I asked the skinny looking Somalian refugee how she got to Germany not because I would include it in the documentary, but because I truly wanted to know. I wanted to hear her unique story because her experience mattered to me. This is why I came to Germany– to see the faces behind the generalizations. Three months earlier, as I first proposed a self-designed trip to Germany, I never would have guessed the adventure I would experience. As someone who...

After visiting Brown, I knew it would be the perfect fit. It has everything I am looking for: a strong, tight-knit community, an extremely flexible curriculum, and incredible opportunities that I can’t find anywhere else. Being able to easily double major while still taking classes outside of my current interests will allow me to continue the depth and passion of my intellectual curiosity. Beyond the classroom, I can see myself participating in and leading various Brown clubs: chess, poker,...

Being a Physics major at Brown would be my dream. Ever since I dipped my toes in the vast ocean of Physics four years ago, I have been entranced. Physics covers absolutely everything in the universe – from the galactic scale and the birth of the universe to quantum mechanics and the most fundamental particles we know of. I have truly loved all of the research opportunities I have had so far – everything from looking at Millisecond Pulsars near the Galactic...

Prompt: Tell us where you have lived - and for how long - since you were born; whether you've always lived in the same place, or perhaps in a variety of places. (100 word limit) Response: I would too often shy away from questioning why things were the way they were. I would accept social and economic structures without a second thought. I would even stay silent when the opportunity arose to voice ideas of societal improvement. But, I have moved!...

Prompt: Tell us about a skill or concept related to your anticipated area of study, that you found challenging and rewarding to learn.  Ever since my research internship on satellite receiver optimization, I haven’t been able to wait to hit the next dead end because then I’ll know where to go next. Each day at Sequoia Research Corporation, I greatly expanded my knowledge on satellite constellations and their receivers in hopes that I could gain the skills to...

We all exist within communities or groups of various sizes, origins, and purposes; pick one and tell us why it is important to you, and how it has shaped you. (100 word limit): My eSports club community is one of my favorite communities because it is a diverse, yet likeminded, group of problem solvers. Every week we have a challenge that isn’t clearly defined; there are a dozen different strategies for playing a successful match and a dozen different implementations...

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (150 word limit) During my years of leadership of the Alternative Energy Sources research group, I have discovered how I can combine my passion for doing research with helping others. Since stepping into my leadership role, I have been exhilarated about the prospect of cutting-edge contributions to renewable energy innovation. Not only can I apply the diverse STEM knowledge I have learned in my courses, but I lead others...

PROMPT If you have engaged in significant research in the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, social sciences or humanities that was undertaken independently of your high school curriculum, please provide a brief description of the research project (50-75 words) RESPONSE Last summer, I worked alongside a PhD at Sequoia Research corporation. I developed various algorithms for satellite receivers that attempted to minimize vertical error from navigational satellite signals. One algorithm that I devised, a pseudo-greedy algorithm for satellite selection, showed...

Prompt: “Difficulty need not foreshadow despair or defeat. Rather achievement can be all the more satisfying because of obstacles surmounted.” A significant challenge in my life started with a truly formative moment 11 years and 18,000 blood tests ago. One day, in first grade, I started feeling weird. What exactly caused it was beyond the understanding of seven-year-old me, but the doctors at the hospital three days later made it very clear: I had been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. A (currently) incurable...

After visiting Rice, I knew it would be the perfect fit. It has everything I am looking for: a strong, tight-knit community, a flexible curriculum, and incredible opportunities that I can’t find anywhere else. With 26 Fortune 500 companies nearby, Rice is surrounded by the industry and innovation that I love. After my research internship on satellites last summer, I am excited to be able to utilize my studies in Physics and Computer Science at Rice at the nearby NASA Johnson...

Being a Physics major at Rice would be my dream. Ever since I dipped my toes in the vast ocean that is Physics in eighth grade, I have been entranced. Physics covers absolutely everything in the universe- from the galactic scale and the birth of the universe to quantum mechanics and the most fundamental particles we know of. My first research experience was better than I could have imagined; at UC Irvine I delved into millisecond pulsars near the galactic...

Prompt: The quality of Rice's academic life and the Residential College System are heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural traditions each student brings. What personal perspective would you contribute to life at Rice? (500 word limit) Response: “Data-driven” is practically my middle name. When discussing with friends, I of course refer to research papers to support my opinion. When choosing which major to go into, my cost-benefit tables are rivaled by no other. But even when there is...

After visiting Carnegie Mellon, I knew it would be the perfect fit. It has everything I am looking for: a tight-knit community, a plethora of research opportunities, and incredible academics that are hard to find elsewhere. For example, I would love to partake in research with renowned professor Roy Maxion in keystroke forensics — which is the type of research that combines my love for computer science, math, and physics. Beyond the classroom, I can see myself participating in and leading...

List the books (if any) you've read this year for pleasure. Choose one and in a sentence describe its impact on you The books I’ve read this year for pleasure are: Recreations in the Theory of Numbers by Albert H. Beiler, The Kingkiller Chronicle: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley, Computer Algorithms: Introduction to Design and Analysis by Sara Baase, Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer, and How Not...

Prompt: It's cool to be smart. Tell us about the subjects or ideas that excite your intellectual curiosity. Response: Ever since I dipped my toes in the vast ocean that is Physics in eighth grade, I have been entranced. Physics covers absolutely everything in the universe- from the galactic scale and the birth of the universe to quantum mechanics and the most fundamental particles we know of. My first research experience was better than I could have imagined; at UC...

Which aspects of Tufts’ curriculum or undergraduate experience prompt your application?  “Why Tufts?” (Required length is 50-100 words) After visiting Tufts and sitting in on a few classes, I knew it would be the perfect fit. Tufts has everything I am looking for: a tight-knit playful community, a plethora of formal research, and other incredible opportunities that I can’t find anywhere else. In high school I have loved building relationships with interesting teachers, and with Tuft’s top notch...

There is a Quaker saying: “Let your life speak.” Describe the environment in which you were raised—your family, home, neighborhood or community—and how it influenced the person you are today. (Required length is 200-250 words) As I get home from school, I walk past the wooden door into my bedroom. As I step directly to the left of the entrance, I inspect the brown bookshelf cracking under the weight of the ever-increasing number of math books always given...

Prompt: “Find X.” X is that “Eureka!” moment. That point where you discover the wonders of the universe, never before seen by human eyes. The point that humanity lives because of, and that scientists live for. Yet, with X being so important to reach, it is incredibly difficult to find. I knew, ever since I was a boy, that I wanted to be the next finder of X. I have always dreamed of grasping a result never before proven — a...

How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago. After visiting University of Chicago, I knew it would be the perfect fit. It has everything I am looking for: a tight-knit nerdy community, a plethora of research opportunities, and incredible academics that are hard to find elsewhere. Through The Center for Scholarly...

(Optional) Share with us a few of your favorite books, poems, authors, films, plays, pieces of music, musicians, performers, paintings, artists, blogs, magazines, or newspapers. Feel free to touch on one, some, or all of the categories listed, or add a category of your own. My favorite books are Bounce: How not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking, The Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice, Recreations in the Theory of Numbers, and The Meaning of Human...