Transition from Childhood to Adulthood (Common App): Key themes: leadership, embarrassment, self-reflection, continual learning After seventeen years of life, including twelve years of school, the only thing I know is that that I know nothing. My life has become a Socratic Paradox. Last year I became the co-coordinator of my school's Leadership Education and Development (LEAD), an innovative program aiming to inspire students to harness their passions and evoke positive social change. As the co-coordinator, I dreamed of bringing the...

Why Brown? (Brown): And I shall ask why not? Why not a school where academic rigor and individual passion aren't separate, but synergistically equal? Why not a place where Waterman and Benefit fuse an intimate college refuge with a bustling state capital? Why not a school where the Open Curriculum sparks virtue-led discovery by professors who are the best in their fields? Why not a campus where "Brunonian" isn't just a demonym, but a call for unity toward a common...

Why are you drawn to the area(s) of study you indicated? (Brown): Drawn intently into the pages, I kept on reading. "Continuity of the Parks," "The Idol of the Cyclades," "A Yellow Flower" and "Axolotl." I curiously devoured Julio Cortázar's compendium story by ink-dabbled story. The dreamlike state, the meta-fictional realms, and the intricate lacing of reality and fantasy construct the elegantly-crafted genre that I have come to love. Studying magic realism in Spanish 4 and 5 solidified my desire...

How will you explore your intellectual and academic interests at the University of Pennsylvania? (Penn): Key themes: academic freedom, leadership opportunities, passion for literature His screams were silent as he reached for the air, trying to escape from the piriform columns of smoke. With one last hope, he lunged his body forward and hoped to wake up from what seemed like a torturous, maniacal dream. And I imagined him—face-up—vanishing into the red, perfumed fire of his captors who...

Extracurricular or Work Experience (Rice and Brown): Key themes: leadership, working with children, continual learning "But just as the mice began to nibble on the food, in came a cat! In came a dog! Run for your life!" As my hand motions widened, Zahara and Nawal giggled at the conundrum of our rodent protagonists, while little Reem quietly turned the page in anticipation of what was to come. I soon joined in, but beneath my laughter lay a recovered sense...

What personal perspective do you feel that you will contribute to life at Rice? (Rice): As we set our menus aside and patiently sip our waters, Mr. and Mrs. Li bring plates upon plates of our longstanding favorites—Szechuan noodles, empress chicken, shrimp fried rice, and wonton soup. My father always jokes that, somewhere in the Bible, God commanded all Chinese restaurants to be open on Christmas day. In fact, when the Second Temple of Jerusalem ran out of oil,...

How did you first learn about Rice University and what motivated you to apply (Rice): For a student with diverse interests, "what is your passion?" is a troubling question. When my parents showed me Rice last October, I realized that Rice is the community that will help me find an answer. From the information session, I saw a flexible curriculum that will allow me to explore within and beyond my major. Courses such as "Caribbean Nation Building," "Poverty and Social...

Where you have lived? (Brown): Spending 17 years 30 miles southwest of Chicago, I've relished my proximity to a bustling metropolis. Accessible by train in just 35 minutes is the lovable, windy, Big Shoulders Chicago. A city lies before me with the power of the Metra. Whether eating with family at Pauly's Pizza, exploring with friends at Christkindlmarket, learning with peers at the Intuit Museum, or researching at the Feinberg School of Medicine, I always enjoy the best of Chicago. Chicago, a stimulating...

Explain why you are applying to that particular school of study (Rice): I am excited by the opportunity to study Latin American Studies at Rice's School of Humanities to explore a field that unites my international and interdisciplinary interests. My passion for global affairs began in freshman-year AP World History, where I was first exposed to cultural movement and historical change. Since then, I have taken courses such as The World in the Twentieth Century, History of Cultural Contact, and...

The best thing you can do is be yourself! Colleges want to know about you--not your siblings, not your parents, and not your teachers. Use your essays to show that you are a real person with real interests and flavors, whether they be humorous, artistic, or intellectual. Do not use essays to show your badges; that's what scores are for. Lastly, don't be afraid to be off-beat! The best essays are often unconventional.

Though recommendations are important, don't feel the need to send as many as you can. Some colleges require 1 or 2...

Outline your Common App over the summer! The personal statement took me 2 months to...

If you have a...

I interviewed with Brown, UPenn, Rice, and the University of Miami for a scholarship. My biggest piece of advice...

Actively seek out summer opportunities. Whether it...

Though I was also accepted to Brown, Rice, UPenn, and William & Mary, I ultimately chose the University...

My application was quite cohesive. My intention to major in International Studies, my passion for...