<p>No one ever suggested that she not be herself until you came along and offered a rather morally obvious advice that doesn’t really respond to her predicament. Below average usage of sarcasm and innuendos by the way. </p>
<p>I no longer wish to continue the digression, unless firstgen continues with his/her first-grade vitriol. Sorry, rareparadox, for hijacking your thread. Good luck, and tell us how it goes.</p>
<p>I think it’s best throughout the admissions process to present your best, most real self. What’s to worry about here? The AO isn’t going to throw out the application or think badly of the applicant for sending in a poem or two. If they don’t want to read the poems, they won’t. If the poetry is good, it may well make your application stand out. </p>
<p>OTOH, as an English teacher, I’ve read lots of bad poetry in my life that students have given me to read and when it’s not given to me for a grade, I usually just find something nice to say about it and hand it back with a smile. So I do think MBV has a point, and it might be worth getting a second opinion before sending it out, from someone more heartless than your teacher (the poetry making her cry makes me a bit suspicious of her level of critique 
)</p>
<p>@classicalmama,</p>
<p>I totally understand what you mean. I’ve read tons of bad poetry also especially from kids my age. But I truly think she actually liked it? When I would write essays for certain writing contests she definitely provided critique for that so I really do think what she says is genuine. This summer when I went to CTY I took the fiction and poetry course and my teacher for the course also enjoyed my poetry and so did many other bright students in my class. The teacher also had a book of poems published.</p>
<p>My mother is friends with a retired English teacher. She is very knowledgeable and helped my brother out with his college essays and many other highschoolers she also published many poems herself so I will meet up with her later.</p>
<p>@firstgen,</p>
<p>The suggestion on bringing my poems to the interview is a great idea. Sadly I already had my Andover interview but I will make sure to do that for Lawrenceville.</p>
<p>oh and if you do wish to view some of my poetry and offer some critique I’m more than happy to PM you I love feedback especially suggestions to improve!</p>
<p>rareparadox- Good luck to you in your search for the right school. Keep in mind the source of information you receive on these boards and take it with a grain of salt. You are smart enough to know good advice when you see it. Put your most genuine, authentic self forward and you will be fine. Don’t let yourself get caught up in trying to be the person that you think they want to admit… There are so many students packaged in the same box, emphasize your differences and you will set yourself apart.</p>
<p>Here’s some useless advice for anyone applying to smaller boarding schools:</p>
<p>Where I teach (under 500 kids) the admissions office does read short creative writing samples, and I’ve heard them asking members of the English department to take a look. In our case, neither the writing samples or the music and art samples have much influence–sports is king–but they are not seen as a nuisance. Of course, we aren’t swamped with applications in the same way Lawrenceville or Andover are.</p>
<p>@Albion</p>
<p>I actually am also applying to a smaller school: The Hill School but I’m applying for day because it’s near my house.</p>
<p>I think there’s no harm in sending your poems in, but don’t expect them to have a significant impact unless they truly blow tops and minds.</p>