Venting!

I completely understand that admissions committees want to get to know you beyond what they can learn from your education and work experience...but why all the essays?! Don't they realize how stressful these are? Don't they realize that applicants spend more time trying to figure out what they're supposed to say than what they want to say? I personally think everyone would be much happier if we could just sit down and talk about our favorite movies over coffee and doughnuts.