Panicking...Stanford Essay Help Needed!! Today is the deadline!!! :-(

Applying to College
1

Hey guys…I have been so caught up with work, school, and college applications that I did not have the time to thoroughly work through my short answer questions. This is for Stanford and today is the deadline so I would TRULY appreciate any help or advice. This is my dream school…Thank you guys so much!

Short Answer 1:
Write about your most important extracurricular

As an active high school student, I am placed in a unique position everyday. I take full advantage of the rigorous curriculum available and I have made my mark – organizing well-needed activities to benefit my peers. During my junior year, I was well aware of the stresses of excelling on the SATs and was surprised to learn that my school severely lacked test preparation opportunities. Despite what many colleges say, SAT scores still remain a major component in the admissions process. My friends would often come to ask me for my help; I quizzed them on obscure vocabulary and drilled them through math exercises Tuesdays after school in the library. The after school tutoring sessions spread through word of mouth and every Tuesday, more and more students would show up with their own SAT books. What started as a show of good camaraderie quickly exploded into a full fledged SAT tutoring program. However, the length initiation process proved to be very challenging. Due to a lack of funding and teacher resources, I had to explore new tactics. I actively communicated with my teachers, principals, and school librarians in order to strongly promote the SAT program and receive money. Not only did the school buy updated books, but it also purchased new SAT computer software and study tools. My vision for the potential of the SAT tutoring program reflects my business acumen and persistence. Obstacles can always be conquered through innovative ideas, hard work, and dedication. With nearly daily advertising on the school’s television broadcast and a personally selected tutoring team, the SAT program currently enjoys tremendous popularity and success. I am positive that I will naturally extend my insights and enthusiasm to Stanford’s multitude of clubs and service organizations. Through promoting academic excellence, I hope to develop Stanford into an even more exceptional and compatible learning environment for everyone.

Short Answer 2:
Write about something you find intellectually exciting, an experience or an idea.

My sleek World War II P-51 Mustang screams into the night as it rapidly engages the enemy fighter plane with a sharp dive. My face is scrunched up in a state of total concentration; my hands sweat profusely and the controls begin to feel slippery. As I slip away into my surreal reality, I think back on building my first RC plane; I can still clearly remember the frustration, disappointments, and intense exhilaration of flying for the very first time.
To some people, RC planes may seem like mere toys. However, I can assure you that they are not. Each plane requires painstaking attention to build and fly. When I first joined this hobby, I made a huge mistake. I purchased a gas-powered plane kit designed for much more experienced builders. In addition, I bought the supplies over the internet. Mysterious spark plugs, engine mounts, and felt clunks all lied before me. The esoteric manual did not help at all and only left me more angry and confused. Disappointed, I regretted wasting my money on a junk heap. A few days later, I was ready to try again and I contacted a local RC instructor. Together, we began to build the plane. We spent over a week building the plane, piecing together the delicate wing pieces and balancing the weight. We toiled for days reducing propeller vibration and radio interference caused by the gas ignition, repeatedly adjusting the throttle servo and replacing spark plugs. When we finally finished the plane, the paint looked a little rough and the edges a little uneven, but it was flight worthy. We set it in an open field and clear sky and let the engine ignite. It was beautiful watching my own masterpiece soar across the horizon. Without this hobby, I would have never learn about so many flight or engineering. I would love to share my passion of radio controlled planes with my future peers at Stanford.

Short Answer 3:
Jot a note to your future roomate…a personal experience.

I am totally lost on this one…I think I may write it on how my Governor’s School roomate snored and sleepwalked and just the experience I had while attending Governor’s School.

2

<p>Short answer 1. IMO, I think this is kind of a dangerous topic. I would replace it with short answer 2. Read this essay out loud, run it through grammer check, and have someone else check for typos. </p>

<p>Short answer 2. Consider the word 'intellectual' in the prompt. Any concepts you can talk about?</p>

<p>Short Answer 3. That's a dreadful prompt. I haven't a clue, either. The sleepwalking is bizarre enough to be interesting. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>I hate short answer 3 too, only a few hours left to do it though.</p>

4

<p>hmm short answer 1 was my most important EC. I created a SAT program out of scratch that changed the curriculum of the school...we bought new books more software. There were lots of kids that come to the meetings and the program has been highly successful in terms of test scores</p>

<p>the RC planes...hmm i dont know any concepts except for flight basics sugh as lift and such. I know a little about radios but most of the building becomes muhc easier once you have experience</p>

5

<p>hahha...if only if stanford needed an SAT prep club. for number 3, say 'my books take up a lot of space' or something. Or anything that reflects your beliefs or opinions. Maybe something to do with how you are a devout religious person, or have strong political beliefs. I dunno though, thats an odd topic. Maybe you can just ask them to bring the fridge.</p>

6

<p>oh, what gov school and what state are you in? thats definetely a great topic to write about, they love gov school kids.</p>

7

<p>Peter, I understand that this was important, and that you did many good things will it. However, when you have sentances like this:</p>

<p>"Despite what many colleges say, SAT scores still remain a major component in the admissions process."</p>

<p>you're talking about doing something just to get into college. Stanford knows people do this, no need to dwell on it.</p>

<p>I think if you can focus more on the organizational and interpersonal skills gained from the experience, it would be helpful. More than just test-prep. I am also confused by the obtaining money part - were you paid, or was this just to buy stuff? I think that needs to be clarified.</p>

8

<p>hmm i see what u mean...let me work with it and ill post it up again a little later</p>

