Newsweek/Kaplan My Turn Essay Contest

<p>Did anyone else apply for this? When do we find out? I'm not holding out much hope but just wondering if only winners get notified or everyone.
Thanks!</p>

<p>I had the notifcation date for June 15. I dont know if all will be notified or not - I applied for over 27 scholarships and only heard from about 4 of wins or losses. Guess they think its too costly to notify everyone - but seems to me they could at least do that. Even if my email....</p>

<p>I applied last year and got no notification. I only figured out who the winners were after going online a month or so after the winners were supposed to be notified. So, speaking from experience, I'm pretty sure you only get notification if you win.</p>

<p>And I'm very anxious to find out who won.</p>

<p>From the site:</p>

<p>"Winners will be selected on or about June 15, 2005, and will be notified by mail. For the names of winners, send a separate, stamped selfaddressed envelope by August 31, 2005, to:</p>

<p>2005 Kaplan/NEWSWEEK "My Turn" Essay Winners
1440 BROADWAY, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10018."</p>

<p>When do the winners get posted on the site?</p>

<p>bump...........</p>

<p>I'll bump this too.</p>

<p>bump...............</p>

<p>I know one of last years winners. Amazing writer/person. Okay, that's the only input I have for this essay contest. I was hoping to apply this year but I had too much going on when I found out about it (in the last few weeks before submitting). So, maybe next year.</p>

<p>Good luck to those who entered!</p>

<p>Did the person attend the University of chicago?</p>

<p>Attend? No... she entered as a junior in High School.</p>

<p>I'm new to this board, I saw the post about the Newsweek essay and stopped. </p>

<p>I entered the contest and am thouroughly disappointed in the entire thing. I have been e-mailing Ellen Howard, one of the people from Newsweek [ she's very rude about her replies - just to let everyone know as a side note ], but she told me that only winners are notified. That in itself means that I didn't win or get mentioned at all. I could just be a sore loser, but when it comes down to it..I really don't think so. </p>

<p>Last year's grand prize winner was someone who wrote an essay that wasn't that great. It was titled "My Chinese Female Family of Four." If you read through it, there's nothing in it that jumps out at you as unique, besides the actual situation..I guess. I thought essay contests were supposed to have to do with how good a person writes -an essay-, am I wrong? There are essays further down on the list that only got runner up or honourable mention that should have won grand prize. "The Rose that Grew from Concrete", "The Strength of Love", "Playing Center Bench", and "The Major Influence in My Life". These aren't incredibly great in the grammar area, but the stories themselves and the way they were written should have gotten them better recognition..and some money. "The Rose that Grew from Concrete" should have gotten the 5,000 dollars. "My Chinese Female Family of Four" should have been one of the honourable mentions. </p>

<p>I spent a good month or so refining mine and making it perfect. Every one of my English teachers helped with the editing, my Spanish teacher read it for flow and style, my friends read it and gave me their input, I let some pretty harsh judgement pass on it and even they enjoyed it. I'm good at writing essays, I always have been. I put art into them, I put everything I have into them...and this is why I don't understand why they couldn't even notify me properly to tell me that I lost. It irks me beyond belief. </p>

<p>Who cares what the cost would be? Any organization with some class would let the losers know that they lost. Newsweek has come across as nothing but unorganized, and the people I've talked to are completely rude about their replies. I wouldn't suggest that anyone ever compete in this contest. </p>

<p>I have a strong hate for people who can't do their job correctly..</p>

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>I know how you feel, sundown. I took care refining and correcting my essay as well, and it's disappointing that they can't notify everyone. However, did Ms. Howard tell you that the winners were already notified? Maybe the winners haven't been notified yet, because they said they pick the winners around 6/15 (I think). We might still have a shot...</p>

<p>The winners get notified by (snail) mail, so keep checking your mailbox. If you don't get something by the end of this week, then you didn't win.</p>

<p>last_sundown,</p>

<p>I have to agree with you. My chinese family of four sucks. The essay had little meaning, and it bored the crap out of me. I think that the "Why couldn't I have been named Ashley" essay should have won.</p>

<p>I just got an e-mail back from her saying that the notification is July 1st, so we do still have hope, thankfully. I'm glad. I was incredibly upset because I put so much time into it. </p>

<p>Good luck to you :)</p>

<p>Good luck last_sundown</p>

<p>Oh yeah! I forgot about the Ashley one, that one was really good too - I enjoyed it. There were quite a few really well done essays there, I just don't understand why the winners ..won. It doesn't make any sense. I hope the judges panel this year has some sense of..creativity? I don't know if that's the word to use, but they need more of /something/..because last year's clearly was missing it, whatever it was. lol</p>

<p>"the rose that grew from concrete" is also a song by tupac. The song is better than the essay. :)</p>

<p>Heheh, I can imagine the song would be better than the essay - but for what it's worth, that essay was pretty good :P</p>

<p>Agreed. I also liked "Why couldn't I have been named Ashley?"</p>