<p>I am having so much trouble with the essay prompts!!!! Pls help me!!!!
What do I write?</p>
<p>Denison values diversity in our college community. Please describe a personal experience that you have had with diversity and tell us how it might inform your college experience. 500 Char</p>
<p>I have to fit everything into 500 characters!!!</p>
<p>Do they define “diversity”? People tend to assume racial diversity, which really annoys me. Philosophical diversity or geographic diversity seem equally valid to me.</p>
<p>I totally agree that they sucked. You can barely fit anything in 500 characters! I wrote about a trip I took to London a few years back and the diverse nationalities I encountered. It was not exactly a masterpiece, but, if it’s any consolation, I don’t think the essays are the most important factor for your admission. </p>
<p>But, yeah, I agree.</p>
<p>
Remember the adage, only takes a moment or so to write a rambling, unfocused epistle. It takes awhile to write a clear, concise essay. </p>
<p>Step #1 - Be knowledgeable and clear about what you want to write </p>
<p>Steps #2 - ??? Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite …</p>
<p>Step #8 or 9 - Spell check.</p>
<p>Remember, James Mitchener rewrote everyone of his tomes no fewer than 7 times. You should rewrite at least a few if this is of any import to you. And give it a little time between rewrites. </p>
<p>The ave op ed piece in any major pub? 500 words</p>
<p>If you can’t say it in 500 or fewer words …you don’t know what you’re writing. </p>
<p>Be certain …less is more. And better.</p>
<p>You’re mistaken: the limit is 500 characters, not 500 words. If it were 500 words, it would be much easier. 500 characters, on the other hand, it barely anything.</p>
<p>Good advice though.</p>
<p>Maybe write it in the style of a text message, with a lot of abbreviations.</p>
<p>Oh 500 characters, not words~Challenging, as they intended it to be.</p>
<p>What’s the “answer”??? 
</p>
<p>More focusing on key points, knowing precisely what you desire to say, writing it concisely, clearly…</p>
<p>i.e. at least 2 more rewrites :(</p>
<p>In the end, DU readers want to read as little of your writing as makes sense. Go get 'em. ;)</p>
<p>I’ve finally sent my Denison app!!!</p>
<p>Press it and pray!</p>
<p>Good luck, congrats on getting it done.</p>
<p>anyone wanna post some stats?</p>
<p>S</p>
<p>ACT 32
SAT 2030 W 720, Math 670, CR 640
Cumm. 4.29 (will be higher, 3 AP this year, 1st qtr 4.7)
NHS
Jazz orchestra
Soccer freshman sophomore years
Project Love Program
Dating Violence Prevention Program
Obama campaign fall 2008
6 out of 379 in class</p>
<p>Thinking about psychology, international studies, foreign languages</p>
<p>ACT: 32
SAT: 2000
Cum.: 3.95 after Jr. year (most likely end up w/ about 4.2 after this year’s AP classes)
Top 10% of my class</p>
<p>Extra-Curriculars:
Editor of School Newspaper
National Honor Society
Presidential Classroom Program Scholarship winner / attendee
Leadership Conferences
Founder & President of Young Democrats Club @ my H.S.
Girls’ lax - 2 years
Scholar Athlete - 2 years
Numerous other clubs
Lots of volunteer shtuff.</p>
<p>I did regular decision…does anyone know when the letters are supposed to come? Do we have to wait until spring?</p>
<p>If DU behaves as in recent past seasons, you’ll be waiting until the date they tell you, and it’s unlikely an inquiring call will disclose the U’s decision, even in the presence of unsavory tactics among competing competitors attempting to press your decision in the absence of knowing other institutions’ acceptance and/or FA determinations. Our experience is that DU sticks to what it promises.</p>
<p>btw, absent of do-doism, the 2 scores noted here should be encouraged about their outcomes @ DU, I’d think. I get the sense that DU, while having loads of competition for stellar students both regionally and nationally, is really working to attract and build that “community of learner/scholars” they talk about. And put their $$ to support that part of their mission. They appear more aggressive in recruiting both scholars AND perceived good citizens who will contribute to the campus on the hill. </p>
<p>Where their resources seem to hit the wall, sort of, is when the pledge of small, intimiate classes taught by genuine experts confronts the cost of sticking to those guns. Specifically, there consistently seems to be a shortfall of available space in desirable classes with top-shelf profs. See, those profs are being promised things too, mostly that their teaching and advising loads’ll be lighter than XYZ University, so come and stay w/ the Big Red Machine. And students are being promised, hey, you’ll have highly personal, highly professional 1 on 1 advising from real profs, who’ll be guiding you into small, intimate, interactive classes taught by real experts, not merely TA’s or grad asstants who are experts in training. </p>
<p>And this scenario causes a genuine, irreconcilable tension among admissions marketing, teaching and researching realities, and access to many classes beyond those taught by angry divorced nut-jobs, persuaded that traditionalists are somehow misguided in the cosmos of a green new age where standing on one’s head is front and foremost to universal harmony. And DU, like most LACs has a bunch of these, too. And too often, while the campus network exposes these limp-alongs, unfortunately their classes must be filled too. </p>
<p>btw, in talking with peer parents, it’s sadly, readily apparent this phenomenon is not DU’s alone. In fact it seems to be one of the skeletons that is anything but exclusive to exclusive institutions. But it’s 1 of 2 major realities that fail to fit the picture painted in the preamble to matriculation. And it’s one of the realities that in balancing resources, you can’t have everything. And ironically it’s confounded by the liberal learning notion that students should be required to take pottery-making, and sociology of diversity, and psychology of the para-normal, and literature of angels and vampires, and …</p>
<p>So, it’s best not to be too starry-eyed in entering and commencing this campus cosmos, because close examination and familiarity expose pimples, warts, and hairy ears. But hey, with effort and time, even those can become loveable.</p>
<p>@whistle pig- Are you trying to say that Denison isn’t worth it? I am an international and am hoping for an acceptance. It is one of my top choices. Should I reconsider my opinions on Denison? Is it a good academically?</p>
<p>No, not at all. DU is well worth whatever “it” is. An outstanding school, strong reputation, and imo, being in the Midwest, a far superior producer and value to many East Coast schools that have benefit of geography in proximity to students enamored w/ regional reputations. You’ll do well to matriculate @ DU. In fact, while listings can be and often are silly and meaningless in terms of forecasting either quality of education or campus experience for any individual, one that does make sense is FA. And DU continues to be the lone LAC I institution listed among the top 10 schools awarding the most $ to the most students. Which speaks to academic reputation, perceived “quality”, and net cost to payer consumers. And so few seem to look at this issue in determining purchase of highly selective higher education. We tend to get starry eyed, somehow persuaded there is some mythical difference among these places. And of course there are, but they are rarely the things we perceive and think are important, and in the end, become meaningless. </p>
<p>What I’m saying is that, like every place, it has its flaws and challenges. And I believe class accessability is one. And it’s not at all exclusive to DU, and includes many places that proclaim small student-classroom ratios. In brief, as you’ll learn in life, you can’t have everything. If you wanna see this issue magnified, try Michigan or Ohio State or Penn State …you’ll find out the real meaning of cash cows.</p>
<p>btw, this issue of class/section access was THE one issue a number of others had commented negatively about some years back when we were in the early exploratory stages. And those observations have come to bear seemingly fairly accurately on our own.</p>
<p>But again, do not interpret this to be uniquely DU. And frankly, others may have very different observations. This issue seems to impact courses in popular majors and common subject areas necessary to fulfill liberal education requirements, not physics or physiology.</p>
<p>Loved your post. Just curious, what’s the 2nd major reality?</p>