<p>Hi everyone I'm an 8th grader applying for the 2013-2014 school year at Hotchkiss. One of the essay questions is "Choose a song whose lyrics describe you and where you come from, and discuss your choice." I'm really having difficulty finding a song that describes me, and I was wondering if it wouldn't be following the directions if I chose a violin song with no lyrics, but describes me very well. Do you think this is not acceptable? Thank you.</p>
<p>Sometimes you have to think outside the box. I think that, if you can create a well thought-out, well constructed essay around the song you want to use as the basis of your description (including perhaps an explanation about the lack of lyrics, in whatever way you wish…), you will be showing depth and a side of yourself that an application committee would be interested in. The purpose of these essays, in addition to seeing whether a prospective student can create a coherent response to a question, is to gain insight into the student applicant him- or herself.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. I’m really going to try to construct an outside-the-box essay on this one.</p>
<p>Best of luck – just remember to stick to the main request, that it be based on a song of your choosing. There’s outside the box, and then there’s off the track 
!</p>
<p>Truthfully, I wouldn’t apply based on that essay question alone. This seems to be an instance of adcomms trying too hard.</p>
<p>Why? I recall essay prompts that were MUCH more “out there” than the one the OP shared. So you’re saying if the essay prompt seems “forced” or “weird” to you, you shouldn’t apply to a school? I do hope you are joking, and not offering up this suggestion as actual advice.</p>
<p>And of course, I hope the OP will give it all the measured consideration it deserves. Which, in case you can’t see my tongue planted firmly in cheek, is not much.</p>
<p>Just my opinion. Sorry if it offended you. And, yes, I am serious. (If I did apply, I would leave that question blank.) Best to just regard it as a personal preference.</p>
<p>Could be worse! :)</p>
<p>[20</a> Strange College Application Essay Questions | Ace Online Schools](<a href=“http://www.aceonlineschools.com/20-strange-college-application-essay-questions/]20”>http://www.aceonlineschools.com/20-strange-college-application-essay-questions/)</p>
<p>@Axelrod, it didn’t offend me, it’s just bad advice. And why apply if you won’t complete the application? That seems a quick route to getting your app tossed for being incomplete, and at the very least the waste of an app fee. Personal pref, no problem ;-)</p>
<p>@PelicanDad, GREAT list! In fact, my dd encountered a question almost identical to #2 during her BS app process and, as I recall, had a blast with it.</p>
<p>The last one (UC-Berkeley business school) seems reasonable; the others could easily be rephrased as “We’re weird & we think we’re smart, tell us how weird & smart you are.”</p>
<p>@girlgeekmom: Finally you understand ! You’re advice impresses me as much as mine does you.</p>
<p>etdavis10: First of all, kudos to you for taking the time to really think about your essay and how you might want to respond. Hotchkiss is a very competitive school and I suspect they would be lucky to have you. As for your out of the box proposed answer to their essay question about music, I dont think your response is necessarily so out of the box-not so that it would be construed as weird-and I do think your idea is a good one and you should try it. I doubt the actual piece of music matters as much as how you are able to analyze a piece of music, view yourself, convey your thoughts and to compare and contrast. Go for it and good luck!</p>
<p>OP: If the violin music “speaks to you”, then those can be the “lyrics” that best describe you. The essay question is looking for creativity as well as a description of your self-image. This is not the time to be resricted by literal interpretations, in my opinion.</p>
<p>My D is interested in Hotchkiss, and I remember this one. I actually liked the question very much! It was quite different from many others that you could expect from BS applications. </p>
<p>One thing to note here is that this is not the primary essay topic for Hotchkiss applicants. Hotchkiss application had three “short answer questions” and three “essay questions.” An applicant needs to answer all three shorties (up to 150 words) and can choose one of three essay questions.</p>
<p>I think it is up to OP to answer outside or inside the box… but if the former, I’d recommend OP to explain briefly why s/he would choose the former. Without it, the answer can be viewed as either lack of understanding or disrespectful of the intended question. An AO who would read the OP’s answer can be a person who may or may not appreciate OP’s creativity.</p>
<p>I doubt any adcomm would be confused by a creative response to an essay prompt. But, SharingGift, I like the way your aptly refer to “BS” applications. Freudian slip ?</p>
<p>(And, yes, I understand that the question seeks an answer that reveals one’s self-image & inner thoughts.)</p>
<p>@girlgeekmom Thanks! I’m going to give it a shot!
@Axelrod Yeah I really agree with the violin music speaking to me.
@PelicanDad Haha! Gave me a good laugh.
@dowzerw Thank you! I like the way you put that, I really agree.
@SharingGift You’re right about this not being the primary topic, but I had no difficulty with the others because the essays just flowed out of me. For this essay, I just had this obstacle to overcome.</p>
<p>As a Hotchkiss “Prep” or freshman, I can say that last year the essay questions weren’t run of the mill. Your answer seems unique, and I don’t think that’s bad.</p>