The lights flicker and then go out. Overwhelming darkness swallows everything. Outside the wind howls, belligerently slamming into our cozy Soviet apartment building. But I’m not frightened; I’ve grown accustomed to the frequent blackouts. “Xiao Hu? Ni hai hao ma?” (Little Tiger? Are you okay?) I can hear my mother calling my Chinese nickname. I stumble into the living room and grope around to find the matches and candles. Seconds later, a dancing flame illuminates the room and...

WHY US (YALE) I dream of a university with centuries of tradition, academic excellence, and a close-knit (but exceptionally diverse) society; a university that will present me with opportunity to study hard, work hard, and party hard; and a place that gathers the world’s brightest minds to collaborate and grow together. I dream of attending a Master’s Tea gathering, shouting, “Go bulldogs!” against a crimson banner, and bourgeoning from the tender cultivation of renowned professors. I dream of...

WHY US? (GRINNELL) Grinnell fuses together what I deem three fundamental aspects of any college: diversity, curricular rigor, and small class size. A small class size is vital so I can grow inside the classroom; curricular rigor, so I can strive outside the classroom; and diversity, so I can thrive anywhere on campus. On top of this successful blend are Grinnell’s deep-rooted camaraderie, ever-present consideration for each individual’s voice, and an ingenious open curriculum. By choosing Grinnell, I�...

WHY US? (RICE) Scrolling through the list of QuestBridge partner colleges, I noticed a beautiful university in an amazing city. Rice caught my eye as a school with top-notch academic rigor, challenge, and opportunity. So the researching began. The first thing that stirred me is Rice’s 6:1 student to faculty ratio. Studying at a miniscule school, I’m accustomed to one on one attention and I’ve grown to love it. It gives me the opportunity to ask questions and...

NOTE TO ROOMMATE (STANFORD) I love rainbow sherbet. Why? Because it’s made out of so many different colors! Though this cold sweet refreshment is perfect on a sweltering day, its assorted colors are what truly make it special. Everyone has hundreds of attributes that make up who they are. Just like rainbow sherbet simply isn’t rainbow sherbet without red, yellow, and green, I wouldn’t be Noah Hoech without my quirks and qualities. I like sitting on the...

INTELLECTUAL VITALITY (STANFORD) “Did you hear about the man who fell into the river?” I eagerly ask my dad during our stay in Paris. “No. What happened?” “Well,” I say, holding back a tugging smile, “They say he went ‘in-Seine.’” While I wish I could remember every moment of that trip, and every other international trip my family has taken, I do treasure the moments I remember. Like that time we sampled 20 different kinds of kimchi in Seoul. Or when...

WHAT MATTERS TO YOU AND WHY (STANFORD) Cultures – my cultures – matter to me. Sitting in a restaurant in Taiwan with my grandma, I stare at the chicken foot on my plate. Even though it’s coated in mouth-numbing hot sauce, I can’t help but imagine all the places it has stepped. Nai Nai prompts me with a nod. Gingerly, I pick it up with my chopsticks and slide the middle toe into my mouth. Slimy, but not bad. Two...

Thump. Thump. Thump. I hear my heart pounding. “All for Noah raise your hands.” Thump. Thump. Thump. One hand goes up. Probably my sister’s. Дурак, америкос, китаец-без яиц, I remember all the insults thrown at me as the first American in my school. Maybe I’ll only get one vote. A few more hands reach up. Perhaps you do have a chance, I tell myself, yet part of me clings to the past, to all the times I was shoved, laughed at,...

ACADEMIC INTERESTS (YALE) At four years of age, the Russian language was just another thing to learn. At seven, it became a necessity for survival. At 12, it became a struggle for flawless speech and enunciation. And at 17, it has become a passion. I want to know Russian deeper and fuller. With it, I can work on an international scale. The youth center I volunteer at opened my eyes to society’s hidden problems. It compels me to ask, “How can...

ACTIVITIES ESSAY (VANDERBILT) I live in a country where ISIS recruits youth to destroy others. But I believe that love overcomes war and kindness destroys violence. It was on this theory that I laid the foundation of my breakdancing club. “One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven! Eight! Again!” Every Tuesday and Thursday, this shout can be heard at the youth center where I volunteer. This, and the clamor of 10-20 kids practicing dance moves. Some boys are spinning on...

Write about what you love. Write about what you spend time at. Don't write about what you think the college wants to hear from you. They want to hear from your heart. Write about what truly inspires you! Write about eating ice cream with your best friend after his dad died. Write about your philosophical thoughts while hunting a young doe. Write about that one time you were dared to jump from the second floor. Anything, but it must be...

Obviously, getting into (any) college is about having great test scores, hours of extracurriculars, and solid grades. But when it comes to Stanford University, it goes way deeper. Thousands (this year, about 44 thousand) of seniors with all these attributes apply, but only a teeny-weeny fraction of them get in (4.7%, that's .5% less than Harvard, which stands in 2nd place!). So, the question each of you are asking right now is, "What is the big secret?" I'll tell you the big secret. It...

I get it. Choosing schools to apply to can be braincell-smashing hard, stressful, and just outright messy. Especially when the you begin counting out the application fees. Is there an easy way to do this? There is. Make a list. Unless you live under a rock (like Patrick!), you MUST have heard of at least a few colleges. Perhaps these were colleges that your uncles or...

There are several factors that come into play when eliminating schools you won't go to. After all, you can only choose one! Here are some points to consider and compare when deciding: 1) Financial aid -- for some, this could be the deciding factor, for others, simply a bonus. In any case, financial aid is definitely something that decides the outcome of the school you will attend. Don't just rush to accept the offer of any school. Wait for all the financial aid packages are out, then decide wisely. 2) Community -- if you applied to a college "just in case" you...

1. I would start early. Like in my 2nd year of high school 2. I would pay more for ACT/SAT test prep. If you can up your...

As an international student, I didn't interview with that many schools. Here is the short list: 1. Harvard -- It went well. I was interviewed via Skype, and was interviewed by an admissions officer. She was friendly, relaxed, and interested...

What set me apart? My background and my essays most likely. I have an extremely unique background, and I was able to blend it in with my passion. I spent 14+ hours on some of my...

Get recommenders who know you personally. Obviously, you want them to like you, but liking you is not enough. They should have seen...

Don't make it up. If you are applying to the specific school, you should have a good idea why you are doing so. So don't go around thinking up excuses, tell them why! Were you piqued by their untraditional class choice? Did you fall in love with the campus when you visited? Do you know a certain...