BEST. SUMMER. EVER. I hope you get in. If you do, you must go. I went last year - right out of junior year, same as you. I submitted apps for both creative writing an visual arts, got into both, and chose creative writing. No regrets. I don't know much about the visual arts program at CSSSA, but I've taken many creative writing programs and CSSSA was the best, hands down. Best teachers ever. Best peers ever. The food sucks. But that's to be expected. I would advise you not to fret too badly; you seem articulate. I'm a firm believer in grammar, so I already have faith in youuu. I understand the junior year conundrum - I took nearly all honors or AP classes and, in fact, had just pulled an all-nighter working on an honors US Hist. project before even STARTING my creative writing app on the DAY IT WAS DUE. (I got to the post office 5 minutes before closing time. It was hell.) No one likes their app. I scrambled. I applied the previous year and got in (went to France instead), so I essentially recycled my application. Traci is the creative writing director, and she had an eye for diamonds in the rough. If what you submit isn't your besteverEVER work, it's sloppy, you have a typo, blah blah blah, DON'T PANIC. If you're a good writer, the committee will see through the useless verbiage and uncertain sentences and the occasional cliche. GOOD LUCK AHH. As a senior just finishing her college apps - don't worry about perfection there either. Do not be scared of funk. Embrace quirks. Exploit them. Bottom line: I wish you the best. :) Take a deep breath.
First: I think Innerspark is an ugly name - it's fun to mispronounce the S's. So thanks for that!
Aaaah omg! Thank you, Saint of Grammar <3 And it is so refreshing to meet someone else who has my motivation/retardation to pursue a bunch of difficult classes. Your situation sounds really familiar =/
Man, that sounds really encouraging! So basically, just go with what you know you do right, and just feel confident about it? That's the advice I've been getting a lot from my teachers and other CSSSA folks.
Haaar! I will refer back to your college app advice next year, certainly. I'm sure I'll know a lot of people who'll pay 2k for someone to proofread their essay "professionally" *headdesk* Exploit your quirks is one of the best pieces of advices I have ever heard.
Ask Zay about the politics behind it. CSSSA was JUST CSSSA until a few years ago when they decided the name needed to be more "friendly" and "accessible" and "fun-sounding." Whatthehell. It's sort of an ironic inside-joke amongst the CSSSA community at large, I guess; it's like, "Lmao, the bureaucracy is so presh. At least we're artsy and brilliant and can get past it with grace."
GRAMMAAAAARRR. YES. "Saint of Grammar" is much kinder than "grammar nazi," which is what I usually get. hahaha. I DON'T CARE. I THINK GRAMMAR IS IMPORTANT. I have this huge philosophical justification for it, I swear. &Yeah. Junior year sucked. I stopped sleeping, pretty much. I lived off of caffeine and willpower all nine months. Senior year is just as bad - I recommend choosing JUST TWO honors/AP classes or you will hack your head from the sheer stress and panic. Learn from my mistakes, young lilypad.
YES. DO THAT.
haha, yeah, that shit's silly. I sent portfolios of writing/art to all the colleges I applied to along with a list of "things you should know about me." They included my penchant for listening to highly embarrassing music in the car with the windows down, my love of tea, my propensity to take showers when life gets hard, etc. I've gotten personal calls/emails from nearly all the schools I applied to telling me how refreshing and fun I sound. Cha-ching. :)
*facepalm* If I was forced to say it, I'd say "Innerspork" beacuse that's how it should be.
Saint of Grammar should be your new undertitle! What's your philosophy? XD And yeah, because of the way casual English is nowadays, sometimes I worry if using proper English makes my writing sounding "too" sophisticated *facepalm*
Omg, but all of the good AP classes are in senior year! The two APs I am definitely planning to take is AP Studio Art and AP Lit, and then I'm done with lower level math, so I would like to take AP Stats, and then there's AP Gov and AP Psych and AP this that...aaaaaaaaaaaah.
