Contradictions in personal statement

Obviously contradictions aren’t typically good to have. Would it be bad if I were to apply as X major and in my personal statement talk about my struggle with finding a passion? I’ve heard colleges really like to see commitment during application and I’m not sure if this will detract from that.

I don’t see that as a contradiction, but as being a normal teenager. You’re interested in a major but you’re not sure. That’s fine.

Yeah, I hear that a lot of colleges are all about finding kids with a passion for something, but I think a lot of very smart kids who will be super successful in life don’t fit that profile as 16/17/18 year old students. I wouldn’t try to run from that.

I would instead think about reframing it – the world is big, you can’t possibly have seen enough of it to settle on a single “passion” yet. Instead talk about how you’re curious (if that’s honest), and that you want to see more of the world first before settling into one thing. Talk about what led you to your current interests are and how that fits into what major you are applying for. Or talk about appreciating that you only have like 18 years to be a kid and that you wanted to enjoy it and don’t apologize for it.

I think it’s super cool if kids have a passion at 16 years old and are pursuing it vigorously. But I reject the notion that those are the only type of kids who are going to be super successful in college and later. So I wouldn’t try to run from who you are, just be honest and talk about your strengths.

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This only seems reasonable if the major you selected is a major that is highly competitive and that would be very difficult to transfer into if you were not accepted directly. Alternatively, if you were considering a major that has a great number of requirements that start from the very beginning, and that if you don’t start as that major, then there can be a lot of difficulty in graduating on-time. CS, engineering, and architecture are some of the majors where I could see this making sense.

If, however, you selected English or physics or history as a major (i.e. fields that typically have no capacity limits and a flexible curriculum), then that makes little sense. In that respect, I would just select “undecided.”

It seems you had a similar question a few days ago. You’re oversimplifying. Colleges don’t just want X but not Y.

People are individuals. You are a kid.

This is why undecided is often the most common major.

If you’re talking about your common app essay, you needn’t write about you or your interests. You could but you don’t need to.

You might write about a favorite picture and what it means to you or how about driving over speed bumps give you a certain feeling. Or that you find the yellow ball fuzz on a tennis racket fascinating.

You are who you are.

Be the best you that you can be, have a balanced list of schools to apply to and it will all work out.

I think you’re going to drive yourself crazy trying to be someone you don’t need to be.

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I agree that you seem to be worried about what colleges expect or assumptions of what they are looking for. You should just be you. Being undecided is ok. Not finding your passion until late is ok. Still not knowing what your passion is ok. Don’t try to make yourself into something that you aren’t because you think that is what colleges want. Apply as yourself.

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There is nothing wrong with having multiple “passions” (interests). I am a lot older than you and I would say I have a lot of them, not one :slight_smile:
You can enter undecided, or if you have to name a major, many colleges know that a lot of kids change majors (yes some direct admit to a major…). Don’t worry!

I don’t think this would be a negative for your personal statement. It is super common for students to not know what they want to do exactly, and colleges create resources so that you can explore different interests. At the end of the day your personal statement is a reflection of you, your interests, your personality, your goals, etc, so embracing that you want to explore more to find your passion would not be a detriment as long as you are writing authentically.

I actually don’t think your statements are necessarily contradictory. You can struggle to find a passion and still love your major. I would try to write your common app as a journey to your current major if you want to stay on the safe side. Also as someone stated above, apply undecided if you are still confused about what you want to study!