<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I am from the UK and am applying to Ivy's (going ED for Columbia) soon but I am really nervous about the Common App essays as I am not used to the system I am not sure what the admissions officers at each school really want and I can't get much support in the UK</p>
<p>So I would really appreciate if anyone could read the essay below, the one asking for an elaboration on an extracurricular topic of 1000 characters, and give me any insight, criticism or general critique.</p>
<p>Every year for as long as I can remember, my mum has driven me to the local nursing home on Christmas Eve with a sack of presents in the backseat, and helped me deliver every one of them to someone who, for whatever reason, will be alone on Christmas Day. </p>
<p>Every year, I take out my clipboard and knock on doors all around Batheaston; I receive my fair share of door slammed in the face but some people are kind enough to remember my face and to remember my mission. With so many residents I can typically only offer small things: bed socks, blankets and sugar-free candies wrapped with a card signed by the donor. Again it is not uncommon to be spurned from a residents quarters and I cant imagine ever being thanked, but I didnt wrap 100 presents for myself, I did it so that at least one person who might have lost their health, family and friends that the community they may not know cares about them and I hope will continue to care about them long after I can come home and knock on doors.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for anyone who offers advice - mostly on ideas and content I know I will need to fix grammar and structure etc.</p>