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Top 147 Successful College Essays
Get into the college of your dreams! We hope these essays inspire you as you write
your own personal statement. Just remember to be original and creative as you share
your story.

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1. Describe the world you come from

Most children acquire the same eye color or a similar shaped nose from their
parents, but I�ve inherited much more: a passion for learning and an insatiable
curiosity which has served me well throughout my academic career. My father, an
electrical engineer, taught me to explore the world with inquis...Read more
2. My World, My Dreams
Most children acquire the same eye color or a similar shaped nose from their
parents, but I've inherited much more: a passion for learning and an insatiable
curiosity which has served me well throughout my academic career. My father, an
electrical engineer, taught me to explore the world with in...Read more
3. Defining Yourself
Looking back at freshman year, my life was like a cityscape, busy and vibrant. I
was just another young soul eager to meet life�s challenges. I proudly reached
certain goals that defined the student I wanted to be: made it into the science
institute: check, varsity soccer: check, a natio...Read more
4. Untitled (Prompt #1)
Dreams are shaped by ideals and families shape the beliefs we grasp so strongly.
Someday I want to save and change lives through a medical career. Because my family
has taught me that change can be positive and radical in altering lives, I hope to
hold that ability someday. I seek the power to impro...Read more
5. Describe a Person Who�s Had an Influence on You - "Dad"
Violent staccatos of the jackhammer coupled with rhythmic pounding of nails and
muffled obscenities comprise the symphony of the construction site that has been my
father�s accompaniment more than half of his life. While initially a position as a
laborer seemed appealing to a junior in high sc...Read more
6. Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or
experience
I am an Internet entrepreneur. Since age 12, I have coded and designed websites --
for my school, the local community, and as a personal hobby and pastime. In fact, I
started my own Internet business in 2004 and was hired as a webmaster by Intel
Corporation this past summer. I also volunteer my free...Read more
7. Untitled (Prompt #2)
Mirrors exist to show our outer appearance but nothing beyond that. Only our
actions, words, and ideas could possibly represent the personal qualities that
matter. The true worth of a person is revealed in those glimpses of light in the
midst of adversity and darkness. Those traits that are highly a...Read more

8. Stanford Supplement - Short Essays

I am an Internet entrepreneur. Since age 12, I have coded and designed websites --
for my school, the local community, and as a personal hobby and pastime. In fact, I
started my own Internet business in 2004 and was hired as a webmaster by Intel
Corporation this past summer. I also volunteer my free...Read more
9. The Pen Drill�
I wended my way through the first through fourth grades mostly without speaking. My
presentations during that time went in two parts: a stilted �My name is ---,� then
some sort of pantomime. So I was surprised when I got a part in the class play,
notwithstanding that everybody got a part. I played t...Read more
10. UC Essays - Describe your world & personal talent
I'm a fifth generation Californian who's picked up a few of the habits of the
region, among them surfing and computer programming. What does this mean? Having a
foot in both worlds gives me a sense of balance and perspective. Beyond that,
surfing has influenced my software coding and future ...Read more
11. Stanford Supplement
When I moved from Long Beach, CA to Philadelphia, PA in the seventh grade, I
encountered an environment far different from the one I had become accustomed to.
In Long Beach, every day was a struggle for survival. By the age of nine, I had
witnessed the death of my mother and one of my best friends g...Read more
12. MIT Short Essays
Each weekend, I teach karate to kids ages 3-12. As I show the "Little Ninjas" how
to position their hands to do a clean shoulder roll, or I help the "Young Tigers"
break down a tricky section of the Two-Man Bo Staff form, any frustration or
tiredness I might have felt before ente...Read more
13. Short Responses
The Matrix series, for the intriguing philosophical questions and the ground-
breaking originality of the action film-making.Success Built to Last, by Jerry
Porras, for its great pieces of life wisdom that encourage me to follow my passions
in a way that serves the world and me.Wired News, a sleek ma...Read more
14. Topic of your Choice - "Rainfall on Ink"
Last night I was thinking about ink. When rain falls on a handwritten page, the ink
spreads out a bit, loses its crispness. It�s rarely pleasant. But every now and
then, hidden colors emerge. Suddenly you discover that simple black ink is green
and shades of blue and a fragile pink edge. If so...Read more

15. Intellectual Vitality (Harvard Supplement)

"Place yourself in the middle of the stream of power and wisdom which animates all
whom it floats, and you are without effort impelled to truth, to right and a
perfect contentment." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, Spiritual Laws As a transcendentalist,
Emerson found inspiration in places where "the str...Read more
16. Engineering Essay
Last Sunday I realized, again and more fully than ever, why I want to immerse
myself in engineering. I awoke in the midmorning, still drifting yet well-rested.
