essay=writer's block// question about a club in harvard

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

excuse informal language//bad grammar, multitasking.

so I’m applying to Ivies soon. and i have to write something im passionate about: music.

should i put the fact i created an (private) orchestra when i was a freshman bc my school’s orchestra was underfunded and didn’t even have a music teacher. (people fooled around in that class instead of playing music and school didn’t care)
we’ve been accepted to small concert halls and our members is around 180~ as for the moment.

or I’m a violin/flute tutor at school for two years — i’m concertmaster at school orchestra now (attempting to reform my school’s orchestra, we got a new teacher last year)

or im also in another orchestra touring austria soon.

¯_(ツ)_/¯

im not 100% sure i would want to write about music bc my major is biomedical engineering ¯_(ツ)_/¯

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edit: I also like dancing. If I get accepted, would you think Asian American Dance Troupe would be a good idea?

thanks!

2

The most successful colleges essays demonstrate likability, vulnerability, maturity, intellectual passion, social conscience, concern for community, tolerance, inclusiveness and love of learning. Those are key elements that Admissions looks for when reading an essay – but a student cannot hit an Admissions Director over the head with those things. An Admissions director must glean those qualities from the topics an applicant chooses to write about, the content of their essay and the tone of the piece.

Your goal is to write 3 different stories, each about ONE aspect of yourself – which will allow an Admissions Director when reading all three essays, to glimpse into your soul. That’s not an easy task.

My suggestion: Harvard asks for a 150-word essay about an extra curricular activity or job. It seems as though music has been a huge part of your life, so you could use this very short essay to write about what you love about music and how your devotion to music has improved the lives of those around you.

You could then write a supplementary essay about your interests in Bio Medical Engineering or dance.

Your main essay – the Common Application Personal Statement – could focus on topics #2, #3, #4 or #5

Or, you can switch it up. Write about music for topic #1 above, write about dance for your EC and BioMed for your supplemental essay.

You should google some successful college essays about music so you can understand what has worked for other students in the past. For example: https://www.scribd.com/document/215907419/Kwasi-Enin-s-college-essay
http://www.qianmu.org/u/lystu/school/file/0hme5mn180002vc/0hmlotdce00040a.pdf

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@gibby thanks!

also nice profile picture haha

4

There are several hundred excellent schools across the US, why limit yourself to those 8?

A lot, a LOT of kids applying to “Ivys” play violin. Just realize this.

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I didn’t want to go there but . . . yes

. . . is indeed a cliche. It will be a challenge to write essays that don’t sound like thousands of other applicants. See: https://www.buzzfeed.com/mollyhensleyclancy/college-admissions-and-the-business-of-making-asian-kids-les?utm_term=.dqGd6jwdY#.yt6DMdmD7

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@gibby @snarlatron I understand lol, I play other rarer instruments but I’m not sure how to incorporate it into my essay. lol ivies* disclaimer for horrible grammar already written up there. @snarlatron I know there are other schools but why not try applying to these schools? you never know until you try.

7

You can get a lot of information across in the main body of the application. You can also do a music (and/or dance) supplement with a music resume, letters of recommendation from music teachers or directors, performances and so on.

You do not have to weigh your essays down with an effort to get across your involvement in music or dance. Then again, if you want to write about it go ahead.