|
It's that time of year again for high school seniors to be applying to college. Now it's my turn to go through the process. And the reason for this blog is that I have a valid question to ask TL. The Stanford supplement asks for what some of my favorite events from this past year were. Well, if I didn't put WCG 2010, I would be lying.
I went to WCG on Sunday, the day of the finals between Flash and Kal, which I watched live. I really genuinely enjoyed the experience and I have a signed shirt from Jaedong and memories of some wonderful people on TL to prove it. Do you guys think this has a place on my application, or will I be shooting myself in the foot?
If you are curious about my other stats or places I'm applying to, feel free to ask. Also, if you have suggestions for my Stanford app, please feel free to contribute, since I'm uber stressed and could use some quality advice.
 
|
I currently go there.
I love your enthusiasm but gray-haired women reading 1000+ essays aren't exactly going to share your fervor.
Don't do it
You are trying to get into university not promote esports.
|
yeah sc is not college app material, sorry =/
everyone should avoid this
|
|
|
If I was trying to get into Stanford, I'd write my essays on subjects I know that aren't looked down upon by older generations... Gaming is frowned upon by older generations and I'd avoid any writing on it for anything extremely important like college apps.
|
I see the response is overwhelmingly negative and for good reason. But for some reason or another, I really want to do it anyway. I must be secretly masochistic.
Perhaps a better question would be who specifically looks at these essays?! I figured these readers would be in their late twenties to early forties, but maybe I'm just completely off. At least the people I've met who were qualified UC essay readers have all been fairly young. Early thirties mostly.
|
I wrote my essay about me being a middle age italian plumber trapped in a mushroom world. Got into UCLA my favorite school.
|
Actually, I would do it, as long as the writing itself conveys the emotion of the event and is written well then the person reading it will be able to recognize that. Not to mention that colleges are not just looking at the content but the person behind it. Hell, at stanford I doubt they even give a flying you know what about what you say, just as long as it sounds good. So go ahead and write about whatever you want, just make it sound good.
|
It depends on whether or not the person appraising your essay is good at it or not. Ideally, they're looking at how well you present an idea and how well you write rather than what you're actually writing about, but unfortunately the negative stigma commonly associated with any video game persists. Basically, you could write about WCG and still get in, but it sure as hell won't improve your chances. It's a small risk, but one that I would recommend avoiding since it has no potential benefit.
|
I will be the voice of unreason and say 'go for it'.
(A good percentage of the undergrads here don't strike me as ~srs business~ about academics so it might not be all that uncommon to write about unconventional subjects. One caveat: I know next to nothing about the undergraduate applications process)
|
On second thourght, if you are an excellent writer (and have a clear direction on what you are trying to achieve) you can definitely make it happen.
If you are a mediocre-good writer, forget about it, unless you don't care for Stanford.
You are going to have to admit and then combat head on the stigma of video gaming. At the same time, you will need to somehow support that this shows you would be a qualified undergraduate. All in 2-3 paragraphs. No mean task.
|
tbh, i think the best thing to do is lie
just write whatever makes u sound the best - wcg isnt it
|
idk dude it's kinda a big risk. if you are a really good writer and can make it so it doesn't come off like ur obsessed with games then maybe...
|
my advice is don't take any advice from people here unless they've specifically said they have experience (writing or reading app papers) or have some qualification, even then take it with a grain of salt.
|
On December 22 2010 15:59 HeavOnEarth wrote:
my advice is don't take any advice from people here unless they've specifically said they have experience (writing or reading app papers) or have some qualification, even then take it with a grain of salt.
I would surmise that the group that has replied is in or has graduated from college. The app letter is about writing ability not the content as much, just because someone has top grades does not mean they can write and the ability to write is tantamount in college. As a polisci/public admin grad, I wrote so many papers it was ridiculous, being able to get the writing done in a timely manner and convey the knowledge efficiently is a key skill. It will be easier to write about the WCG then make something up because the emotion was really there, whereas making something up might not convey that properly. Write more then one app and have someone proofread them and suggest which one is best, then submit that one.
|
On December 22 2010 15:43 xbankx wrote:
I wrote my essay about me being a middle age italian plumber trapped in a mushroom world. Got into UCLA my favorite school.
You, sir, are the man.
