Application Question

lil3laiin3laiin

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Jan 28, 2009
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I have come across these questions and would like some clarification.

Have you ever experienced any exceptional adversity that we should know about?

What are the range of events that qualify as "exceptional adversity"?

Have you had a unique life experience of which we should be aware?

What are considered "unique life experiences"? Say does attending an internet/online high school count as an "unique life experiences" or does competing in an international piano competition count as an "unique life experiences."

Thanks ahead of time for all your clarifications.
 
My own two cents as a fellow USNA 2010 applicant:

Even though they asked "Have you..." and gave you an option to say no, for those two questions they probably *REALLY* want you to say yes. That doesn't mean you have to have done any superhuman, heroic tasks. They want this to be simply a short essay (albeit a 255 character or less essay...) to make yourself more than just a bunch of numbers and checkboxes.

So approach these questions as you would any college application short essay. Whatever you feel is most appropriate works best, you know your life far better than any of us. And remember, you may be tempted to refer to other activities or events and cram 2 things into 1 question, but 255 is by no means long enough to do so. Keep it on topic!

Pick something that:
  • Has meaning to you and will allow Admissions to view you as a unique person, not just a set of checkmarked, canned responses
  • Shows a time you have grown morally or otherwise
 
You do not need to answer this question. What USNA is looking for is something -- if anything -- that is unique about your upbringing that, in some cases, may explain deficiencies in your packet. Examples they gave us included: living in a home where English is not the primary language; needing to work to support a family; living in a car; losing one or both parents and having to raise sibllings, etc; being the victim of a crime, being in high school in a foreign country; living most of your life abroad, etc. It need NOT be a sob story and, quite honestly, not everyone will have had a unique life experience.
 
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