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Snayt
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Is teenager experience in essays looks ok? 26 Aug 2008, 23:59
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Hi there.
Need your advice.

I'm writing essay about "most substantial accomplishments" and one I want to mention is from my school when I was 16.
Is it ok to write about it or should I choose something closer to my professional life?

Thanks.
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buffdaddy
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Is teenager experience in essays looks ok? 27 Aug 2008, 02:07
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the rule of thumb is, the further you go back, the larger the accomplishment should be. This also goes for formative experiences.
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sam77sam7
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Is teenager experience in essays looks ok? 27 Aug 2008, 06:20
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Depends how old you are as well. I am only 24, so I have a couple experience from 18-19 that I may include...

If you are 30+, then it should, as the above poster noted, be a big one!

~Sam
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Is teenager experience in essays looks ok? 27 Aug 2008, 06:22
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I would go with no, unless its HUGE as the above poster stated.
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Is teenager experience in essays looks ok? 27 Aug 2008, 06:53
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terp26
I would go with no, unless its HUGE as the above poster stated.
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Yea, I'd say it's a no go 99.9% of the time. That is unless you won an Olympic gold medal or something.
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Is teenager experience in essays looks ok? 27 Aug 2008, 06:57
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Oh good.

kidderek
Yea, I'd say it's a no go 99.9% of the time. That is unless you won an Olympic gold medal or something.
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Is teenager experience in essays looks ok? 27 Aug 2008, 11:31
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Snayt
Hi there.
Need your advice.

I'm writing essay about "most substantial accomplishments" and one I want to mention is from my school when I was 16.
Is it ok to write about it or should I choose something closer to my professional life?

Thanks.
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16 is just too long ago. Thats high school - and probably not even your senior year of high school - were talking about sophmore or junior year. Choose something else.
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Is teenager experience in essays looks ok? 27 Aug 2008, 11:39
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Stanford's FAQ section specifically mentions not to discount something just because it was too long ago. Again, it does probably need to be either a national award (for example, for bravery, like they give out in India), an international award etc. Of course, do not fail to mention how the accomplishment or what you did towards that accomplishment impacted you as a person and what you learnt from it.
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isa
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Is teenager experience in essays looks ok? 27 Aug 2008, 12:34
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I mentioned an internship I had right before college in the healthcare field that got me interested in my post-MBA field. I'm not using at as an example of work experience but rather something that supports the long-standing nature of my interest in the hc field.

cheers,
ac.
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Is teenager experience in essays looks ok? 27 Aug 2008, 12:44
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I'm putting in a sentence about a "gap year" volunteer job as well. But 16 might be a bit too far in the past.
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Is teenager experience in essays looks ok? 27 Aug 2008, 13:19
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ac8706
I mentioned an internship I had right before college in the healthcare field that got me interested in my post-MBA field. I'm not using at as an example of work experience but rather something that supports the long-standing nature of my interest in the hc field.

cheers,
ac.
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In that case it makes perfect sense. I think something from your teenage years might also be appropriate in personal essays (What person has had a major influence in your life?, etc).

RF
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Is teenager experience in essays looks ok? 28 Aug 2008, 21:54
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The essay that I currently plan to use for Ross #4 (Describe your experience during a challenging time during your life...) is from a time when I was 16-17 years old. However, I don't plan to reference when this occurred (it's a personal story, not a professional experience). Also, it was a really big deal and had a huge impact on my life (not "I won some boy scout award") and it will be pretty evident to adcom, so I can't imagine they will care whether it was last year or 8 years ago. That's at least what I'm hoping for...
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Is teenager experience in essays looks ok? 30 Aug 2008, 12:20
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ryguy904
The essay that I currently plan to use for Ross #4 (Describe your experience during a challenging time during your life...) is from a time when I was 16-17 years old. However, I don't plan to reference when this occurred (it's a personal story, not a professional experience). Also, it was a really big deal and had a huge impact on my life (not "I won some boy scout award") and it will be pretty evident to adcom, so I can't imagine they will care whether it was last year or 8 years ago. That's at least what I'm hoping for...
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Remember, what Ross is looking to gain from that question is information about YOU. When the event occurred is actually pretty irrelevant, what is most important in that question is how it changed who YOU are NOW.

RF