Writing Sample Failure Forum

[northwood]

since you wrote the essay- you should be allright. If you used the drawing to help- then maybe its an added bonus.

[minnesotasam]

My bigger concern is that it sounds like you may have advocated ascending the single peak and not going for the route that allowed for the possibility of two!

Hell no.

Thank god.

EDIT: Reading through again, I think the point of the essay is to insta-deny anyone who picked the one peak route, that shit is just stupid.

This is the only fair solution.

[suspicious android]

This is the only fair solution.

I've taken the LSAT a few times and this is the only time the writing sample threw me for a loop. I had to reread it a couple times because I was afraid I didn't understand. The one peak option makes absolutely no sense.

[alexonfyre]

This is the only fair solution.

I've taken the LSAT a few times and this is the only time the writing sample threw me for a loop. I had to reread it a couple times because I was afraid I didn't understand. The one peak option makes absolutely no sense.

My essay was entirely a criticism of the person who wrote the question, dealing very tangentially with the issue at hand. I sincerely hope that LSAC pulls a few at random just to make sure the questions are clear.

EDIT: This is now a thread for your sarcastic answer to the worst LSAT essay question of all time. (this is actually what I wrote on the test.)

As far as I can see, the choices are to either climb one perilous peak, or two slightly less dangerous peaks in the same time-frame. This goal is to climb as many peaks as possible with the least amount of danger.
Now, I understand as well as the next guy that a cornerstone of effective argument is anticipation of opposing viewpoints; however, I seem to be faced with choosing between one hundred dollars or nailing my hand to the table and attempting to justify how haveing furniture firmly affixed to one's extremities has greater long-term benefits than their economic well-being. I suppose you would always have somewhere to eat your lunch...
Farlow's situation is not unlike one that those of us who do not climb mountains are more familiar with: eatting poisonous, Japanese Fugu sushi. We all strive to consume as much poisonous Fugu fish as we can before it invariably kills us with its unfortunely high risk of being coated in a lethal neurotoxin. Every once-in-a-while, we are faced with a decision: should we eat two pieces of potentially brain liquifying seafood, or dive into the sea in order to find, kill and delicately filet the elusive Pufferfish in the search for ultimate freshness.
As tempting as a high-octane ocean safari might be, we should all agree that going to the over-priced restaurant (with a one-word name that doesn't even describe the food) is the option which gives us the best chances of ever breathing again.
Thus, I believe that Farlow should take a leisurely two-day, twin peak hike instead of skidding down the side of a 14,000-foor mountain in the middle of a thunderstorm as the topic suggests that he might, even if that would be substantially more awesome.

[SpoonForkSpork]

...An epic bump for another round of opinions before I start considering my applications more seriously. Sorry.

[EarlCat]

...An epic bump for another round of opinions before I start considering my applications more seriously. Sorry.

[SchopenhauerFTW]

...An epic bump for another round of opinions before I start considering my applications more seriously. Sorry.

Did you retake?

[Keeper1125]

I have no experience or expertise to offer but my instinct is that you'll be fine. Frankly I just don't think people will care very much.

Even if it affects you adversely at one school, I find it highly improbable that it would do so at all or even a majority of them.

[Keeper1125]

I wouldn't write an addendum.

[LSATPREPPER]

EPIC

[Jeffort]

^ Yes

I still want to see the drawing!

[westinghouse60]

^ Yes

I still want to see the drawing!

+1

It shouldn't be too hard to get a screen shot of the drawing for the PDF should it?

[Jeffort]

^ Yes

I still want to see the drawing!

+1

It shouldn't be too hard to get a screen shot of the drawing for the PDF should it?

(s)he is early in the cycle and said wouldn't post the pic until his/her cycle is complete. Schools don't start accepting applications until September (other than EA ED ones, they don't read many others until after the new year), so we have a long time to wait for the image unless spork has a moment of weakness that would kill the months of past and future suspense this thread has going for it.

I vote for an enabling moment of weakness.

[SpoonForkSpork]

I did not retake. I was under the impression that even if I did, the original sample would still be submitted as well.

Adcoms lurk these boards

This is what concerns me. I'd post the image (you'd be disappointed. It's fairly mundane) except that it would out me. It's essentially a testing finger print. Although I guess there are likely few candidates in my number range with drawings as is, so...

[Eichörnchen]

I did not retake. I was under the impression that even if I did, the original sample would still be submitted as well.

