It rained the first night I stayed in a homeless shelter. That was the summer before ninth grade. My family had recently moved from [Insert Area] to [Insert Area], where we didn't have a home. I hadn't realized how bad things were becoming until I watched the rain latch onto and slowly fall from the window in the room I shared with my mother, my sibling, and five strangers. I wasn't supposed to be awake, let alone standing across the...

Topic:Something that excites you (This was only used for Scripps College application) I find religion to be an intellectually stimulating concept. However, it's not in the way that most would expect. While I would not categorize myself under any specific religion, I do think that it's important to be knowledgeable of the five main religions. I see religion as a culture. In theory, the better you are at understanding a person's religious beliefs, the greater the chance you have...

Topic: Explain your educational and career interests and why Annenberg School of Journalism and Communication is the best match for you. I aspire to own my own entertainment company that is prominent in the media and has an international presence. Though I’m completely set on Annenberg, I’m currently undecided as to what to make my area of focus. I’m torn between Entertainment Communication and Society, Communication and Culture, and simply creating my own plan of study. Entertainment...

Topic: What about Scripps College has inspired you to apply? I attended Discover Scripps this past October, and I fell in love. I enjoyed sitting in on the Writing for Social Change class. I’m already familiar with the typical college class setting, but this class was completely different from anything I’ve experienced. The teacher didn’t just stand at the front of the room lecturing. Instead, she sat with the students and led a discussion. It seemed that...

Make sure to spend plenty of time on your essay. It's possible that you will be revising it several times. While your grades and...

I would change the stress and pressure on statistics. Many students choose not to apply to top tier schools, because they may not have a near perfect GPA or test scores. If you feel that you have had extenuating circumstances, or you...

Students should build incredible relationships with recommenders beyond their title and you simply being a student. Thankfully, I did this unknowingly. I was and still am extremely close to my guidance counselor. It's to the point...

I am not taking out any loans even though there were some in my financial aid offer along with unmet need. My advice is to apply, apply, and apply some more...

While in high school, if...