<p>My advice (for what it's worth) is that if you intend to write this essay, have fun with it. Don't make page 217 a discussion of how you were appointed to a prestigious Chair at some university...have it come in on the middle of some amusing incident.</p>
<p>The Page 217 Essay is supposed to give you an opportunity to show your creative side... it's open to interpretation and could be about anything from a moment 2/3 of the way through your current life... or 2/3 of the way through your entire life, meaning a moment in the future. Be creative, show some personality, and just let the admissions committee see what you're all about. The Why Penn Essay doesn't give the same opportunity, which is likely why the optional essay is there to begin with.</p>
<p>How do you guys know these things, like how the essay is used for creativity and stuff? I don't know, i feel like i write some essay that i think is "good" but might just "stay within the lines" too much and end up seeming boring and flat in comparison to people a lot more creative than i am. </p>
<p>Do any of you ED'ers want to critique my essays?</p>
<p>I'll read it, PM me.</p>
<p>oh god. citylights -- that makes me cringe too. so confident that you are taking your own kids to your alma? lord.</p>
<p>i wouldn't want to be in the position of the admissions officer reading that essay.</p>
<p>Okay anybody else want to read my essay? I want experienced writers, seriously.</p>
<p>i think it really depends. obviously if the biography was supposed to be choronological you would be in your 40-50 i guess, but if not, it could be pretty mch anything.</p>
<p>guys, guys, guys.</p>
<p>Clearly page 217 refers to the latter third of a book so that means that you must write about the latter third of your life, and since the average person lives to be around 88, then you have to write the page on when you were 63 years and 74 days old.</p>
<ul>
<li>Soon to be Huntsman student</li>
</ul>
<p>Hmm... I'm currently writing that essay and it's sort of ambiguous about exactly how old I am, but it's around the 30s/40s. Mine's a bit dramatic, but it's centered around one (very dramatic) incident. It's a bit risky, but I think it may work. Maybe. The Why Penn essay is going to be so hard to write though... ugh. I had fun with the professor essay though.</p>
<p>I still don't think it HAS to be about the last third of your life...Couldn't it be just an autobio up to this point?</p>
<p>I truly think it's either, I interpreted it as the latter part of your life but other people at my school thought it was your current life.
As long as it's written well, you're fine :)</p>
<p>Blueducky,</p>
<p>I guess sarcasm is tough to pick up over the internet. My advice is just to have fun with it. I wrote about something that happened this year, and it was the most enjoyable essay I wrote for any college.</p>
<p>Jay1, I wasn't being sarcastic. :)</p>
<p>I really think it will be fine either way, that they left it ambiguous for a reason.</p>
<p>haha I was the one being sarcastic. Either way you sound like you're in good shape. Best of luck!</p>
<p>OH! Ofc...</p>
<p>I feel stupid now. <em>drowns in shame</em></p>
<p>Good luck everybody though!</p>
<p>so its either..</p>
<p>2/3 of your current life
2/3 of your entire life</p>
<p>i am guessing mid 40s doesnt cut it</p>
<p>Do you even need to mention age? I mean, if it's an autobiography, who are they to say that you have reached 2/3s of your current or future life besides the page number being 217...</p>
<p>i really don't think this essay prompt was meant to be scrutinized that much ....</p>
<p>i bet upenn admissions officer is laughing at us right now</p>
<p>I wouldn't be surprised. Whatever it takes I guess...</p>