EPGY High- Read My Essay!

Pre-College Issues Home Schooling and College
1

<p>Hello! I know this is College Confidential, but I looked at some of the posts and thought it may be helpful for me when I apply to EPGY Online Highschool.</p>

<p>I have been home-schooling since the middle of 7th grade, and I'm in 8th grade right now. The school requires me to write essays, so I was wondering if you guys could look at it and tell me what you think. It's special because I home-school. The prompt was:</p>

<p>Describe yourself as a student. What subjects do you enjoy studying? What are some of the ways that you like to learn? What do you like or dislike about school? </p>

<p>Below is my essay. Thanks! </p>

<p>--
I consider myself unique and very much eager to learn. However, not all schools offer what is best for a unique student. That is perhaps why I started home schooling about a year and a half ago. At the school I was put into classes according to grades, not according to my special skills or talents. It failed to bring out the full potential in a student; I never really realized my own potential to advance in mathematics until I started home-schooling. I completed two math courses in less than half a year, when the school had convinced me repeatedly that it would take two years at the very least.</p>

<p>A school cannot always provide a different learning environment for its students. For example, one student may do best by applying content to many different areas while another may prefer visual learning and visual learning only. Although I can adapt to diverse learning methods, I do have my preferred ways. Learning visually is one way which I favor when it comes to understanding mathematics; drawing graphs and charts helps me immensely when struggling to grasp a new concept or solve a difficult question. Furthermore, I believe that keeping one’s own pace is very important in learning. Although I am generally advanced in science, some theories take more time to fully understand than others. Learning which respects an individual’s pace will be very helpful. </p>

<p>I greatly enjoy writing. I strongly believe that fully expressing ones opinions is truly important in today’s society, and that writing is one of the most widespread methods of civilized communication. Although I entered the States only a few years back, I rather rapidly grasped the language and soon was able to write without any difficulty. I have previously written for newspapers, newsletters, and more to fully bring out my talent in this subject. </p>

<p>At the moment I am studying trigonometry and pre-calculus, which I find deeply interesting. It is not the precision of mathematics which I am appealed to; I am simply in love with the fact that any one problem can be solved in numerous different ways. Practicing math questions has helped me solve any problem in life creatively yet systematically, and eventually, efficiently.</p>

<p>I love learning for simply what it is. Whether it’s finding out more about the Great Awakening or studying how to graph a trigonometric function, learning feels good, and I do not plan on stopping until I am fully satisfied.</p>

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<p>Nice essay! You express yourself very well and very clearly, using relevant examples to illustrate your meaning. It sounds like homeschooling is really agreeing with you!</p>

3

<p>Nice essay, I enjoyed reading it. :) Your view on trigonometry and methematics is especially interesting - I've never looked at it that way. Its something good to hear, given that in a few days I will begin my self studying of Algebra 2. (Although I'm not a homeschooler)</p>

4

<p>Very nice essay - especially for someone so young!</p>

<p>I have one suggestion, though. You say, "It is not the precision of mathematics which I am appealed to." You are ending with a preposition, which is grammatically incorrect. Instead, you might want to change it to something like, "It is not the precision of mathematics which appeals to me." That eliminates the problem. </p>

<p>Again, your essay is great!</p>

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<p>Thank you everyone! I'll send this one! I also have other essays (they sure want a lot!), so perhaps you can help me there, too!</p>

<p>THANKS!</p>

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<p>Nice! Good expression. To be a little picky, there were a few grammar errors and some awkward sentence structure, such as "At the school I was put into classes according to grades, not according to my special skills or talents." "the" is an article but does not refer to any previous noun. Try "public" or "private" school to clarify. Also, "according to MY grades" to keep the parallel sentence structure. And "I rather rapidly grasped the language" doesn't need the word rather...</p>

<p>Basically, read it aloud and the awkward sentences should pop up. It is very nicely written though, and better than many college application essays I have read on here. And this is not your first language! Very nice.</p>

7

<p>Thank you SweetestSith! I fixed it.</p>

<p>Now I have to get onto my second essay, but I just can't grasp what I have to say. It says explain my 'intellectual interests'...Do they mean simply explain my favorite subjects and such? Thanks.</p>

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<p>yeah...what is an intellectual interest?</p>

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<p>I'm guessing, everything you do with your mind. Like, I enjoy studying, debating, and thinking about political subjects and moral issues. I love history, but why I love it, is an itellectual reason. I love philosphy for its intellectual properties, etc. </p>

<p>Dictionary:
" 1.
1. Of or relating to the intellect.
2. Rational rather than emotional.
2. Appealing to or engaging the intellect: an intellectual book; an intellectual problem.
3.
1. Having or showing intellect, especially to a high degree. See Synonyms at intelligent.
2. Given to activities or pursuits that require exercise of the intellect."</p>

<p>I think that mostly covers it. What do you like doing with your mind? Such as writing, writing to explore things, or reading, those I think of as intellecutal pursuits, from your first essay I think you have quite a few. This will be a tricky essay though, because its hard to formulate on paper.</p>

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<p>Thank you.</p>