<p>What are the typical answers to these questions in the Hotchkiss application:
1. If you could have a meal with anybody, who would it be? Why?
2. What do you think is societys biggest problem, and how would you solve it?
3. If you could relive a moment of your life, what would it be and what did you learn from it? Would you try to change that moment?
Why or why not?</p>
<p>I was thinking of Hitler or Milton Hershey for #1.
Brainwashing of the media, fear of failure or the way we measure our self worth by numbers, be that grades, weight, cash or whatever for #2.
Riding a roller coaster for the 3rd one. </p>
<p>Am I allowed to let someone read my answers and comment on it? I'm not going to let them rewrite it or edit though.</p>
<p>Umm look I don't mean to be rude or anything butt don't use riding a roller coaster for the third one. Use something like traveling to a foreign country or something like that. Something that actually taught you something. Unless of course you had a huge fear of roller coasters and you overcame it, then it may be okay.</p>
<p>The other two look good, especially the one involving societys problem with numbers.</p>
<p>I would have to disagree with Hockey kid about the 3rd answer: can you imagine how many times the AdComs have read essays which could be titled "All about my amazing trip to [fill in name of third world country] from which I learned [fill in excellent lesson about deprivation, or income disparity, or priviledge requiring responsibility, or some such]".</p>
<p>Not that these ideas aren't worthy. Of course they are, but I don't actually think writing about them will, in the usual circumstance, tell the AdComs much about you. What they really want to get from your essays is some idea of what you're like and, most importantly, how you write. Therefore, you should write (eloquently) about whatever it is that interests you. If that's riding a roller coaster, great.</p>
<p>I love your topics for question one! We had to do a biography speech last year, and I did mine on Milton Hershey (and, crazily enough, was planning on reading Hitler's biorgaphy, but my friends had already checked the copies out. That's a really bizarre similarity. Go with Milton Hershey... I can give you some pointers, too! :o )</p>
<p>Question two seems fine as well! I've been really disgusted with some of the messages the media had been sending, and our school practice for the state standardized test enforced this. I think this could be a great essay!</p>
<p>Question three... I'll get back to you later! I have to leave for a physical, and then to school, but feel free to PM me (since it's a Friday, and I'll actually have time to talk!) :)</p>
<p>hockeykid: Sure thanks for the advice! What do you think is the weakness of the roller coaster essay?</p>
<p>I can't think of anything for traveling to a foreign country. I've been to lots of places (all over the US, HK, Singapore, China, etc.) but nothing really stood out, except my memories about the US. </p>
<p>In Singapore-lots of diversity, really friendly, I loved the pink dolphins in Sentosa.
HK-we went to McDonald's and the cashier doesn't speak English, Mandarin or Fook Yien. People from the tourist destinations speak English though. Disney even had separate lines for English, Cantonese and Mandarin speakers for the boat ride. That's the one that stood out the most. And the heat. :) </p>
<p>I'll think about my travels some more later.</p>
<p>Do I make my answer for #3 more personal/generic? Can I be kinda random? </p>
<p>I'm thinking of my English teacher, who stood up on the teacher's table just to "take a stand" for the question of who do I admire most. But it seems like teachers are overused for this question.</p>
<p>smile: I LOVE roller coasters, by the way. They are the highlight of my trips!</p>
<p>Ooh cinnamon, I haven't heard from you in a while. School seems hectic. Are you applying to Hotchkiss too?</p>
<p>I also like cate's selection of answers for her questions. Many applicants try to out-think the school and try to select answers the school would want to hear. Schools read right through those applicants.</p>
<p>Talk about what is genuinely of interest to you. They want to know your feelings and thinking, not what the media (or anyone else) has brain-washed you into thinking (picking up on one of your answers here). </p>
<p>I've probably mentioned that my D actually wrote about Eminem as someone she admired (I'm sure raising some eyebrows), delving into the personal demons he has fought and continues to fight. Sure didn't hurt her at that school.</p>
<p>Riding a roller coaster - this seems kind of superficial, unless it has sentimental or deeper value. Try to relive a mistake you've made in your life that you wish you could go back and change or the falling-out with a person that you could fix. Do you mean just the thrill of a roller coaster?</p>
<p>Nice one for Number Two. I would narrow it down to one of those subjects though because all of those are pretty general in one essay. </p>
<p>Yeah, I think you can let someone read it and tell you what they think, but I didn't do this for Choate because I think they said we couldn't. Like, it was a solitary project.</p>
<p>I'm still going to stand behind the roller coaster, if done correctly. </p>
<p>I don't think anyone would be questioning Cate's topic if it were an outdoor adventure (mountain climbing, kayaking, etc.). But for the physical exertion, the adventure of riding a roller coaster and the experience (documented like a good novel) around it (being cognizant of other's reactions and how it enhances the experience) can be an interesting read that shows the requisite story telling and connectivity to one's feelings and the feelings of others that they want to see in an essay.</p>
