Welcome to the Candid Application Project.

I started this project in my last semester as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan. I was coming out of an eight-month span where I obsessed about my applications to law school. When I finally submitted all those essays and forms, it was the best feeling. And with some distance from this stressful period of my life, the application process and the idea of how people represent themselves on paper still interested me.  

While discussing this fascination with a few classmates, we ended up asking ourselves the question: “What is the biggest lie you’ve put on application?” It was surprisingly a fun conversation, as we reflected on our past mistakes and looked ahead to our next steps into adulthood. I found myself asking this question to a lot of different people. Most don’t immediately think of outright lies, but instead subtler forms of stretching the truth to make themselves appear more “put together.” The formula for so many application essays is to discuss a challenge or failure, and then end with a great flourish of how you overcame and are now a better person. But most of the time things aren’t that neat.

When I think about my answer to our project’s driving question, I go back to my applications to undergrad. My center piece essay was about my decision to stay in the US for college and my dual identities as an Australian and American. I thought this topic would be perfect for college admissions, it had everything: diversity, personal struggle, and nice conclusion:

I am a hybrid of two countries. Pieces of both cultures have shaped my life and character. I have grown to love each for what they have provided me: an easy going attitude, an academic drive, a sense of humor, an excellent education, and a unique perspective on life. I may not be certain of which nation I belong to, but I am certain of one thing, myself.

When I applied to law school I decided to look back at this essay for some ideas of what to write about in the obligatory “explain how you contribute to diversity” question. I was mortified when I read the passage above. While not poorly written or a lie, I was not that certain of myself and my decision. To me now, this passage reads as corny and fake. This made me think about what would have happened if I was more honest about my feelings when I wrote this essay. Leading me to rework my original undergrad essay for law school admissions, but with a more honest perspective:

My mother told me that before she would leave for the US, she had to own some Australian land. She needed to know that she had a piece of the soil, the grass, and the air waiting for her. Growing up I yearned for that type of romanticism. With my decision to stay in America and pursue a law degree, I have discovered my own way to express love for my country. I want to commit myself to working for the public interest and help institute change for the betterment of people’s lives. Although I choose to do this in America, my dual identity is very important to me.

I came to write this passage after reflecting candidly on what it meant to me to belong to both countries. While in my first undergraduate essay I focused on what sounded good and projected confidence, this time I wanted to write about what felt right to me.

Thinking back on how I approached my law school applications, the word “candid” stuck out to me. I like this description because being candid can be different kinds of honesty and it doesn’t have to mean unpolished. With this word in my head, I became inspired by the idea of an assignment like Learning to Love You More and making it easier for people to experience being candid in an application. Learning from the engagement projects at the University of Michigan Museum of Art, I developed the project and a purpose. I wanted to create a space for reflection and participation without comment or judgment that gives people the opportunity to be candid and reflect anonymously, helping them add complexity to their writing and humanizing the application process.

I hope the Candid Application helps you find purpose and a little more honesty in your writing, both from participation and by learning from the candid experience of all our applicants.

Thank you so much for joining us,

Julia, Founder The Candid Application Project