Blidnight Mogging

Actually it's past midnight. It's 2:24 am.

Earlier today, well, yesterday, a guy a year younger than I inquired as to whether or not I had any tips on university applications. I told him the simplest, and truest things I had learnt this year about applications, after a lot of inquiry and self-reflection, and was given the following response:

"That's all?"

Three comments. Firstly, why on earth is anyone worrying about university applications during the first week of summer vacation? Though I admit to being a self-proclaimed nerd, I left my CommonApp frenzy until August, at least. The weather has been lousy lately though, so it's better than gaming all day and listening to raindrops.

Secondly, while I'm not making direct criticisms at that guy, there seems to be a vein of common misconceptions the pre-university bunch seem to have. A lot of their questions imply the existence of precise tricks and tips towards an acceptance to one's dream school, secret skills that signal your supremacy over others to universities, code words that let's them know you're in the know.

It's more comforting to think that way than it is to accept that all you can do is present yourself, as best as you can. At this point, as much as awards and achievements can help pad an application, grandiloquent language can smooth out an essay and glowing references can shine the limelight on you, well... to quote the last high school play of my life, Fitch and Cabbage, "a whore dressed in silk is still a whore."

Applications are scary because they force us to reflect on who we are. It's intimidating to define oneself, and it's not exactly a skill taught in school or learnt while volunteering or leading extracurriculars. Perhaps the fear is knowing that it's possible that under the silk, there is only a whore.

What would you do then?
...
Woah that got heavy.

Thirdly, never say 'that's all?' after someone gave you advice that you asked for. That's just rude.

-cookielime

Postscript:
I realize now that the advice I give on university applications basically sum up the conclusions I've made in my senior year of high school.
If you're wondering:

1) Be truthful - be faithful to the real product you're trying to sell: yourself
2) Be a person that the school will be proud of to call their alum. - pride is one of the greatest gifts one can give
3) Be earnest, but not maudlin - everyone has a story, and each is of relative importance