Clark Simcoe

Admissions Counselor
(he/him/his)

Home Admissions & Aid Contact Us Find Your Counselor Clark Simcoe

Email: csimcoe@wjxrbsyxgs.com
Text: 540-254-5850
Regions: Florida, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming

Short Answer Prompt

To help jumpstart your brainstorming and to demonstrate that we empathize with the challenges you face in applying to college, our staff has published their own responses to our supplemental short-answer prompts. We hope you'll enjoy learning a bit about us and will feel more comfortable showcasing something new about yourself. Remember, these are optional, and you are asked to submit only one.

Prompt #1 (Max 250 Words or 2-Minute Video)
250 words or less or max 2-minute video: Please describe an aspect of your life outside of school that is important to you, such as an extracurricular activity, a job, or a family responsibility. How has your involvement shaped your personal qualities and growth, and how has it impacted those around you? Learning a musical instrument was the most consequential decision of my life. My experiences with music sparked intellectual and personal growth that led to many of my accomplishments and milestones. I never needed encouragement or persuasion to practice musical skills. However, I was not a prodigy by any means. I began playing trumpet at the age of eleven. In high school, I continued to expand my abilities and began winning awards. The highlight of my musical education was placing in the top quarter of competitors at the National Trumpet Competition. Experiencing this progression of talent and ability sparked a lifelong mindset that a person does not need to be naturally gifted to achieve success. I continue to live with the attitude that I can and should try anything in this life. In my youth, it was this mentality that steered me to a liberal arts and sciences based education. I wanted the flexibility to pursue a range of subjects, topics, and passions. As I age, I have applied this perspective to career changes, community service outlets and personal relationships. Career changes or opportunities to serve local non-profits may seem quite unrelated to music. But, to me, these are a direct result of my mindset gained while learning a musical instrument. I play trumpet much less than I used to. But I know that the confidence and adventurous spirit gained from music during my formative years will continue to impact me for the rest of my life.

Prompt #1 (Max 250 Words or 2-Minute Video)

250 words or less or max 2-minute video: Please describe an aspect of your life outside of school that is important to you, such as an extracurricular activity, a job, or a family responsibility. How has your involvement shaped your personal qualities and growth, and how has it impacted those around you?

Learning a musical instrument was the most consequential decision of my life. My experiences with music sparked intellectual and personal growth that led to many of my accomplishments and milestones.

I never needed encouragement or persuasion to practice musical skills. However, I was not a prodigy by any means. I began playing trumpet at the age of eleven. In high school, I continued to expand my abilities and began winning awards. The highlight of my musical education was placing in the top quarter of competitors at the National Trumpet Competition. Experiencing this progression of talent and ability sparked a lifelong mindset that a person does not need to be naturally gifted to achieve success. I continue to live with the attitude that I can and should try anything in this life.

In my youth, it was this mentality that steered me to a liberal arts and sciences based education. I wanted the flexibility to pursue a range of subjects, topics, and passions. As I age, I have applied this perspective to career changes, community service outlets and personal relationships. Career changes or opportunities to serve local non-profits may seem quite unrelated to music. But, to me, these are a direct result of my mindset gained while learning a musical instrument.

I play trumpet much less than I used to. But I know that the confidence and adventurous spirit gained from music during my formative years will continue to impact me for the rest of my life.

Admissions & Aid