<p>Hi,
This fall I am going to apply to several selective colleges including Caltech, MIT, Yale, Princeton, Carnegie Mellon, and U of M. The problem is that I have good numbers, but my EC's aren't stellar and I lack any major awards. Thus, much of my chance at admission to any of these schools hinges on my essays/writing supplements. My question is, if they ask me to write a section about myself, could I do it in a rap/poetry format? I feel that this would be creative and help me stick out from the crowd, but I don't know what the people in the admissions offices would think. All responses are appreciated.=)</p>
<p>In general, this is a poor idea. First, it isn’t as unique as you’d like to think. (It’s actually pretty common, as is writing in screenplay form.) Next, you have to consider your audience. Admissions offices vary, but they are staffed by adults. Finally, you have to think about your story and the word count, as well as formatting issues in the common app. A narrative poem might work, but only if you’re a fabulous poet and highlighting that about yourself. A gimmicky essay will not do much to assist a weak application. Be authentic. :-)</p>