Understanding the Essay Prompt

Pre-College Issues Summer Programs
1

I’m doing applications for this summer program at a really good college in my area and I’m stuck in the process.
So I have to respond to the following: “Share a moment that has made you ever better in relation to the academic path you are on. Why did you choose this path and what interests you most about it?”

“Why did you CHOOSE THIS PATH and what interest you most about it?”

Choose???

I’m deeply confused (and stupid). I’m not getting this. I’m only a student in high school and am not following a specific career/academic path (yet) because um. . .I’m still in high school and not in college. The only path I’m on is taking all the courses I need to satisfy the graduation requirement and to be competitive for college admissions. I don’t even know how to approach this. I’m not asking anyone to write this for me but to only help me understand the prompt.

2

FWIW, I think this is a terribly written question. Better than the path your on? That doesn’t even make sense.

I feel like they are trying to ask you about your current interests and what sparked that, but honestly I’m really not sure!

What is the focus of this summer program? Maybe find inspiration in why this program interested you?

3

I see why this is a confusing question (and you are definitely not stupid!) I bet you have some viable options for answering it.

  1. Have you taken any electives within those graduation requirements which have shaped your path? (E.g. My teenager took a course on Mass Incarceration as an elective and it was eye-opening and life changing.)

  2. Have you chosen any research topics that show the kind of path you are on?

  3. Do you have any co-curricular activities which illuminate your path, e.g. Robotics if you are interested in engineering, literary magazine if you are interested in creative writing?

  4. Have you done any internships or had a job which is relevant to your possible future path?

  5. Have you taken any other summer courses relevant to your path?

  6. Have you gone on any elective school trips relevant to your possible future path?

Any of these ideas work? Hope so! Good luck!

4

It’s one of those questions that filters applicants for their thinking and energy.

You are on an academic path. You take courses in part based on interests and talents. And clearly, you want this summer program for some reason. So what moment made you better or more engaged or was otherwise pivotal? Even small.

How you answer will show a lot about yourself. If you’re engaged beyond class and homework and how you pursue more or what turned you on. It can be an Aha! moment or sharing knowledge or being stumped but determined or some experience or something else.

That’s one take.

5

Is the question referring to a particular summer course or program such as computer programming or medicine ?

6

I don’t think you’re stupid. You’re just reading too much into this question.

This is a three part question, IMO. Using math as an example:

  1. Do you like math? That’s your path.
  2. Why is it interesting to you?
  3. Was there any particular experience or thought process of whatever that made you interested in math?

That’s it. I suggest you find a little more to say about classes that interest you, and don’t say you’re just trying to fill requirements.