<p>Okay so I had written a pretty long post about my situation with this but evidently CC is not my friend today because it logged me out upon posting.</p>
<p>A Shorter Version of What I Had Posted Before:</p>
<p>Basically I did not realize that the Short Answer part of the Writing section was supposed to be written in any sort of fluffy, sophisticated way. I interpreted the word "elaborate" in the prompt as "further explain your involvement with an activity." Needless to say, my short paragraph about my role on the tennis team is written very matter-of-factly and not at all in the anecdotal style that I've now seen others use.</p>
<p>My application has already been sent to several schools, including my ED Claremont McKenna (obviously pretty tough to get into for anyone who's heard of it). I just want to assess the potential damage done. Not sure if it's worth noting, but I generally am a decent writer (780 W SAT I). </p>
<p>So here is what I wrote. If I was "on the bubble" for admission, would this be bad enough to elicit a rejection? Honesty much appreciated. </p>
<p>"I've been playing tennis since I was seven years old. Outside of school, I often compete in USTA tournaments, practice in clinics, and take private lessons. I have also played as a singles player on my high school varsity team for three years, going
on four. I usually play second singles. As one of two varsity captains on my team, my main responsibilities are to lead drills, conduct fundraisers, and rally team spirit. My favorite memory of high school tennis up to this point was probably my team's advancement into the Division II State Championships during my freshman year. I think I love tennis because it allows me to compete independently for the benefit of something greater. I feel in control of my own fate in a single's match because I play to win by myself, but I also know that my team is depending on me. The pressure I feel during a match makes a subsequent victory feel incredible."</p>