In those dreamlike moments before opening my eyes, fragments of thought, old and
new, began to coalesce into ideas that I immediately felt a...Read more
17. Stanford Short Essay Responses
It is my belief that paddling out into the lineup through a bank of heavy mist and
suddenly finding yourself unable to see the shore is among the most surreal and
inspiring experiences a person can have. As fellow wave riders � strangers and
friends � wink out of your sphere of sight and...Read more
18. Penn Supplement
In grade 9, I started messing around with Google Sketchup. It began casually and
soon blossomed into an obsession � I would refuse repeated calls for dinner, intent
on figuring out the placement of a room or object. I remember trying to virtually
remodel our apartment when my brother looked ov...Read more
19. Harvard Supplement - "Tennis"
At the corner of each eye lie little crinkle lines, tip-offs to her mood: they
might be laughing, or exhausted, or some days furious and fed up with people. If
she�s worried about her own affairs she tries to hide it, but rarely can. She never
hides her anger, her glee, or her fierce, well-deserved ...Read more
20. Describe a Person who has Influenced Your Life - "Grandma"
��ington, party of thirty, your tables are ready,� announced the hostess.After
being seated at three large white round tables with folding white chairs, the real
Clam Bake began. We attacked the buffet tables, buttered our lobsters, and still
had room for dessert. While devou...Read more
21. Prompt #5: Transition from Childhood to Adulthood
As soon as I walked out of the salon, though, I received looks of ridicule and
sneering from passing strangers, the first showings of mockery that I soon learned
to endure alongside jeers like: �When did you fall into a pit of radioactive goo?�
�Who forgot to clean up their crayon ...Read more

22. Memories: from Then to Now

While looking through my stacks of pictures, I realize how important
the memories in my all-school photos are to me. One particular picture, from ninth
grade, is especially significant not because I like to look at what my classmates
or teachers l...Read more
23. Yale Supplement Essay
It�s never easy to appreciate something unconventional. Just ask the people who
attended the premiere of Igor Stravinsky�s , a performance infamous for sparking a
riot, reducing the proud composer to tears. Even as a passionate musician, I had
trouble finding value in any of Stravinsky�s avant-garde...Read more
24. Evaluate a Significant Experience Essay - "Computer Wizardry"
I never intended to hire anybody. In fact, I never sought to obtain employment
myself. I was too busy having fun with computers to be bothered with any of that.
But as soon as you know how to hit "ctrl-alt-delete," it seems everyone wants tech
support, and one thing leads to another.All I&...Read more
25. The World I Come From
It is incredible how social environment plays such a great role in a person�s
holistic development. It is like the butterfly effect on an individual, yet grand
scale. Each decision is like a ripple that spreads out uniformly, increases many
fold, and eventually changes the person�s futur...Read more
26. Essay: Interest in math, science, or engineering
Over the phone, my dad described what was happening as he lifted the cover off of
the viewing portal. Suddenly, he began to laugh uncontrollably: the robotic
mousetrap I had built out of LEGO Mindstorms had actually caught a rat! On the
other end of the line, my 8-year-old self also collapsed in lau...Read more
27. A Break Well Spent
"Thank God for Starbucks," I mutter under my breath when I spot the all too
familiar siren inspired logo as we walk into the hotel lobby. With my mocha in
hand, I set about exploring the Marriott Copley Square, home of United Synagogue
Youth's International Convention 2012. Slowly but ...Read more
28. Short Extracurricular Activities Essay - "Volleyball Co-captain"
Mr. Trupe, World History teacher and former Torrey Pines volleyball coach, was
taken aback when he heard I was an athlete. "Kevin�you play volleyball? I could
knock you down with my breath!" It's true�I'm 5'10" and a flimsy 130 pounds. I
don't have the fram...Read more
29. Northwestern Supplement - Engineering & Music
Passionate about both science and music, I find Northwestern�s exceptional
undergraduate engineering and music programs extremely appealing. The unique
opportunity for me to combine McCormick and Bienen into one dual-degree program is
even more attractive, allowing me to receive certification ...Read more
30. Alcohol's Daughter
Dear Jack Daniels, Bacardi, Budweiser, the other suppliers of my mother's closet
laundry basket, and Edna Ferber Elementary, Thank you.It is the summer before
Kindergarten. Face ashen, she stumbles toward me, the heavy footfalls syncing with
my throbbing heart. I wait as she feebly attempts to p...Read more
31. Stanford MS in Computer Science
I'm hoping to do an MS in Computer Science at Stanford so that I can become more
technical and obtain the skills I need to build the software that I want to exist,
rather than just imagine it. I've had several jobs in technology-related fields, as
an investment banker and as an early non-technical e...Read more
32. Major of Choice
I am very attracted to the opportunity to explore the offerings at MIT�s Read more
33. It's Not Just A Sport
I step up to the starting line-palms sweating, heart racing. Three short blasts
of a whistle followed by one long blast and the trembling commences. After three
nerve-wracking seconds, the gun goes off. I am perfectly content when I set foot
on the track. The tra...Read more
34. UPenn Supplement - Community
I see the beauty in our natural assembly of neurons, the splendor of circuits in
digital chips, and of course the undying symphony of computer code running through
a compiler. As a firm believer of the values of interdisciplinary education, I
embrace Benjamin Franklin's drive to create an intellectu...Read more
35. The Colour of Passion
I tried to hold the canvas as close to me as possible without risking touching it.
It was dry, but with oil paints you never really know. It�s painting care 101:
Don�t move your painting around when it�s wet. Any artist worth her salt knows
that. But if you had spent the bett...Read more
36. Yale Supplement
She wore a fluffy elf cap�powder pink, of course�and at barely an arm�s length, she
already sported wispy hair and delicate fingers and toes. Still, her puffy eyes
seemed too big for her tiny visage, which seemed curled into an eternal�scowl?
