“It’s Pi Day, Pi Day, gotta do math on Pi Day!” My voice cracked on the last note as my seventh-grade classmates stared in horror. The karaoke track to Rebecca Black’s “Friday” blared in the background, but I couldn’t stay on pitch. In a desperate attempt to win back my audience, I ran to the front of the stage like a pop star and encouraged everyone to clap along. Instead, I was met with boos and a...

I cannot imagine a better place for me to catalyze my academic and personal growth than Boston University (BU). First, the ease of conducting undergraduate research is astounding. I am fascinated by so many current undergraduate projects, including Professor Allen Harbaugh’s research on statistics in the social sciences. Additionally, the Directed Study program in BU’s location makes it the perfect place for me to research the impact of rooftop gardens in cities on reviving butterfly populations, a focus...

I was five years old the first time I received detention. While my kindergarten classmates dutifully pushed in their chairs and sat on the carpet to learn about the letter G, I sat at my desk, admiring the glimmering letters etched into a spiderweb. A piglet ran in circles around my legs; when I bent down and tried to catch a glimpse of his name tag, it said “Wilbur.” Everything was quiet and peaceful and…. Wait. Who just called my...

Improvements to communication technology have created the first truly global society. The transnational fungibility of assets has led to the rise of globalism, where social, political, and economic policies are determined using an international lens. But no universal consensus exists as to whether the benefits of globalism outweigh its drawbacks. While globalism increases overall wealth in countries like the United States, it also eliminates blue-collar jobs, exporting them to less developed countries. Many people who feel shortchanged by globalism have...

A butterfly landed on my nose. I gasped with delight and crossed my eyes to catch a glimpse of the fluttering wings, the tiny feet, and the unrolled proboscis sucking the salt from my skin. While my first grade classmates squealed and tried to snatch the ethereal creatures from the air, I was quiet as I shared this tranquil moment with my new friend. Thus began my love affair with butterflies. When my mom picked me up that afternoon, I...

List a few words or phrases that describe your ideal college community. (150 words or less) Wide eyes, the delight of discovery, that feeling I get when you suddenly understand the deeper meaning hiding behind the ink on a page, experiencing every snowfall like it’s my first Sharp swords, cutting open my pre-existing notions and exposing them to air, admitting that I was wrong, becoming Atlas with the responsibility of knowledge on my shoulders Warm hugs, people who won’t...

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre Existentialism is a Humanism by Jean-Paul Sartre Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer Hamlet by William Shakespeare The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court by Jeffrey Toobin American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Colin Woodard

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood What is the What by Dave Eggers The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter Untwine by Edwidge Danticat The Sky Between You and Me by Catherine Alene Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Wither by Lauren DeStefano The...

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Hamilton: An American Musical Dear Evan Hansen A Bronx Tale: The Musical In Transit Beautiful: The Carol King Musical Get Out La La Land Moonlight Dunkirk Hidden Figures The Zookeeper’s Wife Ed Sheeran Niall Horan (Flicker Sessions) Halsey The 1975

I cannot imagine a better place to catalyze my academic and personal growth than Columbia University. First, I appreciate the Core Curriculum because of its potential to enhance my capabilities as both a member of society and a scientist. I have always valued interdisciplinary learning and analyzing problems from different angles; namely, I want to research the impact of urban roof gardens on declining butterfly populations, which requires knowledge of biology, environmental science, engineering, physics, sociology, economics, and politics. The...

I grew up covered in mud. Much to my parents’ dismay, the stream running through my backyard tempted little hands and feet. My neighbor and I raced through the creek to the woods behind my house, covering ourselves in muck for camouflage. We were explorers, searching for magic in the woods. When he insisted that unicorns weren’t real, I pointed out broken twigs that proved him wrong. We experimented with samples of chewed leaves on my porch, trying to...

The walls were mustard yellow. The carpet was covered in suspicious stains. If I counted the blotches on the carpet, I wouldn’t have to look at the therapist in the corner with a notepad or the other teenagers in folding chairs. “Hi. My name is Cat. I have depression and anxiety.” “Hi, Cat,” they monotonously replied. I reached up and yanked out another chunk of hair. I didn’t want to be there. I wanted to be at home,...

“EMILY! YOU CAN’T JUST POUR THE SALT INTO THE DOUGH WITHOUT MEASURING IT!” I shouted from across the kitchen as I frantically washed the dishes. “What?” she yelled back while the salt continued to spill from the open container. I groaned and banged my head against the countertop. When I signed up for Foods and Nutrition my senior year, I assumed that it would be a fun and easy class that would fulfill my Consumer Science requirement, reduce stress...

I come from a family of immigrants; my Irish grandmother’s name is immortalized in Ellis Island, and my maternal grandparents met on the boat from Italy to the United States. I feel closest to my Italian heritage; my family just enjoyed the Seven Fishes dinner on Christmas Eve, and I recently visited my grandfather’s hometown of Bagnara Calabra. I sailed the Mediterranean with my cousins and threw Nonno’s fedora into the sea, to return him home one...

Nothing makes me happier than The Cookie Shake at Black Tap. It’s common to see my friends and I jump out of my mom’s car at 11:30 pm and sprint to the restaurant, hoping the line isn’t too long. When we get a table, I order The Old Fashioned burger (hold the mushrooms, please) and wonder how on Earth I’m supposed to have a milkshake after all of this. Somehow, though, I always finish the gargantuan, foot-high...

