</p>
<p>It's interesting that MIT only wants us to send in one personal essay... those 500 words had better count...</p>
<p>kcastelle gave me inspiration for my essay</p>
<p>yay for kcastelle. =P</p>
<p>also, remind urself that it doesn't have to be something huge over the years. it can be a powerful, symbolic anecdote that only focuses on one day in ur life. </p>
<p>i needed like 3 months last year to weed out stupid topics. feel free to take ur time! =D</p>
<p>Trust me, its not the "amazing" life you have lead that is important to convey on the essays, its the the essence of what you have gotten from the important aspects of your life that need to shine through showing passion, drive and an interest in the world around you.</p>
<p>Would anyone like to read my essay about the influence my environment/upbringing has had on me?</p>
<p>Also, as I was opening the big envelope the application came in, I was painfully reminded of another envelope around the same size that might or might not arrive next March. Yeah...I think I'll save the envelope.</p>
<p>Hahaha, that's pretty funny. I'd like to read your essay, as that's probably what I'll be writing about when my time comes, and I'd like to steal some ideas. :P</p>
<p>Does anybody else think 500 words is too few? I was just drafting today, for fun mostly, and before I realized it, I was pushing 1000 words.</p>
<p>This comes up every year. They really do want you to edit your words and try to keep it to 500. They won't throw it out or penalize you if it's over that number, but if you start pushing, say, 700 or 800 words, they will start to notice, and not in a good way. Try to keep it close to 500: you can do it!</p>
<p>You better be writing a masterpiece if you want to double the word limit, because that's pushing the tolerance of anyone with the amount of work to do that the adcom has. C'mon, you want to be an engineer - streamline your writing! Make it more efficient! ;)</p>
<p>LOL deafeninghorn, I think you already reviewed my MIT essay! Thanks anyway. Mine was about 550 words, so I learned that it is indeed possible to keep it down, as opposed to my 700-ish common app essay. Grr.</p>
<p>I'd love to read it, but I probably won't have much constructive feedback. :P</p>
<p>Actual life-threatening situations can also teach you a lot about yourself, if you want to approach it from that angle. ;)</p>
<p>for the "negative" essay....what do you all think about writing about a parents' divorce...a messy divorce. I did teach me a lot about myself and how to overcome, but nothing really academic....any input on that subject would be great</p>
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I believe MIT uses something other than envelopes for their acceptance letters...</p>
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<p>Noday, the short and more generic answer is that that would be a fine essay topic if you present it well (be careful to show how you've grown from the experience rather than whining about it). The more personal answer, I PMed to you.</p>
<p>thanks kcastelle! PMed you back</p>
<p>and ya...that essay is going to require loads of revisions</p>
<p>So, is it good idea for the essay to be about how priviledged you feel about having grown up in your community, or would it seem like you're some rich kid who had everything handed to you on a silver platter (which of course, is not true!)? My essay's starting to look like a Thanksgiving pre-dinner prayer. :(</p>