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jayy178
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Essay help: "Complete the following statement:" 31 Dec 2006, 14:26
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The question prompt states:

Complete the following statement:

"My most significant accomplishment to date is..."

Do I need to write this into my essay directly or can I indirectly state the accomplishment? I've always wondered if we need to complete the above statement verbatim.
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EconGirl
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Essay help: "Complete the following statement:" 31 Dec 2006, 14:49
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complete the sentence as asked and state it directly then take it from there If you don't do that than you may show inability to folow directions.
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Essay help: "Complete the following statement:" 31 Dec 2006, 16:04
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EconGirl
complete the sentence as asked and state it directly then take it from there If you don't do that than you may show inability to folow directions.
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Just to take a conrtrarian stance here - You need to answer the question but you dont have to say "My most signficant accomplishment to date is X". In fact, I'd argue that doing that just shows poor writing skills, a lack of imagination and a horribly boring and uninspiring start to what is likely already likely an essay that will have a lot of commonality across applicants. Yes, it says complete the following statement - but there are many ways to complete it without mindlessly regurgitating the first half back to the reader.

If someone says you "If you could only have one food in the wolrd what would food you have?"
You don't reply "If I could only have one food in the world, I would have pasta."
You just say "I suppose if I had to pick one, I'd pick Pasta"

Similarly "My most signficant accomplishment to date...." can be paraphrased in many different ways.

So, my 2 cents: Paraphrase. It shows understanding of the meaning of the question and offers at least a slightly less boring and mindless start.
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Essay help: "Complete the following statement:" 31 Dec 2006, 16:40
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Of course these are all personal opinions and I happen to disagree, though I value rhyme's input imensly. If a question askes you to complete a statement and even uses " " around that statemnet I would probably complete it as instructed

This is different from being asked "what is your favorite food? and answering "my favorite food is...

again, it is spelled out - You are asked to COMPLETE the sentence

Through campus visits and conversations with AdCom I learned that some of the most comments mistakes applicants make is not answering what is asked. Maybe this is a good example of such an instance. Again, I can't claim to be correct, just my opinion.
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Essay help: "Complete the following statement:" 31 Dec 2006, 16:52
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thanks for the input. i'm still on the fence as to which way I should go. I've have both essays ready to turn in but not sure which one to go with. I think both of your points are valid....but am leaning more towards Rhyme's thought process
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Essay help: "Complete the following statement:" 31 Dec 2006, 17:19
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Just to be clear ... Either method is fine really ...just personal pref is all.

The other reason I say to paraphrase is that its on a 10 word short answer.. Its an essay question so the entire essay answers this q not just the first sentence.

And this brings me to the comment that most people don't answer the question asked ... This is true but I don't think adcoms mean this kind of simple instruction. Its more that people have stories they want to tell and they try to use them in areas where they might not fit .. And then they try to loosely tie back by saying something like and this is my most significant accomplishment ...

Or they try and fit in other essys for other schools into questions because they are similar - but that rarely if ever works .

So when adcoms say people don't Answer the q they really mean that the content is incongruent with the core of the question.

I have a great example of this at home somewhere .... Ill try to dig it up sometime