Applying to college is one of the worst experiences of young life. The anxiety of stacking up to other students, the financial burden of the application fees, the monotony of giving out the same information in surveys and interviews and taking near identical campus tours over and over to demonstrate demonstrated interest in *insert school here*. The worst part is how dehumanizing it feels to rigorously sell yourself to businesses who don’t know or care about you. The process demands we cover ourselves in gold stars and beg for the privilege to pay out the nose for a chance at a better future. At the center of it all is the Common Application essay. In 650 words or less you have to capture everything important (read: marketable) about your character and lived experience without bragging too much or regurgitating your resume; you need to tell a story as short and blunt as a kids anti-drug PSA but as memorable and emotional as that Sarah McLachlan animal cruelty ad. There’s no way to fit a full person into such little space, things have to be blacked out and left behind.
Since high schoolers nation wide are making their customary announcement Instagram posts, we thought it’d be a good time to revisit application essays from GW students. We wanted to turn our pain into art, to honor the parts of ourselves we cut out just to get in. WARNING: Shit gets deep. – Max Cohen
Jaguar / girl / r a w r / patriarchy. / feminism / girl reflected / with the world at large / crafting / internalized / glow / everyone cheers / girls perform as loud as possible
Piercing / gay / sex / the librarian congratulated me on “trying something new”
casino casino / c As in o casino / casino ca s in o / c a s in o / casino
I’ve been a performer I / clamor / for applause / validation / nothing came out / I was merely sad My / purpose a / beam of pure sonic light / divine intervention / My clarity came / obliterated I knew / Everyone was right; It’s an empty attempt / Can’t Stop Kid / holding hands in a theatre / a mismatch that 12 year old / dream / vapid and painfully bright but my / brain switched off. soon I / finally understood everyone / believe in energy and fun
Disneyland. / Arguing / kids didn’t like / The rumor, / “normal” / banned / sex / failed / again, and again, and again / something new
I look around They’re learning / to love / graphic / novels powerful
“free-range” / c h / i c k e / n / My / microcosm / of / America
I’m rich / and / silly / Hustle happy
