The UN Development Goals doesn’t list making brownies as a strategy. The architects of the Marshall Plan never considered selling cupcakes to rebuild Western Europe. And Gandhi went on a hunger strike to gain Indian independence, so desserts certainly weren’t on his mind. Yet as I became more involved in charity work in my school, it became clear that for an individual who wanted to make a positive impact, the bake sale could be a pretty effective tool....

Academic experience that inspired you I spent the spring of my junior year on a semester abroad program in Israel. During those four months, we saw and experienced many unforgettable things, but none as dramatic as the four days we were in the Israeli army. In Israel, all 18-19 year olds are required to serve in the army. Teenagers prepare by going through an immersion program so they will know what to expect. My group of American students underwent the...

Tell us about the academic areas that interest you most and your reasons for applying to Brown. One of the most exciting things for me about college is the chance to learn for the sake of knowledge, and to explore as many different things as possible. Brown’s lack of a core curriculum would help me in these pursuits. Another aspect of college I’m looking forward to is meeting an array of people with different backgrounds, interests, and viewpoints....

How did you find out about Brown? I initially found out about Brown by listening to my mom’s stories about going there. I’ve been surprised by the number of times I’ve seen the eyes of teachers and others light up when I mention Brown as my first choice; “oh yes,” they say, “that is absolutely the perfect place for you.” I learned more about Brown through college guides and a visit to the campus. From everything I...