<p>They don't expect most kids to have significant life changing experiences, but to recognize their own thinking and be able to write well about it.</p>
<p>Of course, if done wrong, it is definite round-file material. You have to have confidence in your stuff to do that essay.</p>
<p>If you love them then I'm sure theres a way to make it work. However the question asked what did you learn from it. I'm not sure what you can learn from riding roller coasters but if you can think of something more power to you =)</p>
<p>The movie Parenthood comes to mind in terms of an excellent use of roller coaster to make a more all-encompassing point about how people approach life. The wacky granny knew a thing or two after all! It's not T.S. Eliot, but then again I regard the James Caan version of Rollerball is one of the most prophetic (in both senses of the term) and profound films of all time.</p>
<p>My husband gives talks around the country to prospective college students about writing essays for college applications. I think he would definitely approve of the roller coaster topic as long as it was well-written. What is well-written? Well.... Maybe looking at some of his advice (useful for BS applicants as well as college applicants) on writing essays would be helpful - dunno! </p>
<p>My thoughts exactly Goaliedad! Interestingly, my 6th grade daughter just had to write a "me" essay and she wrote about a recent motocross race...she was very descriptive - much like the "good" essay in the article. That was likely part of the instructions, but it sure was a more interesting read (even for mom who of course would be interested in it anyway!) than it could have been otherwise.<br>
It certainly makes sense though and I'm going to send that link to my son!</p>
<p>I thought we were going to learn that the woman was shopping for poultry and the butcher had mistakenly given her drumsticks. One thing's for sure, she didn't want thighs. And it would have been too trite (or chicken?) to say she wanted wings.</p>
<p>Well I'm glad you think that his advice is useful. :-) </p>
<p>Over the years, I have read many application essays during his "reading seasons" -- he'll hand one over if he finds it particularly interesting. There is one that created such an impression in my mind, from years ago, that I have not forgotten it. It was written by an international student who recently moved to the U.S. and whose command of English was not completely sound. She spoke of moving to the U.S. as a high school student, and the scene she created was PE class. They were playing softball, and she was the last one chosen for her team. She was put out in the outfield where she had no idea what to do. And then, in the words of my husband, came the "luminous detail" - as she stood there, blinking in the sun, she traced with her foot the names of people she loved and missed back home.</p>
<p>Isn't that beautiful? Doesn't that kinda make you want to hug that kid? I said to my husband... "SHE'S GETTING IN BUDDY!!!!!!!"</p>
<p>MomtoanUndecided: Aww, yes I want to hug that kid. Did she get in the school of her choice? Thanks for the link, by the way.</p>
<p>Olivia: What is superficial about it? I like roller coasters because it makes you nervous just before the ride (I used to have this illogical fear that I might get thrown out of it. So during the twists and turns, I stayed rigid instead of leaning sideways. Lesson:Relax and be flexible.) and you get a natural high after it even if you feel slightly woozy. I learned how to scream during drops, because sometimes I just gotta release it (the first time I rode one I can barely emit a sound. My scream was more of a squeak. :)) I liked seeing the expression of those around me in the line: giddy with excitement, pale and horrified, quiet and brooding, chatting about nothing, etc. and then the aftermath of the ride: various degrees of either nausea or ecstacy. If I compare the drops with life, I learned that if you fall, you fall fast. But you can get right back up, with the echo of the other riders' scream ringing in your ears (i.e. all those with you in life). And yes, I like the thrill. I wrote my first draft of it already, but it mostly focussed on "if you could relieve a moment of your life" not the lesson. I'm still thinking of alternative answers. </p>
<p>For sentimental value-I guess it's because this is where my cousin and I really bonded. We were really close during summer vacation. She kinda "grew up", serious and all that now. I miss the crazy her. We were singing a song by Avril throughout one ride (between pauses to catch our breath during drops), but we changed the lyrics.</p>
<p>No, I just remember when my friend wrote her answer to that question (and she got in), it was in completely different form. She wrote about favoring one of her brothers over the other one time and realizing a lesson from it... it was really sweet. I'm talking about something like that. I just personally think that I would write something deeper or more meaningful than a physical experience, but it's up to you! :)</p>
<p>No, olivia, I think cate_intl is going to write something deep and personal.</p>
<p>Cate_intl, I am very impressed. I love the analogies in your planned roller coaster essay. You have a unique style that states who you are and I know there is a lot of deep thinking going on. I love all of your essay topics - go for it!</p>