<p>The prompt is "Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you."</p>
<p>I was wondering if I could talk about my Rubik's cube and the challenge it imposed upon me. Would it be okay to talk about how I mastered the cube after much failure and frustration? The prompt says "significant experience" and I'm not sure this would fall under that category.</p>
<p>Oh, and i was wondering if there is any word restriction limit on the common app essay.</p>
<p>IMO, I actually like it... it's metaphor for all challenge/distraction. I'd personify the cube. But overall just keep it crisp. And while they say there is no word limit, try to keep it between 500 and 700. Remember they have to read all them all.</p>
<p>Ahh thanks for the positive feedback! I feel more encouraged to do this. And yea, after doing some research I think I'm going to keep this between 500-600 words. The metaphor thing is EXACTLY what i was going for. I want to leave clues about my character/personality traits embedded in this narrative.</p>
<p>significant experience.. achievement.. risk.. solving the rubik's cube ? Does anyone else see the parallelism error ?</p>
<p>I dont think 'eventually' solving the rubik's cube after much frustration can be categorized as an 'experience' or 'achievement' - mostly because anyone can solve the rubik's cube once they look it up on youtube. And every third person knows how to solve the 3x3 now; a bunch of memorized sequences.</p>
<p>Yeah sorry, I agree with aescylus, the adcoms might think that solving a Rubik's sort of trivial. However, if you talk about how you solved it independent of any online guide or anything, it might work as long as you can make sure the reader doesn't end up thinking "Well, why didn't he just look this thing up on the internets?"
It might work as a recurring metaphor to some grander experience you've taken. To make a silly example:</p>
<p>She was like a Rubik's Cube; bright colours flashing left and right, her form and shape always spinning in mind's light. Endlessly I worked to see how she ticked, turning her sideways and frontways in my grip. Tirelessly would the thought of her float through my mind, her scintillating sides syncing but never at the same time. But aha, at last! I've solved my dilemna, by putting down my foolish metaphor and asking to Prom my dear Emma.</p>
<p>And then this hypothetical essay would proceed into your deep and significant achievement of asking out Emma to Prom (I said it'd be silly), perhaps lacing that rubik's cube metaphor in and out, and hopefully concluding with that to tie up the whole bit.</p>
<p>And of course, feel free to disregard this advice.
Good luck!</p>
<p>The essay is never about what you write about, it's about you. Whether you intend it so or not, that is the truth, that is how it will be read. Does this simplify things? Probably not. If you write lamely about climbing Mt. Everest, you will be perceived as lame; if you write about planting a seed in a dixie cup filled with soil in a way that expresses creativity and elasticity of mind, you will be perceived as creative and intellectually expansive. That's all there is to it, no more and no less.</p>
<p>I'd say go for it. I wouldn't worry about them considering trivial, it just serves as a creative catalyst for getting your character out. As long as it speaks something about you and conveys your character, it's a fine medium to work with.</p>
<p>I am very curios to hear if you did well or not, I personally use rubiks cubes all the time as a microcosm to life, and would like to see the rubiks cube essay posted here if you can :D</p>