It's overhyped, really: all I remember doing is lying there, watching the bio­hazardous culmination of other people's passion and intellect drip steadily into my veins. I've been told it's my greatest accomplishment – but at six years old? That assertion has tended to make me uncomfortable, and we've shared a fickle relationship – I'd change the subject, avoid undue focus, push its insinuations from me. All the attention!

I never wear matching socks. I'm not subtle about it, either – I've usually got one leg adorned with plaid while the other's star­spangled. I've had my fair share of odd glances from acquaintances, and I've probably caused my family more confusion in the laundry room than necessary. Still, I'm not quitting. To me, my socks are a perpetual podiatric reminder to follow their example in everything I do. Life's too short, in my opinion. Why should I settle for...

Rice is a community of remarkable dualities that will allow me to explore every facet of myself in and out of the classroom. Rice is big enough to let me find my passions but small enough for them to be recognized. As an undergraduate at Rice, I will take advantage of opportunities that many major universities only offer to graduate students. Finally, while Rice's proximity to Houston affords its students invaluable connections to the world, my time at Rice will...

Learning math from a fifth grader isn't really as humiliating as it sounds. I'd tutored with the KIPP weekend school before in English and writing, but one Saturday morning I found myself assigned unceremoniously into a math group. Still, how hard could fifth grade math be? My pupil arrived, and we set to work. As the lesson dragged on, however, I began to realize the utter inexistence of my basic math skills. Sure, I could solve systems of parametric equations...

Human Behavioral Biology -...

Eccentric, passionate,...

Stanford made me feel at home. When I visited during Admit Weekend, it was the place...