Gingerly, I poked one chubby cheek. �Not cute at all,� I ...Read more
37. Dear Future Roommate
As much as I had hoped our introductions would be made in person, I am just as glad
that we will know each other before we even meet.Like the people around me would
say, I try my best to brighten everyone�s mood. But first, I have to keep myself in
high spirits in order to help others, right? ...Read more
38. What You Do For Fun
I love listening to hard rock and heavy metal music. I find these music genres
liberating because they pump me up and help me release stress. I enjoy doing this
so much that I am an expert at games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band, which I
play with friends or alone just for the plea...Read more
39. Stanford Profile Questions
Lord of the Rings/The Silmarillion - Tolkien; G�del, Escher, Bach - Hofstadter;
Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman - Feynman; The Code Book - Singh; The Elegant
Universe - Greene. Films: Gattaca, Chariots of Fire. Music: Simon & Garfunkel,
Basshunter.NYTimes.com, ScientificAmerican.com, ...Read more
40. Massaging My Malady
I have a disease, an ambiguous disease that coerces me into festering in a
ridiculous situation until it�s even more ludicrous resolution and compels me to
exacerbate the event by my own capricious nature. With neither cure nor vaccination
for this disease, it can develop at any age. Its sympt...Read more
41. Intellectual Vitality
My life is a series of intense fascinations, which I dive into headfirst.
Age ten. My dad shows me a family tree, and genealogy piques my interest. I collect
data about my own family, interviewing relatives whenever I can, and construct a
tree spanning hundreds ...Read more
42. Balancing Acts
The air was that of a stagnant summer, stifling hot and stubbornly unmoving. The
dirt road that snaked through the idyllic Taiwanese countryside had rattled the
old, blue pickup truck for over an hour before it had shuddered to a stop. Stepping
out onto the muddy riverbank, I anticipated the surpris...Read more
43. Why Engineering/CS
As my thoughts drifted by with snapshots of scenes of the most memorable parts of
my summer, I realized more fully than ever why I love engineering:June 21st,
2014Standing in the dim auditorium at the University of Texas in Austin, I
nervously gulped as I nodded at my First Bytes computer science ca...Read more
44. What Newsweek Taught Me
I was in 9th grade the first time I stumbled upon a copy of What caught my eye was
its trademark title: white type, red highlight, a connotation that stories of great
consequence lay beneath. Such bold lettering gave me a moment�s pause, and I was
prompted to leaf through its glossy pages...Read more
45. Intellectual Development Essay for Stanford
I remember one of the worst moments of being a child is when you're bursting with
something to say, and your parents just don�t have the time to acknowledge you.
"Listen to me!" I would roar inside my head. Perhaps they could have turned and
said, "Alex, you've...Read more
46. Caltech Short Answers
Double-period AP Chemistry at my high school was notorious for its brutality. Come
the spring, my grade in the class was hovering at an 89% for the first time ever,
in any subject.When someone found the answers to the textbook problems online,
there was a rush on the part of many students to use the...Read more
47. UPenn Supplement - Business & Technology
2 months of coding and design. Endless all-nighters. Now, the time had come. The
service was set to go live the following day. 1 day later: 6 countries. 1 week
later: 14 countries. 3 months later: 78 countries.My first attempt at creating an
online service was the result of a desire to help those st...Read more
48. intended major
I am an artist; a strange blossom of creativity sticking out awkwardly from a
long lineage of electrical and later electronic engineers, like a lonely flower on
a big, rigid cactus plant. Behind me, I have eight consistent years of rigorous
education in the practice of Fine ...Read more
49. Culture Shock?
I love sitting by the Haft-Seen, surrounded by family, at the turn of another solar
year on the first day of spring. I love listening to my dad pray for us with the
Quran before him. I love the smell of our traditional foods wafting from the
kitchen.For that one day I am truly an Iranian; before I r...Read more
50. Post-Colonial African Conflict
Post-Colonial African Conflict After World War II, the people of Africa
fought to end the effects of European imperialism to achieve political independence
