<p>I have travelled all over the world (except for africa). If I incorporated that into my essays would that be seen as arrogant and snobby or will they see that I have experienced a lot and I like to see the world?</p>
<p>depends how you state it.</p>
<p>like, i put how i have LIVED everywhere, but that is entirely different because we had to change schools and friends and everything.. very often. and it had an amazing impact on my perspective, which came out in the interview when i discussed it in person..when they asked baout my most admirable trait i said "adaptability" because i have moved so much, so it came into the admissions procedures in that aspect. it's very integrated in who i am. if traveling has had a great impact on you like that (though in my experiences, traveling is more fun and exciting and a time to vacation as opposed to profound and very interesting and character-building like moving is, and i think that most people know that when others travel, they stay in hotels and go shopping and go on tours and try new food.. not live with and among the citizens and imbibe the culture that way.. i dont know maybe you could make it work.</p>
<p>what languages do you speak?</p>
<p>Yes, you could. My friend has traveled a lot over the world and lived in many different places. A lot of people will be incorporating that into their essays, so try to make a point with yours; make it unique.</p>
<p>I speak fluent Mandarin, and of course english. i take latin and I did take Spanish and Italian. (but i completely forgot italian).</p>
<p>well, when I travel, I do stay at hotels and stuff, but I read and learn a lot about the cultures. I also experience a lot of the cultures too. For example, I've dogsledded in northern Iceland on one of it's glaciers (very scary by the way.. especially since I'm really scared of big dogs), spent 2 days with an alaskan fisherman while the salmon were swimming upstream, spent some time with a guy in new zealand, and stuff like that. Yes, I do do some tourist-y things as well, but it's not all shopping and stuff. So if I incorporate some of that, is that all right?</p>
<p>yeah but how would you do that? like, the most important thing i learned in the past year was thati can overcome my fears.. i learned this by petting a big dog, wheras i used to be afriad of big dogs... lol</p>
<p>Definetly write about that in your essays, it's so interesting! Make it have a point though like has it changed your perspective on anything really important...I mean you could write about how you had to confront your fears etc. By talking about it and making a story about how it's important, you kind of show that you aren't just a narrow minded kid but instead that you've experienced alot of new things..</p>
<p>well, that was just an example. I wasn't actually going to go into detail about each one. I would just say what a big role it plays in my life because its not a very average thing people do (while traveling) and I learn a lot about myself and the world. I can say that it made me like to try new things and aware of different types of living, not just where I live now. I've moved as well, but not as much as you have, but it was still a big change for me (NYC to a suburban town in Jersey).</p>
<p>thanks soccerprep :]</p>
<p>In addition to incorporating in into you essays (which is fine), you could list travel as one of your ECs. If you yourself are interesting in it (not just your parents), then it is an EC, I think. That's really neat, by the way. You're so lucky you can travel to all those places. :)</p>
<p>can you really list it as an EC? it's my favorite thing to do in the world, but.. i don't know. it's not like i'm a part of the Travel Club after school or something. it's an interest, maybe a hobby, but i don't think it's a real ec.</p>
<p>An EC is a hobby, really. If it's your favourite thing in the world, put it. Then again, blairt, since you have so many ECs already :), you may not want to put it. However, for Msu it might be a good option.</p>
<p>i have so many hobbies lol.. ones that maybe i don't have any awards or recognition in.. like, i love history. i watch the history channel for that lol.. and i read encyclopedias. i also love philosophy, so i read the works of great philosophers.. i love reading, but that's not really .. well, i dont think that would be appropriate to write down, but it makes me a stonger candidate i think.</p>
<p>If reading makes you a stronger candidate, I'm very happy. :) I read a lot. I don't think it does, since so many kids do, though.</p>
<p>well, 8th graders don't GENERALLY read much, and if they do, they read Gossip Girls and mediocre science fiction novels. Generally. Applicants as a whole might read more school assigned books and prob some books on their own.</p>
<p>Really? That's neat. What the heck is Gossip Girls? I very rarely read science fiction novels. I actually have a similar interest to you; I am really intersted in genius, psychiatry, and gifted children in particular. One of my favorite books is The Genius Factory, by David Plotz. Have you read it? If you haven't, read it immediately. You would like it. It is a really amazing piece on intelligence, genius, and genetics (nonfiction). I also like reading fantasy novels, and historical fiction and nonfiction. One other book I really liked was Raising Cain, which is brilliant. I justed finished Watership Down last night. I just sort of assumed that most kids who were applying to AESD and school of the sort were avid readers.</p>
<p>hahah gossip girls is some lame teen novel series (though many younger girls read it). it's so stupid. i read the first few chapters, unaware of what it was like, and had to quit reading it. but the main character's name is blair lol.. and she was described as tall, w/ dark hair and blue eyes which is what i look like. stupid stupid book, though.. but kids like it.</p>
<p>i'm reading A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (lol) right now. its very funny. and brave new world.</p>
<p>Ah. Never heard of it (Gossip Girls). Have you read The Genius Factory?</p>
<p>no i haven't</p>