I think about the converging waves of the notes I play, the standing waves being created by plucking a string, and the physics behind the air pockets being forged that eventually find a listening ear whenever I sit down to play my bass. Thus, my passions of math and music synergistically become more together than they could ever be apart. I started thinking about this when a former math teacher of mine approached me one afternoon and asked me if...

An intellectual experience (course, project, book, discussion, paper, poetry, or research topic in engineering, mathematics, science or other models of inquiry) that has meant the most to you. If kids grew up knowing if something could be fixed rather than be thrown away, the epidemic of chronic disposal we face today would be greatly diminished. I began thinking about this while I was sitting in the computer lab of Stinson-Remick Hall at the University of Notre Dame at four in...

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. Can you imagine planning TED Talks with speakers of your choice on topics consisting of pressing issues and groundbreaking scientific research? This is what I do in the Cum Laude Society, just on a smaller scale. The members consist of the top ten students of the senior class, selected by the faculty. We plan and sponsor a number of events over the year, one of which includes a...

I tried to talk about stuff that interested me. In the college process, I wanted schools to look at me for who I really am and writing about topics that I am passionate about helped me stay true to my voice and style, which I believe made for more honest essays.

My favorite course had to be World Literature Honors. Even though I'm very STEM focussed, I enjoyed the class so...

Hard working--Nothing beats hard work. You can be the smartest kid out there but if you don't put your nose down and work for what you want, you won't achieve your full potential. Goal-oriented--Set goals, whether it is a certain grade in a class or a particular record for a sport. If...

I applied to 5 schools and got into 5 schools, 3 of which were Ivies and the other was MIT, so there's not much I would...

My school provided college counselors but they were very good and their jobs and very qualified so I did not seek out a private counselor outside of school. Some advice I received: 1. Stay...

That it's filled with passionate, interesting, fantastic people. When you apply to a school, you are...

1. Harvard: This was actually my worst interview. The interviewer was kind of cold and asked me set questions and then wrote down my exact responses. 2. Yale: More conversational than the Harvard interview. She asked...

Summer courses in subjects you are interested in. This doesn't have to be for...

I think it was that I did a little bit of everything and broke the stereotypical student. I was captain of...

Well first off, I picked Harvard because I loved the campus, the people were fantastic, and the engineering program was strong and on the rise. It was the best fit for me and I really felt it when I went for a accepted students weekend. I declined MIT because...

I am participating in Navy ROTC so after college...

Like I mentioned in one of the other questions, I loved Harvard's campus, the people were fantastic, and the engineering program was strong and on the rise....

I had a larger college list before I got accepted Harvard early action, but I chose schools based on...

Boston is THE college town. There are schools all over Boston, so the feel of academia is very present. And it's nice that Cambridge is not quite in Boston. Boston, and everything...

Show that you are unique. Harvard doesn't want a cookie-cutter student. Be yourself but show the...

Make things as specific as possible. Talk about a course you would be interested...

Find teachers that: 1. know you well; and 2. actually...