On December 22 2010 15:51 phosphorylation wrote:
On second thourght, if you are an excellent writer (and have a clear direction on what you are trying to achieve) you can definitely make it happen.
If you are a mediocre-good writer, forget about it, unless you don't care for Stanford.
You are going to have to admit and then combat head on the stigma of video gaming. At the same time, you will need to somehow show that you would be qualified undergraduate. All in 2-3 paragraphs. No mean task.
I agree, it would be a risk to try it. I'd like to see if I can pull it off. I think I'm quite able to express my ideas clearly. If you're talking about excellent writing chock full of symbolism and depth, then I'm screwed. But I think my passion for Starcraft will propel me to write a response that would be stronger than if I was to just talk about how everyone had World Cup fever or something to that effect.
|
Absolutely go for it.
I think you would be silly not to. If you write where your interests lead you, you'll write better. And the poor, bored-to-tears grad student that has signed on to evaluate application essays will appreciate any break you can give him or her from all the trite, predictable ass-bullshit that's already flooding the desk.
|
If this is an important school to you I advise you to think long and hard about writing about this, making a subject that is really undesirable to the older generation (who knows, you might luck out and get a younger person) and convincing them that you're not just some guy who spends all his time playing video games and going to places where video games are played is quite difficult.
Like others have said, as long as you write mostly about what was going through your mind and also secretly trying to convince them that video games aren't so bad and not "Holy shit Flash is such a goddamn beast at macro'ing, BUT HOLY FUCK CHECK OUT KAL'S ARMY." I would pretty much avoid mentioning video game related specifics altogether unless it's absolutely necessary to explain a point. And if you do, of course explain it in such a way that your grandmother could understand, etc etc.
Just what I think, good luck with your app.
|
Do it man. I'm finishing up my apps myself and somewhat regret excluding my starcraft interest from them. As day 9 would put it, theres nothing cooler than sharing what you love  . On a side note, I am interested in your stats. My stats aren't that good but then again i'm not applying to stanford.
SAT: Math: 720 CR: 660 Writing:590
2s: 610 Math 2, 600 Lit
GPA: 3.33(unweighted)
Major:electrical engineering/applied math
Schools: All UC's except for merced riverside and davis, University of Illinois, Purdue University, Virginia tech, Syracuse, University of the pacific, Bucknell university.
|
I would like to point out that the older, more established faculty in any sizeable school is not going to, even under threat of death, even think about evaluating undergraduate application essays. Not a chance in hell.
That job goes to grad-students and other younger, more dispensable para-faculty that do it as a supplement to their barebones salary and meager living.
Your choice of topic will be a welcome change of pace for them.Do it.
|
Important things such as your college applications should not go towards promoting esports.
|
5003 Posts
i wrote about an anime for my short essay for my uchicago app
and got in
|
Just do it, and if it doesn't work out then you can always come to USC :D
|
I have an idea. Start off with the writing being very stereotypical for like a sporting event or something, as though you were going to a football game, and then suddenly....
WCG
STARCRAFT
*GOD YOUNG HO*
|
This blog made me go back and find my old college apps lol
Apparently I was a tryhard and wrote about my volunteer work and my job. Prosaic, yeah, but it worked, what can I say.
For the big schools like the UC's, the essays hold a little less weight on your application because of the sheer volume of applicants they have. Your stats will largely get you into a UC, with borderline cases and scholarships decided by essays. Because of this, you'll want to look GOOD, not unique.
For a smaller school where they read all the essays, you'll want to stand out a little bit more. While I can't vouch 100% for going the WCG route, it's a risk you'll have to be willing to take.
|
On December 22 2010 18:32 DTK-m2 wrote:
I have an idea. Start off with the writing being very stereotypical for like a sporting event or something, as though you were going to a football game, and then suddenly....
WCG
STARCRAFT
*GOD YOUNG HO*
sounds good XD
|
The thing is though that usually if you write about something you are passionate about, your writing quality improves. If you can think of something else you really feel good about, write about that instead. If you have enough love of WCG to write about it very passionately, write about it. If your writing is going to end up mediocre DON'T DO IT.
|
You're better off asking this on collegeconfidential forums.
Last time I asked here, people told me not to do magic tricks at the interview. I did it anyways, and it ended up well.
