Visits with my grandmother have always been awkward. I speak to her in mildly incoherent Mandarin as she pats my hand and smiles. It never bothered me much—that is, until my sixteenth birthday. My entire family had come to celebrate at a local restaurant, including my distant cousin, with whom we had only spoken to through brief phone calls. Despite the initial strangeness of her presence, she naturally fell into conversation with my grandmother; it soon erupted with my...

For the past four years I have been an aerialist- climbing up silks and performing tricks, much like the acrobats in Cirque du Soleil. Despite the various bruises, burns, and blisters I receive, I love the art. It is something tangible- a welcome break from pixelated screens- where I can shake off the general lethargy of the day. When thirty feet up in the air, I am aware of every minutia of my body, from my strained biceps to the...

To most, the world seems a chaotic, mystifying entity. We ask ourselves questions like: "Why does the Earth shake?" or "What exists in the depths of our oceans?" Yet amidst this entropic system of colliding molecules, turbulent eddies, and the like, science manages to find answers. My love for science is rooted in this ideology; it is a way to understand the world's complexity, yet simultaneously, appreciate the beauty behind it. Geological and cosmological processes have baffled people for thousands...

Miles away from Taipei, tucked away in the mountains, lies Li Dao- the village where I spent my summer two years ago, teaching thirty children how to read, write, and speak English. When a family friend had first invited me, I was ecstatic. Teaching was something I loved and going would help improve my own Mandarin. However, it was only until I arrived that I realized the enormity of my responsibilities. Not only did I have to maintain my own...

Education is highly prioritized in my family. Though I had many toys as a child, I had twice the amount of books. My parents always urged me to push myself in school, taking advantage of afterschool programs, from programming to fencing. However with this opportunistic approach came a subtle yet undeniable expectation to do well. I was consequently funneled into the upper echelons of my class, taking the rigorous courses alongside a series of extracurriculars on the weekend. However, rather...

Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate -- and us -- know you better. (100 to 250 words) I know it’s drizzling, but look out the window. You see that girl in flip-flops and shorts? That’s Kelly. She’s the one who doubled over laughing in class yesterday (did I hear the hint of a snort?), who’s so ticklish that...

The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (100 to 250 words) In my youth, I immersed myself in fantastical worlds. I role-played as Legolas at home, carrying hair-bands “arrows” on my arm and cramming crackers (lembas) into my pocket. I read and re-read the Ender series, watched Star Wars religiously, and even dabbled in WoW. Over time, this appreciation of...

Chicago author Nelson Algren said, "A writer does well if in his whole life he can tell the story of one street." Chicagoans, but not just Chicagoans, have always found something instructive, and pleasing, and profound in the stories of their block, of Main Street, of Highway 61, of a farm lane, of the Celestial Highway. Tell us the story of a street, path, road—real or imagined or metaphorical. About ten miles west of Los Angeles lies the Pacific Coast...

When the choice is yours, what do you read, listen to, or watch? (50 word limit) I read everything, from Scientific American to blurbs on snack packaging. I devoured Les Miserables in a week and have twice-read half of Infinite Jest (‘the horror, the horror!’). I get lost in Wikipedia's maze of hyperlinks, learning about Godel's incompleteness theorem in one moment and Scheherazade in the next.

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (50 word limit) Too often people with the most potential to create change are more motivated by greed than empathy. Focused on financial security, they often study computer science or business, neglecting the humanities along the way— subjects engendering compassion, creativity, and ethical maturity, which would ultimately improve global conditions.

How did you spend your last two summers? (50 word limit) -Hiked to Sandstone Peak at sunrise, bleary-eyed -Earned my SCUBA certification and met a goliath grouper along the way -Embraced veganism—trust me when I say nutritional yeast tastes better than it sounds -Reading (everything) -Visiting the Carlsbad Canyons: a (karst) topographical masterpiece! -Learning R: handy for scaling graphs

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50 word limit) The removal of the Elwha Dam released a lifetime of trapped sediments and activists’ anticipation in a brilliant whitewater fury. I’d love to have witnessed this moment, where efforts like those of Mikal Jakubal’s, who trespassed and scaled Elwha to paint a crack on its side, finally came to fruition.

