Reading the essay that got me into an Ivy League!

TL;DR

This video features the reading of a personal essay that successfully gained admission to UPenn and other top-tier schools, highlighting the challenges of the application process and the importance of finding balance in a busy schedule.

Transcript

hi so today I'm going to be reading my common app essay that got me into UPenn as well as a bunch of other really amazing schools this I think was by far the most difficult part of the entire application for me and I kind of hesitated about hosting this video and reading my essay online just because it is pretty personal and I struggled a lot with ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎓 Crafting a personal Common App essay can be a highly challenging and personal process for college applicants.
• 💄 The scarcity of available examples online makes finding guidance in this area difficult.
• 😋 Balancing commitments and savoring the journey, rather than just pursuing accomplishments, is crucial for personal growth and fulfillment.
• 😥 Sharing personal essays can provide valuable reference points and guidance for others navigating the college application process.
• 🥺 Gradually recognizing the value of experiences and relationships over achievements leads to a more fulfilling and less stressful high school experience.
• 👯 Remembering and appreciating the people and stories behind achievements can bring greater satisfaction than the accomplishments themselves.
• 👋 The author acknowledges the difficulty in determining the best version of their essay after numerous revisions, highlighting the subjective nature of the writing process.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the author deal with the difficulty of finding examples for the Common App essay?

The author empathizes with the lack of available examples online but offers to share their own essay and compile additional sample essays in the video description to assist others in their writing process.

Q: What message does the essay convey?

The essay emphasizes the importance of not overwhelming oneself with too many commitments and instead focusing on appreciating the path and the connections made, rather than solely chasing achievements.

Q: Why did the author decide to share their personal essay online?

Despite the personal nature of the essay, the author wanted to provide a reference point for others struggling with their own essays and offer a relatable message about the challenges of time management.

Q: How did the author's perspective on balancing commitments change over time?

The author realized the importance of enjoying the process and the meaningful connections made along the way, which led to a shift in prioritizing personal experiences and relationships over solely pursuing accomplishments.

Key Insights:

• Crafting a personal Common App essay can be a highly challenging and personal process for college applicants.
• The scarcity of available examples online makes finding guidance in this area difficult.
• Balancing commitments and savoring the journey, rather than just pursuing accomplishments, is crucial for personal growth and fulfillment.
• Sharing personal essays can provide valuable reference points and guidance for others navigating the college application process.
• Gradually recognizing the value of experiences and relationships over achievements leads to a more fulfilling and less stressful high school experience.
• Remembering and appreciating the people and stories behind achievements can bring greater satisfaction than the accomplishments themselves.
• The author acknowledges the difficulty in determining the best version of their essay after numerous revisions, highlighting the subjective nature of the writing process.
• The video provides reassurance to viewers that the author will offer further advice and address questions regarding the essay-writing and college application process in future videos.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video showcases the author's personal Common App essay, considered the most challenging aspect of the college application process.

• The author acknowledges the lack of available examples online and offers to share more sample essays in the video description.

• The essay reflects on the struggle to balance commitments and the realization that appreciating the journey and the people involved is as important as achieving end results.