<p>Is it just me or is that topic really hard to write about? hahah</p>
<p>i think its just like the common app essay...only you can't reuse the common app one</p>
<p>My son had an influential/inspiring experience teaching music to homeless kids. Community service is a requirement of the IB diploma he is pursuing, so do you think that could be considered an "academic" experience that he could write about in the Brown essay?</p>
<p>Agreed. This is a tough topic because it's so...cheesy. I find ones that are more quirky and individualistic (a la UChic) to be much easier to write about without having a clich</p>
<p>I must have started that essay about four different times. Really hard not to use cliches. Eventually I settled on writing about how I used to hate writing essays but AP English Language and Composition changed my mind. I'm still in the process of editing though...will this application ever end?!</p>
<p>Hahaha yeah mine sounds SO cliche right now and I'm stressin about how to make it creative and interesting. I'm writing about my APUSH class. It really is the never ending application... I have literally been working on this app since the day it came out in July.</p>
<p>i also have some troubles on this one.. i cant choose which experience was the best to write about among 4-5...</p>
<p>Write about an effect a book has had on you. Can't go wrong if you're honest.</p>
<p>I had no trouble coming up with a topic for this (perhaps a sign that I should get more of a life? or perhaps because I'm grounded?) but because the whole collection of essays I'll be submitting paints me as a very academic kid, I feel that the other, zany half of my personality doesn't come through. </p>
<p>I wonder, is it possible for a social person to come across as the penultimate bookworm? That's the one thing that worries me about this prompt.</p>
<p>So -- do you think they would hold it against you if you write about an experience that is only marginally "academic", when the prompt says to write about an influential/inspirational academic experience? Isn't the idea that the essays are a vehicle to help them get to know you as a person? Answering my own question, maybe they would feel that what they have learned about you is that you don't follow directions very well...!</p>
<p>Obviously, I have no credibility here, being an applicant myself, but I don't see why you shouldn't be able to connect something a little academic to a bigger scale of academics. Theoretically, most people write the rest of their essays and short answers to the effect of showing the rest of their personalities. The purpose of the academics essay would then be for Brown to know us as students from ourselves, rather than from our teachers or our transcripts.</p>
<p>"is it possible for a social person to come across as the penultimate bookworm?"</p>
<p>Not if you misuse words like penultimate (def. "next to last"). :)</p>
<p>Hahahahaa thanks lfsc, that was a <em>major</em> fail on my part.
(Yes, "fail" as in slang for failure, not as the verb.)</p>
<p>I (and apparently others, based on the presence of a special note in my dictionary) confused quintessential with penultimate. Funny, considering they're so dissimilar.</p>
<p>Three cheers for vocabulary!</p>
<p>Do you guys think writing about an exchange program would count as academic? I could more easily think of something halfway decent to write about that than a book, which as of now I am having trouble with...:/</p>
<p>i feel so cliche haha I wrote about a book...</p>
<p>This essay is driving me crazy!! I just want to submit my application and this is the one thing holding me back!!</p>
<p>^Really? I thought this was pretty easy since it could be related to pretty much anything.</p>
<p>My "why" essay is holding me back. I can't seem to get it under the length required. I hate that it has to be so short. Why won't Brown let me fully express my reasons for wanting to attend? Ughh.</p>
<p>I agree with jusaywhat. It took me forever to write that essay. I'm in the editing process but it's hard to find tons of time outside of school work. I feel more antisocial weekends to come! I actually had more fun writing the "why?" essay. For once I knew exactly what I wanted to say. Good luck with your respective essays though.</p>
<p>The "why" essay was the thing that pushed me to apply ED. It was the easiest one for me to write, whereas my other top choices really took thought. So I took the hint from myself and followed through on Brown!</p>
<p>I'm pretty pleased with the essays now... I've had enough weeks to poke at them.</p>
<p>does the "academic" before the choices mean that a project can only be one that was presented in class? because i was thinking about writing about an extracurricular project i did, but one that originated in school...</p>