Actually, in my point of view, if you can write well do it. Remember: Why are you so unique?
|
I would recommend against it, for this kind of thing, you don't want to take too many risks if you really care about getting in. Good luck on your apps though, I just submitted all 7 of mine the other night. It feels great to be done!
|
On December 22 2010 17:07 Laerties wrote:Do it man. I'm finishing up my apps myself and somewhat regret excluding my starcraft interest from them. As day 9 would put it, theres nothing cooler than sharing what you love . On a side note, I am interested in your stats. My stats aren't that good but then again i'm not applying to stanford. SAT: Math: 720 CR: 660 Writing:590 2s: 610 Math 2, 600 Lit GPA: 3.33(unweighted) Major:electrical engineering/applied math Schools: All UC's except for merced riverside and davis, University of Illinois, Purdue University, Virginia tech, Syracuse, University of the pacific, Bucknell university.
If I could write an essay just on how positive an experience watching Day[9] has been..... Best of luck to you man.
SAT: Math : 770 CR: 770 Writing: 770
SAT 2s: USH - 800 Chem - 770 Math II - 800
GPA: 3.86 UW (4.0 w/o ninth grade)
Major: EECS
Schools: UC's cept for "growth tier", USC ^^, Stanford, Princeton, Upenn, Harvard, MIT ( i'm screwed for these guys)
On December 22 2010 18:28 KimTaeYeon wrote:
Just do it, and if it doesn't work out then you can always come to USC :D
<3
|
I wouldn't write about WCG.
I would write about the life of Proberto from his perspective.
+ Show Spoiler +http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?topic_id=102375
|
On December 23 2010 05:36 gamecrazy wrote:Show nested quote +On December 22 2010 17:07 Laerties wrote:Do it man. I'm finishing up my apps myself and somewhat regret excluding my starcraft interest from them. As day 9 would put it, theres nothing cooler than sharing what you love . On a side note, I am interested in your stats. My stats aren't that good but then again i'm not applying to stanford. SAT: Math: 720 CR: 660 Writing:590 2s: 610 Math 2, 600 Lit GPA: 3.33(unweighted) Major:electrical engineering/applied math Schools: All UC's except for merced riverside and davis, University of Illinois, Purdue University, Virginia tech, Syracuse, University of the pacific, Bucknell university. If I could write an essay just on how positive an experience watching Day[9] has been..... Best of luck to you man. SAT: Math : 770 CR: 770 Writing: 770 SAT 2s: USH - 800 Chem - 770 Math II - 800 GPA: 3.86 UW (4.0 w/o ninth grade) Major: EECS Schools: UC's cept for "growth tier", USC ^^, Stanford, Princeton, Upenn, Harvard, MIT ( i'm screwed for these guys) Show nested quote +On December 22 2010 18:28 KimTaeYeon wrote:
Just do it, and if it doesn't work out then you can always come to USC :D <3
Question. Do you like the colleges that you're applying to? (aka do you want to go there?)
If yes, applying gives you more than 0% chance at acceptance.
SAT2: Chem 680 (FML) Math II 800 Korean w/ Listening 800 (I AM QUALIFIED TO TRANSLATE)
ACT: 34 superscore (R-31 E-34 S-35 M-36)
GPA: 3.519 UW, Senior year 1st tri: 3.7+
Schools: MIT, CMU, UMich, UChicago, Columbia (MAYBE), Lehigh, NYU-Poly etc.
You think I have no chance at these schools?
http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?id=170206
|
My brother wrote about handshakes ... and got into Yale. You really can write about anything, and as long as there is a good message behind it, and you write well, it can make a great essay.
|
On December 23 2010 05:44 supernovamaniac wrote:Question. Do you like the colleges that you're applying to? (aka do you want to go there?) If yes, applying gives you more than 0% chance at acceptance. SAT2: Chem 680 (FML) Math II 800 Korean w/ Listening 800 (I AM QUALIFIED TO TRANSLATE) ACT: 34 superscore (R-31 E-34 S-35 M-36) GPA: 3.519 UW, Senior year 1st tri: 3.7+ Schools: MIT, CMU, UMich, UChicago, Columbia (MAYBE), Lehigh, NYU-Poly etc. You think I have no chance at these schools? http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?id=170206
I love the colleges I'm applying to. Well, now I love all of them but MIT because I literally hate their stupid interview system. It completely boned me over because the guy I got was callous, and I was reassigned but my new guy, while very nice, was just too busy to fit me in. And the EA results from my school only confirmed my personal suspicions of affirmative action at work. Now I'm doing MIT last and will insert snide Caltech jokes because I believe they deserve it. Considering just apping to Caltech and entirely avoiding MIT.
