Name Advice in Personal Statement/Essay

[wmap]

Hello everyone,

I'm posting this to receive some advice on a particular part of my personal statement.

In my essay, I cite many experiences which include midshipmen at USNA, coaches, and teachers. I was wondering if I should include their name sin my essay or if that wasn't necessary. Please let me know.

Thanks.

 

[A1Janitor]

People can chime in with a better answer…

I would advise my son to not name names - I don’t think it can help (and maybe hinder). Focus on you, your accomplishments, your story.

 

[MidCakePa]

First, ask yourself: Is the person’s name “mission critical” to your story? Or is your point still made by referring to them as “a 3/C mid” or “a USNA professor” or “one of my teachers/coaches”? Unless the person’s exact name makes or breaks your essay — and I highly doubt it does — then protect their identity.

(I also presume that you’re not simply name-dropping. That and a dollar will buy you a cup of coffee. )

 

[Heatherg21]

Tell them something about you that your application doesn't already speak to. First, ANSWER THE PROMPT --- completely. If it's a two part prompt, answer both in their entirety.

Also, from BGO training in July, advice from admissions was this: Do not write a college essay. This is answer the prompts completely, tell us something only you can tell us doing so.

They know you want to attend. They know you attended the CVW. If something in you really felt that the experiences you had at the CVW cemented your desire to attend and lead 4 years later as a young junior officer, then write to that. But I agree, no names. Would likely hinder rather than help, and their names take up precious characters you can't spare.

 

[Kierkegaard]

I don’t think mentioning a name is inappropriate as much as it is simply unnecessary in most cases…You only have so many characters to work with, they should all serve a purpose. If you want to talk about your experience talking to midshipmen your candidate visit, would it really matter that you stayed with MIDN 4/C Door vs MIDN 4/C Gish?

 

[A1Janitor]

First, ask yourself: Is the person’s name “mission critical” to your story? Or is your point still made by referring to them as “a 3/C mid” or “a USNA professor” or “one of my teachers/coaches”? Unless the person’s exact name makes or breaks your essay — and I highly doubt it does — then protect their identity.

(I also presume that you’re not simply name-dropping. That and a dollar will buy you a cup of coffee. )

Where are you buying a cup of coffee?

 

[time2]

I can't see how their name would be relevant to your personal statement. Likely no one in USNA admissions will know your h.s. teachers/coaches, perhaps they could track down a particular mid you reference, but I can't see them having any reason to do that. Describing an influential situation about your h.s. teacher/coach isn't going to have a bigger impact if you refer them as Joe Smith vs. your h.s. soccer coach. I can see where it could detract from your statement if it comes across as name-dropping that you met Adm. Smith during a CVW, for example.