<p>what if i write my MIT essay on an EC that i DONT list on my top 5 ECs
how would that look?
like i'm too spread out?</p>
<p>I'm kind of confused - why would you do this? But, in your defense, I guess this is kind of what I did.</p>
<p>My reasoning is that if you've invested enough time / energy into an activity that you could write a coherent and intelligent essay on it, why wouldn't you put it as one of your top 5 activities?</p>
<p>But, I wrote my essay about horseback riding, an activity that I had given up a few years prior (and therefore didn't list in my top 5 activities). My essay fit the question, but it wasn't specificially <em>about</em> horseback riding, more about what I learned from really, really being awful at something and having to work hard at it. But I think it would be a bit strange if you list 5 activities and then write all about "how I founded the debate team" or something like that.</p>
<p>Well... I sort of did that too. For the optional essay I put in some stuff about how I like art, and talked about my work on yearbook and newspaper and some short films that I've made, but none of these things were in my top 5 activities simply because I had other things that I enjoy more / spend more time on.</p>
<p>The essays are best used to reveal or explain something about you that can't be gleaned from other parts of the application. So it's fine, even better, to talk about something not otherwise in a list of awards or accomplishments.</p>
<p>I don't think you have to worry about being "too spread out." I did a lot of things in high school; as long as the top 5 EC's are things you really care about, you'll be fine.</p>
<p>Could you maybe give us more details about what exactly you are planning on writing about? I sort of feel as though I don't have enough information to adequately answer your question...</p>