Pieces of shredded pork burst out of a gaping hole. The woman gawked at me from the other side of the counter. How could she expect me to wrap over two scoops of three-cheese queso and shredded pork without at least half of the filling squirting out? “I’m new,” I stuttered for the fiftieth time that day. It was my third week on the job at Qdoba Mexican Grill, and my lumpy, soggy burritos were a daily humiliation. I...

Essay #1 (Required for all applicants. Approximately 250 words) Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. “Do you ever brush your hair?” My Chinese stand mate sneered at me after playing “Hot Cross Buns” in sixth grade. Exasperated, I replied yes. People always ask what...

If you could only do one of the activities you have listed in the Activities section of your Common Application, which one would you keep doing? Why? (Required for all applicants. Approximately 100 words) The moment I put my mouth on my clarinet reed, I blow out my stresses of the day. The upbeat music beats with my heart and calms me. The raw emotion the music draws out of me and the opportunity to be in tune with others makes...

While reading a case study from my Anatomy textbook, I wondered how a boy could collapse after eating a banana. Reading on, I discovered he was missing an enzyme that digests potassium. Diseases and medical policy fascinate me; my goal is to become a pathologist who serves diverse communities around the world through diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases. The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) will provide me with a unique, multidisciplinary education that will give me global...