Oooh? Where did you apply to? I think I'll be applying to only UCs, and they only have a tiny little box to write more about yourself =/ That is so cool! People on freaky forums like College Confidential always warn against sending extra portfolio things and a list about you, since "the essay should be self-explanatory," but it sounds really nice that the people actually enjoyed reading it! You must be a quality person :D
Speaking of which, writing Assignment A is driving me insane. 200 words to explain my motives about going to CSSSA, my favorite authors + why, and my favorite styles + why? AAAAH. What did you do for that?
My philosophy is this: all animals have a very basic form of communication. Humans are different because we can utilize grammar; grammar is indicative of needing to express advanced, abstract concepts like time and states of being. GRAMMAR IS WHAT SETS US APART. GRAMMAR MAKES US HUMAN. Chimpanzees exist solely in the present tense; I am, this banana is, this desire to hump the lady chimpanzee givin' me the eye is. But the difference between I am and I was is infinite. It's the difference between life an death.
Well. Teaching by example is supposed to be the most effective, so I say bring on the pretension and sophistication.
I APPLIED EVERYWHERE AHHH. For a long time, I thought I was bound for an Ivy League or somewhere like UC Berkeley or the University of Chicago or NYU or Northwestern.
But I had an epiphany.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO COMPETE FOR THE ATTENTION OF MY PROFESSORS AND CLASSMATES. I DON'T WANT TO PUT UP WITH BULLSHIT RICH KIDS WHOSE TRUST FUNDS AND PEARL NECKLACES GOT THEM INTO COLLEGE. I DON'T WANT THE PRESTIGE UNLESS I'M GETTING AN EDUCATION, TOO.
Plus, yeah, CSSSA changed everything for me. I learned that I lovelovelove playwriting. I took the dramatic movement minor with Zay, and I fell in instantaneous, deep, all-penetrating love. I knew I needed to be in a big city, preferably one with an established arts scene so I could get my play produced.
So I shifted my entire focus to small, funky liberal arts schools. I applied to places like Reed, Amherst, Carleton, Willamette, Emerson, Reed, Lewis & Clark, Occidental, etc.
But doing a different supplement for every college is hell. Total. Hell. Try writing 32 different essays in the span of three weeks. It's not a good time.
I think submitting a portfolio to, like, a UC might not be such a good idea because they're so inundated by application paperwork without resumes and crap clogging their gears. But that's why I'm NOT applying to a big school; I want to go to a place where they care enough about their students to read through 25 pages of writing and art and recognize the importance of giving feedback.
But like. I'm scraped for cash. It's true. I'm basically paying for college myself, and those little liberal arts school do not come cheap. A UC would be a much more practical choice.
BUT, HEY. I've never been practical.
Okay, for that, feel free to be vague. Talk more about yourself than you do about the authors. Also, if you're a couple of words over, don't sweat it. They're not going to COUNT.
Mine was: "There’s no better time to write than at the most inconvenient moment possible. 1:30AM on a Monday night fits quite neatly into those parameters. Words came, but not the right ones, not the right places, people, times. I’ve been coasting on a smooth plane, and what I need most of all is the demand to divide by zero. Writer’s block is a simple matter-well, comparatively simple next to being flat-out drained. Except I revoke my last statement; I’m not drained. I’m bursting at the seams. I lack direction. No. What I lack is clear knowledge of what I need to do next. I need a slap on the wrist. A challenge. I have something to say, I know, but I need a push to stay up until one o’clock, not searching, but finding, creating. Not something ordinary. Something Wilde-esque in wit and wisdom, something Dostoevsky-esque in the pursuit of true human nature, something Block-esque in pure poetry; something transcendent. I believe I can reach that, but I do not believe myself wise enough to do so without guidance. I am, before being a writer, before being an artist, before being a girl, a student. I’m bright-eyed, eager to learn."
