<p>So I was just part of the EA Stanford slaughter, and it has made me neurotic to the point that I remade my common application essay for my remaining schools (Duke, Harvard). Is there any way that some of you guys could give me some opinions on this new essay? Its a little short and I plan on adding more but it would be nice for some outside opinions! Thank you! </p>
<p>Essay:</p>
<p>My four brothers and I share an existence defined by an almost communal sense of personal space and ownership. The boundary lines between us are so faded that they only serve as a reminder of the normalcy other families have. Thankfully, this shared existence also allows me to escape to any realm of my younger brothers' worlds at a whim: the ball pit at Camp Snoopy is as open to me now as it was when I was eight. If ever something in my life is not going well, I can escape to their world and rejuvenate with someone I know will help me forget the negatives because of their very presence. The intensity my brothers bring to life, a whirlwind of activities and insanity, adds to their recovering quality by forcing forward motion. They leave no room to dwell in the past, no time to overthink the minor problems. My life is, in the best way, limited to the future by my brothers. The past is too momentary to hold on too as anything more than a lesson learned. </p>
<p>Having five boys requires parents to instill an independent nature in their children or risk being overrun. My parents, in an effort to maintain controlled chaos, act as mentors instead of owners; they push my brothers and I to pursue our passions but they do not push us to a passion. I have always been free to make my own decisions and pursue my own dreams in an environment that has a perimeter but no clear path. Both of my parents were accountants, and later my dad became an entrepreneur, but they have never told me that this is the only way. My parents have never said anything to discourage my interest in humanities and science because they know that is what I love. They have recognized that my path is a different one from theirs and that it would be both wrong and unsuccessful to change the direction of my own choosing. </p>
<p>My family can be overwhelming at times, having so many people vying for both space and attention. But without my parents relaxed style and my four brothers acting as unrelenting friends, I would have never developed into the resilient and passionate person I am today.</p>