<p>Hello,
Like so many of you,I am currently writing lots of essays. One of the schools that I am applying to says that I can address the prompt in the form of a poem. Do you guys think that a 300 word poem would be annoying for the adcoms to read. Also, do you think they like poems less than the traditional essay?
Happy Holidays,
~Polodolly</p>
<p>I think it all depends on how well it’s written. I wouldn’t attempt this unless you have some experience writing poetry. You may want to try a poetry version of the essay then another in standard essay form and show them both to someone whose judgement you trust, probably a parent or teacher. Poetry writing takes a lot of skill and an awkward ABAB/AABB jam-the-word-into-the-rhyme-scheme poem can be painful to read, e.g., “I want to go to Exeter/'cause my sister says I’m just like her/Please just let me in your school/I promise you won’t feel a fool…”</p>
<p>A well written poem could both answer the essay question and highlight your writing skills.</p>
<p>a poem isn’t made by its rhyme pattern. It’s not essential.
A poem has more potential to leave AO’s thinking and wondering.
It can be quite attractive if its written well.</p>
<p>you can use other literary tools to make a good poem. a AABB rhyme is very basic indeed.</p>
<p>I agree with SnapePotter, poems don’t have to rhyme. In fact, I find they’re less serious if they do. </p>
<p>If you’re good at writing poems, I would say go for it-- it’s unique and sets you apart from the kids who just write essays :)</p>
<p>I didn’t mean to imply that a good poem can’t employ a simple rhyme scheme, just that we’ve all heard awkwardly written poems from folks who think that if something rhymes it’s a good poem. You see a lot of these around the holidays; “Dave got into Cornell/Gee, we think it’s just swell!”</p>
<p>Want me to write your poem for you? ;-)</p>
<p>“Wow, so many applying to Harvard”, thought he as over this site he hovered.</p>
<p>And when he saw the stats of applicants for Yale, his tanned face got grossly pale.</p>
<p>Well, every time I hear the name Princeton, I’m only reminded of one so smug as Winston. </p>
<p>On Gossip Girl when Serena chooses Brown, I felt like taking away her social “crown”.</p>
<p>I don’t really like Pennsylvania… I’d rather see a show of Wrestle Mania.</p>
<p>If New York has Columbia…put two CORKS in my ear coz of the nights of insomnia.</p>
<p>yeah dawg…
and that’s why I CAN MAKE POEMS ON THE SPOT… dawg…</p>
<p>SnapePotter, you and I should form a bad poetry club!</p>
<p>no Sue. I’ll Sue you for debasing my poetic skills like that!</p>
<p>A poem might be seen as creative by the Adcoms, but it also might be seen as not following the directions. Any applications that don’t follow directions are deemed “uncomplete” and thrown out.</p>
<p>urbanflop - The OP stated that the directions for this school’s application clearly invited her to write a poem rather than an essay. So the only on who didn’t read carefully (in this case) was you . . .</p>
<p>polodolly - I’d say to go for it! I’m sure the AOs will be delighted to get a break from the tedium of essay after essay after essay . . . .</p>