As I enter the double doors, the smell of freshly rolled biscuits hits me almost instantly. I trace the fan blades as they swing above me, emitting a low, repetitive hum resembling a faint melody. After bringing our usual order, the “Tailgate Special,” to the table, my father begins discussing the recent performance of Apple stock with my mother, myself, and my older eleven year old sister. Bojangle’s, a Southern establishment well known for its fried chicken and reliable...

The University of Pennsylvania cultivates a focus on diversity of intellect, research, art, and community that brings me home. These emphases will allow me to refine my abilities as a chemical researcher while exploring the multidimensional aspects of economics, policy, and social justice. The UPenn CURF program provides invaluable opportunities to pursue undergraduate research in chemistry. In larger American cities and particularly in China, the evidence of pollution and environmental damage is clear. In fact, the declaration of a pollution...

We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it. (100) I like to move it, move it. Much like the headdress-adorned eccentric lemur King Julien, I often find myself breaking into dance and singing. Stemming from my background in jazz, hip hop, and ballet since the age of four, I immediately turn to dancing and movement when I feel overwhelmed. A...

Although you may not yet know what you want to major in, which department or program at MIT appeals to you and why? (100) In a “values” auction at Governor’s School, I bid $800 of my allotted $1000 dollars on a single value: Making an impact. I learned from my past research in catalysis and medical textiles that research has an incomparable ability to affect lives. MIT’s focus on collaboration and innovation, whether through the UROP, the MSRP, or the Media...

Tell us about the most significant challenge you've faced or something important that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation? (200-250) I had it all planned out–I would run my 36 simulations for a month, giving me the following months to analyze the reaction products and mechanisms and compare them to academic literature and experimental results detailing the degradation of P4HB. Yet, as I began to run the simulations, each completed in just a few...

Duke cultivates a focus on diversity of intellect, research, art, and tradition that brings me home. In unique courses such as Chemistry, Technology, and Society and Environmental Economics and Policy, I will marry my interests in chemistry, economics, and environmental studies and gain insight into the political and societal influences on my research. These courses are integral to truly understanding the economic trade-offs that impact the environment or other natural processes. The URS and B-SURF will allow me to further...

Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been important to your intellectual development. (100-250) I suffered from paralysis by analysis. But not in the typical sense. Growing up, I was plagued by incessant stage fright. After hours of diligent practice and memorization, I would overthink the notes of my pieces during performances and my hands, which operated like oiled machinery during practices, ground to a sudden halt. Even with careful attention to precise...

Describe the world you come from; for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations? (250) Hikes along the Great Wall. Sharing freshly fried green onion pancakes from food stands with my cousins. Three-person moped rides through busy streets. Dinners with my extended family. Every trip back to Wuhan, China, is marked by these events and numerous other shared moments with family. Yet when I am reminded of China, I instead...