and reclaim African culture. After many years of being controlled by Eur...Read
more
51. Why Carnegie Mellon University?
However, unlike them, since my childhood I constantly thought about and tinkered
with the things that permeate our everyday lives � often technology items, like
phones and software. But stories, ideas and how to communicate different messages
was equally of interest.My enthusiasm in both areas...Read more
52. How To Be Happy
Everyone longs to be <a href="http://www.happy.com">happy</a>. Some people seem
happy regardless of whatever they are going through in their lives. Others feel
secure and satisfied even when they do not have the material things that other
persons have. Another group seems happy...Read more
53. Piano Improvisation
After a long school day, I frequently come home and rush straight to my piano,
where I close my eyes and play out my emotions. But though I have been playing
traditional piano for ten years, you will be hard-pressed to find me churning out a
vigorous Chopin etude for fun; instead, my greatest joy co...Read more
54. Lessons from Failure Essay � "Piano"
And I stand up, my dark blue dress cascading down my legs, the last note still
echoing in my ears. Silence.Then, a thunderous applause rattles every bone in my
body. I bow. It gets louder.Carnegie Hall. This was supposed to be a dream,
seemingly unattainable. Yet, here I am. Looking bac...Read more
55. Break Your Wrist
Break your wrist. Feel your bone cracking, your sinew twisting, your nerves
splitting. You slipped while doing roundhouse kicks and landed on your wrist
instead. The paper-thin padding of the dojo does nothing to cushion the impact with
the concrete beneath. The master wraps your broken wrist in the...Read more
56. Northwestern Supplement - "Juggling Extracurriculars"
Sweat drips onto my violin as we are filing into the auditorium.I just arrived from
a basketball game, I�m not nervous. However, that changes when I realize that I
still have my basketball shoes on. And that I still have a plethora of edits to
make in the newspaper room. And that I have three ...Read more
57. Why Columbia
At a college visit this year, I met a Columbia alumnus named Ayushi, whose stories
helped me develop a thorough understanding of Columbia. Ayushi told me that
Columbia funded both her summer trip to Syria to interview refugees and her seed
money for a start-up she launched. As an aspiring entreprene...Read more
58. Brown Short Answers
Cybersecurity is a fascinating intersection of two of my passions: computer
science and political science. It is relevant to every aspect of society today,
from the military to the medical sector. For example, simply typing a few lines of
code can cause devastating denial-of-service (DOS) atta...Read more
59. Asian-American Background
?In 7th grade, a classmate told the table that all East Asians were either hot or
ugly. It won a few agreements, but I sat stunned. �What am I?� I demanded. His face
scrunched up a little. At the time, I was 12-years-old, and I was plain. He,
however, had summed up ...Read more
60. Stanford Supplement (Chemical Engineer)
�Let�s use sodium sulfide,� I decided.I snatched the bottle labeled NaS and placed
three drops of the foul-smelling liquid into a well on the well-plate. Then, I
added some of the clear unknown solution I had been given and watched the reaction
unfold. Upon contact, the two combined to form an obvio...Read more
61. Yale Short Answers
Computer Science, Economics, ItalianI see computer science as a refined way of
thinking that allows me to find solutions to all types of queries. To me, economics
is finding patterns in the ways that people make choices. I want to study both
computer science and economics to develop a solid understa...Read more
62. Science Fiction
I told him that it was like aliens. Like flying saucers. Like Star Wars. Like
Transformers. But no matter what analogy I made, the little boy standing in front
of me could not grasp the concept of science fiction. �Does that mean you can�t
shrink this?� The little boy revealed a small, green H...Read more
63. What matters to you, and why?
�Look at her. She�s your baby sister.� I curiously walk over to the crib on the
right of my mommy�s bed and stare down at this so-called �sister.� Suddenly, her
mouth twitches as she chews on a strange object.Memories. My first was of March
2nd, 1998, the day my s...Read more
64. Resource in Mind
I only allow myself to watch one movie in theatres every year. Although some people
may view me as cheap, my frugal nature has been a strong source of my self-
identity. This sense of resourcefulness is apparent throughout my family�s
activities, whether it is cooking our own dinner or bargaini...Read more
65. Education is my life
Many scholars have come up with different definitions for the concept
of education. Some motivational speakers call it �the key to success�. Others refer
to it as the backbone of our society. Many leaders, especially duri...Read more
66. Vagary
I should have been on a train back home, hours ago. Instead, I was standing under
the looming flicker of the departures board, weary of the word . Suitcases packed,
stacked and shipped, I had just enough to escape. I needed, more than anything, to
escape. Sharp inhale. Dial.�I�m going to Europe.� I ...Read more
67. NMR Spectroscopy
Had my synthesis reaction worked�yes or no? It was a simple question, but I had
already spent hours trying to answer it in vain. As much as I loved chemistry, my
patience was wearing thin. Midnight had come and gone three hours ago, and the long
evening had taken its toll. With bleary eyes I pored o...Read more
68. What alternatives to transferring to Harvard are you considering?
I am overwhelmed by the rules and precepts that are observed in the college.
Harvard is a school built on strong christian foundations and this has influenced
my body, soul and spirit to be in that college. I am someone who is so much
concerned about my spiritual life and all the rules and pre...Read more
69. "The Pub"
I never knew I�d find a second home. I guess it waltzed itself into my life the
moment I timidly walked into the advanced journalism �pub,� sitting down next to
the only other freshmen who had been accepted onto staff that year, a tall,
ungainly-looking boy with a brilliant grin and a girl who looke...Read more
70. Princeton Short Answers
For the last three years, I have savored the intellectual stimulation and pressure-
filled competition of Public Forum debate, but I have also grown tired of my
favorite activity being dominated by boys. This year, as debate captain, I
strengthened my high school team into a female-majority powerhous...Read more
71. "Ubiquity" - Idea or experience that is intellectually engaging
Ubiquity is a beautiful piece of software. With constant use, it becomes part of
you. All the world�s knowledge resides in your fingers. It�s the extension of a
man�s mind, the slow but inevitable fusion of the brain and the computer.But,
sitting on a soft couch at a Starbucks in c...Read more
72. Why Rice
"We are going to visit Rice today" My mom leaned back in her front row seat and
said to me. My brain went into a frenzy.All other questions flooding my thoughts
dissipated, however, when my eyes lay on Rice's beautiful Byzantine styled
buildings with its magnificent archways...Read more
73. Football and Journalism
One bead of sweat splashes across the newspaper headline. Still dressed in full
football pads, I sit alone in the journalism computer lab, editing copy a few
minutes before 9 p.m. Three hours after football practice, my cleats, untied,
remain stuck on my feet and I have barely even made a dent in th...Read more
74. UChicago Long Essay
The letter X is a two-dimensional figure, but it takes three dimensions to draw.
