<p>They are not necessarily distinct subjects. It really depends on a person-to-person basis.</p>
<p>"Compelling is too subjective to define; Yale's essay seeks to determine why you need Yale, specifically, and how Yale can benefit from you. At minimum, you should address those issues. </p>
<p>I don't think you need to overcome some terrible tragedy, but you've got to someone demonstrate why they should take you over someone equally or more qualified."</p>
<p>Perhaps what is "compelling" is one's desire to attend Yale. Once again, I am merely providing an exception to your absolute statement of distinction, which is all I must do to disprove it.</p>
<p>In regards to the article, if you contextualize it in desire, I see desire to attend college, in principle, but not Yale, in specific. So the article lacks purpose in either contexts - unless you are arguing that the desire to attend college, in principle, was the ulltimate purpose of the article, and thus Up40Love's intent for posting, which I would be inclined to agree with. Regardless, I think we have veered far off-topic enough as it is.</p>