My feet strike the ground with the familiar sound of a metronome keeping time. My chest expands and contracts as I breathe in the cool morning air. I smell the comforting scent of pines as the green trees rush by the path, reminding me of my favorite camping trips deep in the heart of a forest. While running, the human body functions like a machine, a complex network of levers and pulleys. The fact that I live in a machine...

Sweet potato pie, dry turkey, and bright fluorescent lights became my family's reality Thanksgiving of 2013. Rather than being drawn in by the cuisine or the ambiance, we were at a hospital in San Francisco that week for my mom's surgery on her recently discovered brain tumor. Emotional strain aside, I now look back on that week with some fondness, realizing that these experiences would become essential to developing the goals I pursue most passionately today. While attending appointments and meetings...

My name is Tannar, and I cannot touch my tongue to my nose. I’ll start out by giving you the candid details about my eighteen years upon this wonderful spaceship called Earth. Most notably, I’m known to be a ruthless player of board games (Settlers of Catan in particular), I enjoy exploring the great outdoors, I love Christopher Nolan films (Interstellar, Inception, etc), and one of my most exciting adventures took place on a fog cloaked Mount Thielsen....

After nervously stepping off the plane and onto a new, yet very old world, I was immersed in an entirely foreign and beautiful culture, China. Shortly after settling into my room, I found a small park across the street, consisting of two basketball courts and ten or more ping pong tables. Noticing the large crowd gathered there, I decided it was time to put my rudimentary language, and ping pong skills, to the test. Rising early, I went to the...

First Essay prompt was: "Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been important to your intellectual development." Second prompt: "Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate -- and us -- know you better." Third prompt: "What matters to you, and why?"

If I could change anything about my application process, I would tell myself to enjoy the process more, and to realize that I will be happy wherever I end up. Although I really hoped to end...

I did...

I only interviewed with Stanford. I greatly enjoyed my interview experience, and I would recommend the interview to anyone who is applying to Stanford. I met with my interviewer in a small coffee shop, and we simply talked about what interested us for nearly two hours. He started off by asking...

I highly recommend that students do what they are passionate about over the summer. If your passion includes white water rafting, then...

I strongly believe that my love of learning and belief that I can achieve anything is what set me apart from other applicants. Throughout my high school career, I took many classes ...

After college, I hope to pursue...

I chose Stanford because it has extremely diverse academic options. If I continue studying engineering, or if I decide to switch to any of the humanities, I know I will be learning in a great program. This diversity...

I applied to schools that had science and technology majors, but I preferred the schools that had the sciences I was interested in, but also the options in the...

I personally enjoy the west coast styled, non-competitive culture of Stanford. It feels very laid back, and not...

I have reached out only to...

Do what you want...

Stanford's diversity of academic opportunities is a great aspect of the school, and one that I would write about for a "why us?" essay. Also, the collaborative spirit of all the students and professors...

Get recommenders who know you well, and who know what you are capable of. Both of my main...