I want to study biology at MIT because of the department’s leading stance on research. When I first became interested in CRISPR, I was not surprised to discover MIT’s key role in its development. In fact, it would be impossible to list all of MIT’s biology initiatives that fascinate me in 100 words! However, what is especially striking about Course 7 is the ease of conducting independent research. I want to apply to the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program to...

The fiery-haired little girl wrapped her arms around my legs. “Hi, Teagan!” I exclaimed while trying to ignore the overpowering scent of flowers and the casket behind her. When I started working at Central Equestrian, I didn’t know that I would become so attached to Teagan. The barn was small; it was often just me, Cecelia (the barn owner), and Teagan. As I taught her how to ride and take care of the horses, I grew to admire her....

I grew up covered in mud. Much to my parents’ dismay, the stream running through my backyard tempted little hands and feet. My neighbor and I raced through the creek to the woods behind my house, covering ourselves in muck for camouflage. We were explorers, searching for magic in the woods. When he insisted that unicorns weren’t real, I pointed out broken twigs that proved him wrong. We experimented with samples of chewed leaves on my porch, trying to...

I spilled my milkshake when I learned that my a cappella director had been fired. Mr. Thompson was my second father; we often sat together in the lobby after rehearsal and discussed everything from improving the group to dealing with friend drama. The Belles and I were devastated at the loss of our beloved director. I created a petition, and we protested at a board meeting, to no avail. Hence, Sirens A Cappella was born. My group mates and I...

I cannot imagine a better place to catalyze my academic and personal growth than New York University (NYU). First, the pulse of urban culture through NYU’s academics is unmatched. As a biology major, I want to synthesize what I learn in class and in the laboratory and apply it to solving real world problems, particularly those that plague cities. NYU’s Urban Initiative is the ideal way to do that -- I would relish doing research on the Democratizing...

I cannot imagine a better place to catalyze my academic and personal growth than Northwestern University. First, the ease of conducting undergraduate research is unmatched. I could spend hours browsing the Global and Research Opportunities Database, searching for thrilling research positions. There are also countless research grants, such as the Academic Year Undergraduate Research Grants and the Circumnavigators Travel-Study Grant, that I could use to investigate the impact of urban rooftop gardens on reviving butterfly populations, a lesser known, but...

When Professor Garlick started rapping about climate change, I knew I belonged at Tufts. I realized that Jumbos aren’t afraid to take personal and intellectual risks because they treat each other with genuine kindness, a quality not often found at other competitive research institutions. I can be shy around new people, but when Tufts students encouraged me to share my opinion and respectfully debated with me in Science and the Human Experience, I felt right at home. In addition,...

I grew up covered in mud. Much to my parents’ dismay, the stream running through my backyard tempted little hands and feet. My neighbor and I raced through the creek to the woods behind my house, covering ourselves in muck for camouflage. We were explorers, searching for magic in the woods. When he insisted that unicorns weren’t real, I pointed out broken twigs that proved him wrong. We experimented with samples of chewed leaves on my porch, trying to...

Nothing makes me happier than The Cookie Shake at Black Tap. It’s common to see my friends and me jump out of my mom’s car at 11:30 pm and sprint to the restaurant, hoping the line isn’t too long. I order The Old Fashioned burger (hold the mushrooms, please) with truffle aioli fries and wonder how I will devour a milkshake after all of this. Somehow, though, I always finish the gargantuan, foot-high vanilla milkshake, topped with a �...

Ever since I was young, ecology and environmental biology have fascinated me; I want to understand how the environment shapes evolution, and what factors speed or slow evolution. Statistics and data science, working with data to find hidden meaning, relaxes me. When I tell people that I make lists and conduct statistical analyses for fun, they don’t believe me, but it’s true! Finally, music is my “passion project.” Music has always been in my life, but taking AP...

As I walked through Kroon Hall and marveled at its eco-friendly adaptations, my tour guide casually mentioned Yale’s 2:1 STEM student to faculty ratio. That was the moment I fell in love with Yale. No other institution has such a strong liberal arts background and flexible curriculum that is as dedicated to the sciences. Only at Yale can I apply for the Freshman Summer Research Fellowship to research the impact of urban rooftop gardens on declining butterfly populations, while also...

I’m inspired by Cathedral Grove in Muir Woods, where everything is silent except for the swift, cold brook, the birds singing from the redwoods, and the beat of a butterfly’s wings.

I would invite Rick Mikula, the expert who introduced me to butterflies in first grade, and ask him “What has your scientific research taught you about butterflies’ symbolism and role in society?”

My course would be called “The Politics of Equestrians.” We would examine the political views of equestrians, how they differ from the general population, and what causes these changes.

I would bring music to our suite. I would also bring earplugs, as I sometimes sing at unholy hours of the night. If my suitemates are open to it, I would be the provider of warm hugs and support.

The fiery-haired little girl wrapped her arms around my legs. “Hi, Teagan!” I exclaimed while trying to ignore the overpowering scent of flowers and the casket behind her. When I started working at Central Equestrian, I didn’t know that I would become so attached to Teagan. The barn was small; it was often just me, Cecelia (the barn owner), and Teagan. As I taught her how to ride and take care of the horses, I grew to admire her....

I grew up covered in mud. Much to my parents’ dismay, the stream running through my backyard tempted little hands and feet. My neighbor and I raced through the creek to the woods behind my house, covering ourselves in muck for camouflage. We were explorers, searching for magic in the woods. When he insisted that unicorns weren’t real, I pointed out broken twigs that proved him wrong. We experimented with samples of chewed leaves on my porch, trying to...