I finished an essay draft, it’s just under word limit and I talked about certain personal experiences I had and how that made me think differently about the world etc.
But would the “show not tell” require me to add specific examples of what I did that corresponds to the lessons I learned? I don’t really have enough space to add anything more, I proofread it many times already and I can’t reduce much more without taking significant parts out. But there are things that I did do as a response to what I learned.
Is it okay if I put the “show” part in activities section and/or supplementary essays where appropriate? Is the “show not tell” idea for the entire application or just the essay part?
You obviously can’t “show” absolutely everything. What’s important is that you not just paint a picture of those transformative experiences (and how they would likely influence the thinking of anyone who happened to go through them), but make sure that you-as-a-person - how you think, how you relate to the world, how you felt inside of the situation, etc. are a part of that picture.
Look at the essay you’ve written and ask yourself whether a different person could be plugged into what you have written without substantially changing the content, or whether your unique personality and character are fundamental to the essay you have crafted. That’s what people mean by “show not tell.” Showing gives the reader a window into how your mind works. Does your reader know you better after reading your essay, or do they just know a story that happens to have you in it?
I think people get really caught up in the essay, and understandably so. It’s the part of the application we have most immediate control over. But admissions people really just want to see something original that tells a little bit more about who you are as a person-- whether that shows something profound or minor. It sounds like while writing the draft you were focused on what you learned as well as what you did. Don’t get too caught up in the “show not tell” and have somebody read it outside of your immediate family and friend group. It’s important to get unbiased feedback. They will tell you whether not only is it well written, but if they learned something about you. I know it’s very hard to edit something once you’ve written it all out. Good luck!