<p>Hey, guys. What up? Maybe I should have skipped the greeting. I'm not much for public posting... or posting at all... or the public. Anyway, I was wondering if I could get your opinions on something I did with my Pepperdine application in the supplemental essay portion. All of the advice I saw when I looked around told me to just be honest and try to make an accurate picture of myself. I knew what I wanted to write about, but I wasn't sure it was a good idea. In the end, I just said YOLO and wrote it anyway, telling myself that if they didn't like what I had to say, maybe it isn't a school I should want to attend. Of course, now that it's all sent in, I'm starting to wonder if it was a mistake. </p>
<p>The first question asked about what class I would add to Pepperdine if I had the chance. I decided that I would be very interested in taking an American subculture class. The theme of the essay was understanding and getting past cultural stereotype. (I did check to make sure it actually was a class they didn't have and didn't see this class listed.) The part I'm most worried about is that I didn't actually devote a lot of the essay to answering the question and spent a lot of time talking about my own background. I assumed the point of the essay was to tell them about myself. I pretty much just used the class thing like bookends for my intro and conclusion. I thought my background was worth writing about because it's probably pretty different from the backgrounds of most Pepperdine applicants. I live in a podunk Missouri town with one stoplight and the only business with its lights on after 8 is the bar. Before going to a different district for high school, I actually went to a school with less than 40 kids K-8. I thought they might be interested in knowing, but maybe I should have stuck to the prompt.</p>
<p>The other essay asked about faith's impact in my life. Personally, I do associate myself with the Christian church, so you wouldn't think that would be an issue. (Although, I'm not Church of Christ.) I'm a little on-edge because I wanted to write about the impact Jesus has had on how I deal with depression. I have seen several sources say that essays about depression are a bad idea, but this is the area of my life that faith ties in most strongly. I wrote it anyway. To my credit, though, I made sure to make it clear that I was not throwing myself a pity party and that I was not using depression as an excuse for any of my shortcomings. Maybe I should have written about community service like 85% of the other applicants.</p>
<p>Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this post. It's probably longer than either of the essays I sent in. If you have any thoughts, questions, criticisms, or threats, please post them below. I really want some opinions on the decisions I made with these things.</p>
<p>Pepperdine, like many universities, uses holistic evaluation of your candidacy, so I’m not sure there is a way to blow it with the essays. Without seeing the essays, it’s also a bit hard to make an educated evaluation of them. I will share a few thoughts, however. There are so many aspects to your application that will either support your candidacy or nudge you toward the non-admit pile. They’re going to evaluate your academics, your ECs, your recs, too, of course. Did your GC’s letter of rec address your challenges with depression and how you are working to manage it? That might, for example, help support you. The fact that you appear to be from a Christian faith tradition (even if not Churches of Christ, the religion of the founder, George Pepperdine) and that you addressed this in a cogent essay may help, too, as it is a faith-based university. They do take students of all faith traditions, but with undergraduate program, at least 50% of the faculty will be from CoC. I think that is an important aspect for you to consider, too. Would you be comfortable at a faith-based institution where chapel is required? (I understand the chapel program is very interesting, however. I’ve known some of the past chaplains, there, too; amazing people.) Another note: a lot of the Churches of Christ churches are in “podunk” towns like yours. 
Pepperdine is considered the most liberal of those universities affiliated with that faith tradition, so I would not worry! I want to applaud you for taking the risk to write and submit what you felt best to convey to them. It says a lot to me about your strength of character. Best of luck and let us know if you are accepted!</p>
<p>Thanks for your input, laplatinum. Although, if I’m honest, I’m not sure my risk was because of any special character trait I have. I think it probably has more to do with Pepperdine being my reach school. The only way I can attend is if they accept me and give me a lot more aid than the website is projecting. (I’m really not counting on an academic scholarship. I’m happy with my stats, but a 3.9 UW with a 2010 SAT is probably pretty mediocre in the context of their applicant pool.) I guess I saw it as enough of a long shot that I was feeling especially brave. I think my biggest regret is that there is so much more I wish I could have told them about myself, but the Commo App. essay prompts didn’t leave enough room to get extremely personal in any subjects I hadn’t already addressed. For example, I’m very interested in English linguistics and writing styles and probably could have written them a three page essay just on my opinions of Strunk and White. I used the Common App. essay as more of a chance to show some narrative writing skill. I technically applied undeclared, but I feel like I made it pretty clear I’m flirting with an English major. I put that I would be interested in earning an English master’s, which I’m not sure was smart, and I had two academic recommendation letters sent in. One from my English teacher and one from my Spanish teacher. (Although, I am aware that the admissions officers only guarantee to read one.) One of them actually let me read the letter she wrote. I have to say that she was extremely generous. (I almost couldn’t read it through my tears.) Unfortunately, no recommendation letter can get me a scholarship or even admission. Oh well. I’ve already been accepted at some pretty good schools. (Nothing like Pepperdine, though.) If Pepperdine really doesn’t work out, I hope Drake (my second choice) can give me some financial aid to work with.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input, laplatinum. Although, if I’m honest, I’m not sure my risk was because of any special character trait I have. I think it probably has more to do with Pepperdine being my reach school. The only way I can attend is if they accept me and give me a lot more aid than the website is projecting. (I’m really not counting on an academic scholarship. I’m happy with my stats, but a 3.9 UW with a 2010 SAT is probably pretty mediocre in the context of their applicant pool.) I guess I saw it as enough of a long shot that I was feeling especially brave. I think my biggest regret is that there is so much more I wish I could have told them about myself, but the Commo App. essay prompts didn’t leave enough room to get extremely personal in any subjects I hadn’t already addressed. For example, I’m very interested in English linguistics and writing styles and probably could have written them a three page essay just on my opinions of Strunk and White. I used the Common App. essay as more of a chance to show some narrative writing skill. I technically applied undeclared, but I feel like I made it pretty clear I’m flirting with an English major. I put that I would be interested in earning an English master’s, which I’m not sure was smart, and I had two academic recommendation letters sent in. One from my English teacher and one from my Spanish teacher. (Although, I am aware that the admissions officers only guarantee to read one.) One of them actually let me read the letter she wrote. I have to say that she was extremely generous. (I almost couldn’t read it through my tears.) Unfortunately, no recommendation letter can get me a scholarship or even admission. Oh well. I’ve already been accepted at some pretty good schools. (Nothing like Pepperdine, though.) If Pepperdine really doesn’t work out, I hope Drake (my second choice) can give me some financial aid to work with.</p>