After tracing the first line on the paper, you need to pull the pen upwards and
move across a third dimension, through the air, before dropping it back down onto
the paper and making a second stroke to complete the X.Th...Read more
75. Common App Prompt 1: �You�re not going to school today�
Six a.m. and my mom�s shaking me awake. I open my crusty eyes and stare at her,
bleary-eyed. My eleven year old eyes struggle to focus, in need of glasses and
lacking the money to purchase them. She�s dressed in sweats and a ratty T-shirt,
and it�s obvious where she needs to be.&ld...Read more
76. New Me
It was always, and still is, entertaining to listen to the botched attempts of my
teachers to pronounce my last name. Lost in a fusion of languages, I entered the
English Language Learners Program where I felt the pressure of always being a step
behind those around me. Outside of class each day was ...Read more
77. Common App Prompt #1 � "Half"
My brother and I have never thought twice about the technicality of being twins. It
has always been, for us, a matter of fact. Growing up, our mom was completely open
about it, rarely missing the opportunity to point across East 68th street to remind
us, �And that�s where you were frozen...Read more
78. UPenn Supplement - Autobiography (Robotics)
It moved timidly at first, its gears slowly churning as it felt the spark of life
flow through its wires. Slowly, it turned, rotating on its treads, as it scanned
the arena for any signs of movement. Its light sensors on the alert, it sensed that
something was near. It nudged forward as it felt its ...Read more
79. Day One
"Take my advice, I've been here for a while." How long? What did you do? "Don't get
on anybody's nerves, don't tell the doctors the truth, and don't forget to
smile."The car comes to a quick stop, the kind that should have smashed my knees
into the back of the...Read more
80. Clarinets, Calluses, and Chemisty
For as exclusive as it was, Copley's soloist room was rather simple, furnished with
only a piano and a bench. It was narrow too: the architect must not have considered
the consequences of claustrophobia before a solo performance. In any case, I took a
seat on the bench and started to set up my clari...Read more
81. Karate Extracurricular Essay - "Little Ninjas"
Every weekend after my karate class, I volunteer for an hour and a half teaching
kids ages 3-12. The first class is the "Little Ninjas," who are just 3-5 years old.
These are among my favorites to teach because they have no preconceptions or
attitude. They look at you unjudgmentally and li...Read more
82. Western Civilization
Sometimes all it takes is one person, or one assignment, to make an indelible
impact. In my case, freshman year Western Civilization and my eccentric teacher
allowed me to learn the benefit of hard work and determination. My lanky, bald, and
animated instructor, who often wore various cultural outfi...Read more
83. Defeating the Devil Inside
Often, people look back on their failures and obsess over how they could have
prevented their mistakes. They ask themselves, "What could I have done
differently?" The answer is not worth discovering. Focusing on unforeseen outcomes
hinders our ability to pick ourselves up and move forward ...Read more
84. Stanford Supplement - Golden Coast Girl
There were few dull minds in San Jose the spring of 2010. Around 1600 teens from
around the world streamed into the heart of Silicon Valley for the Intel
International Science and Engineering Fair; for me, it was an unforgettable first
glimpse of the talent and imagination of my global peers.Yet eve...Read more
85. Why Carnegie Mellon?
Perseverant, intelligent, and a problem solver. I would use these three words to
describe myself and to say why I believe Carnegie Mellon University is the school
where I would find the most success. Carnegie Mellon has a rigorous academic
environment and will allow me to reap the rewards of an educ...Read more
86. What Makes Stanford Good For You? - "Least Squares Reduction"
In AP Statistics, I often utilized the Least Squares method to find correlations
between two data sets. First, I would generate a curve that minimized the
residuals: the differences between corresponding values of the two sets. Smaller
residuals implied greater correlation, with a residual of r = 0 ...Read more
87. Alcohol's Daughter
It is the summer before Kindergarten. Face ashen, she stumbles toward me, the heavy
footfalls syncing with my throbbing heart. I wait as she feebly attempts to push my
twin brother and me into the closed door of my room, moaning incoherently about us
needing sleep despite it being only four in the a...Read more
88. Warrior Princess
To understand why I want to attend the University of Chicago, take a look inside my
mind. Hundreds of years ago, you would identify me by my scarlet-and-gold family
crest, proudly painted on a battered yet unbroken shield. I would dismount from my
midnight black stallion, long hair spillin...Read more
89. Lifetime Goals
Increase the pressure in my bow-arm. Bring the bow closer to the bridge to
get a resonant sound. Pull the bow while keeping all my weight in my shoulder.
