"Fantastic job!" Trish crowed. "The next game we'll play is called Animal Spine! I'll name an animal, and you'll act like you have that animal's spine." I was apprehensive: this was my first audition since Annie in third grade (I was her dog Sandy; no lines, just barking), and my first ever for an improv comedy troupe. "Sparrow!" Shoulders hunched, hips protruded, heads bobbed. We used this stance to create a character-a human character, Trish (the troupe sponsor) reminded us,...

Essay asked for description of intellectual vitality. I discussed my love of international relations.

Prompt asked for a letter to roommate, I wrote one to a made up person with a made up name and explained what it would be like to live with me. Tried to explain some of my quirks.

What matters to you and why? I wrote about orchestra and my experience performing with a local symphony at an international conference.

Intellectual Vitality essay: As a very young child, my favorite (and consequently most beat-up) toy was the Leapfrog Explorer, an interactive globe. Using a stylus, I could tap on any country, and hear its capital, population, size, and even music through the globe's speakers. I loved being quizzed on capitals of states or the location of African countries, often competing with my brother to see who was fastest. In high school, this obsession translated into speech and debate, where I've...