How much leeway do we get on essays?

College Essays
1

<p>I have a question about how much flexibility we get in our essays. For example, for this question:</p>

<p>
[quote]
The Personal Statement is our best means of getting to know you and your best means of creating a context for your academic performance. When you write your personal statement, tell us about those aspects of your life that are not apparent from your academic record:</p>

<p>a character-defining moment
the cultural awareness you've developed
a challenge faced
a personal hardship or barrier overcome
Directions
Choose either 1 or 2. Recommended length: 2 pages. (500-650 words)</p>

<p>Discuss how your family's experience or cultural history enriched you or presented you with opportunities or challenges in pursuing your educational goals. </p>

<ul>
<li>OR -</li>
</ul>

<p>Tell us a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Suppose I want to write about my struggle with integrating both parts of my cultural identity, both that of my home country and my American identity, and how I chose first one then the other and then finally accepted that I was both (it's more vivid and colorful than the summary implies. It kind of goes in a progression, weaving together several memories with reflections). </p>

<p>But it's not exactly 1 or 2, although it's closer to 1 because it isn't one specific story. But while it deals with how my culture enriched me and presented me with challenges, it isn't really related to my educational goals-- well, maybe it's tenously related to education because I mentioned learning about the history and culture of my home country, but there was no "goal setting process" there at all. It also isn't related to my academic life. Would that still count, or would I be in trouble for wandering from the topic?</p>

<p>I'd like feedback on that specific essay, but it generalizes to this: are the essay questions supposed to be direct guidelines or just prompts/hints to get our creative juices flowing in a general direction?</p>

2

<p>I think your suggestion is a perfect fit for 2. It isn’t one <em>incident</em>, but it is the <em>story</em> of your cultural journey.</p>

3

<p>Okay, thank you! I didn’t think of it that way.</p>

<p>Also do you/does anyone know about the general amount of flexibility we get in answering questions? I somehow can’t see an officer going “hmm, kinda off topic, this essay doesn’t count” on a good essay, but that may just be wishful thinking.</p>