Lol sry i got off-track because I hate MIT. Actually I'll chance you in your thread.
|
On December 23 2010 08:10 gamecrazy wrote:Show nested quote +On December 23 2010 05:44 supernovamaniac wrote:Question. Do you like the colleges that you're applying to? (aka do you want to go there?) If yes, applying gives you more than 0% chance at acceptance. SAT2: Chem 680 (FML) Math II 800 Korean w/ Listening 800 (I AM QUALIFIED TO TRANSLATE) ACT: 34 superscore (R-31 E-34 S-35 M-36) GPA: 3.519 UW, Senior year 1st tri: 3.7+ Schools: MIT, CMU, UMich, UChicago, Columbia (MAYBE), Lehigh, NYU-Poly etc. You think I have no chance at these schools? http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?id=170206 I love the colleges I'm applying to. Well, now I love all of them but MIT because I literally hate their stupid interview system. It completely boned me over because the guy I got was callous, and I was reassigned but my new guy, while very nice, was just too busy to fit me in. And the EA results from my school only confirmed my personal suspicions of affirmative action at work. Now I'm doing MIT last and will insert snide Caltech jokes because I believe they deserve it. Considering just apping to Caltech and entirely avoiding MIT. Lol sry i got off-track because I hate MIT. Actually I'll chance you in your thread.
Chances don't matter; in the end, only colleges will know if you fit into the school or not.
The whole thread, if you've read the OP, wasn't about guessing my chance at MIT. Rather, it was directed at people who call themselves 'failure' just because everyone around them is saying so.
Additionally,
www.mitrejects.com <- you MIGHT want to look at this website.
And this one too: www.caltechrejects.com
|
|
|
The fact that so many people are urging you to lie and/or just not write about WCG embodies everything thoroughly wrong with the education system in america and the college process. Its all about knowing the little tricks to it and its all measured in bullshit instead of what kind of actual education you got from it. In fact most of it does little to educate you at all because it encourages this kind of crap.
Are you going to change the world by taking this assignment to heart and actually getting something out of it by writing about what they want you to write about, knowing that it slightly risks your paper being judged in a more negative way, even though it wont deserve to be? No. If everyone did that, would it change the world? Maybe. Will everyone do that? No. If you do do it and end up getting a worse grade will Stanford understand and respect you more as a person because of it? Doubtful. Given that thats the case, is Stanford really a place you'll get a good education? But would any other school be any different? Do you even want the good education or is the accreditation the reason you're going? This is all realism vs idealism. How big are your fucking balls? Do you have any faith in the intelligence of the stanford essay readers, stanford staff as a whole, or the entire US college system?
Should you write about wcg?
I say go for it man, be the fuckin change you wish to see in the world.
Would i say the same thing if it was me submitting that paper?
|
If Stanford is a big reach for you, then maybe do it if ur willing to throw your life savings on red at a roulette table.
|
looks like your stats are in range for stanford
it now depends on your 1) ECs 2) ethnicity 3)essay and 4)recs.
In that order.
|
Look, if you are confident in everything else you got (recs, grades, tests, etc) then just write a nice essay and you will be fine. Sure the person may read and be like damn this is sweet, but if the person reads it and is like omg gaming... then you are screwed. If your other credentials are good enough just take the safe route...
If your other credentials are lacking and its all or nothing, go for it.
|
3861 Posts
Uh, do it. You'll sound a bit more interested than all the other tools who apply (no offense.)
Also, it's a short answer!! and you don't have much space to elaborate, and they just wanna know what was important to you this year. What have you got to lose?