Build up the slow pulsation to a swift vibrato. It is all of these motions and
thoughts that lead to one beautiful ...Read more
90. Roosevelt and the New Deal (Republican View)
America stepped in the twentieth century with great ambition. They already
produced more of everything then the world combined and the people had better
living standards than anywhere else. Little did they know that producing more
things than the rest of the countries, gets you in a bigger hol...Read more
91. Stanford Roommate Essay - "I'm like the ocean"
Greetings future roommate!I look forward to sharing a room and a brand new
experience altogether as college freshmen! If there is one thing that you should
know about me, it is that although my personality is splotched with hundreds of
shades, akin to a Jackson Pollock painting, you can most certain...Read more
92. Why Penn M&T?
I want to use technology to change the world through innovation. Through the Jerome
Fisher Program in Management and Technology, I�ll pursue a Bachelor�s degree in
both Computer Engineering and Economics. As a Bay Area native, it�s no surprise
that I�ve grown up with an entre...Read more
93. Why Engineering/CS
As my thoughts drifted by with snapshots of scenes of the most memorable parts of
my summer, I realized more fully than ever why I love engineering:June 21st,
2014Standing in the dim auditorium at the University of Texas in Austin, I
nervously gulped as I nodded at my First Bytes computer science ca...Read more
94. Perspectives
Imagine you are 18. Imagine this is the most important day of your life.We are the
best. One class. 35 people. One goal. Four years of hard work. Three days of
campaign. Together. Arguments. Tears. Bad days and good days. Great ideas. Movie.
Fans. Costumes. Enthusiasm. Dance. I even have learnt how ...Read more
95. Small things make big differences.
Small things make big differences. This is a truth I have come to see in my own
experiences and in the world.A tech-addict since a young age, at thirteen I decided
the best way to get my hands on a few smartphones was to start a YouTube channel
dedicated to reviewing them. Within nine months, I rece...Read more
96. Passage To New Ground
My life was drastically changed on January 6th, 2014. It was about 7 A.M. on a
Saturday morning. I was awakened by the sound of an explosion. When my eyes opened
I found myself suspended in the air and unable to move. Below me, the floor began
to cave in and split, the ceiling started to crumble abo...Read more
97. Loud Learning
My house has never been quiet, and I do not think it ever will be. Living with six
siblings is not the definition of tranquility. My parents� affinity to invite
perfect strangers into our home only adds to the chaos. However, I have learned
more from this revolving door than I could have ever ...Read more
98. Poverty
There has always been a disconnect between the have and the have-nots in society.
Wealth and poverty has been perhaps the single biggest dividing issue since the
introduction of money thousands of years ago. It was the Wu-Tang Clan that so
famously said that cash ruled everything �around me&rd...Read more
99. Personal Essay
Through our educational years, my fellow students and I were incessantly forced to
read books on racism and inequality. The towers of books grudgingly read by the
most dedicated students, but mostly left untouched by the general population,
always stirred groans of, "Why should we even care, &q...Read more
100. My middle name is Reddy
My middle name is "Reddy." Weird, no? I'm assuming you don't know about South-
Indian middle names so here's what you should know: "Reddy" is the name of a caste
in India thought to have consisted of warriors who later became lords and
aristocracy. This caste became pa...Read more
101. Common Application Activities List
Position/Leadership description and organization name, if applicable: Key Club:
Club President; Kiwanis Coordinator (1)Details, honors won, and accomplishments:
High school community service organization which I helped coordinate as Club
President. Earned the Gold Member Award as well as 300+ servic...Read more
102. Living Deliberately
Bare skin meets raw iron. Such a relationship can only be found in this exact
situation. The focus is so intense that nothing else matters. Pure concentration
and expression translating into perfect execution - it's a physical marvel. It's
the art of the perfect lift.Each time I grab the str...Read more
103. Stanford Short Essays (Fall 2007)
I worked for my father's business during the summers designing and assembling
testing devices and prototypes, and helped at the company�s Midwest Renewable
Energy and Sustainable Living Fair booth. In addition to volunteering at the San
Lorenzo Valley Museum, I often visited my grand...Read more
104. Food Drive Short Essay
In 2007 my school collected 30,000 pounds of food for local families in its 9th
annual drive. Then it started floundering. As the drive had grown, extra processes
were continuously piled on and, like Microsoft�s old operating system, overall
organization and relative value were not reexamined. Nobod...Read more
105. Comfort in a Couch
Garbed in wrinkled footie pajamas, my younger self would sit in front of the
television screen for hours watching the misadventures of the lovable clown
Loonette and her silent yet sassy rag doll Molly in the show, �The Big Comfy
Couch.� The show�s premise is that one can experience an exciting life...Read more
106. The Power of Daydreams
Daydreams are often regarded as a distraction and a sign of laziness. However, I
believe in the creative power of daydreams, which allows me to escape from reality.
