<p>Hey...I was wondering if I'm being too sincere about my Stanford supplemental responses. Would anyone like to read them over and tell me if they feel anything might be viewed negatively?</p>
<p>Favorites.....</p>
<p>Books: 1984, The Giver, O Pioneers!, My Side of the Mountain, Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Night </p>
<p>(I was debating removing a middle school book like The Giver even though it's probably one of my all-time favorite books in terms of plot and theme)</p>
<p>Films: The Butterfly Effect, The Prestige, Fight Club, Minority Report, The Island, Anchorman, Super Troopers, 300</p>
<p>(Would Anchorman and Super Troopers, both movies with crude humor, be looked down upon...?)</p>
<p>Musical Artists: All-American Rejects, Jack Johnson, Yellowcard, Weezer, Chopin, Debussy</p>
<p>(I hope admission officers know who The All-American Rejects are and don't raise an eyebrow... I also left out bands that refer a lot to drugs, alcohol, and stuff...)</p>
<p>everyone please let go of the idea that admissions officers expect you to listen to classical music and read fine literature; its not like this part will make or break you; they want to see the real you, the human you</p>
<p>haha…it’s not that I listen to classical music much but I thought I should add them because, when I pick repertoire for piano, they are my top choices. Should I still keep it…?</p>
<p>i agree with everyone else, I put that I absolutely loved Disney’s “Herculues” and Mitch Albom’s books (Five people you meet in heaven, tuesdays with morrie) even though those don’t sound too “prestigious” or “challenging” be yourself!!! By the way, Jack Johnson and Yellowcard are awesome!!!</p>
<p>That’s been my approach during this entire application process for far…I’ve been trying to mirror myself in my app, not distort it. I was just wondering since my mom had brought up a few issues she had with my choices. I felt as if I might be going too far on certain things…say, listing a band which refers to drugs and alcohol a lot.</p>
<p>Wow, I read Rivers Cuomo’s myspace a couple years ago when he put his Harvard personal essay on it, and if his essay got him into Harvard, all I can say for Stanford is . . . be interestingly honest and show who you are. Needless to say, Weezer would be a good add (and they’re back in the studio, yea!).</p>
<p>well, a Harvard adcom in his book made a point of saying that essays very rarely are the deciding factor (though a clueless one can torpedo you). His point was sound - they can’t put much weight on it, since they know how much help some applicants get (expert help, that doesn’t leave its fingerprints by burying the voice of the applicant).</p>
<p>I’m sure essays can have the ability to sway your application in the right direction though…</p>
<p>I mean, if you’re not qualified, you won’t get in, but if you’re qualified and someone else is too, which happens to be the case all the time at Harvard, your essay might be able to convince an adcom to choose you.</p>
<p>Speaking of which…anyone want to read my essay? I guarantee you it’s as truthful as my supplemental info. I tried to take an interesting approach and write about my child fascination with bugs. It’s enjoyable…</p>
<p>I’m trying to be very honest on my Stanford application. Perhaps naming Playboy as one of your favorite magazines would be a bit much… but what you have seems perfectly fine. They want real people.</p>
Get some sleep…</p>