<p>On several applications, handwriting is required. My handwriting is quite bad; I'm left-handed, and I hold the pencil between my middle finger and my ring finger (try it, right now, and you'll think you misunderstood :)), and I simply can't hand-write very neatly. Right now what is type whenever possible, write as neatly when I can when not, and include a typed version in case they have trouble reading it. Will it be held against me? My handwriting, at its neatest, is not illegible, but very small and sort of slanted to the left and in all directions. Is there anything I can do? Obviously not change the way I write, which would take months, but should I write them a note, or just do what I'm doing now?</p>
<p>This is not scientific by any means, but I have found that when I re-learned to hold a pen with my forefinger on top and thus directing the way, rather than having two fingers on top and in potential competition for the "lead", my longhand (cursive) and print became appreciably cleaner. Also, a loose but firm grip helps prevent crowded letters and a cramped hand. Slant is okay either way as long as the writing is legible. Good luck!</p>
<p>I'm sure typed will be fine; if it is absolutely necessary to send them a letter, then do that. </p>
<p>How were you on the SSAT with handwriting?</p>
<p>I tried really, really hard on the SSAT, and it came out all right (legible, they shouldn't have any problems). I knew it had to. The only problem with that was it cut down on my time to think about it, because I had to write slowly. I still think I wrote it all right though. I'm happy with that essay, considering the contraints.</p>
<p>That's good. :) What was your topic?
Prettyckitty (do you want me to call you by a nickname or diff. name?), what is your top choice? I know you're applying to about six or seven schools, but I don't think I've ever heard what was your favorite.</p>
<p>My topic was "Change is one of the hardest things for people to do"; agree or disagree. What was yours?</p>
<p>I don't really know a nickname; people usually call me by my full name. You could call me J, I suppose. Some people call me that. Sorry about my username; I came up with it when I was seven. </p>
<p>I'm not really sure of my favourite. I'm applying to eleven schools (which I do not recomend--so many application forms :)), including three day. I think that Andover is my favourite, though I don't really think I can say until I see the classes in session. What's yours?</p>
<p>My favourite is probably Choate. It seems perfect for me; hard enough workload to stretch me, but not overwhelm me if I get used to it, and I like the number of the student body, and I loved the campus. You know that jittery, kind of nervous, but overwhelming feeling you get if you are happy and nervous and excited at the same time? That what I felt when I went there. And I really fell in love with the school before I visited by reading what the kids had to say on boardingschoolreview.com. I love a lot of their classes, and they are strongest in the drama department and have more psychology courses and acting courses than Andover does, which is really a big plus for me.</p>
<p>My essay was "You must expect things of yourself before you do them." and I agreed. Did you agree/disagree with yours?</p>
<p>I agreed.
That's true about havnig more psychology courses than Andover. I can't apply to Choate, though, because it's too far from Boston.</p>
<p>Do you want to be near to Boston, or is it a famliy thing?</p>
<p>I am a lefty too. When I write, it come out italicized and very VERY slanted. I noticed when I write, I turn my paper far to the right which looks so crazy. Like everyone else said, your writing is fine as long as it legible.</p>
<p>Yes, njdana, I do that too. Sometimes it helps. I do it so that the paper is actually widthwise.</p>
<p>Olivia, it's a family thing. My grandmother, grandfather, and step-grandmother live in Boston, and my parents won't let me live much more than an hour outside of Boston.</p>
<p>olivia or prettyckitty, do the ssat essays change each time? or do they just randomly give you one from the same pile (I'm retaking them)?</p>
<p>My essay was "People can only see what they understand".
I had SO MUCH TROUBLE with that essay because I didnt really understand it, but I was really happy with the result.</p>
<p>Yes, they change each time. You'll get a different one next time you do it.
Just try a few practice ones and you'll be good at analyzing them. They're basically general, Chinese-fortune-cookie essays.</p>
<p>I think it might be possible to get the same one--probably a one in a million chance, but possible. Since there are so many different ones, they might just use the same ones, and distribute them randomly, in which case it would be possible.</p>