<p>I've been called "Wonder Woman" twice, a Spanish "legend," and a lot of other VERY pleasing terms by other students at my school. People talk about how good I am at Spanish and AP US History (practically all the APUSH juniors -- I'm a senior -- know who I am because my teacher talks about me that much).</p>
<p>Please don't call me arrogant. I don't tell people that I've been called these things, only you guys. Do I just try to portray my personality in my essay, or is there a way to let the college know that people look up to me at school? People ask me to correct their work on Spanish assignments before they get graded (even though I'm not native), but I make mistakes every day. Should I write an essay about how people think that I don't make mistakes but I am really mistake-prone?</p>
<p>NOT trolling or being an a**hole. Just asking for advice. If you think this is really ridiculous, then just ask me to be quiet. If you can relate/understand what I am asking (think about it), then please offer some advice on how I can use what the student body thinks of me to improve my chances?</p>
<p>Thanks! And again, I have no intention of acting conceited, only an intention of seeking advice to improve my chances into top-tier colleges.</p>
<p>For your idea about an essay on you being “mistake prone”; definitely not. It couls turn out making you seem too mistake prone or even conceited that you think people think you’re ‘perfect’.</p>
<p>I think it’d be a great idea to include how people in the school look up to you. However, I must say that I would leave out the mistake prone part. Perhaps, talk about it more as people come to you for help because, not only are you good at Spanish, but you’re friendly and warm too (or maybe you’re a bitter person? I don’t know. haha) and make sure you talk about how flattered you are to have people look up to you</p>
<p>And then, perhaps a letter of recommendation from the teacher who always talks about you?</p>
<p>@salsapenguin great name x) you can really read people. I already asked that teacher for a rec and he said he wouldn’t mind at all…yay! I guess I am pretty approachable because my friend Kevin came up to me in AP Calc when we were working on a group review for the test and asked me for help with a concept. I answered then asked, “Just curious, why did you ask me when you have all those smart people around you?” because there were 4 geniuses on his side of the room, and he replied “They intimidate me.” That made my day x) It let me know that I’m approachable, apparently unlike the others…just thought I should let you know because you said “warm.” Not arrogant, again. Hehe. Thanks for your response! :)</p>
<p>I agree you should leave out the part about being imperfect.</p>
<p>The aspect about you where people look up to you and are still comfortable approaching you for advice is actually a great description of leadership qualities, which colleges truly covet in their applicants. Best approach would be to ask a teacher or counselor to incorporate such a reference in their recommendation.</p>
<p>At my kids’ HS, at the beginning of senior year the parents were asked to submit a “parent brag sheet” to the counselling office and the teachers writing the recommendations. This form was a questionnaire asking for open-ended responses about activities, character traits, antecdotes, etc. This enabled the recommenders to personalize the recs pretty well, highlighting the applicants’ positive traits and emphasizing themes about kids. I think this makes the recommenders job easier and results in a better rec, too.</p>
<p>If your school doesn’t do this, perhaps you should ask a counselor or a couple of your teachers if they’d be open to the idea of you or your parents preparing such a “brag sheet”.</p>
<p>Let me know by PM if you’d like a copy of the form my kids’ school used. I could try to dig it out.</p>
<p>You need to stand back and learn to realistically assess yourself- don’t worry, many hs kids can’t do it yet. But, you try. One way is to reread you own words, react to them as a stranger will.</p>
<p>One life lesson I learned: when someone is really great (whether that’s in general or at some particular tasks,) they really don’t need to toot their own horn. Their record speaks for them and others will do it for them. In fact, the harder you push to ensure others know the myriad ways people show their admiration, the worse it can backfire. Sure, you can discuss with LoR writers the things you hope they will promote. This can be done diplomatically, with grace. </p>
<p>But, you don’t tell an adcom how great you are. Remember the concept of “show-not-tell.” You can’t steer adcoms to what the student body thinks of you to improve your chances. They will form their opinions of your qualifications, merit and likelihood of thriving at their school, etc, through your application package. They want to see that you have faced challenges and done your darnedest to master them; that your activities reflect an awareness of how you can have impact, your willingness to push yourelf, your concern for others, etc. Your LoRs show what adult educators think of you.</p>
<p>Cockiness can be seen by adults as immaturity. It can be a huge flag of missing perspective. I am not saying you are cocky. Let the LoRs call you wonder woman and the kid willing to help others with assignments.</p>