My legs dangled precariously over the step’s edge. I longingly watched as everyone else weaved around the playground, shrieking and giggling. Leaving the comfortable environment of my home where every conversation was in Vietnamese, I entered preschool with just the two English words my mom taught me that morning: hello and bathroom. Overcome by a lack of familiarity, I felt tears rolling down my face. At home, I was a naturally talkative toddler, but here the echoes of foreign...

“Cuantos anos tienes?” After four years of Spanish, I found myself using it in a context other than singing along to a song on the radio. I, with about 45 other Los Alamitos high schoolers, had taken over Bryant Elementary School for the night, bringing with us a Halloween “magic” show and interactive science experiments. Two years ago, I helped launch district wide elementary school science nights. Today, I spend hours researching experiments and meticulously balancing the budget, scouring Amazon for...

For the past two summers, I have spent long hot sweaty summers on campus preparing for orientation because I enjoy welcoming freshmen to the new community, sharing advice, and starting off their high school experience positively. During the intensive training camps, we learn activities and methods to open up the freshmen and create group costumes for the annual contest. On the day of orientation, my partner and I walked in, super excited to meet our freshmen. The twenty of us...

Sophomore year, I decided to take AP Physics because I was driven to learn something completely new. The class was so different from the others that I have taken since it was much lab based and self-driven. Because I went into this class with no prior physics experience, I did not understand a lot of the concepts initially. I remember being so confused coming to class each day, not fully understanding the concepts when the teacher talked about them. There...

I was first introduced to history reading the Little House on the Prairie series in second grade. Wagons, calico dresses, and log cabins filled my imagination. The image of Laura and her sister squeezing molasses candy on pans of snow to the time Pa tries Almanzo’s warm, fluffy pancakes soaked in syrup on a wintery afternoon are forever imprinted into my mind. The vivid descriptions of food were not the only things I took away from the series. I...

Researching colleges this past summer, an important factors for me was the depth of a college’s sustainability practices and initiatives because it is an ideology I strongly support. I have to admit I smiled a bit when I read “Brown is Green,” purely because I thought the name was so clever. I value Brown’s commitment to creating a more sustainable learning environment and look forward to joining student organization that support this. Brown’s open curriculum separates itself...

Living just sixteen minutes away from Chapman, I am constantly surrounded by former and future Panthers. After researching the school, I understand why so many people love it. I value Chapman’s commitment to a truly interdisciplinary education which offers a variety of study abroad opportunities and research projects on campus. With my vast academic interests and strong belief in having a diverse educational experience, Chapman’s GE Program is exactly what I am looking--the possibility to immerse myself in �...

While I cannot pinpoint the exact day I discovered Columbia, I do remember running out to my mom excitedly telling her that I had finally found the college. Columbia does not confine students within its gates; instead it has designed an engaging, interdisciplinary education that provides students the resources necessary to apply principles learned behind the desk to the world. Columbia’s curriculum provides a unique balance with the modified Engineering Core's additional emphasis on humanities. I am able to...

Listening to Mr. Eric Lopez talk about Symmetry, a class studying mathematical patterns in art, I whispered to my friend excitedly, both of us agreeing that this was totally up my alley. With my wide range of academic interests, Tufts’ focus on a multidisciplinary education is exactly what I am looking for. Additionally, I am excited to take advantage of Tuft’s many study abroad options to introduce different cultural perspectives to my education. Lastly, as I am passionate about...

In a fast paced society where everyone is focused on their individual goals, Tulane’s commitment to public service allows for students to take a step back and put their efforts into helping the larger community around them. I look forward to taking the class Education in a Diverse Society and becoming a mentor to a public school student. Tulane’s curriculum provides a unique opportunity for students to explore subjects in all areas of study, not confining them to...

Growing up in southern California, I found myself in the crosshairs of USC vs UCLA debates, especially during football season. Not a football fan as a young girl, I remember always picking USC. Why? Because red was my favorite color. Today, I have many more reasons for choosing USC. Whether I study economics or communication, I know that USC’s strength in both will provide me with many academic and professional opportunities. Studying economics, I look forward to working with...

On the small screen, NYU is the vision of independence and city life. On paper, NYU is the center of world-renowned education and diverse perspectives. I knew I had to visit during my trip to New York last summer. Walking through the neighboring streets of Washington Square Park, I saw groups of eager NYU students, identifiable by their distinct purple shirts, huddling around for orientation. I fell in love with the school when I realized that within such a big...

