Andrew Ferguson on the absurdity of the College Essay

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/11/20/the-college-essay-why-those-500-words-drive-us-crazy.html

By the author of "Crazy U: One Dad's Crash Course in Getting His Kid into College."

Here's a hint of the essay:

Amid all the Sturm und Drang, one important fact is seldom mentioned to applicants or their parents.

“For all the angst the essay causes,” says Bill McClintick of Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, “it’s a very small piece of the puzzle. I was in college admissions for 10 years. I saw kids and parents beat themselves up over this. And at the vast majority of places, it is simply not a big variable in the [college’s] decision-making process.”

Many admissions officers say they spend less than a couple of minutes on each application, including the essay. According to a recent survey of admissions officers, only one in four private colleges say the essay is of “considerable importance” in judging an application. Among public colleges and universities, the number drops to roughly one in 10. By contrast, 86 percent place “considerable importance” on an applicant’s grades, 70 percent on “strength of curriculum.”

Still, at the most selective schools, where thousands of candidates may submit identically stratospheric grades and test scores, a marginal item like the essay may serve as a tiebreaker between two equally qualified candidates. The thought is certainly enough to keep the pot boiling under parents like Meg, the lawyer-mom, as she tries to help her son choose an essay topic.

"The Trouble With Bright Kids"

The previous post is referenced in this HBR posting about the specific attributes of bright kids, which recycles Carol Dweck experiment about whether you believe skills are innate or learned. Worthy stuff to recall, though:

How often have you found yourself avoiding challenges and playing it safe, sticking to goals you knew would be easy for you to reach? Are there things you decided long ago that you could never be good at? Skills you believed you would never possess? If the list is a long one, you were probably one of the bright kids — and your belief that you are "stuck" being exactly as you are has done more to determine the course of your life than you probably ever imagined. Which would be fine, if your abilities were innate and unchangeable. Only they're not.

No matter the ability — whether it's intelligence, creativity, self-control, charm, or athleticism — studies show them to be profoundly malleable. When it comes to mastering any skill, your experience, effort, and persistence matter a lot. So if you were a bright kid, it's time to toss out your (mistaken) belief about how ability works, embrace the fact that you can always improve, and reclaim the confidence to tackle any challenge that you lost so long ago.

Tom DeLong Interview - Flying without a net

Tom DeLong, Harvard Business School professor and author of Flying Without a Net: Turn Fear of Change into Fuel for Success, is interviewed on this show. The blog post is called "The Hidden Demons of HIgh Achievers." He speaks about how high achieving people have a range of particular problems -- including the need to compare yourself with others, the need to compete, the lack of ability to separate the important from the urgent. His piece of advice here: very specific agendas. On the Harvard Business School website, the book is hyped with the following text:

Confronted by omnipresent threats of job loss and change, even the brightest among us are anxious. In response, we're hunkering down, blocking ourselves from new challenges. This response hurts us and our organizations, but we fear making ourselves even more vulnerable by committing mistakes while learning something new. In "Flying Without a Net," Thomas DeLong explains how to draw strength from vulnerability. First, understand the forces that escalate anxiety in high achievers and the unproductive behaviors you turn to for relief. Then adopt practices that give you the courage to "do the right things poorly" before "doing the right things well." Drawing on his extensive research and consulting work, DeLong lays out: (1) Roots of high achievers' anxiety: fear of being wrong and lack of a sense of purpose, and a craving for human connection, (2) Destructive behaviors we adopt to relieve our anxiety: busyness, comparing ourselves to others, and blaming others for our frustrations, (3) Behaviors we must adopt to gain strength from vulnerability: putting the past behind us and seeking honest feedback. Packed with practical advice and inspiring stories, "Flying Without a Net" is an invaluable resource for all leaders seeking to thrive in this Age of Anxiety.