You're not writing an essay about it, you're LISTING it with a reason.
|
If it is a list events thing with small description, maybe. Keep it along the lines of 'I enjoy different and unique experiences' not 'OMG STARCRAFT IS SO COOL'. Even then, I'd be iffy... But good god, don't put that in an app essay. People who don't post on video game forums think of college gamers as huge stoners/potential drop outs.
|
I think the fact that people are debating it here means that it's a good idea. You'll stick out in the reader's minds, and when it comes to decide, they'll all remember "How about that guy that wrote about video games?" as opposed to the 40 million other people that all wrote about that one big concert or football game they had or something.
I wrote my essay about heavy metal and Korean pop, after some people told me not to and it worked out for me. Don't worry about what's "acceptable." If you can put your heart into it and let them get something out of it, it'll work.
|
Write the best essay, you decide what your best will be. So tired of people making up motivational life stories they never actually experienced and writing college essays about it. Reading some of them I could tell immediately they weren't genuine even though they were well written.
|
Is this essay or is it just listing your favorite events? If it's your favorite event, then just list it. I see no reason why not. I put my favorite website as teamliquid.net...
But if it's an essay....
If you're passionate do it.....but I can see a lot of the people reading your essay thinking that perhaps you have nothing better to write about since you spend so much of your time on games.
That may or may not be true, but it can immediately pull your reader into the wrong direction, no matter how fluent or how well written your essay is.
Remember, you're trying to give the colleges a reason for being on their campus. Whether it's bringing in diversity, or bringing in intellectual vitality, or whatever, colleges want to see something special that you can bring onto the campus, because ultimately, it's an investment for them.
If you're talking about writing about your experience at WCG, I personally think that's great. It's awesome that you found something passionate about to write about in terms of e-sports, and I applaud your experiences.
But if I was a college admissions officer, I'd take a really long pause and wonder how you'd actually bring something new to the campus. Sure you might have an experience like going to the World Cyber Games and watching it, but is it that noteworthy to write about? And if it is written, what will make it stand out amongst the experiences that other people have written about?
Just sayin'
|
United States10774 Posts
On December 23 2010 03:18 supernovamaniac wrote:
You're better off asking this on collegeconfidential forums.
Last time I asked here, people told me not to do magic tricks at the interview. I did it anyways, and it ended up well.
Actually, in my point of view, if you can write well do it. Remember: Why are you so unique?
hmm well you asked for our opinion and i think you got responses from people who have had experiences with college interviews. you are making it sound as if you got bad responses (ones you didn't expect?) from tl.net when you clearly wanted compliments on your 'awesome' idea. idk why you discredit people on tl.net for their opinions and attempts to give you advice. (did people on collegeconfidential tell you it was a sweeeeet idea?)
to OP: honestly, i wouldn't recommend it. it's an unnecessary risk in my opinion. i have worked in undergraduate admissions dept at my university, and the people i worked with would not be impressed or particularly care about things related gaming. if i were you i would try to find something else. i understand that the event meant a lot to you, but the harsh reality suggests not to do it. college admissions isn't the fittest place for e-sports. just my two cents but ultimately it's up to you.
|
On December 25 2010 05:47 OneOther wrote:Show nested quote +On December 23 2010 03:18 supernovamaniac wrote:
You're better off asking this on collegeconfidential forums.
Last time I asked here, people told me not to do magic tricks at the interview. I did it anyways, and it ended up well.
Actually, in my point of view, if you can write well do it. Remember: Why are you so unique? hmm well you asked for our opinion and i think you got responses from people who have had experiences with college interviews. you are making it sound as if you got bad responses (ones you didn't expect?) from tl.net when you clearly wanted compliments on your 'awesome' idea. idk why you discredit people on tl.net for their opinions and attempts to give you advice. (did people on collegeconfidential tell you it was a sweeeeet idea?) to OP: honestly, i wouldn't recommend it. it's an unnecessary risk in my opinion. i have worked in undergraduate admissions dept at my university, and the people i worked with would not be impressed or particularly care about things related gaming. if i were you i would try to find something else. i understand that the event meant a lot to you, but the harsh reality suggests not to do it. college admissions isn't the fittest place for e-sports. just my two cents but ultimately it's up to you.
I never said that it was sweet idea, nor got good responses from the other website.
But the amount of insight that I got from both websites and couple of people (counselors, alumni etc.) were very different (as well as stupid assumptions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
EPT
)
