<p>I just bought a car at the end of the summer and it has become a big interest of mine to work on it. I never used to know anything about cars though I wanted to... but after buying it I was forced to learn about cars (this was my plan all along) and now I really enjoy fixing and upgrading different parts of the car and engine and constantly learning new things about it. I am wondering if this is something I should include in my application because it is a fairly time-consuming endeavor and it has become something I love to do. I am applying EA to MIT for engineering and sloan. </p>
<p>One of the reasons I have considered NOT putting it on my app is something my mom said, which is that a lot of top schools are environmentally conscious and stuff... well my car is an old school 1992 mustang with a big v8 engine, modified exhaust system, ignition, etc. i.e. a suped-up, high speed monster and though I am INCREDIBLY proud of it (yes, I earned all the $ myself), is it possible that colleges wouldn't like this? They could hold the belief that I should be "smarter" in my car-buying decision and buy a more honda civicish car, that I do not need a car at all and I should just be saving my money, or that this is an indulgent and unsafe use of my money and time. </p>
<p>Maybe I shouldn't specify the type of car? Or maybe they would like to hear about it and my mom and I are just wrong.</p>
<p>Are you kidding? This is great. Definitely include this in your application as it demonstrates initiative, mechanical inclination and character. Nobody would care that the car might not be the most environmentally conscious car made in the early 90’s. They will see this experience and be impressed.</p>
<p>Would I want to list this an extracurricular activity, or where would I put it on the application? Do you think it could even be worth writing an essay about? </p>
<p>Also, most people who work on cars are not on the college track. Does this work to my advantage or disadvantage?</p>
<p>Also, I wonder if, to help the business side of my application, I should mention that part of the reason I bought it was as an investment… because I think the value of the car is going to go up sharply over the next 10/20 years and I plan to hold it and keep maintaining it.</p>
<p>I believe your hobby is definately an advantage as it shows you are well rounded…not just book smart. If you can figure out the repair manuals or can work without the manual…you definately have to be well rounded as the repair manuals are written in greek.</p>
<p>Passion, initiative, commitment… it sounds like excellent essay fodder to me! You could add funny bits about ways you are conserving elsewhere in an effort to mitigate the impact your V8, suped-up, high-speed monster… Golly, DON’T leave out what kind of car it is! That is what you are passionate about!</p>
<p>I’m not sure what schools you are interested in, but if I were an Ivy League admissions officer, I’d be jumping out of my chair!
What, your parents weren’t among the thousands who ponied up for Harvard or Brown summer schools?
I would become your advocate immediately, provided I thought you could handle the course work.
An honest interest followed honestly? More than good enough.
I might make it the subject of my major essay.
As a parallel, graduate business schools get weak knees over those who turned a paper route, dog walking operation, or something else into a successful business.
More than a tactic, you sound like the real thing! Good luck.</p>
<p>Don’t make your essay bland by not giving details or showing your enthusiasm. I think you and your mom’s concerns are misguided. The bottom line is that experience in getting your hands dirty is invaluable to an engineer, and it is rare especially among those with good stats. Remember that MIT’s motto translated from latin is “Mind and Hand.” Even if I wanted to find someone to build a more environmentally friendly car like a Prius or Honda civic, I’d want to find a kid with your background.</p>
<p>As you may or may not know, these are MIT’s essay questions: (choose one)</p>
<p>Essay A Tell us about an experience which, at the time, really felt like “the end of the world” – but had it not happened, you would not be who you are today. Describe the process through which you discovered value in the negative.
Essay B Describe the world you come from, for example your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations?</p>
<p>I wonder if the car could go here? If not, maybe I could put it in the optional essay space. What kind of an answer would you say MIT is looking for in the above essays?</p>
<p>bump. Anyone want to talk about where the essay could go, if I should also list it in one of the five spaces for extracurricular activities, and if I should talk about a specefic event for essay B above, or just describe my world in a straightforward way (which may be a little boring?)</p>
<p>The “describe your world” essay does not have to be a literal description of your life and surroundings. (You are right - boring!) I think using your car project would be a great idea for that essay. Try not to think about the prompt - a lot of applicants will literally answer with a description of their world, and you want yours to stand out so use a different approach. Maybe, while writing about the process of the car going from its raw state to the finished product you can show a parallel with YOUR growth and change from a high school kid to a college-bound young adult. Your setbacks, triumphs, inspirations and disappointments. That would give the reader an idea of the world you are coming from and some insight into the person you are becoming. (Just an idea!)</p>
<p>They want to see this experience through YOUR eyes.</p>
<p>I think they like kids that are willing to work hard and get dirty.</p>
<p>We live on a farm and one of my son’s essays was about farm life…tractors, bulldozers, chasing a cow at 2 am in the morning, catching fish in a muddy pond.</p>
<p>As an adult, I thought it was a nice balance/contrast to all the intellectual stuff on the application (i.e. grades, test scores, etc).</p>
<p>Would it appear weird if I didn’t put this as an extra curricular activity? Because I have 6 things I’d like to list on my app but they only have space for 5. Would it be ok to not put the car on the EC page and just talk about it in an essay, or would they really want to see it on the EC page too? I may have to sacrifice another activity which I’m deeply involved with- working at my family business, because it is at least covered in the employment section (but no room for description).<br>
Thanks for the tips!</p>
<p>I think it makes sense to talk about it in the essay but not mention it on the EC page. That way you are able to mention all of your ECs but still talk about this in depth later on.</p>