The prompt is: The abolitionist and Rochester luminary Frederick Douglass said, “Man’s greatness consists in his ability to do and the proper application of his powers to things needed to be done.”
Your ‘ability to do’ will appear in other parts of this application. Please illustrate here how you properly apply your powers to ‘things needed to be done.’ The Rochester region and its University enroll, employ, and foster independent thinkers who create positive change in their communities. In seeking to join them, show us how you approach this ideal in your own life, family, and/or community.
There are 3 options: essay response, creative response, and research response. I’m thinking about doing either the essay response or the creative response but the instructions are super confusing!
For the essay response: Write an analytical or creative response (max 100 words). So are we supposed to analyze the quote? But the prompt tells you to show how you get things done doesn’t it? So what does it want???
For the creative response: Upload or otherwise submit up to three works of your own art (you can include pictures, video, performances, literary works) along with a few sentences explaining the connection. I have pictures and videos and art but what exactly is it looking for? How do any of those things answer the prompt???
If anyone could help! Thanks!
I had the same questions, and here is how I’m interpreting it:
For the essay I’m going with creative non-fiction, because I don’t believe they want us to write an analytical essay, since that would reveal little about who we are as applicants. I think most of the essays will be about charity events people organized, clubs they started, fundraisers they led, etc. , but I think it would also be cool to focus on a specific act of small kindness.
For the art component, I was thinking they literally meant submit art that was perhaps an exposé of reflection on a current social issue. If you’ve done any work that could be viewed as social commentary, or perhaps murals or commissioned pieces for school or other organizations, I think that would be appropriate.
@kitkat231 Hmm so if I were to do the essay response it should be about charity work or something along those lines? I thought it was more like “Hey, I don’t procrastinate” or something like that, obviously more creative than that, because it shows how you get things done.
Anyways, do you know if they have admissions counselors I could ask questions??? Because I’m still really confused and I couldn’t find anything on their website
@Magnamious I just assumed charity work (or volunteering, fundraising, or small acts of kindness) from the phrase “create positive change in their communities” in their prompt. I guess I interpreted 'things needed to be done" as solving pressing issues in the world, since that fits with both parts of the prompt.
In terms of contacting the admissions office, they have a general email (admit@admissions.rochester.edu). Let me know what they say!
@kitkat231 This is the reply that was sent to me: Thanks for your email. The prompts are designed to give you the freedom to choose how to respond. We do not have a specific expectation as to what you should write about, but interpret the prompt as best as you can. The opportunity for the creative response does not have to be tied to the main prompt, again, it’s another opportunity for you to show your creativity, if you feel it is a big part of who you are or what you can share.
Wow that’s a tough one! I’m glad I’m not applying there! I’d go for the creative angle, if it was me, though. I’d create a cool painting or something out of words(which could be your essay), but highlight the whole that it creates rather than what it actually says. Again, I’m not sure if I am completely misinterpreting here! @Magnamious
I think the Douglass quote is pretty straightforward - you have capabilities, and you have outcomes. You’ve written about your capabilities all over your app. Show us something that is an actual outcome. Pick a format that best lets you show it to us.
Douglass is a really appropriate selection for a Rochester prompt. You’ll find his gravesite just off campus by the bookstore.
I’m sorry; I’m still really confused what this prompt is asking for/trying to get out of the applicant! Is it asking you to describe the things that you’ve done (which I would think would be under my activities list on common app), asking you to explain why you’ve done the things you’ve done, or is it asking for a specific scenario?