<p>I'm having a lot of trouble w/ the second one:
Self-identity and personal expression take many forms. Use the richness of your life to give us insight: Who are you?</p>
<p>Should I be approaching this like talking about an artistic form of expression (writing, playing an instrument, etc.) or is this even broader--can I approach this like I would the Common App Topic of My Choice. As in, could I basically write about anything that reveals something about me?</p>
<p>THere is no right answer. You can take any approach that you think will best convey something melaningful about you. Given the word limitation, I don't think that they expect a comprehensive response, just something insightful about you that they can consider as they try to put together an interesting class.</p>
<p>You can answer that question however you want. I mean it. That isn't my fluffy admissions way of saying, "I can't tell you how to answer it," that's me saying that I've read more than 1500 of those answers and you can answer it in almost any way imaginable. Below I've posted the question as it was phrased last year. When I've had students stuck on how to approach it, I've found that last year's prompt helps some of them get unstuck.</p>
<p>
[quote]
“Self-identity and personal expression take many forms. Tastes in music, food and clothing can make a statement while politics, religion and ethnicity often act as defining attributes. Buttons on your backpack; a tattoo; the blogs you read and the web sites you visit; the minutia on your refrigerator or the doodles on your notebook are clues to your passions and viewpoints. Are you a vegetarian? Do you prefer YouTube or test tubes? Are you the drummer in an all-girl rock band? Do you like to tinker? Are you the umpire or the pitcher? Use the richness of your identity to give us insight: Who are you?”
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I wish I had access to that prompt when I was doing my essay(s) for Tufts.</p>
<p>Wow Dan, THANK YOU SO MUCH. You have no idea how helpful that was.
And thanks to everyone else who replied! :)</p>
<p>That opened my eye. Thanks :D</p>