I was wondering if I could get some blatant critiques on this essay? Thanks a lot!
What are the unique qualities of Northwestern - and of the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying - that make you want to attend the University? In what ways do you hope to take advantage of the qualities you have identified?
My nerd friends are the best friends in the world, but I am always misunderstood. I love my friends, but we have never agreed about school. Having taken all accelerated and AP courses, we have always been in the same classes and have always disagreed on which subject rules supreme. While my friends agree that science and math-based courses are the best because of their absolute nature, I believe that the abstract and meaningful content of English is the most appealing. Because of this, I think that Northwestern University, with its extensive liberal arts education within the Weinburg College of Arts and Sciences, is the intellectual home for which I have always yearned.
The idea that there will be hundreds of students that love the same thing I do-to delve into literature and uncover the deeper meaning behind seemingly simple words-is mind-blowing. I find warmth in the thought that there are people my age who, instead of dreading, crave open essay topics because of the lure of self-expression or the chance to display emotions in its rawest form.
Northwestern offers a home where I can thrive intellectually. I will always feel comfortable knowing that I am surrounded by those who love the same thing that I do. I will belong. However, I will never cease to grow because of the challenges continually faced within the complex world of English. I will be living the dream. Constantly flourishing by doing what I love in a place where I belong-this is the dream.
Hey Kevin,
This is a very good essay! The only thing I would say about this essay is that I don't really get a sense as to why only Northwestern offers the unique qualities you are looking for. It seems like you could just remove Northwestern and Weinburg and replace it with any university with over a hundred English majors.
I think you should try and mention more than one quality of the university to show that you really researched on it. Be more specific in your essay. Mention departments, majors, programs, and extracurriculars that you hope to be a part of, and how they reflect your interests and the qualities of the school.
I don't think you answer the second part of the question about how you will take advantage of these qualities. However this can be addressed if you just add more specific details about the school.
Also, if this essay has a 250 word limit or something, then you shouldn't waste so much space on the anecdote you start with, as it does not address the question. You could just take out the first two sentences and start with "While my friends believe that..."
Yeah, that was a problem that I was having with this essay as well. Thank you for the help. I'll try to personalize it a bit more.
I told this to another person but i read in barron's "essays that will get you into college", if you can write about how you read a professor's book who attends the university or something that really interested you, like a specific class, in which you just felt you had to attend "said" class and hear the professor lecture or just be in the class, then that would make the supplement 100x stronger and more unique
