Common App: Short Answer

The Common App requires a reply to this short answer question:

“In the space provided below, please describe which of these activities (extracurricular and personal activities or work experience) has had the most meaning for you and why (150 words or fewer).”

That’s what my entire essay (<a href=“http://www.csun.edu/~jn673464/personalstatement.html[/url]”>http://www.csun.edu/~jn673464/personalstatement.html</a>) is about! I cannot write a new long essay, so what can I do? Obviously, the essay demonstrates the answer to that question; so it is totally redundant to write another hundred words about it.

Anyone else had the same problem? If so, what did you do, and do you have any ideas?

<p>Yep, same thing happened to me. I just used the short essay not to write about my most important activity, but a new activity I just started this year and am really enjoying.</p>

<p>i had the same problem, i jsut went different directions with each, it worked well, do the telling in the short answer and the showing in the essay, though, im still working on that essay part myself</p>

<p>My S used the short answer to write about his favorite EC in more general terms (about why the activity appeals to him, why he does it) and then used the longer essay to focus in on a specific and very meaningful event that took place in that EC. So the short one sets up the long one and they work together to help explain who S is, if that makes sense.</p>

<p>momof2inca worded it better than i could, im trying to do that too, seems to be a good approach to show passion about an ec</p>