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DEC 15, 2019 • 8 min read
If you would like your essay reviewed by an expert so you can feel confident when submitting your college application, get your essay reviewed by Crimson.
This prompt is a bit tricky. It seems straightforward but there is a bit more to it than meets the eye.
Your response should answer these two questions:
There are so many factors that go into shaping your college experience: what major you choose, your professors, extra curricular activities, student housing, campus life, city life, internships, jobs, weather etc. etc.
Start by writing a list of all the things you are looking for during your college career. Don’t think too hard about it; just jot down what comes to mind. Then, narrow it down to a handful.
Based on this smaller list, what is most important to you? Maybe you really want to have a close relationship with your professors, so open office hours are important to you. Or maybe you focus well in stadium-sized lectures? Are you excited to live on campus? Why? What kinds of communities are important to you? Maybe you are most excited to explore Pittsburgh - see what city life has to offer.
Do some research so that you can reference specific aspects of the university. Be sure to conclude this short essay with at least a few sentences that illustrate how you, specifically, would contribute to life at Carnegie Mellon.
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We recommend answering this question with an anecdote. What is a story you can tell that best illustrates your passion for X major / course of study? The more personal you can make it, the more memorable it will be.
Try to zero in on a single memorable experience. Maybe you shadowed a nurse at a hospital in your town. Maybe reading The Great Gatsby completely inverted your understanding of life in New York during the early 20th century. Maybe you are obsessed with a TED Talk about Power Posing, which got you interested in psychology. Maybe you have a friend with a disability, which spurred your passion for creating accessible spaces.
The sky's the limit. Just be sure to be specific and concise. Bring your story to life with descriptive words and sensory language.
Crimson’s holistic approach provides support across all areas of the US university application process. We assist you to find your best-fit university, create a personalised roadmap, ace your standardised tests, craft the perfect essay, build candidacy through extracurriculars, and more.
Look over what you have already shared with Carnegie Mellon in the previous two essays. For example, maybe you wrote Essay 1 about your interest in the research of a specific econ professor and you wrote Essay 2 about your favorite stats class. So far, your application talks a lot about academics. Use Essay 3 as a change to add texture.
What else do you want the committee to know about you? When you think about what they already know from your resume and test scores, is there something missing? What do you need to explain that will help readers think of you as a whole, three-dimensional person?
Topics could include family background, special skills, a community you are a part of, a sport you love etc.
Be sincere, self-aware, and humble.
For more support with your application process check out our admission support service.