<p>My advice is just to read the mission statement of the UWCs and make sure that your essays demonstrate how you are inspired to live the mission.</p>
<p>@Apollo6 thanks for your help! :)</p>
<p>The book thief! i just started it after i found out they are making the movie. I’ve had it for years, but i could never get past the first few chapters. Which was weird because i was the kid that would get in trouble for reading books under my desk during class.</p>
<p>@robochi I used to read through spelling tests when I was young :P</p>
<p>US applicants: personally I took the word limit very seriously… but at my school and by aice/ap standards if you go over the limits they will just read until they reach the limit and stop there.</p>
<p>@lalalarae once i was mad at my teacher for some reason, so i put the numbers 1-20 in random order so that it would be hard to grade… i got a zero and a teachers conference…</p>
<p>And i didn’t know they did that. How do they know they have reached the limit?</p>
<p>@Robochi that’s funny 
I did those kinds of things frequently as a kid! I was too bored, because the teaching was slow… I don’t know for sure but from past experiences I have learned to always consider word limits concrete.</p>
<p>On the US personal statement we are given three choices: </p>
<p>Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.</p>
<p>Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.</p>
<p>Describe a character in fiction, s historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence</p>
<p>Originally I chose the third one, but then I started writing on all three… I am conflicted by whether picking the first option would be a good or bad idea. On one hand if I pick that one I can express my concern for global events (because I have plenty to write on for that one!) but on the other hand I feel like that is what everyone is doing and it is expected so I might get more consideration if I use one of the others (I have lots to say on these too)</p>
<p>So I am just joining the conversation, but I have been working on my application since it came out and I am wondering what mine might look like compared to some others.</p>
<p>I am a strait A student with a 4.1 GPA, take challenging courses, president and founder of the Young Democrats group at my school, and I spend hours every week outside of school doing show choir and theater. I feel that my values match the UWC mission statement, but I am afraid that my extra curriculars don’t match what they are wanting.</p>
<p>Also, does anyone know approximately how many people are applying this year, and how many get interviews?</p>
<p>@earlybluebird I don’t think you need to worry much. You are in far better condition than i am,if you read my earlier post you are better in every way basically. Plus i just stated my application two days ago :/</p>
<p>@earlybluebird I am guessing you are a USA applicant? I have been curious about the numbers of applicants for a while but I can’t find a consistent or recent number (the number of interviews range from 100-125) Your ECs aren’t the only thing they are looking at, they want to see all of your activities, personality, and goals. Many people have applied even though they seemed to be less heavy on grades and EC’s than others and gotten in! I think the selection for interview is when the board is looking at those things. Once you reach interview it is more of a personality/goals kind of thing. I hope that made sense/helped!</p>
<p>My essays so far seem like storytelling. Well, really they are… how is everyone else wording theirs? Just curious.
But they are true!</p>
<p>I know it’s tempting to think there is a magic formula for the UWC application but in reality it is just like selective college admissions. They are looking for all different kinds of active, interesting young people who have the potential to take advantage of the wonderful UWC experience and then go on to make a difference in the world. They need artists, scientists, debaters, musicians, mathletes, linguists…the list goes on. It is truly ok to be yourself - just make sure they can get to know you and how special you are by reading your application. Any essay topic is fine if you communicate who you are and what is special about you through that topic. You are all amazing young people - show the admissions committees that and make the UWC class of 2016 the most extraordinary one yet! Hugs!</p>
<p>@Robochi
I feel exactly the same way! All my pieces of writings go on like a story, and i don’t know if they should! I feel as if i’m not answering the questions correctly.</p>
<p>I am liking how my Personal Statement is turning out, but I am having trouble with number 3 and 5 on the Essays. What are some of the things other people are doing?</p>
<p>@Apollo6</p>
<p>Did your kids find it better to write about one topic extensively for each question, or write out accomplishments as a list with a few brief words about each? For example, one question is asking for a list of hobbies and activities outside of school. Is it better to write a detailed paragraph on two topics or a paragraph on five or six topics without the depth? </p>
<p>I guess the question is, do you think they look for depth or breadth?</p>
<p>@earlybluebird, you get different apps from different National Committees. Which one did you apply to?</p>
<p>@Robochi, yeah, mine also sounds like storytelling. I felt it was more important to try to convey my personality than my ability to write an essay, so mine are like stories, or excerpts from a memoir…
@earlybluebird, in the US the past few years about 550-600 kids have applied and about 100 kids get interviews, and fifty get the spots…
@awkwardbirdie918, I know this wasnt exactly what you were asking, but definitely dont just write out accomplishments. I mean, I have no personal knowledge on UWC applications, but I’ve always heard not to just list accomplishments on applications!!</p>
<p>@tecz77, wow that is not good news for me. My application has a part where they ask about academic competitions, artistic competitions (music in my case) and sport competitions. Are places at competitions considered achievements? Because here the Committee asks us about that. But if you take part in a lot of competitions and you list them all it kind of sounds boasting I think. :/</p>
<p>@MediDuet, if they ASK for competitions, by all means list them. That’s my two cents.</p>
<p>Ahhhh so many more messages again! About books, I can’t remember who said it, but how can you say Divergent isn’t good?! It’s amazing! The Ranger’s Apprentice series is good too, but to be honest, however much I like them, the stories are quite predictable and repeptitive… Fun though!</p>
<p>@British Applicants, I feel so bad, we’ve had our app since August and I’m still not done! I’m just on my last bit, the mini personal statement, but still… 
Also, last year I emailed the GB Committee, and they said 120 applied. At the open day this year they said about 180. So it’s not too bad, it’s a just under a 1/2 chance of an interview, and a bit less than a 1/4 chance for a place. The problem I guess is scholarships 
Do you guys know how possible it is to fund raise money for yourself if you don’t get a scholarship?</p>
<p>Also, does anyone know more about the internet and Skype possibilities at the colleges?
@Apollo6, You said your son’s at AC but there’s no Skype. Is that that the internet’s not good enough? Or what? Also, can you tell us a little more about what your son has said about Atlantic college and the other students there?</p>
<p>@Pashay, it was me who suggested Ranger’s Apprentice, and I guess to each his own 
I loved the books though, I think it was geared a little more towards boys. And I don’t think the internet is TOO bad in MUWCI, I have skyped with my friends there a lot, and while the quality isn’t GREAT, you can definitely have a proper conversation.</p>