Several colleges I know ask students to describe themselves in 3 or 5 words in applications. Several blogs suggest getting creative, treating it more like a puzzle, making up words, using hashtags, etc. Personally, I would think AO’s would be tired of solving so many puzzles and might appreciate something more simplistic. Any general/specific advice and/or opinion? Thanks!
I did one for a college, and it was “Curious, Inquisitive, Analytical, Skeptical, Thesaurus.com”. I tried to poke a little fun at the prompt. Don’t know if it worked or not, but I found it kinda funny, plus it was my own idea. Just be you and do whatever you think is cool or funny or represents you as a person.
Here’s my two cents –
Given that admission officers spend 15 minutes or so on each application, i would make any answer fairly straightforward/readily understandable-- you don’t want them to waste valuable time trying to solve some kind of a puzzle rather than focusing on your strengths an an applicant.
@happy1, thanks, I thought so, too. May I pick your brain a bit further? D wants to use “clumsy” as one of those five words. It’s totally true, and may explain why she hasn’t done any sports in HS, but is this really a wise thing to put in an application? Thanks!
And since the most competitive are looking at your thinking, I’d suggest caution before describing yourself in ways that don’t show in the rest of the app.
“clumsy” shows humility, but also raises concerns if applying as a chemistry major.
@Publisher, thanks, so you think it would be ok for a humanities major?
Depends upon the other four words used to describe herself. Okay for a touch of humility, but not clear if appropriate without knowing the other descriptive words. But certainty not as dangerous for a humanities major then it would be for a chemistry or dance major.
Perhaps Klutz or Klutzy would be a slightly more charming way to express clumsy.
A bit of self-deprecation and humor can be good, but, overall, it’s best to have a nice balance of positive traits in there. I agree that “klutzy” sounds better than “clumsy,” but neither sound like attributes that I would want to highlight on a college application. In the end, the goal is to try to put one’s best foot forward (although, in the case of your daughter, assuming both of her feet are left ones, it wouldn’t particularly matter which she chooses to put forward first).
I would definitely avoid “cutesy” tricks, puzzles, made-up words, etc. – Adcoms have seen them all and won’t be impressed by them.
@LoveTheBard, thank you, that’s what I thought. Really starting to question the wisdom of all these consultants’ blogs, wonder if they give different advice to those who actually sign up with them as clients 
One of mine was “wingman” and I had a great story which I shared to my interviewer. Fun fun fun.
Avoid “weak” adjectives. Like “nice”. I kind of like clumsy if the others are strong, positive words, I think the AO might laugh.
I believe honesty and sincerity always ring true.
Clumsy works fine. It’s funny and would say “actually thought about this and did not use a thesaurus”.
Naturally, I would want the other 4 to be positive.
As long as it not “criminal, cheater or con artist” I don’t think it will make or break the application.
I see pitfalls in wingman, and whether an adult interviewer would be truly entertained.
Haha maybe, but I couldn’t help myself and it seemed like the interviewer was pretty interested considering she kept asking questions about what the story behind it was and whether my friend returned the favor sometime later.
Oh… and a female interviewer. Um, she is supposed to act interested and keep you talking. But I’m going to guess that this story probably did not land the way you think it did. “I couldn’t help myself” is something you want to learn to control in key situations like interviews.
Pays to ensure any iffy word is really a positive. Jmho, but neither clumsy or klutzy are traits colleges look for. You’d be hoping they see some humor or humility, but they aren’t reading for entertainment. I think they want words they can see in the rest of your app and nod in agreement.
Wingman isn’t bad, imo. Especially if you’re going for collaborative majors and your app doesn’t make you seem like always a follower or hesitant.
I think klutzy is fine, if coupled with other strong, positive words. Also think wingman is fine, and I am a female.
This thread demonstrates the range of thinking that will be present in AOs, not only across schools but within the same department at the same school…although I wouldn’t characterize admissions decisions as random, there is an element of randomness in some aspects of the process, including who is reading one’s application.
If anyone needs a refresher, I highly recommend re-reading The Gatekeepers by Jacques Steinberg. In some ways it’s dated, but in some ways it’s not. It does a great job showing how fatigued the AOs get when reading apps, and how AOs have biases, opinions, and preferences that impact their decision making.
@Mwfan1921 100 percent, spot on!
However. To some of the other folks. The prompt asked for words to describe yourself. If I read this correctly. I don’t think it asked for words you would choose to describe yourself thst illustrate what you think we want in a student. That would be boring and repetitive. As AO I would t even read this prompt except to look for differences or someone with a personality.