In 500 Words or Less

Let’s be honest, seniors’ lives are stressful enough.  And the movie In 500 Words or Less does little to relieve it.  Already being swamped with the pressure of daunting college applications and homework overloads, last thing seniors need is a reminder of the impending deadlines that may determine their future success.  Seeing the one movie that conceptualizes this stress will leave seniors feeling incredibly overwhelmed.

The documentary In 500 Words or Less portrays the typical college application process shown through the lives of four high school seniors, each characterized by their own diverse backgrounds.  Now, maybe it was not the best movie to go see in the middle of applying; however, from an underclassman perspective, it would be a good preparation tool in understanding the expansive process.

The title refers to the dreaded college application essay in which applicants are given only 500 words to describe themselves as uniquely as possible, so each student will stand out to the application reviewers. What colleges really want to know is how each applicant became who they are today.

The four documented seniors all lead completely different lives, to which each KHS senior can in some way relate. Molly, a senior who loves sports, struggles with the idea her top college might not accept her. Leo, a first generation Dominican American, wants to overcome the stereotype that a Hispanic male from Yonkers, New York, can never succeed in life. He also struggles with a pushy mother, who only wants Leo’s life to be better than her own. Being biracial is a struggle for Lindsay, who also has to deal with her mother being terminally ill with cancer. Procrastination is one of the many characteristics of Michael, along with being the class clown, yet he has to try to live up to his sister, who has a successful life at Harvard University.

What was really frustrating is not one of the four seniors applied to a regular state school like University Missouri – Columbia. They applied to Georgetown, Princeton, Harvard, Columbia and other Ivy League Schools, yet all attended public high schools. This is unrealistic for an average high school student, and therefore made it difficult to relate. The movie did not offer any advice concerning standardized test taking skills or how to construct your essay, which was surprising based on the title.  Do not go into this movie hoping to come out with a better idea of how to individualize yourself, because you will come out disappointed.

The documentary is a good example for underclassmen on how to prepare for the extensive college application process. Parents, especially, who have yet to go through the process with their children, should see this movie to get a feel for their role during this stressful time. Reviewing the movie in the midst of application deadlines is not the smartest idea, however it gives comfort to realize students are not alone in their stress and application worries.

By the way, this review was exactly 500 words.