From an internet search, I was welcomed through the beautiful stone archway of Vassar College. Going on the virtual tour, I could see myself sitting in a class in Rockefeller Hall, studying with my friends at Thompson Library, relaxing by Sunset Lake, and hanging out with my roommate in Jewett House. Vassar’s gorgeous campus, tight-knit community, and sustainability mission is just what I am looking for. I find Vassar’s multidisciplinary education the most appealing aspect of the college. ...

I like to joke that I have more 5-year old friends than high school friends, but it actually might be true. I grew up loving going to Kids Korner every day after school, and opening those doors again, I was immediately welcomed by the warm memories of my childhood and the hectic atmosphere of kids running around me. As a volunteer aide, I mainly assist with indoor and outdoor activities. I love teaching the kids little things like how to...

Last year, I helped Interact raise enough money to build a well in South Sudan. Being on the board of Interact, I have planned many of the fundraisers that have made this well possible. The biggest fundraiser of the year is the talent show. There is a great deal of planning needed to put on a successful night. Proposing the idea and securing a date involved communicating with school administrators. Recruiting auditions required working with the student government to get...

A career in urban development perfectly merges my passion for environmental science and community service. In AP Environmental Science, I learned about mankind’s impact on the planet and the problems that need to be addressed in the coming decades. Accommodating biodiversity in urban environments, waste management, and sustainable architecture were among the most inspiring lessons I learned that year and solidified my decision to work in a field that encourages and finds ways for society to live with our...

Growing up, I answered the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, differently every time. I had no idea. Throughout high school, I focused on exploring as many different subjects as possible. I am now ready to use what I have learned to move forward into the next chapter of my life and be a part of the generation of engineers that helps to equalize people’s access to resources. I have always enjoyed math and...

I have lived in the same house my whole life minus six months. My mom loves the pine trees that line the street. It is a five minute walk from a small movie theatre that shows just four movies at a time, a quiet Starbucks, and a frozen yogurt shop that sells Dole Whip. My home is ever-changing with my dad’s renovations and my paint jobs and has recently became a “holiday inn” for my cousins that go to...

Sarah was third grade’s new girl. We became instant friends and had a secret club in the butterfly garden. A girl in pre-algebra pulled out the cutest pencils -- that was Rachel. Together we endured the same classes and along with Sarah golfed through half of high school. Then there is Julia, a rugby teammate six years ago and now fellow yearbook staffer. An anchor in this evolving world, we have conquered everything together, even haunted clown mazes. The...

At Chapman, I believe I would be able to most contribute to the advancement of The Status of Women. Throughout my high school experience, I have been in numerous classes where, as a female, I stood out like a sore thumb, most notably my sophomore year AP Physics class. I attribute part of my success in that class to a strong support group and my classmates who took the time to help me out. It was definitely intimidating walking into...

A career in economics merges my passion for math and community service. I have always enjoyed math and taking AP Statistics and AP Macroeconomics this year, I am amazed at all the ways math can be integrated into daily life. Probability models, demand and supply analysis, and data analysis are among my favorite lessons I have studied this year and solidified my decision to pursue economics. Additionally, I have always enjoyed community service. Being a part of Interact these past...

Actively striving to reduce its carbon footprint Rushing the field after a win Participating in community outreach A supportive faculty fosters learning and creativity Movie and popcorn night in the dorms! Multi-faceted peers who I can passionately debate complex world issues one minute and The Bachelor the next Long late night study sessions and talks about life with my roommate and friends Able to count on one another A thriving music and art scene (even though I can’t sing,...

I have lived in the same house my whole life. My mom loves the pine trees that line the street. When we were younger, my brother and I collected pine cones, filling up our front yard planters. We played hide and seek between our cars with my mom, trick or treated down the block, and sat on the lawn watching fireworks on the 4th. My house is a short walk from a small movie theatre, an AMF bowling alley, and...

At USC Annenberg, I will be at the forefront of the communication revolution and enhance my education through photography, print, and media. To solve world issues faced by today’s society, I believe it is important to find solutions by examining many perspectives. The flexibility within the program allows me to explore the many aspects of communication such as technology, media, and culture. I cannot wait to take “Visual Communication and Social Change” and “Advertising and Communication”. To enact social...