Hello everyone! I'm working on my application for Stanford and I am unsure of how to approach the letter to my potential roommate prompt. Does anyone have any examples or guidance they can share to help me write my letter? Thanks a bunch!
Hi there! Approaching the roommate prompt for Stanford can be a fun and creative way to let your personality shine through in your application. The purpose of this essay is to give the admissions committee an insight into who you are as a person on a day-to-day basis, not just in the classroom or when getting involved in extracurriculars.
You can indeed find two examples of strong responses to this prompt on CollegeVine's blog, as well as breakdowns of what each essay did well and what could have been done even better: https://blog.collegevine.com/stanford-essay-example/. The blog also contains guidance on how to brainstorm for and draft your particular response: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-stanford-university-essays.
I can also provide you with a few general tips to help you craft a memorable letter:
1. Be yourself: This is your chance to showcase your authentic self, so don't try to change your voice or adopt a persona that doesn't fit you. Share your interests, quirks, and qualities in a conversational and personal tone.
2. Be specific: Select a few unique aspects about yourself that you'd like to highlight, perhaps a hobby, a talent, or a significant experience you've had. Use anecdotes or detailed descriptions to give the reader a clearer picture of who you are.
3. Keep it casual: The letter is intended to mimic a real-life conversation with your roommate, so avoid overly formal language and focus on creating a friendly and engaging tone. Imagine you're chatting with someone you've just met and want to make a meaningful connection with.
4. Show, don't tell: Instead of listing your qualities or traits, give examples of how they manifest in your life. This approach will make your letter more interesting and provide your reader with a better understanding of your personality.
5. Maintain a positive tone: Focus on what you're looking forward to and what you can contribute to your living situation. You want to express enthusiasm for joining the campus community and give your future roommate reasons to be excited about sharing a living space with you.
As an example, if you're passionate about cooking, you could write about how you enjoy experimenting with different cuisines and sharing your creations with friends and family. You could follow up with an anecdote about a memorable cooking experience or describe your dream kitchen setup in your dorm room.
Remember, this is your opportunity to share a glimpse into your personal life and build a connection with your potential roommate. Use this essay as a chance to highlight the person you are outside of your academic achievements and extracurricular activities.
If you're unsure whether your personality is coming across the way you'd like it to, consider asking family members, friends, or teachers who know you well to take a look. They may have suggestions for details to include that you hadn't considered.
Alternatively, if you want help with more structural or grammatical elements of the essay, consider utilizing CollegeVine's Free Peer Essay Review Tool, or submitting your essay for a paid review by an expert college admissions advisor, through CollegeVine's marketplace. When evaluating these aspects of a college essay, sometimes it's a better idea to ask someone who doesn't already know you what they think, as they have no prior familiarity with your ideas and thus can evaluate your communication of them more objectively.
Good luck with your roommate letter, and overall application to Stanford!
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