In the midst of college applications I am beginning to feel entirely burnt out when it comes to writing. I’ve been trying to write the same application essay for more then two weeks and have barely made a dent in it. The 300 or so words that I have written are okay at best. The thing is, I’m really excited about this school. In fact, I’m more excited about it than anything else going on in my life right now. Plus, I know that it’s important. And yet everytime I open up the doc containing the words for my future, I feel empty. It’s like every ounce of enthusiasm within me has been slowly leaking out over these last months.
I feel like an old-timey doctor has prescribed a good ole bloodletting, y’know get those demons out of my veins, and I’ve just been standing here watching it flow out onto my skin and drip to the floor. But they’re not demons at all. He’s let out my inspiration and passion. Everytime I look at my 300ish words I get stuck.
Who am I? Why do I want to go there? Why do I want this major? I know why, I truly do. I have answers! Yet, everytime I go to write them they turn into bland, robotic statements. The truth is: I love Wisconsin and its glittering snowfalls, I love the thunderous school spirit that their students harbor, I love the beautiful city in which it sits, I love so many things about this school. With their help I can travel the world (I’m most excited about their programs to Tanzania and Spain), study animals, learn a new language, volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, and so many other amazing things. I know that I have a passion and a dream and I want to pursue them. I know that not only is their campus beautiful, but their mission and student culture is too. On their campus I felt invincible, like no matter what I wanted to do this was the place to do it.
So, I know exactly why I want to spend my next four years there. Why can’t I just make my essay individual and eloquent instead of a mess of blocky, uncomfortable sentences. Thank the Good Lord™ for the long weekend.
____________________
P.S. if anyone wants to help me edit it LMK! I could sure use it.
College applications sound like the most terrifying thing to me. I really can't imagine even being passionate about a school enough to go through all of the stress you're having.
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything (ANYTHING) about applying to college, but I say just be honest. Write out why you want to go there like you did in this blog post, and then go back and make it sound like an actual essay later, because I think what you've written here really conveys your emotions, even if it's not A+ writing.
Also, I have no idea where you guys find the time to write entire essays on the side of everything else you're doing. Good luck!
Oof, I felt this. College essays are the literal worst because you only get a few hundred words to express why your next few million moments need to happen at that school. Talk about pressure. But more than that, they suck because, as you said, how do you convey your real love for a school in a set limit? How? (If anyone has ideas, I’m open). Real talk, great post.
ReplyDelete(also I can edit your essays if you’d like)
I feel you. I feel like all of the essays I'm writing right now just seem like they're machine made. Like I'm just churning them out by the bucket load and not even showing the school why I want to go there. All of my essays so far for my EA deadlines have been about me, and not the school, which has weirdly been easier, because I know my qualities that I want to highlight. My next essay is about my dream school though and why I want to go there. It's 1000 words and I can't even spew out the first one. I just feel like whatever I write won't really get to the fact that I love this program more than anything else in the world and it's really the only place I can picture myself. Also I can definitely help with editing!
ReplyDeleteooooooooh boy all you seniors are doing an excellent job of terrifying juniors with these stories of college applications. it seems like every time i walk down the 1st floor hallway i hear shrieks and moans of pain.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your passion for this school shows through this post. I'm sure that if you were able to express it that well through this short blog post, it will also show in your application. College apps sounds like a scary process, but I'm sure it's an awesome feeling to now that you don't have to worry about them anymore.
ReplyDeleteHilarious that some people think that November 1st ended the college stress! I'm very glad for you that now the Wisconsin stress is out of the way, though. I'm sure your essay ended up great and I'm also really happy for you that there are places you're super passionate about going to and I really think that no matter where you get in you'll thrive.
ReplyDelete