I like to know things. Everything. Not necessarily about school, but random facts about people, events, and the world in general. I can find anything anybody would want to know—a complete list of the Grey’s Anatomy introductory monologues, the name of the boy who was hit by lightning at my brother’s lacrosse game 15 years ago, and my mother’s obituary in her hometown newspaper. By knowing these things, I’m never unprepared, never ignorant, and never vulnerable. ...

Santa Claus is a universally recognized figure, and is particularly prominent in the United States. He was introduced to Americans by the Dutch. When Dutch settlers founded New Amsterdam in the 17th century, they brought with them their religion, culture, and traditions. One of these traditions was the legend of Sinterklaas. According to the Dutch, Sinterklaas was a kindly old man who punished naughty children, and rewarded good children with gifts and treats. The name “Santa Claus” is a natural...

When I was nine years old my older brother Ron introduced me to a new passion. As soon as I set eyes on that simple but striking logo, I knew we were meant to be: Google—six letters, one word, and one love. I tried every search engine to make sure I wasn’t committing myself prematurely, but ultimately I always returned to Google. It is fast, effective, and innovative—and to me, pure genius. The .17 or .09 displayed in the...

You have just completed your 300-page autobiography. Please submit page 217. was finally here. At this point, the Beijing Olympics had been an object of obsession for months, and today was 8/8/08, the day they began. Never before had I anticipated anything so much. Back in May I received a t-shirt with the Beijing Olympic logo on it, and I had saved it for this day. The opening ceremonies were dumbfounding. The precision of the dancers, and their apparent perfection, was incredible....

It’s frightening, looking through this window. Not only because I am on a flimsy ladder three stories tall, but also because I am looking at myself. Reflecting on one’s own self is a most difficult task. It is easy to judge and criticize others, and point out their faults, but considerably more difficult to point out those same mistakes in yourself. However self-reflection is a necessary stop on my constant quest for self-improvement, and so here I am,...

I was overjoyed when I stepped onto the Connecticut College campus, for it was the first time that I had not been scared or intimidated by a college or university—I actually felt comfortable. The familiar gray stone buildings, green fields tinted brown with the heat of August, and smiling face behind the front desk at the admission office gave me a sense of calm and soothed my nerves. As we walked on the campus tour, I was amazed at...

I applied to 10 different schools and submitted all optional and required essays for each college and university. Each essay included in my profile was "successful" and comes from an application to a school from which I received an acceptance letter. I've included a sample that speak to the breadth of topics used in supplemental essay questions.

I knew that I would be challenged academically at Harvard, but I never guessed how much I would be...