Adcoms lurk these boards

This is what concerns me. I'd post the image (you'd be disappointed. It's fairly mundane) except that it would out me. It's essentially a testing finger print. Although I guess there are likely few candidates in my number range with drawings as is, so...

I was just thinking about this thread haha. I want to see the drawing so badly, but even more so I want to see how your cycle goes. I don't think it will affect you at all, but I am curious about if HYS take the time to glance at the writing section or if they care at all. Probably not. And remember, you can picwhore the drawing (put it up for a second and then take it down).

[firemed]

I vote for an enabling moment of weakness.

ETA: but I totally understand that you shouldn't. I can't wait to see how your cycle goes though!

[NYCLSATTutor]

It doesn't matter. CCN will probably accept you without even looking at your writing sample. HYS may look, but I doubt they will care.

Seriously...so you finished time early and then doodled. Who cares? If it was something obscene, you might be in a different boat...but just a normal picture? Seriously they won't care.

[SpoonForkSpork]

A quick update, for the interested. I finally got my acceptance packet from Duke. Everyone gets a scribbled note. This was mine:

SpoonForkSpork-
Congratulations!
I enjoyed reading your LSAT writing sample. Well done!

I'd been hoping that admissions committees wouldn't actually ask for/read the writing sample, but I guess I'm not that lucky. At least it turned out ok this go-around.

[Jeffort]

A quick update, for the interested. I finally got my acceptance packet from Duke. Everyone gets a scribbled note. This was mine:

SpoonForkSpork-
Congratulations!
I enjoyed reading your LSAT writing sample. Well done!

I'd been hoping that admissions committees wouldn't actually ask for/read the writing sample, but I guess I'm not that lucky. At least it turned out ok this go-around.

Congrats!

Can we please see the doodle now? Pretty please?

[Yeshia90]

A quick update, for the interested. I finally got my acceptance packet from Duke. Everyone gets a scribbled note. This was mine:

SpoonForkSpork-
Congratulations!
I enjoyed reading your LSAT writing sample. Well done!

I'd been hoping that admissions committees wouldn't actually ask for/read the writing sample, but I guess I'm not that lucky. At least it turned out ok this go-around.

Congrats!

Can we please see the doodle now? Pretty please?

Put it up for an hour or two, then take it down. No adcomms will be able to see it.

[seanPtheB]

A quick update, for the interested. I finally got my acceptance packet from Duke. Everyone gets a scribbled note. This was mine:

SpoonForkSpork-
Congratulations!
I enjoyed reading your LSAT writing sample. Well done!

I'd been hoping that admissions committees wouldn't actually ask for/read the writing sample, but I guess I'm not that lucky. At least it turned out ok this go-around.

Congrats!

Can we please see the doodle now? Pretty please?

Put it up for an hour or two, then take it down. No adcomms will be able to see it.

this.

[qbt1990]

anyone wanna fill us noobs in on what the picture is of? OP edited everything out

[Jeffort]

anyone wanna fill us noobs in on what the picture is of? OP edited everything out

This:

it is just a simplified depiction of my essay (that is, mountains and a dude climbing).
Alas, other than a sentence or two saying something like "this is a picture of my essay" and "pick option two", the drawing takes up most of the second page.
And Farlowe got hit by lightning (dangerous weather on the slopes) in one of the scenarios.

[qbt1990]

anyone wanna fill us noobs in on what the picture is of? OP edited everything out

This:

it is just a simplified depiction of my essay (that is, mountains and a dude climbing).
Alas, other than a sentence or two saying something like "this is a picture of my essay" and "pick option two", the drawing takes up most of the second page.
And Farlowe got hit by lightning (dangerous weather on the slopes) in one of the scenarios.

Hahaha thanks. That's not even that bad! I thought it was some vulgar drawing or something REALLY bad haha

[Jeffort]

anyone wanna fill us noobs in on what the picture is of? OP edited everything out

This:

it is just a simplified depiction of my essay (that is, mountains and a dude climbing).
Alas, other than a sentence or two saying something like "this is a picture of my essay" and "pick option two", the drawing takes up most of the second page.
And Farlowe got hit by lightning (dangerous weather on the slopes) in one of the scenarios.

Hahaha thanks. That's not even that bad! I thought it was some vulgar drawing or something REALLY bad haha

Haha, my original thoughts were that what he did was rather creative and would help his admission chances rather than hurt them because it would brighten up the day of the admcom person that reviews the application. In part of the text he edited out he made sure to include a disclaimer that the drawing did not include penises or unicorns!