<p>I like math. I like chemistry. I like history. How the heck do i convey this in my essay without sounding so generic and mind-blowingly boring? </p>
<p>(For nonacademic subjects, i can usually do better. But some prompts pretty much require you to write about academic subjects, like Rice's question asking you why are you applying to a specific college within the school.)</p>
<p>There must be a reason why you like it, mustn't there?</p>
<p>Probe deeper.</p>
<p>Yea, but it is so dumb and trite and awkward.</p>
<p>Math - simple, yet universal; straightforward. applicable to many situations. serves as a universal tool to unite people of all races. "comes naturally to me" theres that dumb phrase. </p>
<p>History - reads like a story with a bunch of characters. amazingly predictable sometimes, yet inspiring. gives hope to me that decent people do exist while still giving me the "bad" side of life. shows how some things work and others dont</p>
<p>What subjects do you like and why?</p>
<p>Think even deeper! </p>
<p>For me:
History: Knowing the past and what happened in it gives me a better perspective on the world now. Especially in US history, seeing the greatness on which this country was founded has helped me appreciate so much what a unique country we are. (Yes, hokey, but true)</p>
<p>Math- I like manipulating numbers to get them to do what you want them to do.</p>
<p>I have yet to figure out why I like genetics. Hopefully I helped a little bit. :)</p>
<p>I'll let you in on a little secret: most applicants don't have a passion for anything. Just pretend like you do and make it convincing, that's all.</p>
<p>^Haha! Truly, one of the most honest things I've ever seen on CC!!! :)</p>
<p>Yea, but how do you make it convincing without it being true. I'm not THAT good of a liar</p>
<p>wait... first you said you had a passion now your saying you don't and you want to lie about it?</p>
<p>I think passion is a pretty abused term at this point. But here's another to look at the essay from the perspective of someone like you, blueducky, who is interested in so many things.</p>
<p>Last year when my son was looking at writing essays for his application he was faced with a set of prompts. In the supplement to the Common App the school he was applying to had a prompt that might most appeal to the literature types, one for the politics types, one for the science type, the community service types, the art enthusiasts, etc.</p>
<p>He wrote like 4 or 5 essays each time trying to wing it with a different prompt. He was pretty interested in just about everything, but mostly he was looking for which prompted essay got the most traction while he was writing it. Interestingly, it was the science prompt. He does find science quite fascinating, but I certainly wouldn't call it a "passion", but it was the best essay from a writing point of view and had a bit more originality to it, so he submitted that one.</p>
<p>Maybe you should just start with one topic, and try several drafts looking deeper, trying to punch it up a bit... and if it's just not going anywhere try another. It doesn't matter which topic it is, so much as getting a good essay out of it.</p>
<p>no i meant, for kingofqueens' comment. the "nobody really has a passion thing" - i don't want to lie about it, but my real reason sounds so lame.</p>
<p>I wouldn't call it lying. You are pretty much REQUIRED to show interest in your essays, even if you don't have any. They are just trying to see how well you can convey your ideas in an interesting way without being too fancy, so you can write about anything as long as it is believable.</p>
<p>"I wouldn't call it lying. You are pretty much REQUIRED to show interest in your essays, even if you don't have any."</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>How is this not lying?</p>
<p>Honestly, just tell the adcoms WHO YOU ARE. Tell them that you like a lot of subjects. You don't have to say you DONT have a passion. You're someone who loves to do a LOT of stuff. Probe deeper, and I'm sure you'll find something you actually like for a reason.</p>
<p>Examples are key too. Math comes naturally. How about an instance that tells me so? It would work.</p>
<p>You can call it lying if you want, but I don't.</p>
<p>I wouldn't consider that really "lying" either. Just try to show your interest btw to the OP.</p>
<p>I find it hard to show interest about schools i have not visited. There are a limited number of things you can say - huge number of opportunities to do research, learn, small class sizes offer more interaction, be around motivated, brilliant peers, etc. </p>
<p>Is it too brutally honest to say the relatively lower cost of the school and the comparable amount of opportunities offered was a motivation for me to apply to that place?</p>
<p>I meant your interests for the subject and not the school, but okay.</p>
<p>Well i mean. </p>
<p>What are good reasons for liking certain subjects (natural ability/grades aside) and certain colleges (prestige and weather aside)?</p>
<p>Noone can answer that question except you. It's foolish asking others to answer why you like something. Think about what excites you, does those crazy things to your heart ... you'll get all the answers!</p>
<p>Just be honest and present your best side. Stop worrying about what they want and give them who you are. You might be surprised to find out that adcoms appreciate an authentic application from a real 18 year old. Put down the things you genuinely like to do. It doesn't have to be some sanctioned group organized EC through the HS or anything like that. Heck, one of my son's biggest EC's was learning how to play different musical instruments in his bedroom. Obviously, anyone who would teach himself to play several instruments in a couple of years was very interested in doing so. Would he have used the word "passionate"? Probably not. Maybe you have read 100 historical novels or whatever, then just put down what you do with your time. They just want to get to know the applicant and telling them about what you do with your time gives them a way to go beyond gpa and test scores to know the applicant. Think of EC's as a way to introduce yourself to the adcoms and try not to get caught up in making EC's a competitive game. There are no "standardized" EC's. Do what interests you.</p>