<p>Is the Northwestern Supplement Essay "What are the unique qualities of Northwestern - and of the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying - that make you want to attend the University? In what ways do you hope to take advantage of the qualities you have identified?" supposed to be creative? I feel like it's a very straightforward topic that demands very straightforward answers. Do they want creativity or simply why you want to attend?</p>
<p>I would start out with an anecdote to illustrate an academic interest then talk about how Northwestern’s programs would help me pursue that interest. I would then explain how Northwestern as a whole would help me grow as a person and thinker. I would make sure to mention a lot of specifics-- programs, professors, events, course names, etc. You can show enough creativity through your anecdote…you don’t have to come up with some bizarre format unless you really want to.</p>
<p>WHAT ARE THE UNIQUE QUALITIES OF NORTHWESTERN AND OF THE SPECIFIC UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL TO WHICH YOU ARE APPLYING THAT MAKE YOU WANT TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY? IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU HOPE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE QUALITIES YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED?
Towering mounds of books stand firmly on the floor, their spines all skewed in different directions, each bestowing their own letters of insight, their own authors, veiled behind hardcover copies of ink. Such castles of information are common enough to be built on any wood floor and every mosaic piece of carpet in every dorm room, apartment, and house close to all colleges around the country. Acquiring knowledge is a universal battlement, constructed on stronger stones of experience and more deeply cemented into the hearts of previous generations. However, in modern society, it has become a struggle to focus; only bastions of a tedious atmosphere seem to exist, a lack of motivation and interaction taking the place of intellectual artifacts. When I first visited Northwestern University, I realized the impact that an environment can make on my will to gain knowledge. It provides me with motivation to open the gates of these forgotten castles and enter into the lands of experimentation and socialization. Northwestern offers that motivation; it offers an environment that creates a genuine desire to learn and interact with others, while also promoting individual development in a manner that incorporates creativity and individuality. To me, the highlight of Northwestern is its ability to instill the desire to learn with its unique air and its diverse student body; it is what makes it stand out from all other monuments of importance. Northwesterns superiority in providing inspiration in its atmosphere and diversity within its community generates my firm desire to attend the University.
After attending a small private school for nine years and becoming accustomed to the constant geometry of classrooms, the familiarity of faces drifting by, and the monotonous blend of pale uniforms, my need to experiment with different views became an impatiently waiting feature on my list of things to achieve. Diversity will enhance my ability to grasp information. It will allow me to recognize the interpretations of people who have had distinct experiences, values, and perspectives from my own. Northwesterns unmatched facet of diversity will challenge my narrow corridor of presumptions and expands it enough to allow room for the acceptance of other opinions. This sense of miscellany amplifies my stance as a Muslim by harmonizing with my ability to identify multiple views on issues of personal relevance, and reach conclusions purely by incorporating diverse inputs of observation. The Universitys vast campus has a broad spectrum of viewpoints that promotes personal growth and trains me to become a better citizen in an ever more intricate and pluralistic culture.
With turrets of medieval stone, flora growing prosperously against exterior walls, and burgundy leaves crunching under the footsteps of enthusiastic thinkers, Northwestern offers a Hogwarts-like environment that breathes novelty, uniqueness, and inspiration in every corner. My motivation to study and write reflects not only my inner desire to uphold my aptitude for success, but also the exterior inspiration that my surroundings present. I sense a difference in my attitude towards accomplishing a certain task when the aura of my environment complements me; Northwesterns campus, its ubiquitous zeal and its steadfast gothic buildings, creates within me an excitement and a genuine craving to simply sit in a small patch of grass and read, write, and learn until the suns scattered light diminishes. The distinction between Northwestern and other institutions is not merely the challenging small classes, the ample range of sports, or the professionalism of the educators; it is the unique feelings of stimulation and fresh enthusiasm that engender from NUs unique atmosphere.
Although the ambiance of Northwestern permeates throughout the entire campus, it seems to grow concentrated in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, where the environment and the people coalesce to make an everlasting impression on newcomers. With unprecedented buildings of resources, personal acquaintances with professors, and copious amounts of students with equally strong ambitions, conducting research at WCAS becomes a pleasurable challenge that activates an earnest feeling of anticipation and encourages me to attain as much knowledge and experience as possible. Nevertheless, it is the vast number of diverse and focused programs that persuades me to take full advantage of Weinberg College; I would be able to acquire exceptional edification in the science and technology field, while also discover the fantastical world of writers, the subject of philosophical inquiry, and the romantic prelude to the French language. Blending chemistry, literature, engineering, and theater not only exposes me to a larger gamut of life choices, but also augments my abilities to socialize, introduces creativity to my raw mind, and fabricates a particularly satisfying sense of innovation.
There may be a castles of wisdom positioned in every part of a college campus, but only Northwestern provides the right environment to provoke any entrance into the world of creativity, imagination, and experimentation. The energy that is presented by the natural milieu of Northwestern creates inspiring sensations, liberal innovation, and increasingly diverse interactions between people. Ultimately, Northwestern Universitys inimitability is characterized by its abilities to beget and enhance a students aptitude purely through a special air of diversity and an unprecedented pretense of medieval manifestation.</p>
<p>Faith, don’t mistake a large vocabulary for having something profound to say. I don’t think that your essay is necessarily bad, but it is definitely very hard to read. I think that you are trying a little too hard to sound intellectual, and end up repeating yourself and muddling your message.</p>
<p>Some advice: shorten the essay and cut down on the long words. Write more simple and concise sentences. The admissions officers want to see a student’s ability to express themselves clearly, not to use a thesaurus. Just tell them what you mean in a straightforward way.</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>“Ultimately, Northwestern University’s inimitability is characterized by its abilities to beget and enhance a student’s aptitude purely through a special air of diversity and an unprecedented pretense of medieval manifestation.”</p>
<p>becomes</p>
<p>“I am inspired by Northwestern’s unique atmosphere of diversity and academic tradition.”</p>
<p>Much more effective.</p>
<p>Anyways, I should be writing my supplement now. Easier to be a critic, I guess.</p>
<p>P.S. You say “castle”, remember Northwestern IS in Chicago, after all. Let’s not get too flattering…</p>
<p>^I agree wholeheartedly. It’s great writing, of course, but I kind of started to lose interest after the first couple of sentences:) But if you always write like that and that’s your style, then don’t change it. </p>
<p>I know, I’m probably contradicting myself.</p>
<p>whoops. ignore.</p>
<p>haha i agree with the previous posters.
Your vocabulary is great, but i always try to remember. an admissions person reads ur essay in about 2 min. You need to write something clear and direct. I had to go slowly through ur essay to make sure im getting everything, that im pretty sure would tick a admissions person off.
Shorten it, and use words you use everyday. clear and direct</p>
<p>@shortnsweet3030 my essay has a word limit of 300 but I am at 308 words. HELP!! is that ok???</p>
<p>300 words is not a hard limit!</p>