Georgetown Optional Essay

mew41195

I am pulling my hair out over GULC's optional essay prompts. Anything I come up with feels forced, lame, or like it doesn't add to my overall application. I know they are optional, but GULC is my top school, so I'm fretting a bit over what it might (subconsciously) mean if I don't feel motivated to write one -- they're just so funky! I'm done with all of my other applications at this point so I'm just trying to figure this out... For reference:

1. What is the most important thing you have changed your mind about?
2. Give us your top ten list.
3. Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. Describe your most interesting mistake.
4. Fill a 5 1/2" long by 2 1/2" wide box in any way you'd like.
5. Prepare a one-minute video that says something about you. Upload it to an easily accessible website and provide us the URL. (If you are using YouTube, we strongly suggest that you make your video unlisted so it will not appear in any of YouTube’s public spaces.) What you do or say is entirely up to you. Please note that we are unable to watch videos that come in any form other than a URL link.

If anyone has any tips or examples they've read, feel free to pass them my way!

LSAT_Wrecker

Having spoken to numerous admissions people at different schools, I believe that a real struggle they face is getting a sense of who an applicant is from the formulaic responses to standard application questions and data points. To me, it sounds like GULC is giving you a prime opportunity to give them a peek behind the curtain as to who the "real" you is. As it is your top choice, I think you should welcome the opportunity. Additionally, given the nature of the prompts, you have to know they expect some responses that are not standard. That's the whole point. I would not be concerned with how I felt it came off or if it didn't fit to some carefully constructed narrative that I tried make all of my application materials fit into. The important thing should be just to be present something genuine and sincere. As an attempt to help, here is my top ten list of things that immediately came to mind for me when I read your post:

1. Top ten podcasts on my iphone right now.
2. Top ten movies I have seen.
3. Top ten books I have read.
4. Top ten sporting events I have watched (in person or on TV).
5. Top ten running races I have participated in
6. Top ten triathlons I have participated in
7. Top ten parenting moments I have experienced
8. Top ten husband moments I have experienced
9. Ten most commonly visited websites on my laptop
10. Ten most watched videos on my youtube feed.

Whatever you write about, good luck!

mew41195

@LSAT_Wrecker said:
Having spoken to numerous admissions people at different schools, I believe that a real struggle they face is getting a sense of who an applicant is from the formulaic responses to standard application questions and data points. To me, it sounds like GULC is giving you a prime opportunity to give them a peek behind the curtain as to who the "real" you is. As it is your top choice, I think you should welcome the opportunity. Additionally, given the nature of the prompts, you have to know they expect some responses that are not standard. That's the whole point. I would not be concerned with how I felt it came off or if it didn't fit to some carefully constructed narrative that I tried make all of my application materials fit into. The important thing should be just to be present something genuine and sincere. As an attempt to help, here is my top ten list of things that immediately came to mind for me when I read your post:

1. Top ten podcasts on my iphone right now.
2. Top ten movies I have seen.
3. Top ten books I have read.
4. Top ten sporting events I have watched (in person or on TV).
5. Top ten running races I have participated in
6. Top ten triathlons I have participated in
7. Top ten parenting moments I have experienced
8. Top ten husband moments I have experienced
9. Ten most commonly visited websites on my laptop
10. Ten most watched videos on my youtube feed.

Whatever you write about, good luck!

Thank you so much! This was helpful - I actually stole one of your ideas

_oshun1_

I haven’t opened their app yet and lol @ the fill up a box question. I wanna answer that one with something ridiculous

Leah M B

@oshun1 said:
I haven’t opened their app yet and lol @ the fill up a box question. I wanna answer that one with something ridiculous

Is it weird that my first thought on that one was... I'd fill it with mac and cheese. Lol. No reason besides that it would make me happy haha. Yes, I have the eating habits of a 6 year old.

_oshun1_

@"Leah M B" said:

@oshun1 said:
I haven’t opened their app yet and lol @ the fill up a box question. I wanna answer that one with something ridiculous

Is it weird that my first thought on that one was... I'd fill it with mac and cheese. Lol. No reason besides that it would make me happy haha. Yes, I have the eating habits of a 6 year old.

I was thinking cute lil kittens but realized that might make someone get creepy serial killer vibes

jfar2688

I am doing the top 10 list as well, should it be double spaced?

zacharytsmith26-1

Maybe I am crazy, but I wish every law school would have optional essays like this. A great way to stand out!

ramona

Im totally going to make a video-- I wonder how many applicants do it?