<p>The BC board is pretty dead so I thought I'd ask here.</p>
<p>Bottom line: Does anyone know how much weight is put on the essay? It's such an objective thing that I find it hard to believe it has much weight, unless you write a completely awful one.</p>
<p>Any insight would be great.</p>
<p>CHEERS</p>
<p>It varies from college to college, try searching for a college's common data set. If you look through it you should find it. </p>
<p>For example, I'll use Bowdoin College. Within 5 minutes I googled "Bowdoin common data set". One of the first links (<a href="http://academic.bowdoin.edu/ir/images/cds2005-06.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://academic.bowdoin.edu/ir/images/cds2005-06.pdf</a>) pertained to my search so I clicked on it. I scrolled down to the section titled "Relative importance of each of the following academic and nonacademic factors in your first-time, first-year, degree-seeking (freshman) admission decisions." which is on Pg. 7. And it ranks the application essay as very important.</p>
<p>If you can't find the cds, maybe try searching the college's website to see if it offers any insight or you might try e-mailing the admissions office to ask about it. Since it may vary from college to college. And of course the other posters might offer some other solutions.</p>
<p>Dependent on the college, it can mean a GREAT deal. For the really competitive schools (e.g. HYPS) and the other top fifty or so, your app needs to show two things. Do you fit in and do you stand out? If the school you're applying to has a 15% admit rate, what does that adcom look at? Lists and lists of scores? I recall (and I could be wrong) that some larger institutions like Univ of MI looks at their applications like a bell curve. On one end are the completely unrealistic applicants. They have little to no chance. On the other end are students whose scores, transcripts automatically generate a high likelihood of admission. Then there's the large bulk in the middle. You can be sure that some admissions officer or two or three are going over those essays.</p>
<p>Can you express any deep thoughts? Are you creative? Do you show any spark? Your teachers and GC says one thing in their recommendation -- does your essay confirm that? A lot comes out on that one page.</p>
<p>While cleaning out my garage, I came across my essays that "got me in" -- I was lucky enough to be accepted at every school I applied. When I re-read them, I could DEFINITELY tell that a seventeen year old wrote them -- however, I could see why an adcom found them interesting and could read that I was a person who thought deeply about the world, my friends and my surroundings. Not too bad for five hundred words, I say.</p>
<p>What did I write about? 1) rather cliched but I wrote about how much I enjoyed competing at a state ensemble competition and how much I enjoyed practicing with my two bandmates in our trio and 2) I wrote about how I had betrayed the confidence of a friend who had told me he was gay and how it affected me and what I learned from that.</p>
<p>Good luck when formulating yours. Just be yourself.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. I've already written my essay, it's been done since November, but I'm wondering if it will boost my chances of acceptance to Boston College. My grades and scores are a little under the average, but I still have a good shot. One thing I have going for me is my essay. My councelor told me he read it 10 times, saying it was the best he'd seen in almost 15 years. I am flattered by this, but it also scares me a little. Are colleges going to think an adult wrote it? I have very strong writing skills, but I will admit that this is by far my best work. I spent nearly 3 months, and probably 200 hours writing it...I'm not even kidding, this was my baby. I have never poured so much into my writing, each day I would critique it, and change some things. I would have my dad give me feedback everyday, and it payed off. Hopefully admissions officers understand that this is my work, not an adult's. Maybe I should have stated somewhere that it was a 3 month project, not just a weekend-long cram session.</p>
<p>200 hours on 500 words? wow. that would be more than 2 hours per day for three months. I hope for your sake that you are exagerrating. . and if not, that it gets you in!</p>
<p>I tried looking for the CDS for bc, but no luck, sorry. Personally, I think that a great essay can have an impact on the admissions decision...and from what you write you worked hard on it, so I think it should be a big factor (that's my opinion, not really based on any facts).</p>
<p>wow, I spent maybe 2-3 hours on my essay, and I did it the night before my first app was due. I'm not reccomending that as a plan, but I was accepted ED at my top choice, so I dunno what that tells you, haha.</p>
<p>Yeah, I didn't spend much time on my essay at all (3 hours tops).</p>
<p>at the top schools essays are heavily weighed. Here's what 2 adcoms at MIT say
[quote]
Two things - first, put yourself - your true self - into all of the subjective parts of the application, especially your essays. When readers feel a human connection to an application, it makes them search even harder for a reason to admit you. In other words, we don't connect with pieces of paper, we connect with people. So make sure that your application is a compelling window into who you really are.
<a href="http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/misc/miscellaneous/meet_the_admissions_officers_b_1.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/misc/miscellaneous/meet_the_admissions_officers_b_1.shtml</a>
[/quote]
[quote]
1. Put a lot of time and effort into crafting your personal statement. While it may seem like a chore at first, remember that everything in you application is being said about you. Your essays are the only time that you get to speak directly to admissions committee. Make your voice count! Don't use your whole essay telling us what you want to do after college (E.g. I want to be a thoracic surgeon helping the indigenous population of the Republic of Kiribati). Instead use your voice to tell us what you are passionate about studying at MIT.
<a href="http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/misc/miscellaneous/meet_the_admissions_officers_b.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/misc/miscellaneous/meet_the_admissions_officers_b.shtml</a>
[/quote]
</p>