Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Essay Update, Foolish overconfidence(?), and the scary "veteran"

Just as predicted, I scrapped my long essay which I mentioned in my previous post. I think destiny was calling. I will need to rewrite the essay completely, though I can still borrow on a couple of points from the existing essay.

As I keep working on just one essay, I see the world around me finishing essays for multiple schools, getting them reviewed, and getting ready with an almost final version of the essays way before deadlines. Surprisingly, there is a lot more energy in the blogger community this year. I dont remember seeing so many people last year completing essays so long before the deadlines. I also noticed that most of my fellow bloggers are very excited about writing essays, no one except me finds it a pain ;) I just tell myself, they are of that kind :-))

Despite all this, I am feeling super-confident. Ok, that was a lie! But I am not very scared. I think I will finish all essays atleast on/before the deadline day. But some devil inside me keeps shouting, "you did that last year, see what happened. Are you foolish to repeat the same mistake?". No, no measure of convincing will make me believe that I am foolish, but I am bound by years of bad habit, to keep things for the last. I do that because when I am under pressure, the best in me flourishes - atleast, I like to believe that !

But there is one thing that really drives the bejeesus out of me. That's the word "veteran applicant" attached to my monicker everytime my blog is mentioned on Clear Admit(it's twice already, and I am counting:-)). I really need to get that tag off me, and I thank CA for reminding that I should start working on my apps(real fas) to ensure that I am not in the same ding-shoes next year. Thanks people at CA!

I still havent talked about which schools I plan to apply to. That's because the list isnt *quite* finalised yet. I know that's sad, as am I. I guess I will close that chapter this weekend. I have already talked to 2 recommenders of mine from last year, and they have agreed to write recos again. But I will have to coach them better this year; not sure how good a job they did last year. I am planning to rope in another recommender, who was my boss just a couple of months back, and who's appraisal review comments(they were pretty good) I just happened to recieve yesterday.

So, all in all, the wheel has started to move, but it needs to catch a helluva speed in the next month or so. I wish myself the very best ! :-)

10 comments:

Daniel B. said...

I agree about the "bloggers energy". I think that people has also done quite well on GMAT... tough competition! :)

aDreamMerchant said...

Hey Forrest, I think you know more than anybody that writing essay is one thing, writing a really good essay is another. Keep the faith. I understand that If you are going through the process again it becomes more tough. You can not change things. Your goals, your failure and your personality remains the same. Essentially you are the same person you were last year. But that’s the way it is. Give it your best shot and hope for the best

Iday said...

u still have a lot of time to finish the essays. Jus as the wheels have started rolling, they'll reach full speed pretty soon and u'll finish ur essays in time. Veteran or not, i think the essay writing process is pretty slow at the beginning for everyone :)

Juggler said...

you can still speed up. Why keep things till the last moment?

rungee582 said...

I also feel your pain on essays. It's not that I don't like the topics, but I'd rather just tell someone instead of having to write it all down. Especially b/c I spend a good portion of my day writing! Good luck w/ it.

Rico's Mom said...

I am on your side...I think this essay writing is a pain in the a$$! I've started my Stanford essay and have written about 3 different very bad versions. But I'm banking on my ability to work best under pressure just like you ;-) Let's hope that actually works!

And speaking of Clear Admit mentions...how does one get mentioned by Clear Admit? They are ignoring me and I'm beginning to feel offended! Is my writing that horrifying?!

Happy Friday everyone!

Forrest Gump said...

@@juggler -

i wish i had a reason, its just plain bad habit i should admit.

Forrest Gump said...

@@rungee - thanks :-)

@@mba_salsera - i think if you get yourself included in Hella's list (http://hella.opencoder.com) - your blog will flash in the latest updated blog list and the people at CA would notice.

Forrest Gump said...

@@mba_salsera : replace .com by .org in the URL above or you can go directly to http://hella.opencoder.org/archives/2006/06/27/pruning-the-mba-blogs/

Rico's Mom said...

But I am on that list and they still don't notice me! I'll have to go salsa dancing tomorrow night now just to go get some attention...damn I'm so needy! That's my excuse for the dancing and I'm sticking to it! ;-P

Good luck with the essays FG! I have just sacrificed drinks with friends for stanford essays...I'm learning to prioritize, it's hard but I'm trying.