How to Write Your Yale Short Takes Essays 2020-2021 (Part 2)

If you want to go to Yale, you have to work for it.

Both by being an amazing student with incredible teacher recommendations...

And by writing seven supplemental essays. 

I already discussed the first Short Take, "What inspires you?" Today, let's explore the next question:

Yale’s residential colleges regularly host conversations with guests representing a wide range of experiences and accomplishments. What person, past or present, would you invite to speak? What question would you ask? (200 characters / 35 words)

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So. 

​Let's say I'm the same girl from How to Write Your "Optional" COVID-19 Essay. I've sat down and thought about some of my quirks, talents, and interests, and come up with this:

What is interesting/special/unique about me that I haven't had a chance to share yet? 

• I've spent four years studying Latin and one year studying Greek. I don't know if I want to major in classics, but it's been a huge part of my life.
• I'm late for almost every class — because I'm always staying late having interesting discussions with my teacher from the previous class. 
• For my senior project, I am writing a full-length play; I have already written and directed one full-length play for my school's drama club.
• I loved AP Stats.
• I read for pleasure. This summer, I read My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton; Edible Wild Plants: Wild Foods From Dirt to Plate; and Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need.

Now, I'm going to reverse engineer my answer to this question. After all, Yale doesn't care about whom I'd ask to speak — Yale cares about me. So let's think of a way to say something interesting about me. 

Before committing to the first idea you think of, come up with several — then choose the best. 

Here's my first sample short takes essay:

Yale’s residential colleges regularly host conversations with guests representing a wide range of experiences and accomplishments. What person, past or present, would you invite to speak? What question would you ask? 


Archeologist Chris Smart, who used lidar to discover ancient ruins. From his bedroom. During COVID. “Do you have advice about starting collaborations—especially for those bold enough to pursue a “worthless” major?

​
This answer shows my interest in applying a "dead" language, using the latest technology, in a modern context.​ It also shows that I value multiple kinds of intelligence.

​This could work. This could definitely work. But let's brainstorm a few more ideas. 

Yale’s residential colleges regularly host conversations with guests representing a wide range of experiences and accomplishments. What person, past or present, would you invite to speak? What question would you ask? 


​​Blake Snyder, in Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need, you turned the art of writing into a precise science. As a writer, how can I make sure I’m never replaced by a GAN?

This answer shows that not only am I interested in writing and creating, but that I am open to learning about and developing my art. This... is surprisingly rare. Many (most?) artists only want to create. They are not interested in the experience, input, or feedback of others. By actively seeking out reading material to improve my art, I've set myself apart from other, similar applicants. 

Self-directedness in your learning is a highly-desirable trait, so it is impressive that I've read this book outside of class, beyond the scope or requirements of any assignment. 

I'm trying to show that I've engaged deeply with the material by asking a question that shows I've formed an opinion about the book ("You've basically turned an art into a precise, step-by-step science") and am thinking about not only how I can be a better writer today, but how I can make myself indispensable in the future. 

The annoying thing about this is that most people won't know who Blake Snyder is, so I had to describe him, and the title of his book is super long, which cut into my character count. However, I'm okay with this sacrifice, because I want them to know that I read a book for pleasure and self-improvement on my own time. 

Now let's say I want to highlight my enjoyment of and success in AP Stats:

Yale’s residential colleges regularly host conversations with guests representing a wide range of experiences and accomplishments. What person, past or present, would you invite to speak? What question would you ask? 


Peter Turchin, you invented cliodynamics and predicted in 2012 that 2020 would bring violence and social upheaval. What do you wish you’d done to ensure your statistics would prevent, rather than simply predict?​
​

2020 is a mess -- I will help make it more manageable!

This doesn't make it super clear that I love stats... but I do think it's a compelling question. ​Now, let's say I want to talk about some of my pleasure reading:

Yale’s residential colleges regularly host conversations with guests representing a wide range of experiences and accomplishments. What person, past or present, would you invite to speak? What question would you ask? 


Stephanie Dray, author of My Dear Hamilton. “What’s truer: historical fact that does little to convey a lived, emotional reality, or historical fiction, which blurs reality but stirs deeper understanding?”
​

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I've been kind of obsessed with historical fiction lately, so this is a question I would actually ask. 

​Similarly: 

Yale’s residential colleges regularly host conversations with guests representing a wide range of experiences and accomplishments. What person, past or present, would you invite to speak? What question would you ask? 


​John Kallas, author, Edible Wild Plants. “Dr. Kallas, few people make money doing what they actually love. Was it harder to find success as a forager—or easier, since most people follow a safer path?”
​

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So now, I've come up with several possibilities for this short-answer question:

• Archeologist Chris Smart, who used lidar to discover ancient ruins. From his bedroom. During COVID. “Do you have advice about starting collaborations—especially for those bold enough to pursue a “worthless” major?
• ​​​Blake Snyder, in Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need, you turned the art of writing into a precise science. As a writer, how can I make sure I’m never replaced by a GAN?
• ​Peter Turchin, you invented cliodynamics and predicted in 2012 that 2020 would bring violence and social upheaval. What do you wish you’d done to ensure your statistics would prevent, rather than simply predict?​
• ​Stephanie Dray, author of My Dear Hamilton. “What’s truer: historical fact that does little to convey a lived, emotional reality, or historical fiction, which blurs reality but stirs deeper understanding?”
• ​​John Kallas, author, Edible Wild Plants. “Dr. Kallas, few people make money doing what they actually love. Was it harder to find success as a forager—or easier, since most people follow a safer path?”

So how do I decide which one to use?

1. Ask a couple of people to read them and give me their feedback. Were any of these confusing? Did any feel cliched or naive? What are the main assumptions you would have about me after reading each of these? 

My advice about feedback is that it's really important to ask one or two people — a parent, a college counselor, a friend — for feedback. But the more you refine your essays, the more the feedback is going to come down to subjective preferences, rather than objective flaws. 

You have to remember that there is a LOT of bad advice out there ("Don't answer the COVID essay unless COVID killed your whole family" — WRONG! "Don't write a service trip or teen travel essay" — ALSO WRONG!). Don't fall prey.

At the end of the day, you have to make the choice that feels most true and authentic to you, regardless of people's feedback. 

2. Finish writing the other Yale essays, then revisit this section to see which answers are the most complementary.

You have a tiny space to tell them about your whole, huge life. Be strategic. Figure out what else you want them to know, then figure out a way to tell them.

***

In my next post, I will walk you through the rest of the Yale essay prompts. If you can't wait, or you want more help, check out my rates and services, then contact me.