&Also, THIS IS SILLY. I AM FRIENDING YOU IMMEDIATELY. :)
Oh my goodness. I have tried like 5 times in the past week to FINISH this comment, but homework always came up and then I'd accidentally shut down the browser and then yeah ;_; FORGIVE ME. I wish I had time to reply to your awesomeness now, but I only really have time to politely ask for your feedback? (If that's possible?) LESS THAN A DAY AAAH
I LOVE YOUR ASSIGNMENT A. IT IS SO AWESOMETASTIC. Gosh, it makes me want to spank someone.
I am currently done with C,D, and E! Except I am freaking freaking out about my C, because I don't know if it fits a confession/conflict or not. AAAAAH.
And I'm just, like, going to wing B. I still have no idea what to do for it. Aaaah. I was thinking of something to do with a homeless guy, but that's not really getting me anywhere.
I hope you get in. If you do, you must go. I went last year - right out of junior year, same as you. I submitted apps for both creative writing an visual arts, got into both, and chose creative writing. No regrets. I don't know much about the visual arts program at CSSSA, but I've taken many creative writing programs and CSSSA was the best, hands down. Best teachers ever. Best peers ever.
The food sucks.
But that's to be expected.
I would advise you not to fret too badly; you seem articulate. I'm a firm believer in grammar, so I already have faith in youuu.
I understand the junior year conundrum - I took nearly all honors or AP classes and, in fact, had just pulled an all-nighter working on an honors US Hist. project before even STARTING my creative writing app on the DAY IT WAS DUE. (I got to the post office 5 minutes before closing time. It was hell.)
No one likes their app. I scrambled. I applied the previous year and got in (went to France instead), so I essentially recycled my application. Traci is the creative writing director, and she had an eye for diamonds in the rough. If what you submit isn't your besteverEVER work, it's sloppy, you have a typo, blah blah blah, DON'T PANIC. If you're a good writer, the committee will see through the useless verbiage and uncertain sentences and the occasional cliche.
GOOD LUCK AHH.
As a senior just finishing her college apps - don't worry about perfection there either. Do not be scared of funk. Embrace quirks. Exploit them.
Bottom line: I wish you the best. :) Take a deep breath.
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Aaaah omg! Thank you, Saint of Grammar <3 And it is so refreshing to meet someone else who has my motivation/retardation to pursue a bunch of difficult classes. Your situation sounds really familiar =/
Man, that sounds really encouraging! So basically, just go with what you know you do right, and just feel confident about it? That's the advice I've been getting a lot from my teachers and other CSSSA folks.
Haaar! I will refer back to your college app advice next year, certainly. I'm sure I'll know a lot of people who'll pay 2k for someone to proofread their essay "professionally" *headdesk* Exploit your quirks is one of the best pieces of advices I have ever heard.
Reply
GRAMMAAAAARRR. YES. "Saint of Grammar" is much kinder than "grammar nazi," which is what I usually get. hahaha. I DON'T CARE. I THINK GRAMMAR IS IMPORTANT. I have this huge philosophical justification for it, I swear. &Yeah. Junior year sucked. I stopped sleeping, pretty much. I lived off of caffeine and willpower all nine months. Senior year is just as bad - I recommend choosing JUST TWO honors/AP classes or you will hack your head from the sheer stress and panic. Learn from my mistakes, young lilypad.
YES. DO THAT.
haha, yeah, that shit's silly. I sent portfolios of writing/art to all the colleges I applied to along with a list of "things you should know about me." They included my penchant for listening to highly embarrassing music in the car with the windows down, my love of tea, my propensity to take showers when life gets hard, etc. I've gotten personal calls/emails from nearly all the schools I applied to telling me how refreshing and fun I sound. Cha-ching. :)
Reply
Saint of Grammar should be your new undertitle! What's your philosophy? XD And yeah, because of the way casual English is nowadays, sometimes I worry if using proper English makes my writing sounding "too" sophisticated *facepalm*
Omg, but all of the good AP classes are in senior year! The two APs I am definitely planning to take is AP Studio Art and AP Lit, and then I'm done with lower level math, so I would like to take AP Stats, and then there's AP Gov and AP Psych and AP this that...aaaaaaaaaaaah.
