<p>I am looking for ideas on how to answer the question: ' What will you contribute to the school community?". Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Do you play music or sing? Do you like theater? Do you want to be on the math or debate team. What about sports and student government? Do you want to participate in charity projects or write for the school paper? Just tell them what you like to do with your time or what you are passionate about. Perhaps you want to raise awareness about a cause thats close to your heart.</p>
<p>There’s some old threads on this, but I’m having the same problem…maybe write about sports teams and EC? and a little personality contribution too?</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/470128-ability-contribute-school-community.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/470128-ability-contribute-school-community.html</a></p>
<p>It’s as much about your interests as your “character.”</p>
<p>In this question, it is the school’s way of telling you, “Convince me.” or “Why should I pick you?” I think it’s important to sell yourself correctly and not overdue it while using the above advice.</p>
<p>I’m not a fan of this question – particularly as it pertains to 8th-graders. The way it is worded, it invites wild speculation and unsubstantiated boasting and it leaves able-but-humble applicants feeling overwhelmed. This seems like a real tough question, both in terms of what you will say and how you can say it without making over-the-top promises that you wonder if you can keep. They seem to be asking how many state championships you’ll bring as a squash player, how many gold medals you’ll win as a mathlete, and whether you’ll be class president for more than one year. A less obvious approach to being responsive to this question – and one you can take in conjunction with more “traditional” responses – is to view your “contribution” in terms of how you will exploit available resources, matching your interests and talents and gifts to the specific offerings at the school.</p>
<p>I don’t know if it’s helpful or, frankly, whether the AdCom will loathe applicants who follow this approach, so fwiw, here’s what I posted in another thread about this other, alternative approach to answering this vexing question:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13270755-post32.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13270755-post32.html</a></p>
<p>I’m having the same issues now with writing college admissions essays. I would suggest trying to bring your personality into the essay. Are you the kind of person people would want to live and study with? Do you motivate yourself, or do others motivate you? Are you willing to try new things? Have you overcome any difficulties, including very minor ones? Again, this is difficult as an eighth grader. (I certainly couldn’t have applied to BS when I was that age!)</p>