What five words best describe you? (Keep in mind, this question's limit is actually 10 words! They just don't list it ;) ) naturephile, evolving, balanced, prodding, Beatnik

Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford. (50 word limit) While visiting La Maison Française, I met a Korean linguist and a Texan biologist. Conversing, they naturally gravitated towards the particulars of their disciplines while still united by a natural curiosity. I see myself as a part of this eclectic community (a microcosm of Stanford), sharing similar perspectives over crepes.

Imagine you had an extra hour in the day — how would you spend that time? (50 word limit). I would try something new everyday. I’d tackle the didgeridoo (an addition to my current skill set of viola, harp, and ukulele), or take the time to listen to the white noise that fills a silent room. On others, I’d derive formulas spoon-fed in class or discover new theorems.

Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why. (100 to 250 words) About ten miles west of Los Angeles lies the Pacific Coast Highway— a sinuous road of plain asphalt, tucked away along the coast, surrounded by mounds of earth traced with rills. Cars, stuffed with coolers and towels, broken sandals and half-used tubes of sunscreen, speed by with surfboards strapped to their roofs. It is a picture unfocused, where minutes drip from the clock and everything hums golden....

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. UChicago is “a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a dream, a nostalgia” (Steinbeck, Cannery Row). It is a hub of diversity, of contradictions, housing both the different and the eccentric. Yet rather than diminishing...

Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. For the past four years I have been an aerialist- climbing up silks and performing tricks, much like the acrobats in Cirque du Soleil. Despite the various bruises, burns, and blisters I receive, I love the art. It is something tangible- a welcome break from pixelated screens-...

Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. To most, the world seems a chaotic, mystifying entity. We ask ourselves questions like: "Why does the Earth shake?" or "What exists in the depths of our oceans?" Yet amidst this entropic system of colliding molecules, turbulent eddies, and the like, science manages to find answers. My love for science is rooted in this ideology; it is a...

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. Miles away from Taipei, tucked away in the mountains, lies Li Dao- the village where I spent my summer two years ago, teaching thirty children how to read, write, and speak English. When a family friend had first invited me, I was ecstatic. Teaching was something I loved and going would help improve my own Mandarin....

Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? Education is highly prioritized in my family. Though I had many toys as a child, I had twice the amount of books. My parents always urged me to push myself in school, taking advantage of afterschool programs, from programming to fencing. However with this opportunistic approach came a subtle yet undeniable expectation...

About ten miles west of Los Angeles lies the Pacific Coast Highway— a sinuous road of plain asphalt, tucked away along the coast, surrounded by mounds of earth traced with rills. Cars, stuffed with coolers and towels, broken sandals and half-used tubes of sunscreen, speed by with surfboards strapped to their roofs. It is a picture unfocused, where minutes drip from the clock and everything hums golden. The people come in with the tide—a rush of water in the...

UChicago is “a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a dream, a nostalgia” (Steinbeck, Cannery Row). It is a hub of diversity, of contradictions, housing both the different and the eccentric. Yet rather than diminishing those capacities, UChicago amplifies them with activities like zombie day which ultimately foster the creation of something greater than the student herself—a masterpiece of a gestalt. Much like the student body, I am an amalgamation of...

Walden instilled a new philosophy in me by prioritizing simplicity and truth; I began to view urban life as disingenuous, a gilded simulacra of an actual experience. East of Eden- I was inexplicably drawn to ‘evil’ Cathy rather than the struggles of the Trasks; I found her actions necessary and saw her strength, causing me to reexamine other canonical “heroes.” GON is reminiscent of my youth: similar to the narrator, I agonized over every action, making me lose sight of...

When I was seven, I played Purple Apple with my sister. It was a game we created that required nothing but our minds. In it, I was a fairy fighting dark forces. I meticulously tracked my inventory, full of items procured from various realms, from strength potions to invisibility runes. When I was ten, I carried hairbands on my arm (arrows to fight orcs) and tucked crackers in my back pocket—lembas that would keep me satiated while I ventured...

My school is a melting pot of people—34% Latino, 11% African American, and 8% Asian—and activities, with over 100 clubs and 15 music groups on campus. This multitude of communities provides great diversity to the campus. However, while I am a part of many of these, I find that my peers sometimes lack the drive necessary to create the intellectual excitement and community that I crave. On the other hand, I know that if I get into Caltech, I will be able to...