Oooh? Where did you apply to? I think I'll be applying to only UCs, and they only have a tiny little box to write more about yourself =/ That is so cool! People on freaky forums like College Confidential always warn against sending extra portfolio things and a list about you, since "the essay should be self-explanatory," but it sounds really nice that the people actually enjoyed reading it! You must be a quality person :D
Speaking of which, writing Assignment A is driving me insane. 200 words to explain my motives about going to CSSSA, my favorite authors + why, and my favorite styles + why? AAAAH. What did you do for that?
Reply
But the difference between I am and I was is infinite. It's the difference between life an death.
Well. Teaching by example is supposed to be the most effective, so I say bring on the pretension and sophistication.
I APPLIED EVERYWHERE AHHH. For a long time, I thought I was bound for an Ivy League or somewhere like UC Berkeley or the University of Chicago or NYU or Northwestern.
But I had an epiphany.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO COMPETE FOR THE ATTENTION OF MY PROFESSORS AND CLASSMATES. I DON'T WANT TO PUT UP WITH BULLSHIT RICH KIDS WHOSE TRUST FUNDS AND PEARL NECKLACES GOT THEM INTO COLLEGE. I DON'T WANT THE PRESTIGE UNLESS I'M GETTING AN EDUCATION, TOO.
Plus, yeah, CSSSA changed everything for me. I learned that I lovelovelove playwriting. I took the dramatic movement minor with Zay, and I fell in instantaneous, deep, all-penetrating love. I knew I needed to be in a big city, preferably one with an established arts scene so I could get my play produced.
So I shifted my entire focus to small, funky liberal arts schools. I applied to places like Reed, Amherst, Carleton, Willamette, Emerson, Reed, Lewis & Clark, Occidental, etc.
But doing a different supplement for every college is hell. Total. Hell. Try writing 32 different essays in the span of three weeks. It's not a good time.
I think submitting a portfolio to, like, a UC might not be such a good idea because they're so inundated by application paperwork without resumes and crap clogging their gears. But that's why I'm NOT applying to a big school; I want to go to a place where they care enough about their students to read through 25 pages of writing and art and recognize the importance of giving feedback.
But like. I'm scraped for cash. It's true. I'm basically paying for college myself, and those little liberal arts school do not come cheap. A UC would be a much more practical choice.
BUT, HEY. I've never been practical.
Okay, for that, feel free to be vague. Talk more about yourself than you do about the authors. Also, if you're a couple of words over, don't sweat it. They're not going to COUNT.
Mine was:
"There’s no better time to write than at the most inconvenient moment possible.
1:30AM on a Monday night fits quite neatly into those parameters.
Words came, but not the right ones, not the right places, people, times.
I’ve been coasting on a smooth plane, and what I need most of all is the demand to divide by zero. Writer’s block is a simple matter-well, comparatively simple next to being flat-out drained. Except I revoke my last statement; I’m not drained. I’m bursting at the seams.
I lack direction.
No. What I lack is clear knowledge of what I need to do next. I need a slap on the wrist. A challenge. I have something to say, I know, but I need a push to stay up until one o’clock, not searching, but finding, creating. Not something ordinary. Something Wilde-esque in wit and wisdom, something Dostoevsky-esque in the pursuit of true human nature, something Block-esque in pure poetry; something transcendent. I believe I can reach that, but I do not believe myself wise enough to do so without guidance. I am, before being a writer, before being an artist, before being a girl, a student. I’m bright-eyed, eager to learn."
&Also, THIS IS SILLY. I AM FRIENDING YOU IMMEDIATELY. :)
Reply
I LOVE YOUR ASSIGNMENT A. IT IS SO AWESOMETASTIC. Gosh, it makes me want to spank someone.
I am currently done with C,D, and E! Except I am freaking freaking out about my C, because I don't know if it fits a confession/conflict or not. AAAAAH.
And I'm just, like, going to wing B. I still have no idea what to do for it. Aaaah. I was thinking of something to do with a homeless guy, but that's not really getting me anywhere.
Reply
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