<p>Hey! I'm applying to a few colleges Regular Decision, three of which are top-tier. I have written several potential supplements, but I'm conflicted about which ones to use.</p>
<p>One type of supplement that I have makes sense with the rest of my app. It's about my main EC/passion/focus. The plus side of this is that it could give admissions officers a clearer, more focused picture of who I am.</p>
<p>The other type of supplement that I have seems more random regarding the topic. The negative side of this is that it could make me seem scattered. However, the positive side is that it could make me seem more well-rounded. It seems more interesting, funny, and quirky because it is such a random, weird topic. It could potentially make me stand out.</p>
<p>Note: My main Common App essay is the second type of essay (weird topic, funny, etc.). When I applied ED, I used this essay along with a serious (type 1) supplement. However, I got deferred. I don't know if it was because of my essays or not, but I want to try to improve on whatever mistakes I made before with my essay selection.</p>
<p>So, which type of supplement would be better to use in the context of the entire app? Or should I just use whichever supplements are most well-written? Thank you :)</p>
<p>I vote for the random essay. Colleges want to know more about YOU and essays should not be things what colleges want to hear. As long as the content answers the prompt, I don’t see any problems with writing random/quirky essays.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response. That’s what I thought too. The reason why I was worried is because I used that strategy (random interesting tidbits) at a college interview, and the senior interviewer had a real struggle trying to figure out what I was “into.” He didn’t seem to appreciate my well-roundedness as a person.</p>
<p>Yeah, that’s true. The reason I had both of my essays be about my main passion before was because I thought it wasn’t clear what I was into. Although I have a main passion, it is shown in many different forms, and I also have a few other ECs that might detract from it.</p>
<p>I just don’t know where the line is between being a well-rounded person and seeming scattered. I know colleges need both types of people, but it seems easier if you’re an applicant who’s just focused on a couple of things and is really good at those things. I’m not like that. I’m good at a couple of things, but not national level. I also have other ECs that I do to help my school, but are not really related to my main interest.</p>
<p>Your application should give as clear a picture as possible of who you are. If describing your passion does this, then good, but if you can give a clearer picture of your character talking about something else, then do that. My d’s application as a whole made it clear that her passion was dance, but her main essay didn’t mention it at all. What it did express was the kind of person she is. (Oh yes, she was accepted.)</p>
<p>Yay congrats to your daughter! Hmmm…well I think my ECs are not as clear as they could be. So, thinking again about it, maybe it would be good to have my essays to tie everything together in a way that makes sense. Thanks for the help!</p>