In many of my classes, students don’t ask questions, withholding their curiosity for fear of judgment. Despite this pressure, there are a few who do ask for help, and while I typically understand the material at hand, I greatly admire these people who don’t. Consequently, I often hold a high regard for others’ academic preparation. At school, I offer free tutoring. Before tests, I create and record lectures reviewing material for my peers. And, as irritating as it...

Education is highly prioritized in my family. Though I had many toys as a child, I had twice the amount of books. My parents always urged me to push myself in school, taking advantage of afterschool programs, from programming to fencing. However with this opportunistic approach came a subtle yet undeniable expectation to do well. I was consequently funneled into the upper echelons of my class, taking the rigorous courses alongside a series of extracurriculars on the weekend. However, rather...

All my life, food has played an integral role in my family. Every night, we sit at the table—devoid of books, phones, and distractions—to eat together. Food verges on sacrosanct; we chase after it in our own sort of pilgrimage, driving for hours for the tenderest kakuni and the crunchiest fried crickets. When traveling, we base our agenda off of local eateries, and during road trips, our customary game is “Restaurant #5”—counting the first four restaurants we see...

Though not uncommon for first-generation Americans, I’ve always felt disconnected from my culture. Deemed “too Asian” by peers and “too white” by relatives, I didn’t know who to be. A part of me wanted to embrace Taiwanese culture, speaking to my grandparents in fluent Mandarin, while another part wanted to be like my peers, eating Lunchables and watching SpongeBob. Growing older, however, I’ve learned to assimilate both these identities. I make mochi with my grandmother to share...

Kind: a trait too often underrated; beyond being amiable, being an inherently good person, guided by morality rather than material achievement Balanced: maintaining balance amidst an increasingly competitive world, leaving time for family, going on a sunrise hike, or cooking pasta from scratch with friends Aware/Appreciative: a community that puts that one daunting exam in perspective, who is aware of its privilege and subsequent responsibility in giving back to others Stimulating/Collaborative: people who come back from class raving...

Not unlike the city in which it resides— a pleasant cacophony of soulful musicians and evolving scholars, culinary artists and Wall Street billionaires—Columbia’s student body possesses diversity in both thought and composition. Yet rather than diminishing these traits, Columbia unifies them under the Core Curriculum, ultimately fostering the creation of something greater than the student herself—a masterpiece of a gestalt. Like the student body, I am an amalgamation of unique (and sometimes contradictory) qualities: in class, I...

The Sound and the Fury (Faulkner), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Kesey), Cannery Row (Steinbeck), Fundamentals of Oceanography (Sverdrup), La Cantatrice Chauve (Ionesco; in French), The Sympathizer (Nguyen), A Confederacy of Dunces (Toole)

Les Miserables (Hugo), Beloved (Morrison), The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (Wolfe), Dharma Bums (Kerouac) Crime and Punishment (Dostoevsky), Catch-22 (Heller), Interpreter of Maladies (Lahiri), Winesburg, Ohio (Anderson), White Noise (Delillo), Oblivion (Wallace), East of Eden (Steinbeck), The Interpretation of Cultures (Geertz), Me Talk Pretty One Day (Sedaris), Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez), Waiting for Godot (Beckett), Our Town (Wilder), The Tin Drum (Grass), A Pickle for the Knowing Ones (Dexter), -The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (Diaz),...

The Scientific American, The New York Times (even when incisive hurts), The Sun Magazine, foodpolitics.com, https://minimalistbaker.com (I highly recommend the falafels!)

Lectures/Exhibits: The Science of Ensuring a More Sustainable Future (Alumni College 2017 Caltech event), Meteorites from Mars and on Mars (lecture at UCLA Meteorite Gallery), Cassini’s Grand Finale at Saturn lecture (at Santa Monica College Planetarium), Exhibition w/ Hope Gangloff (Stanford Cantor Arts Center) Musicals/Movies/Concerts: Hamilton: An American Musical, John Williams: Maestro of Movies (LA Phil), The Silk Road Ensemble w/ Yo-Yo Ma, The Frights at The Smell (experimental music venue for local artists) Films: Bakara, Loving...