The Problem with The Common Application
Jan 31, 2010 Personal, education
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I’m applying to college for Fall this year. Or rather, I have applied, now I’m waiting to see if I get in. But before you dismiss this post as a purely personal one and leave, just give me a minute, there is a larger point I want to make.
Most colleges today use the Common Application. For those of you who do not know, the Common Application is basically an undergraduate application system that allows students to fill up a certain online form, and apply to various schools with that same form. It makes application more effective, as students only need to fill up one form, and can have it sent to a number of different schools.
I appreciate the effectiveness of the application format. The problem, though, in my opinion, is when schools take that as the only way to apply. By doing that, they’re forcing all students to fit into that one template, and in my opinion, it takes away any individuality from the student. A college application, in my opinion, is not much different from a job application. The application (your recommendations, transcripts, etc) are like your resume – it’s a reflection of who you are, an extension of your identity. By forcefitting all applicants into the same format, schools are taking away any option for creative expression.
Imagine if, when you apply for a job, the company requires your resume to be in a fixed format. That doesn’t quite fly, does it? Yes, they might have personal particulars forms which they need you to fill up, but the bulk of your job application – your resume – is your own. It’s up to you to create. That’s why you have so many creative and unique resumes (and a quick search on google will turn up even more).
Why should college applications limit students to that one plain bland format? Sure, give a personal information form for administrative purposes if you need. And yes, definitely, offer the Common Application as an option, because most students will just use it anyway for ease of application. But give students the option of standing out and letting their personality shine through their application, if they are willing to put in the work to create such an application. Don’t limit students and take away any option for remarkableness. Students are unique individuals too.
So, all that said, here’s the personal part which you can skip over if you’re not too interested – my application. While I initially wanted to do something like a box, a 3-dimensional application that was interactive, and could be felt and handled, I realized that I’d be better served doing an application which could be filed away (because that’s what the school is going to do anyway) and still maintain its uniqueness and impact. So here’s what I did.
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Basically, I bought a folder, and made 4 A6-sized booklets, which each summarized a different portion of my life. You can download the pdfs to see what I put into the b0oklets, if you wish – about me, activities, academics, appraisals. On the right, I inserted the necessary supporting documents and essays, with a note detailing the different sections. On top of the whole application, I attached a cover letter explaining my application, acknowledging that their website requests for application to be done via the Common App, but stating my objection to that (basically my argument above), and explaining that as such, I had done up my own application.
In essence, I included all the information they required, but in my own format. It’ll be interesting to see which schools accept the application. And yes, I know, it might seem a bit self-indulgent. But I think if I really believe that the Common App falls short, I should be willing to take a stand on it. I’ve always been about being your own person, standing by your beliefs, and being unique. And I figured I needed to really let that show through my application – to really “let my true colors shine through”, if you will.
So yeah, all that said. What do you think? Am I being too stubborn and self-indulgent here? Or is it a good thing that I’m trying to stand out and stand by my beliefs?
[?]Tags: admission, college, common application, education, remarkable, uniqueness
Being a Student
Nov 12, 2008 education
Scott Ginsberg once again hits it out of the park with a great anecdote, culminating in a brilliant statement.
“I guess I didn’t realize you had to attend school to be a student,” I said.
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Nothing much I need to add to it, I think.
What are you studying?
[?]Tags: education, learning, school, scott ginsberg, student
Playing Safe
Oct 5, 2008 Personal Development, Sports, education
I was talking to another student about my quitting school. Here’s what she said about why she’s still in school – “education is the safest insurance plan”.
I understand where she’s coming from. And I’ve heard that statement so many times, especially when people ask me about why I quit school. But I don’t agree. The question is, why play it safe? As Seth Godin has said, in today’s world, ’safe is risky”.
The semi-finals of the World 10-Ball Championship between Niels Feijen and Darren Appleton was a great example. Feijen consistently went for safety shots. Even when he could make the offensive shot, he chose to go down the safe path. And eventually, he lost out.
If you play not to lose, you won’t win. You won’t make the right decisions, and ultimately, you won’t come up on top. As the book “Sway” by Ori and Rom Brafman points out, fear of loss is one of the main reasons behind bad decisions. Kathy Sierra has talked about “death by risk aversion” as well.
If you want to be the best, you have to take risks. And why settle for anything less than the best?
What Schools Should Be Like
May 31, 2008 education
Jennifer from injenuity wrote about what her elementary school was like 26 years ago.
Go check it out.
Then ask yourself, why don’t todays schools do that? Because honestly, I think they should.
[?]Once Upon A School
Mar 20, 2008 education
An awesome, inspiring talk by Dave Eggers, calling for us to take action and volunteer to help in education.
Take part, and make a difference by checking out Once Upon a School. Anyone can do it.
[?]Tags: contribute, dave eggers, education, make a difference, Once upon a school, TEDPrize, volunteer
Educators are Entrepreneurs
Mar 6, 2008 education
Debbie Cavalier has a good post about why Music Educators are Entrepreneurs.
Simply stated, an entrepreneur is someone who identifies a “need” or a problem, and then figures out a solution. Of course, comprehensive goals, strategies, and execution plans must be developed and implemented in order to achieve success with any entrepreneurial endeavor, but it all begins with a “need.”
It’s a great post, but just as I commented there, I think that holds true for all educators, not just music ones.
So, to all you educators out there. What needs are you addressing? What possibilities can you explore?
[?]Tags: debbie cavalier, education, entrepreneur, music
Web 2.0 in Education
Mar 1, 2008 Technology, education
After watching the webcast of the TEDPrize talks this morning, I checked out Once Upon a School, and saw this idea: Help a school develop a useful website presence.
That got me thinking. I’m not sure about America, but over here in Singapore, most schools don’t have much of a web presence. And most schools aren’t making the most of web tools. And reading that basically got me thinking about how schools could make better use of web (or Web 2.0) tools.
The first idea that came to mind is Twitter. Those of you who are on Twitter (and if you’re not, you really should be) would have seen how it has been used during the Superbowl, the Oscars, and even during Podcamps and various events. It provides a way to have live discussions – live ‘commentary’, if you will – about the ongoing event. Couldn’t we transfer the way Twitter is used in Podcamps to the education system – for use during lectures, for example?
That’s just the first, most instinctive idea that came to mind. What do you think? And what other ways do you think schools can make use of Web 2.0 tools?
[?]Tags: community, Conversation, discussion, education, superbowl, twitter, web 2.0
