<p>Well here's the thing...yeah it's a risky topic, and there's a chance someone might be grossed out by it or thinks it's really weird...but if it makes an adcom notice your application, isn't that the point? If an admissions officer remembers this essay out of the 5,000 or whatever essays about volunteering at the local hospital that he has to read, won't that already be an advantage right there?</p>
<p>Not if they remember you for having a disgusting essay topic...."memorable" doesn't always = "we want you at this school".
Also, showing guts can be a good thing, but this may be a <em>little</em> too extreme. UVa had a good page on their website about essays and what was risky/good/bland/too risky. Judging by their standards, yours was over the top.
At the very least, no 'rotting oranges'....</p>
<p>I think it's great. I like it a lot. I don't think it's the graphic detail, or even menstruation as a topic that will turn them off. It's the whole thing about you making a big deal about a female mathematician that's just melodramatic and generally illogical.</p>
<p>Then again, there are just as many girls as guys in my higher level math class...so my viewpoint may be skewed.</p>
<p>good writing tho. that's undeniable.</p>
<p>We were told at Penn's information meeting by the adcom to be careful what topic was chosen in an essay; that essays were read by a number of folks, including admissions personel, teachers, etc. Did you always want to be associated with a certain topic? The example they gave was a boy who wrote about his first sexual experience! I got the impression that they were turned off by it. (No pun intended.) The understanding I got from that was, they want to know about you, but perhaps not ALL about you.</p>
<p>For Reed College, yes. For other schools no.</p>
<p>What tree did you fall off to write that one? O_o</p>
<p>I like the essay, although the transitions between the first two and the last two paragraphs need work. I was confused by the reference to the elegant axiom. Is there an elegant axiom about your skin turning orange? I don't think so. You have an unusual ability with words for a math girl--you are lucky to be multi-dimensional. Judging from all the comments above, you certainly have chosen something risky, but I can see it being an attractive essay at schools like Bryn Mawr, Wellesley, Smith, etc. I wonder how it would be viewed at Chicago? I say clarify the confusing parts and send it, if you are applying to schools that value strong women and risk-takers. I think the posters who find the harmless description of menstruation in the last paragraph gross immature. They remind me of the ones who tittered in health class. I think you wrote an original essay that reflects your experiences as a math girl.</p>
<p>Trying to figure out the point here--maybe I am not reading this right?--but are you saying that being a girl (and having those "hormones") makes you somehow weaker in math than the boys? It seems as if you find being a functioning woman to somehow be a detriment to your studies, e.g., equating the blood to "the corpse of any mathematical prowess I had once possessed."</p>
<p>And yes, the adcoms will definitely remember your application if you submit this essay.</p>
<p>Call me weird, but I like a lot about this essay. You write well, but you need to work on clarity and the transitions between your paragraphs. You have an unusual ability with words for a math-girl. I think many colleges would be glad to have such a multi-dimensional student. The transition between the first and second paragraph is abrupt. Also, I don't remember any "elegant and muted" axiom about your skin turning orange if you eat too many oranges. I think you waxed poetic too much on that one. I think colleges that like strong women and risk takers would love this essay if you do some editing. I can see it being very well received at schools like Bryn Mawr, Wellesley, and Smith. Harvard?? Maybe. Where are you applying besides Harvard?</p>
<p>PS: I really wonder about all the posters who find the references to menstruation gross. Many references to same in some great poetry, folks.</p>
<p>Sorry for double post. I thought the first one disappeared into cyberspace. Mstee, I thought her point was that she has experienced negative reactions from those who wonder, "why her? why math?" Menstruation is the most obvious sign of her female-ness, and it is a natural metaphor for being a woman.</p>
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I think the posters who find the harmless description of menstruation in the last paragraph gross immature
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<p>Tell me how you would feel if read an essay about some guys experience when he had a hard-on during math class?</p>
<p>That is how some feel when they read this essay.</p>
<p>Inappropriate essay topic. The writing itself was awkward... pompous writing with all the thesauraus replacements.... some of them do not even fit</p>
<p>Plus the connection between "menustration" and mathematics is such an unreasonable stretch that it renders your whole essay pointless.</p>
<p>Well, the essay definitely raises some issues, gets one to think. And that is a positive. But I still have to ask, what is the point of this essay? She equates menstrual blood to "the death of any mathematical powers (she) had once possessed." And she also says that her "body as a biological entity has repeatedly informed (her) that (she) should not become a mathematician." What is the point of statements such as these? Menstrual blood equals failure in math? Is there some other way to read such statements that I somehow am not understanding?</p>
<p>Just to nitpick. Carrot, eaten in excessive quantities, can cause the skin to turn orange because of the carotene in them. I don't think oranges can do that.</p>
<p>Gee, I think your essay is so much more interesting than most I see here, much better writing, such an interesting voice. Still, I have to agree with those who say don't use it as a college essay.</p>
<p>Eh... interesting idea, and your writing is ok (but I do find it a bit hard to read). I am not grossed out easily at all, so I didn't think your essay was gross, but the "rotting" part was a bit disturbing.<br>
I would suggest putting that writing ability to better use and maybe writing about something maybe equally out there but not so semi-taboo. You don't want to get rejected from your 1st choice college because the adcom thought your essay was gross, after all. =`></p>
<p>Lets see you just submit this essay for laughs and see what happens!!</p>
<p>would anybody in here like to read my essay( for columbia ED) and give me your opinions, please. Just leave your email adress or screename. Thanks a bunch</p>
<p>Potato: Thanks for proving my point. I don't think you will ever get this essay. Menstruation is just a biological process; so are erections. Try to be a little more mature.</p>