<p>There has been much discussion about being honest on the applications. I am not referring to honesty in the sense of lying vs. telling the truth, but rather, letting one's true self shine through.</p>
<p>In my efforts to write essays that convey my true self, and then subsequently letting my parents help me edit them, I find myself in a battle to express my true nature, while trying not to come across as offensive or unlikeable.</p>
<p>I feel that many applicants are very concerned with how the admissions committee will interpret their responses. As much as we know that we should be expressing our true personalities, we also know that admissions committees are likely to look unfavorably upon unfavorable attributes.</p>
<p>So where does one draw the line between exposing your complete true self, and then "packaging" yourself positively for the adcom?</p>
<p>Edit: I'm not looking for naive responses like "Be your 100% true self, duh!" because despite their aims to unbiased, admissions officers are humans also and as such, will respond negatively to certain aspects of a person's character. My question is about the balance between the 2</p>
<p>Errr...well, every poster here is going to say be honest..</p>
<p>It's common knowledge that almost every student embellishes their application, at least those pursuing elite schools. Is that lying? Maybe, but the standard clearly overrules any ethical/moral concerns..</p>
<p>You see, college is a game. Nobody cares about learning, nobody cares about truth. All they want is to get into their chosen school, and they'll do it by any means necessary. The sooner you accept this, the better you'll be able to function according to adcom desires. </p>
<p>If you're honest, the only person who is really going to care is yourself. Assume everyone else is a lying scumbag who couldn't care less about the abilities of others. </p>
<p>Don't put too much thought into it. Pepper yourself as best you can, and pray that you will be accepted. That's really all you can do.</p>
<p>In addition to what HSisOverrated said, I think it kind of depends on the school. I'm applying to Beloit, and the supplemental essay I sent them is three pages long (they didn't give a guideline, but I know supplemental essays should be one->one and a half) and part of the narrative is about a talking red dragon that lives on my golf course and discusses late '90s playoff basketball with me. It's so ridiculous and it's totally conversational in tone (which this stuff shouldn't really ever completely be), but I figured I'm spreading a wide net so I might as well try different things at different schools to maximize my chances. It's also way more self-deprecating than any application essay should be, but they're supposed to be a school that likes that kind of thing.</p>
<p>I would say you should lean towards saying what you think they want to hear, but it's important to have some variation in your applications. I'm not going to lie; with the exception of the Beloit thing, Chicago and a few others most of my supplements were cut and paste jobs with significant editing. But I made sure to change the direction of all of them, even if it was just slightly, to try and "cover all my bases." You might want to consider the same.</p>
<p>Lol, the sophomore seems to know his stuff.
HSisOverrated, you've studied the college process more than a lot of seniors :P</p>
<p>back to the OP, I think being honest is the best. But use discretion. Don't talk about how you honestly hate raisins, or you secretly hate something.</p>
<p>I tried being very honest, and myself in my essays. I truely believe that one of my essays turned out getting me rejected from a college (or certainly not helping to overcome the statistical averages), and that some of my other essays substantially helped my applications. I enjoyed taking risks while writing them.</p>
<p>HSisOverrated..every student embellishes? In what way? I mean, I guess I've heard a few people at my school BRAG about "exaggerating" on their apps..but I didn't think it was common practice to do so.
But, anyways, could you clairfy what you meant? Flat out LIES? Or saying they did .. 50 hours of service when they did 48? Because the stuff that could acutally make a difference in the decision, I feel, would be easy to check, and other stuff is so trivial I'm sure adcoms don't even bother to check..
Could you just explain what you meant? Because that is new information to me.
Thanks :)
And in terms of essAYS..I felt that mine showed me..and a few friends I had read them agreeed .. I think to show you is the best way to go, because the essay will just seem much more natural that way...ut yeah don't be your 100% true self, but be the BEST part of yourself...if that makes any sense at all</p>
<p>
[quote]
HSisOverrated..every student embellishes? In what way?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>In every way. Increasing non-existed volunteer/work hours, supplementing award descriptions with information originally not mentioned (basically expanding awards with accomplishments not-so-emphasized when given). Itemizing E.C, even though many activities are individual or very closely related. </p>
<p>You think applicants to Harvard are going to "tell it like it is"? </p>
<p>
[quote]
I mean, I guess I've heard a few people at my school BRAG about "exaggerating" on their apps..but I didn't think it was common practice to do so.
<p>But see, do those little things acutally make a difference?
Doubt it.
And if it were somehting big..saying you were a published researcher, or just tottaly made up an award, or said you were president when you werent..
wouldn't that be easy to check?
and if teachers/counselors didn't mention them in recs..well wouldn't that sort of raise a flag?
Maybe I'm being tottaly naive, but I just don't get how people can get away with 100% lies</p>
<p>
[quote]
haah CLEARLY..=(
thats disgusting to me
[/quote]
It's human nature. It happens on job applications constantly. Even if someone did something good, they aggrandize the accomplishment. You're trying to sell yourself, you're trying to tell a school what you'll bring it if they accept you. Everyone makes themselves look a little better than they are, and everyone has their own moral line they refuse to cross. For some people, that's very few embellishments (or just using more flattering words to describe yourself), and for others (like that URM thread) it's lying about your race.</p>
<p>I dunno..I wouldn't ever even "embellish" just because I am a very..I don't even know the word for it, but I like to earn things..
its not even about being caught..but its like when people cheat on tests..get A's..and then does it even matter to them? When I study hard and get an A, or run fast and beat my time, or whatever..its a good feeling..
I dunno if that makes sense..its late, and I'm just going off on a tangent because of this gross new information :(</p>
<p>I think you guys are mixing up lying and making look better:</p>
<p>If I said I worked under the CEO of a company when I really do not have anything to do with the company, that would be lying.
However, if i say I worked under the CEO, which technically I did, but in reality there were only 3 people in the company, that would make it look better</p>
<p>There's a big difference between lying and making it look better.</p>
<p>You certainly need to portray yourself in the best way possible. Your college application process is no time to be modest and humble. Go ahead and "embellish" your accomplishments a bit. You want to make yourself stick out from the thousands of applicants who are all capable of writing that they "volunteered at _____." While you obviously shouldn't make anything up, there's no reason to downplay the things that make your application unique. Obviously, though, don't raise your position as Spanish Club President to the level of Class President, :)</p>
<p>I completely understand your situation with your parents and the essay. Mine did the same thing. They felt they had the right to tweak it because they were paying for my education. The most important thing to remember is that the essay is meant to provide a broad portrait of yourself. Choose something you really care about and expand on it. You might wish to somehow show how you live the college's motto (without explicitly stating that you do). The key is to be discreet- not to loudly state that you are fit for the school, but to show that you are through descriptions of something that it important to you.
Best of luck with you essay, I'm sure you'll find a way to portray your best self</p>
<p>If they don't want you for who you really are, then they don't deserve you! (except in the highly competitve world of college admissions where the only goal is an acceptance letter and it doesn't matter how you get there....)</p>
<p>this was basically a sarcastic, pointless, bitter post. :)</p>
<p>The OP isn't talking about whether to 'embellish' or not. The OP is asking how 'real' should you be? Real is much more interesting and appealing than processed and prepackaged. But it's a fine line between sweetly self-deprecating humor and talking yourself down. What you think is attractive quirkyness may come across as hokey or unsavory weirdness to someone else. That's why you need a 3d party to look things over-parents, teachers, friends can all give you good advise on how to sound authentic and present yourself in the best possible way. In the end though, it needs to be your call. It's the challenge of applications, interviews, first dates, etc...</p>