<p>So to all the ED (or RD) applicants, how did you guys approach the Ben Franklin essay?</p>
<p>Did you guys describe yourselves as immovable, movable, or movers?</p>
<p>I said I was all three at different times and then explained a situation where I displayed each</p>
<p>I said I was a mover, and I described what I have done already and what I will do in the future that proves it.</p>
<p>^^William95 - I was originally going to do that, but then I read an article by Dean Furda that basically said they knew people would try to do that exact thing and suggested to just answer the question and not try to be creative in the way you describe. </p>
<p>I opted for “movable”, and wrote a story about a situation in which I was adaptable and showed that I could listen to the perspectives of others to form a better one for myself.</p>
<p>I opted for those who move. I then explained how one can’t expect to get anywhere in life without being proactive and “moving” oneself there. I also used some saying I know in Spanish to communicate this through the piece.</p>
<p>I chose immovable and wrote about how I’ve grown to have a strong sense of identity despite not knowing who I will eventually be since I’m only 17. (sort of a coming of age type thing I suppose…)</p>
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<p>Hi, I don’t know you and you don’t know me but we wrote the same exact essay.</p>
<p>I picked none of them. I said that I, myself, move. I don’t force others to move, and nobody else can make me move. </p>
<p>Basically, I’m independent. I then related that to my scientific research in surgery. It wasn’t exactly a highly personal essay, but I definitely geeked out to the max on this one haha.</p>
<p>Wow attempting to devaluate a well known quote of the founder of the university you are applying to… pretty stupid.</p>
<p>Furthermore, your reasoning is completely wrong. You are then movable, just independently.</p>
<p>My essay showed my growth from an immovable child to a movable teenager to a moving young adult. </p>
<p>Or I should I say I hope.</p>
<p>Well, I wasn’t trying to devaluate it. In fact, I barely referenced the prompt itself in my essay. I never explicitly said whether I was a mover, immovable, or movable. </p>
<p>I had an extended metaphor for science and moving, and my role in it.</p>
<p>Dean Furda’s blog explicitly states: “It also asks students to think about their role in the world; we, as an institution, are interested in knowing what type of people our applicants are.” </p>
<p>Which I guess means that we don’t really have to directly answer the prompt. We need to fulfill the purpose of the prompt though - and that does usually entail picking one of the three given choices. But just because I didn’t do that doesn’t mean I’m wrong. </p>
<p>He also writes: “We also want to be surprised at what students do with this text. To surprise us you dont need to reject all options, think of a fourth option, or merge them. This is not to say that you shouldnt challenge the premise of the question but, again, we ask you to look for yourself in some part of it.” </p>
<p>I didn’t find myself in the quote, so I took it a different route. </p>
<p>(Source: [The</a> Penn Supplement: Part II | page217](<a href=“http://page217.org/?p=475]The”>http://page217.org/?p=475))</p>
<p>^It sounds like a risky idea, but then again, it could be just as rewarding as it is risky. It’s all in the execution.</p>
<p>Oh, I know. All my essays are really risky. </p>
<p>My “Why Penn?” essay is about bread. My CommonApp essay is about my experience in a foster home. Then this. </p>
<p>I did, however, do my research on my regional admissions counselor, just so I could see who my audience would be. She’s a philosophy major and is currently getting a masters in education at Penn. I’ve also met her: she’s young, fairly avant garde, and super nice. </p>
<p>She doesn’t seem traditional or conservative at all. So I’m kinda hoping she appreciates the risk.</p>
<p>teenyroats, altough your idea is good, i think you fit into this quote : “To surprise us you don’t need to reject all options, think of a fourth option”</p>
<p>Yeah, but as @wallrus75 said, I do fit into the part of a “mover.” And I also never explicitly said which one; it’s kinda implied. </p>
<p>I’m hoping that I don’t get punished for being different :/</p>
<p>Don’t worry about it! What is done is done. And who knows? It is just as likely that the admissions officers appreciated your unique approach to the question.</p>
<p>damn…i merged two of the options and then connected myself to the properties of water…yolo</p>
<p>I appreciate the science. ^</p>
<p>I used having to take a year off of college and my thought process to connect to all three. at first being moveable, then Immovable and then finally how I chose to move.</p>
<p>I am kinda new to this site, so I don’t hold much clout on these forums. But what I can tell anyone who needs a unique topic is forget what you know and forget what others have wrote about, sit down and think about the quote. I have come up with a great Idea that is unique. PM me if you would like a unique and interesting perspective on the Ben Franko approach…but know that I am a little hesitant to give it out just yet.</p>