thanks,
cris.

bestessyas.com review

The responses have been far from binary. It isn’t nerds who can’t write speaking angrly and people who can speaking lovingly, indeed it seems to be closer to the opposite.

If you had taken the time to read more responses, you would see several who speak highly of creative and artistic skills and note how they are important in the science and engineering fields, and who also find this writing to not exhibit creative qualities, nor to be a good example of how to answer the essay.

Additionally, the regurgitated writing style we see here is common amongst “hipster-nerds” who like to think they are exceptionally creative, when truly their writing is mediocre with a few nods to nerd culture. I believe this is the reason that so many net citizens have spoken highly of this writing; they get the nerd references but see lots of text and thus think “this is creative in a cool way!” When truly, it is more of the same.

Binary nature, my ass. There are at least 4 different types of responses here, and the majority of negative comments are not from “the people for whom the classical “Geek” stereotype gets promoted”, so as much as you’d like to re-assure yourself of that, you are wrong. NOT TO MENTION your comments seek to perpetuate the very “geek” stereotypes you speak negatively of. Grow up, the world is not black and white.

Jimlas, I could not agree more with you. The “essay” above, which is more freestyle prose than essay, is simple fluff that follows no coherent method of organization. I finished reading the piece and did not feel any desire to reflect on what was presented. I did not feel emotionally moved by the writing. I did not feel as if the writing proved a point. Then again, the piece sounded as if it was written without a point in mind.

I too used to frequent CollegeConfidential, and have stumbled upon another MIT student’s writing which I believe to be less fluffy, as you all put it. You should try her writing:
http://visonix.net/writings/2008/12/letter-to-mit/
http://visonix.net/writings/2008/12/final-thoughts-on-8012-failure/

Are you sure you are reading the same essay as the rest of us? The one I saw up there was painfully uninteresting and cliche, full of non-factual descriptive embellishments, and totally avoided discussing anything meaningful about the world that formed the author to instead focus on absurd nuance. Good sir, I demand you re-read the essay, and more critically this time.

They are separated by their ability to be both creative while being willing to put their own cleverness aside and listen for the best solution, which is rarely the first one that they thought of. They are separated by their willingness to partner with their peers towards a common goal instead of working in a dark room by themselves into the wee hours.

Both of these have a common thread, they need to be able to communicate; perhaps not eloquently, but effectively and consistently. They need to be able to recognize that communication is a two-way street, not a podium.

—

I agree with the author’s assesment that an essay is an interesting *datapoint* to help admissions select the right people. The schools ambition is probably to foster the leaders of tomorrow, both those who lead by organizing and saying, and those who lead by doing. To the author of this particular essay: I think that you shouldd be proud of your essay. It is interesting, whimsical, factual and meets the spirit of the question. It certainly would stand out from many of the other essays, and it suggests some higher-level thinking.

That essay up above, however, is a poor example of unique creativity and insightful writing. That is the point being argued.