Daydreaming allows me to look within my mind, which I need as an introvert. It's
essential for introverts to recharge themselves af...Read more
107. Why Engineering/CS
"Yes!" I stared excitedly at the "program completed" text shown on the Statistical
Analysis Software. Graphs and data charts showing various statistical relationships
between different biomarkers and cognitive functions are strewn across the screen
in victory. Exhilaration rushed...Read more
108. Optional Research Essay
My experience designing websites and Internet applications landed me a job as a
Webmaster for Intel Corporation this past summer. I had the opportunity to work for
Intel�s CIO on the development of an Intranet Video Channel to improve employee
communication and productivity. My task was to research ...Read more
109. From Makeup to Me
I sauntered under the rotting wooden arch, careful not to hit the throng of dwarf-
like minions that ran and clung to my side."SEPHORA, Natasha said she would show me
her booger but it was just mud and water and I just don't think that's fair and
she's being really mean and I need he...Read more
110. Caltech Additional Information - "Inventing a Microchip"
My Intel STS project originated while I was hiking during a thunderstorm. I was
pondering, with some trepidation, what determines the paths of lightning bolts; I
reflected that they must take some course of least resistance. Suddenly I was
struck (by an idea): could an electronic hardware model of t...Read more
111. Ambigrams
The Illuminati changed my life. Three years ago, I found my first ambigram in one
of my favorite novels, by Dan Brown. I turned the page, and there it was: the word
�Illuminati� printed into the exact center of the book. It was styled like a
newspaper masthead, exquisite and complex, ye...Read more
112. Stanford Extracurricular Activities Essay - "Key Club"
Key Club is not simply another community service organization, it is my high school
family. Key Club spurs excitement within me as it represents a tolerant
organization that brings positive change through community service events and
fundraisers. My commitment to Key Club increased as I gained the p...Read more
113. What matters to you, and why? - "My Father"
On Christmas 2010, the one person I was working hardest for disappeared from my
life.My Dad fought leukemia all throughout 2010. In his struggle for survival, I
found a means to work harder in my academic studies as a means to please him. I had
disappointed him in my middle school years before, and ...Read more
114. Sample Essay
While grabbing lunch between games at a water polo tournament, I noticed one of my
new teammates rarely looked me in the eye. Instead of taking the empty seat next to
me, he opted to sit across the table. Even when I tried to start a conversation
with him, he only looked down, and mumbled, &ld...Read more
115. Roommate Essay - "Good Morning"
Good morning friend,I tend to greet others with a �good morning� simply because I
love mornings. This is ironic though, because I also have a great desire to stay up
and really venture into the late night. Late night, when one resides in barren
quiet and introspective analysis, is often ...Read more
116. The cure for homesickness
There is an old saying, �there is no place like home.� That philosophy has been
spread everywhere from generation to generation, lands to lands, and
families...Read more
117. Lost in Spain
The clock struck four, and I was lost in the city of Zaragoza. I meant to take the
five-minute walk from my Spanish exchange summer school to my host family�s
apartment on Calle Don Jaime. Distracted by street musicians and fascinated by
chance encounters with structures that were already anci...Read more
118. Losing My First Language
My grandmother was born and raised in Nigeria. Eunice Iwuchukwu was an old soul,
who used to preach the word of God. My grandma had lived with my aunt, but moved in
with my mom to assist with my care. Since I rarely saw my mother, or my father, or
really any of my family, I had no one to teach me th...Read more
119. Stanford Short Questions
Favorite:Favorite:Lack of tolerance.Society, and the world, would be greatly
improved with greater tolerance. For extremist groups, criminals, and corrupt
and/or inefficient leaders�their harm in failing to consider and tolerate others'
feelings/beliefs leads to a stagnation of social prog...Read more
120. What Matters
What matters.It's one of those riddles a kindergartner knows they can sincerely
answer and adults think they can logically answer. I, however, am a teenager, stuck
awkwardly between that simplicity and heightened logic, and my dilemma is evident:
is it my actions or feelings that really mat...Read more
121. Duke Research Info
The most important research project I have worked on is the massively parallel
propagation-delay algorithm and FPGA (field-programmable gate array) microchip I
independently designed for the Intel science Talent search. The chip was
demonstrated to solve certain computationally difficult problems - ...Read more
122. Untitled
The wind was howling so loudly that I could barely hear the occasional car that
passed by. It was raining very heavily. Muddy water clung to my pants as I made
each step. "I have to go on!" I said to myself.As I reached school at 8.05am, I
noticed that the hall was almost empty. Only four ...Read more
123. What matters most to you, and why? - "We can�t get lost anymore"
The modern teenager craves information. Be it personal, political, or
pointless, information has become the American teenager�s drug of choice.
Information is an inebriant, and smart phones are the bottle in which it is stored.
Without a comfortable flow of status updates an...Read more
124. Hey roommate!
Hey roommate!Looks like we both made it. Great! Just wanted to let you know a bit
about my best traits, and hopefully in the end we won�t end up as room-hates.I hail
from the burbs of Chicago, and, yes, it snows all the way to your nose, and
blackens your toes, but in the Windy City ...Read more
125. Why I did what I did
You may have heard of the importance of �STEM education� and �STEM jobs.� It seems
like everyone is talking about it, from President Obama to officials at your
university. So what exactly does the acronym STEM stand for?STEM is an acronym for
the fields of science, technology...Read more
126. Air pollution
Abstract The health effects of air pollution have been subject to intense study in
recent years. Exposure to pollutants such as airborne particulate matter and ozone
has been associated with increases in mortality and hospital admissions due to
respiratory and cardiovascular disease. These effects h...Read more
127. Discuss an accomplishment - "I am my own temple"
I wasn�t sure why I had come to this temple. To get away from the stares and the
vulnerability I felt on the streets? The shameless leering and whistling of Indian
men made me feel exposed to my core � a constant reminder that I didn�t belong in