9

<p>aren't those answers over the character limit?</p>

10

<p>slightly but they are just rough copies and I can easily cut it down</p>

11

<p>yikes i submitted my stanford app two weeks ago. its my DREAM school. good luck to us all.</p>

12

<p>for #1, go here, maybe this will be of interest to you</p>

<p><a href="http://lgrforcollege.org/home/about/need.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://lgrforcollege.org/home/about/need.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I am in this, and it is a great program, maybe if you said you <strong>MIGHT</strong> be interested in something similar here. Basically, it is a program that gets Undergrad to tutor hs (especially disadvantaged) to SAT and college prep.</p>

13

<p>i hate #3 too. absolutely nothing comes to mind. because experiences may be interesting or funny, but they don't always say something about me. argh!</p>

<p>sooo much to do tonight</p>

14

<p>HEEEEELLLLPPPPP</p>

<p>can the essays be 10-point font or what? HELP HELP</p>

15

<p>getting locked out of room while only in towel is common for people. quite embarrassing.</p>

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<p>Essay #2 revamped!</p>

<p>My sleek World War II P-51 Mustang screams into the night as it rapidly engages the enemy fighter plane with a sharp dive. My face is scrunched up in a state of total concentration; my hands sweat profusely and the controls begin to feel slippery. As I slip away into a surreal reality, I think back on building my first radio-controlled plane; I can still clearly remember the hard work involved in “flying” for the very first time.
Like modern aircraft, RC planes require a solid understanding of flight fundamentals such as lift. One of the theories used to explain lift, the Newtonian Theory, states that an airfoil capable of generating lift deflects the air that passes over it downwards. Furthermore, the force accelerating the air downward is accompanied by an equal and opposite force that pushes the airfoil upward. This force is known as lift. With my first plane, I tinkered with several different airfoil designs in thickness and camber and wingtip models (twist and taper). All of these factors affected the amount of lift and air speed. Assembling a RC plane not only requires good workshop skills, but also a broad spectrum of knowledge including flight and plane parts.
Since the ancient times, humans have always been intrigued by flight. I must admit that I too am one of these people. I hope to share my passion for building and flying RC planes at Stanford. I want everyone to experience the sweaty hands and intense exhilaration of commanding a radio-controlled P-51 Mustang.</p>

17

<p>Ahh yes, the procrastinators motto comes to mind: Nothing is worth doing unless you can do it at the last minute"</p>

<p>I'm just going to give you some rather harsh, but critical, advice which i think will help, take it or leave it.</p>

<p>Cut "Assembling a (should be an) RC plane not only requires good workshop skill, but also a broad spectrum of knowledge including flight and plane parts" There's no need to restate this, it's short answer, not a five-paragraph essay. </p>

<p>"Since ancient times, humans have always been intrigued by flight" try cutting it down to a select group of people, that way it flows with the next sentence
"I must admit that I too am" a little repetitive, try just "I am"</p>

<p>please don't use s"weaty hands" as something you want people to experience at Stanford, it is not pleasant.</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

18

<p>thanks for the great help astro...i dont know what i was thinking lol</p>

<p>this is essay #1 revamped:</p>

<p>As an active high school student, I am placed in a unique position everyday. In my junior year, I was well aware of the stresses of excelling on the SATs. My friends often came to ask me for help on their SATs. And so, every Tuesday after school, I began to quiz them on obscure SAT vocabulary and drill them through tough math exercises. Through word of mouth, these after school sessions became increasingly popular. Wanting to do more, I presented my idea for an extensive SAT tutoring program in front of the school board. However, the lengthy initiation process would prove to be very challenging due to a lack of staff and monetary resources. I had to explore new tactics; I actively communicated with my teachers and school administration in order to strongly promote the SAT program and receive funding. In addition, I expressed the need for such a program in articles I wrote for the school newspaper and at school board meetings. As a result, not only did the school buy updated books, but it also purchased new SAT computer software and study tools. With nearly daily advertising on the school’s television broadcast and a personally selected tutoring team, the SAT program currently enjoys tremendous popularity and success today.
In my school, I have made my mark – initiating well-needed activities to help my peers. Through promoting academic excellence, I hope to develop my high school into an even more exceptional and compatible learning environment for everyone.</p>

<p>any ideas guys? thanks a ton!</p>

19

<p>Ok, prompt 1 is doing much better.</p>

<p>Your first sentance is kind of dissociated from the rest of the essay. You're in a unique position as an SAT guru because of what you started in your junior year. The way you have it right now, these two ideas aren't tied together. </p>

<p>I think that you might want to subtly alude the fact that this whole project was fun for you to work on in your last paragraph. You show that it was fun when you talk about it - your enthusiasm shows through - just tie it together at the end. </p>

<p>Have to go work on Christmas stuff now - but best wishes on getting everything done and submitted on time! Print them out and read them aloud once more to a parent or friend for your final proof run. Good luck!!!!</p>

20

<p>the beginning of essay #3...anyone want to offer some help?</p>

<p>Something gentle kept touching my feet. In the distance, I could hear a deep muffled voice crying out, “Where’s my t-shirt? I need to find my t-shirt.” I struggled with myself to open my eyes and to my horror; my half-naked roommate is standing next to my bed massaging my left foot! I quickly jerked my foot away and stood on alert for anymore creepy behavior from Winston. This was the first night at Governor’s School and already I didn’t like it. But Winston didn’t continue to act spookily. Instead, he turned right around and fell fast asleep in his bed. Not surprisingly, I didn’t go back to sleep that night. The next day, I found out that he has a tendency to sleepwalk at night. Great roommate huh?</p>