Hey everyone! So, I'm trying to work on Stanford's future roommate essay, and I'm having a hard time figuring out the right tone and approach. Any tips or suggestions on what has worked for those who got in? Thanks!
Hi! The Stanford future roommate essay is a unique opportunity for you to showcase your personality and give the admissions committee an insight into who you are beyond just numbers and accolades. Here are some tips to help you craft a creative and engaging essay:
1. Write in a conversational tone: This essay is meant to be a letter to your future roommate, so it should be friendly and authentic. Write as if you were talking to a friend, using colloquial language and even some humor if it suits your personality.
2. Show your personality: Use this essay as an opportunity to give the admissions committee a glimpse into your life and who you are on a day-to-day basis. Share your hobbies, interests, quirks, or favorite pastimes to give them an idea of what kind of person you are, rather than focusing on your academic achievements - that's not the purpose of this essay.
3. Be specific: Try to include unique and specific details about your life or personality that make you stand out from other applicants. For example, instead of just mentioning that you like to cook, you could talk about your signature dish or kitchen gadget collection.
4. Be creative: This essay is a chance for you to showcase your imagination and creativity. Feel free to take risks with the structure or content of the essay, as long as it remains true to who you are and responds fully to the prompt.
5. Make it memorable: Try to include a memorable anecdote, a surprising fact, or a personal story that will leave a lasting impression on the reader. This will help you stand out among all the other future roommate essays that admissions officers will be reading.
6. Stay genuine: While it's important to be creative and engaging, don't try to be someone you're not. Make sure that your essay is a true representation of your personality and that you're not just writing what you think the admissions committee wants to hear.
7. Proofread and revise: Once you've written your essay, make sure you take the time to proofread and revise it carefully, looking out for any errors, inconsistencies, or areas that could use improvement. If you want help with this, remember that CollegeVine offers both a free peer essay review service and paid reviews by expert college admissions advisors.
Finally, for more detailed feedback, consider checking out CollegeVine's blog post on the Stanford supplemental essays, which breaks down this prompt as well as all the others required by Stanford. Overall, remember to have fun while writing this essay and let your true self shine through. Good luck!
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