<p>So as you all know the supplemental essay asks: What is an academic experience, project, class or book that has influenced or inspired you?</p>
<p>I wrote this whole thing about a book I’ve read but it’s just not that good. So I wanted to talk about an experience I had while volunteering at the hospital, however, I’m not sure that falls under the criteria. </p>
<p>Thank you. Any feedback is appreciated.</p>
<p>I mean, if you can somehow classify that particular volunteering experience as academic, you're fine. Perhaps you should just try to get some feedback for your book essay.</p>
<p>If you can find some way to make it work for you, you could connect the book to your real life experiences volunteering. Just as long as it doesn't look like a stretch.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Actually, I wrote this supplement essay not really being 'academic'.. oh dear, and I'm an ED applicant too! :$ I talked about my experiences in an orphanage on a school trip, (which isn't exactly academic)... but, definitely do write something that shows who you are - and hopefully, veering a bit (more than my essay at least) to the intellectual side. :) </p>
<p>If you don't feel confident about the essay, don't submit it just yet. Make sure you do a gazillion redrafting to your final, polished, perfect piece of work. :) You can do it, deviations! :)</p>
<ul>
<li>I hope this essay won't justify for why I am 'rejected' from Brown a few days later when I check my results.. :( -cross fingers-!!!!</li>
</ul>
<p>Check with the Admissions Office. I was not sure about my essay (cultural exchange trip abroad) either, so I emailed an adcom, briefly stating the outline of my essay and asked her if that would work. She suggested me to use that as an additional essay and try to focus on the real "academic" for the required one.</p>
<p>I talked about two trips I did to Hong Kong and Spain for my school's Extended Study Week program. Basically they send us to different countries to learn stuff. It's definitely academic, since there's a focus of study for each trip and a teacher comes with. But yeah, I took the "talk about another country" route too. </p>
<p>My common app essay was definitely stronger.</p>
<p>I wrote mine on a book that I read in English class two years ago. Now it feels like I spent too much time describing why the book was so great not why I should get into Brown.</p>
<p>I actually wrote mine about a book I read in English last year but I didn't understand why it had to be an "academic" book? Anyone can just write about a book they've read and say that they've read it as part of a course?</p>
<p>Here's a thread about the supplemental essay that might help: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/brown-university/573171-influential-inspiring-academic-experience-essay.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/brown-university/573171-influential-inspiring-academic-experience-essay.html</a></p>
<p>As to the OP: Unless you can justify that volunteering is an "academic experience" then your topic does not work. It's not academic to me. You can write about whatever you want in the Common Ap essay. You need to answer the supplemental essay directly -- write about a book, a project, a class, an academic experience. There's really not much wiggle room there.</p>
<p>@sexycani - That's probably a good thing, as long as you went somewhere decent with it.</p>
<p>does an essay count? like something along the lines of Thoreau or someone.....</p>
<p>does it HAVE to be 500 words? can i leave it at around 200-250? is that wise?</p>
<p>ok...i plan to write about a novel we read for class...is that not "academic" enough? Im starting to worry...</p>
<p>laura: That sounds fine. But it all depends on what you say in the essay.</p>
<p>When it says "class," is that referring to one specific class (that happened on one specific day) or can I write about my experience in AP US History? It was a two-year course for me and I had the most passionate teacher ever, so she really changed my view of history. Would this be an appropriate "experience"?</p>
<p>blink, that sounds fine to me.</p>