<p>I am fluent in English, Swahili, French and Russian. Should I start off my application in English and then transcend into Russian and then into Swahili and then into French??? To show I am versatile. Also, I was considering writing my application in crayon to show I am artistic and different. Would this help? how much would it increase my chances? I have a good gpa and high sat as well. </p>
<p>thanks for the suggestions</p>
<p>PS: I was thinking of applying to M.I.T as well. Should I write my essay in code and have the admissions officers decipher it? This would be to show my puzzle skills and artistry. </p>
<p>It’s unique for sure, but if I were you I wouldn’t do it…especially regarding the idea of writing your essay in code. Those adcoms sift through thousands of applications. Nobody has time/would want to decipher an essay in order to read it.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure they specifically say that they want the applications in English (but don’t quote me). Anyone could simply put half of their application in a translator, so even thought your idea is creative (and I truly do like the effort to stand out) I wouldn’t do it. Just the mere fact that you speak four languages fluently will be enough to impress the admissions officers.</p>
<p>That would be interesting, and I’m sure the adcoms would be mildly intrigued, but. DO. NOT. DO. THAT. Your readers will have been sifting through thousands of applications, perhaps with not enough coffee on that particular morning, and the last thing you want to do is make it harder for them to understand you. If it’s very important to you, demonstrate your quadrilingual nature through other ways - perhaps illustrating how you’ve used it in your ECs or personal life.</p>
<p>Also I’m pretty sure they specify somewhere that your essays must be in English. Don’t do crayons either - unless you have to mail it in, electronic is better.</p>
<p>If you want to post your GPA/SAT scores, ECs etc., that would actually get you some replies involving actual chances. With these ideas, your application just isn’t going to be read at all.</p>
<p>I think M.I.T would love that (sorry to disagree with you), but I was thinking of writing it in hieroglyphics. That only gives me about two weeks to learn the entire writing system, but I think the admissions officers would be quite impressed. I hope none of them already know it or else it wouldn’t be a code at all I guess. </p>
<p>but thanks for the suggestion anyways. Anyone else? Thoughts?</p>
<p>And… you think an admissions officer wants to have to go find a translator (or run it thru Google translate) to read what you have written? Or do you think they have time with thousands of applications to work out your puzzles (or decipher a crayon scrawl)? I think these suggestions are the fastest route to the circular file I have ever heard.</p>
<p>They “notice” all the applications. But it is the ones they can actually read that they consider admitting. But… if you are silly enough to think this is a good idea, you will get exactly what you deserve in the admissions process. Make sure you have some good safeties on your list.</p>
<p>I actually think you should do it! Not because I’m also applying for Cornell and MIT, if I were at the admissions office I would be truly delighted with your application! I wouldn’t really care for the essays, you were already in!</p>
<p>Look, this is silly, assuming it’s not written tongue in cheek. Admissions officers have their lists of “memorable” applications–things written on toilet paper, whatever. This is a gimmick. Gimmicks are not going to get you in. Most of us appreciate the creativity, but you still need to perform the task set before you in a way that doesn’t cause irritation or strain. </p>
<p>I used to teach college English: occasionally I’d get students who wanted to subvert the genre by using analogies involving sweaty clothing (this actually happened). The students in question tended not to be the most talented writers, at least not enough to justify the genre-bending, the result being undistinguished grades. Unless you can come up with something so fabulous that it will justify the unusual approach, don’t do it.</p>