<p>So i'm in a bit of a predicament writing one of my college application essays. I don't want to go in to specifics too much, mainly because i don't want to jeopardize the originality of my idea. However, the main thing I am running into is that I have a VERY original idea (and the finished product is quite good if i do say so myself). The problem is that every single person that I have asked to read it so far (Both of my parents, my english teacher, and my college-graduate brother) has read through the essay the first time as if it were a pulp fiction novel without actually considering the meaning or symbolism behind any of my words. When they get to the end of the paper I can tell they really didnt absorb anything they just read. Honestly, it seems like their understanding is about on par with what happens to me when i read shakespeare. They go through the motions, read one line at a time, but they don't really put it all together. I end up having to point out specific lines in my paper and show how they fit in to the overall picture/theme and only then do they go "OH YEAH...that's really great/clever".</p>
<p>The way this has been going, the only way admissions officers will understand the deeper parts of what i'm trying to say is if I include a video that gives commentary on all of the subtleties of my points.</p>
<p>So i guess what i'm wondering is, in what kind of setting and under what scrutiny will admissions officers at top universities read my essays? Will they be in semi-noisy distraction filled environments that do not condone for critical thinking? Is it my responsibility as the writer to dumb down my point enough such that anybody who glances through it can understand everything I am trying to say?</p>
<p>If you want I could read it and tell you if I see anything deep in it, but if you fear stealing, then it’s fine with me. </p>
<p>The readers generally take two minutes to read an essay, so they run through those things fast. I guess you’re just relying on them to be really really smart and get it the first time or put you in the maybe/no pile.</p>
<p>Maybe its the writing. In some respects this isn’t a class where you are constantly criticizing the writing for deeper meaning. Maybe put a phrase or two that pulls together a sort of more obvious epiphany.</p>
<p>just two minutes? wow, i knew it was bad for SAT/AP essays, but i thought when the school actually has a vested interest in how they rate the essays that they would spend a bit more time on them</p>
<ol>
<li><p>It is your responsibility to be clear.</p></li>
<li><p>Your readers will not have the time to struggle with an essay the way that you might struggle with Shakespeare.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks for your input guys. It looks like I’ll have to spend some time in the next few weeks fixing this up. And about the scores, sure i got an A in english and a 5 on the ap, but I’m still trying to make up for a 670 Wr score with an 8 essay =(</p>
<p>Some schools don’t care so much about W, because you will seldom experience a timed writing test in their classes. Good writing involves rewriting and rewriting. Your shining essay is more important than the W score.</p>
<p>Make sure that you don’t get TOO intelligent in your writing. Remember that adcoms are tired, overworked individuals who won’t surely like to find clues to reach to a twist ending and spend the rest of the day figuring what you wanted to say. Keep it simple, punch in some real great lines here and there, clever metaphors, alliterations, all that. Don’t complicate it, make it simple yet clever.</p>