this country, that no matter how muc...Read more
128. Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality
All the juniors before me told me to take AP English Language simply because it
improved their writing tremendously. But the individuals before me never told me
about the intellectual growth that comes from the English language. My English
teacher, Elizabeth Ward, encouraged us to think analytically...Read more
129. Cybersecurity
To me, the real hero of the James Bond movies isn�t James Bond - it�s Q, the genius
hacker who engineers Bond�s gadgets, cracks his codes, and makes all of his
missions possible. When I was fourteen, I watched a real-life Q demonstrate ethical
hacking at a presentation hosted by my...Read more
130. Animation
So many characters and universes appear before me as I sit in front of the
television screen, watching cartoons. Nothing quells my thirst for an escape from
reality more than animation. When seeing animated worlds unfurl, senses of absolute
euphoria, freedom, and tranquility surge through me. Anythi...Read more
131. Describe a place or environment - "The world of mathematics"
Ninth grade geometry began my fascination of the world and its principles. The
unified and coherent system of geometry built around simple concepts--lines,
circles, and polygons--captured my interest, as the idea of a system with so much
clear depth seemed so unreal. How can an individual such as Eu...Read more
132. Stanford Short Answers
Books: Wuthering Heights, Harry Potter, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Rebecca
Films: V for Vendetta, The King�s Speech, The Social Network, Transformers Musical
Artists: Chopin and ProkofievWebsites: The Onion, Food Gawker, Washington Post,
Forbes Magazines: TIME, The Economist, Popular Scienc...Read more
133. Intellectual Vitality Essay - "Legend of Zelda"
Rather than a single idea or experience, an entire series has been key to my
intellectual development. Manifesting itself as a pointy-eared, green tunic-clad,
tunic-wearing, Master Sword wielding hero on a quest to overthrow a treacherous
warlord, sorcerer, or other malcontent and rescue the princes...Read more
134. Extracurricular activity or work experience � "I am Chopin"
Stepping back from Chopin, I throw myself into the world of Prokofiev. He is a man
of strength and authority and so I must be, too. A female pianist can only exert so
much force before her muscles stress out and catapult the performance to an
unfortunate end. However, when I become Prokofiev, my pow...Read more
135. The Ball and The Beast
The whistle pierced through my ear drums, heralding the end of a 90-minute session
of utter humiliation. I left the pitch, eyes fixed on the turf that has just
witnessed this football massacre, as the gleaming summer sun of Dubai sent its
flaming tongues licking the back of my stooped neck, and the ...Read more
136. Fruitealicious: Place Where I Feel Most Content
The first week was horrific. My only work experience had been a counseling job that
consisted of being expected to lounge around in a lake, eat pizza, and ensure that
seven year old kids didn't drown (which, while easy and resulted in one of the
greatest tans known to humankind, was so bori...Read more
137. Roommate Essay - Snoop Dogg and Skrillex
October 29th, 2011: I am alone. I am tired. I am at a Snoop Dogg concert. The
drumbeat rattling my teeth is nearly overpowered by my deafening crash onto rock
bottom. The 2011 school year cut me to pieces. I was a sophomore � a year notorious
for being easier than the rest at my ...Read more
138. Rockport
I find it really hard to be perfectly content. I'm always distracted by math
homework and that book I need to finish and the scarf I'm knitting and my friends
and getting my license. Worrying consumes my days and I don't always realize it.
Sometimes I get tired of it and I'll go outs...Read more
139. Ideal Intelectual Experience
As a gentle breeze from the Th�ringen countryside blows by, I anxiously approach
the Altenburg, the residence of the pianist/composer Franz Liszt. When I reach
the door, a maid greets me and gestures toward the piano room. &...Read
more
140. God's view
I can sit there and stare at it for hours - sometimes watching, not watching
others. "There" is a stair case of the 1st floor of a business center, and "it" is
a view of the pavement outside through a 100 X 100cm window directly in front. To
the open-minded, it is classically pic...Read more
141. Extracurricular activities essay - "Health internship"
By allowing myself to realize a greater connection to the rest of humanity, in the
respect that health is a major essence of the human experience, as well as
excavating deeper into my own interests, my experience interning in Dr. Loeser�s
lab at Wake Forest was by far the most remarkable.Being...Read more
142. What do you care about and why?
I came out to my best friend as bisexual the summer before ninth grade. Unlike the
countless "coming out" YouTube videos I had watched to prepare myself, I don't
really remember the sigh of relief or heart fuzzies of acceptance when she said
that it was fine. All I can remember is the ...Read more
143. MS (Master of Science) in Mechanical Engineering
By all accounts, I have lived a blessed life. Though my family has never been
wealthy, my parents� self-sacrifice provided me with more than some children ever
dream of: a nice home and access to a quality education. I am forever appreciative
for this and have striven to make the most of the o...Read more
144. Intellectual Vitality Essay - "Technology consulting"
A command window pops onto my laptop screen; �C:\Users\Admin>� is written in white
against a black background as I stare curiously at what this means.Just at the end
of 10th grade, I applied to intern for a technology consulting firm, COMPANY_NAME.
As it was a newly founded company, t...Read more
145. What matters to you, and why? - "Nurturing Kitties"
One thing that bears great importance to me is that those who cannot otherwise
provide safety and security for themselves are given the appropriate help. To me,
this matter manifested itself in the form of animals. Ever since I was little, my
life was filled with the abandoned, the left behind, the ...Read more
146. Intellectual � "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"
I can honestly say that my most recent intellectually stimulating experience was a
trip to the movie theater; I saw Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Of course the CGI
was visually stimulating, and talking monkeys are always intriguing, but what
really hit me was the rapid adv...Read more
147. Describe a place � "God's View"
I can sit there and stare at it for hours - sometimes watching, not watching
others. "There" is a stair case of the 1st floor of a business center, and "it" is
a view of the pavement outside through a 100 X 100cm window directly in front. To
the open-minded, it is classically pic...Read more
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