So, Dartmouth's 'introduce yourself' essay is making me second-guess everything I know about myself. Any juniors here who are applying and can share some approaches on how to showcase personality in the essay without sounding like everyone else?
It's definitely a challenge to capture the essence of your personality while standing out, and I see many students struggle with this. What I often suggest is looking for a narrative thread that runs through your life - is there an interest, an experience, or a perspective that makes you, you? This doesn't need to be something monumental but should be something genuine and reflective of your character.
For example, if you find joy in the small things, perhaps you can frame your introduction around how noticing the details makes you approach life. Instead of just saying you're an optimist, share a short anecdote of a time when you turned a situation around with your positive outlook. Remember, the admissions officers are reading this essay to get to know you as an individual, not just another student with grades and scores. So, portray yourself with authenticity, and make sure your unique voice comes through in your writing - that's what's going to make you stand out.
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