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I have a weird idea for a personal statement?
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 6:53 pm
by Anonymous User
Hello all,
I'm an English major and have been trying to pick a topic for my personal statement for some time. Today I came up with a sort of out of the box topic for it. I thought of writing about the novel Frankenstein and how the book demonstrates that there are always two sides to every story (Frankenstein, the creator, and the creature). I was essentially thinking I could argue that the creator was to blame for the tragedies that the creature committed. My goal with this idea would be to show that I have a passion for interpretation, and seeking out all angles of a story. I think it is a unique topic and could work if I execute it correctly. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Re: I have a weird idea for a personal statement?
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 7:06 pm
by jerseymike
Anonymous User wrote:Hello all,
I'm an English major and have been trying to pick a topic for my personal statement for some time. Today I came up with a sort of out of the box topic for it. I thought of writing about the novel Frankenstein and how the book demonstrates that there are always two sides to every story (Frankenstein, the creator, and the creature). I was essentially thinking I could argue that the creator was to blame for the tragedies that the creature committed. My goal with this idea would be to show that I have a passion for interpretation, and seeking out all angles of a story. I think it is a unique topic and could work if I execute it correctly. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
One of the biggest criticisms I've seen from adcoms is that PSs sometimes aren't personal enough. It sounds like a large chunk of your PS would not be directly about you. Also a passion for interpretation is extremely vague and not an extraordinary quality. For those reasons I advise against it. That's my 2 cents.
Re: I have a weird idea for a personal statement?
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 7:27 pm
by Redfactor
Anonymous User wrote:My goal with this idea would be to show that I have a passion for interpretation, and seeking out all angles of a story. I think it is a unique topic and could work if I execute it correctly. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
You're a unique topic. That's what they're interested in. Give that same thoughtful reflection that you would have shown Frankenstein but apply it to yourself instead.
I will say though, there is a time and place for outside-the-box personal statements. If you want to develop a second for schools you have a very low likelihood of gaining acceptance, I think that's legit. But don't do anything too weird or foreign on statements for schools you have a good shot at through well executed traditional topics.
Best of luck
Re: I have a weird idea for a personal statement?
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 7:56 pm
by ms9
Anonymous User wrote:Hello all,
I'm an English major and have been trying to pick a topic for my personal statement for some time. Today I came up with a sort of out of the box topic for it. I thought of writing about the novel Frankenstein and how the book demonstrates that there are always two sides to every story (Frankenstein, the creator, and the creature). I was essentially thinking I could argue that the creator was to blame for the tragedies that the creature committed. My goal with this idea would be to show that I have a passion for interpretation, and seeking out all angles of a story. I think it is a unique topic and could work if I execute it correctly. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
I wouldn't do this. I like that you are thinking creatively (95% of people submit something that sounds all too familiar to the reader, despite the personalization) but there are multiple problems with this idea.
Re: I have a weird idea for a personal statement?
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 8:09 pm
by Anonymous User
MikeSpivey wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Hello all,
I'm an English major and have been trying to pick a topic for my personal statement for some time. Today I came up with a sort of out of the box topic for it. I thought of writing about the novel Frankenstein and how the book demonstrates that there are always two sides to every story (Frankenstein, the creator, and the creature). I was essentially thinking I could argue that the creator was to blame for the tragedies that the creature committed. My goal with this idea would be to show that I have a passion for interpretation, and seeking out all angles of a story. I think it is a unique topic and could work if I execute it correctly. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
I wouldn't do this. I like that you are thinking creatively (95% of people submit something that sounds all too familiar to the reader, despite the personalization) but there are multiple problems with this idea.
Care to elaborate on the multiple problems?
Re: I have a weird idea for a personal statement?
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 9:05 pm
by malleus discentium
Anonymous User wrote:Hello all,
I'm an English major and have been trying to pick a topic for my personal statement for some time. Today I came up with a sort of out of the box topic for it. I thought of writing about the novel Frankenstein and how the book demonstrates that there are always two sides to every story (Frankenstein, the creator, and the creature). I was essentially thinking
I could argue that the creator was to blame for the tragedies that the creature committed. My goal with this idea would be to show that I have a passion for interpretation, and seeking out all angles of a story. I think it is a unique topic and could work if I execute it correctly. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
This is not a particularly novel or insightful interpretation, so don't do it.
But to the point, no, don't write this. The PS is about you, not about a book.
Re: I have a weird idea for a personal statement?
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 9:19 pm
by ms9
Anonymous User wrote:MikeSpivey wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Hello all,
I'm an English major and have been trying to pick a topic for my personal statement for some time. Today I came up with a sort of out of the box topic for it. I thought of writing about the novel Frankenstein and how the book demonstrates that there are always two sides to every story (Frankenstein, the creator, and the creature). I was essentially thinking I could argue that the creator was to blame for the tragedies that the creature committed. My goal with this idea would be to show that I have a passion for interpretation, and seeking out all angles of a story. I think it is a unique topic and could work if I execute it correctly. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
I wouldn't do this. I like that you are thinking creatively (95% of people submit something that sounds all too familiar to the reader, despite the personalization) but there are multiple problems with this idea.
The non personal aspect is the huge one that has already been hammered home. There are religious undercurrents that also should be avoided, even if you don't mean to imply anything of the sort. It also brings up odd imagery.
But it would certainly wake the reader up which really is a big part of the battle.
Care to elaborate on the multiple problems?
Re: I have a weird idea for a personal statement?
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 3:45 am
by Gefuehlsecht
No. Don't do this.