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This is a bit disheartening to me, but not surprising. I know of several people who have used this type of service, and some who have provided it. For me, my
by Bahamut 12y ago
This is a bit disheartening to me, but not surprising. I know of several people who have used this type of service, and some who have provided it.
For me, my essay was the difference in attending the likes of Harvard - my essay was egregiously bad, and it was explained to me by the director of admissions of one Ivy League school via a family friend who was a professor at that same university as the primary reason for rejecting me, even though by all other metrics I was an almost stellar candidate, even out of those they typically admitted.
I wonder how many people have gamed the system like such, and what effect has it had on the lives of those who would have otherwise attended those schools? For me, I have miraculously succeeded in my path, although it was a pretty unique one - the confidence I built before college in my abilities helped me overcome the setback. There are many people not so fortunate though.
We probably will never know the true effects of such unintended gaming, but it goes to show that people shouldn't take as much stock in the school someone attended but their pure mind in industry.
- chobo 12y agoI'll never understand the mindset where not going to an Ivy is a "setback." That's not meant to be an insult at all, if it sounded like one. Good for you for having that attitude, of course, but that's such a foreign state of mind to me. I stumbled across the finish line in high school and self-destructed in college. Things have worked out but I wonder what even a small change in state of mind would have done for me as an adolescent.
- Bahamut 12y agoPart of it was my fault - I only applied to a select 5 schools initially, since an Ivy was supposed to be a fallback due to connections & strength of academics. In hindsight, it was pretty foolish of me. I ended up attending a state school, applying last minute in April.
- Chronic29 12y agoGoing to an ivy league provides enormous benefits not present at any other state or private school. So yes, not going to an ivy is a setback.
- foobarqux 12y agoCan you elaborate on specifically what made your essay bad?
- Bahamut 12y agoMy writing was just not that great at times before attending college - ironically, when I took a philosophy summer class the summer before the semester started, everything just clicked and I suddenly started to be able to write pretty well.