Dozing off in a factory is not only dangerous, but difficult to do. In the summer of my sophomore year as a participant in the RAP (Research Apprentice Program) program at the University of Illinois, I found myself bored to sleep on a tour of John Deere’s massive tractor plant. Amongst the sparks and noise of metal being welded, our guide rattled on about the industry-leading horsepower and corn husking rates of John Deere’s legendary tractors, which quickly...

It's frustrating to have a great idea trapped inside of you with no way to bring it to life. The summer program I attended at Duke University provided an opportunity for me to transform a seemingly long shot idea into a solid foundation for a device and service that could improve millions of people’s lives. It was also the first time I interacted at a high intellectual level with people my age. This past summer, I met 30 of the...

During Homecoming week, my school holds a spirit event each day. As a class representative for student council, I had several significant responsibilities prior to and during that week. My ultimate goal as a senior leader of student council is to help raise money to support the club, which in turn funds larger events, mainly prom. As chair of the Mr. Bengal male pageant, I was responsible for the event from top to bottom. First I was tasked with recruiting...

Consumerism is viewed by some as a measure of a country’s economic surplus but it has really become a sign of excess and poor financial decisions. Marketing was invented in conjunction with consumerism as a way to draw consumers to the influx of new products. It has evolved to a far more pervasive service; we see marketing in the form of pesky advertisements and corny “as seen on TV” commercials. More disturbing than repetitive snuggie commercials, however, is the...

Many students view college merely as the next rung on the education ladder. I believe college is a place where I can become the best version of myself, begin to make a meaningful impact on the world, and learn about the world. For example, I have volunteered in my community and even led fundraisers to bring about significant change in my school, but a University like Northwestern can provide a tremendous opportunity to bring about tangible change. The intellectual and...

“Why do we fall sir? So we might learn to pick ourselves up” (Alfred Pennyworth in The Dark Knight). Quotes, whether they be from The Dark Knight or from Edward Young (“Procrastination is the thief of time”), are very powerful combinations of words. These expressions can encompass tone, emotion, and action in the case of a film and be great motivators when used in the right fashion or spoken by the right person. Similarly to the Stark’s family adage, �...

It's frustrating to have a great idea trapped inside of you with no way to bring it to life. The summer program I attended at Duke University provided an opportunity for me to transform a seemingly long shot idea into a solid foundation for a device and service that could improve millions of people’s lives. Being selected by my peers as Chief Executive Officer of our startup company (team), allowed me to explore, master, and question every aspect of...

I wrote quite a few essays. Once you write your first few essays you can just tweak them to make them fit for any college application or scholarship.

Start earlier and make sure...

Persistent, Crafty,...

After college I plan to enter into the corporate world through one of two avenues: financial services,...

Stay in contact with influential people you may meet. Also, tell these people about your future plans and interests as...

Morehouse offers unrivaled opportunities for black men. What sold it for me was the prospect of choice internships throughout...

To prepare for my Stanford interview, I wrote out a list of my accomplishments and projects that...

I did not have to take out loans because I was selected as...