The "unique" essay

Question

I'm wondering the best path to take on the "what makes you unique" essay.

1. My career path is unique (worked up from a mechanic to management at a power plant  before  going to college, and went to school while running the plant. (And maintained a great gpa...)

The downside to this is that I highlight the career path in other essays, and I don't want to come across as a mindless work drone.

2. My outside work interests are varied, but interesting. I play classical guitar, and aside from playing weddings, art galleries, etc. I volunteer at nursing homes. I also play soccer in some highly competitive leagues.

Downside: None of this is the stuff of legends, and probably doesn't make me all that "unique".

So, the basic question is: Should work experience or life experience be used to highlight "uniqueness"?

terp26 · Answer

Classical Guitar is unique. Don't sell yourself short.

gixxer1000 · Answer

Experiences don't make you unique. How you react to them does. I can guarantee you that there is someone else out there who worked from a mechanic up to management while playing a guitar and volunteering at nursing homes. Instead of focusing on what you've done professional and personally, focus on why you did them and how they affected you. Why do you play the guitar, why do you volunteer at a nursing home, why did you start as a mechanic? They should already know where you worked and where you volunteered. That information should be obvious on your resume. You don't volunteer or get a job to be different, but you do make those decisions based on who you are. What really set's you apart?

jb32 · Answer

The nursing home thing is pretty unique, I personally don't know anyone under 30 who's been in a nursing home. :wink:

j/k But seriously, the classical guitar thing is pretty cool. I'd be interested to hear about where you learned, who taught you, hpw long you've been playing, etc. Could be a good story to show hard work, discipline, and ability to conquer a difficult task. Like Terp said, don't sell yourself short.

buffdaddy · Answer

remember you only need to show uniqueness in your peer group. also your combinations make you unique, especially when you tell a formative story (like gixxer1000 said).

did u go on a football tour to raise money for the nursing home and you played guitar for the home to raise moral? (just kiddin, don't use that story if it aint ture

)

what I am trying to say is that don't just list that u play the guitar, soccer and visit nursing homes. Tell a story to showcase your uniqueness

) what I am trying to say is that don't just list that u play the guitar, soccer and visit nursing homes. Tell a story to showcase your uniqueness

ryguy904 · Answer

Skip #1. Nothing personal, but that's a snoozer story. To echo what others said, I'm much more interested in any of the things listed in #2.

perpetualmotion · Answer

Great responses, thanks. I'll think I'll focus on the guitar. I was totally facing a wall of writers block, but now that I have a topic, things should start moving.

vraptor · Answer

<img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt=":-D" title="Very Happy" />

deechi · Answer

I disagree on the first one being a snoozer. It shows dedication, ingenuity and a propensity to go the extra mile to make things happen.

All of which are requisites for success at the higher level and something that is hard to put forward when all you did was go to school, work a job and be marginally above average throughout.

I played up how I did my first few years of college while in the military and the logistics of what that meant and how that would give me a competitive edge in the future.

The challenge though is to show that you do maintain some sort of balance. During one of my interviews the interviewer actually said I seemed like a robot as a segue into asking me what else I did outside of work. Luckily, that's a question I could answer in my sleep, while drunk and I still got into T7 with a significant scholarship.

brainhurt · Answer

this thread is over 2 years old.

deechi · Answer

lol. Whoops

thisguy310 · Answer

Seeing how this thread is over 2 years old, I'm curious as to what the final chosen topic was!

bb · Answer

Not sure what the topic was but the OP got accepted into Boston University (his/her top choice) and got some $$$ scholarship.

The "unique" essay

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards