Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?       When it came time to plan my approach to the college essay, I knew exactly where to go. It had recently rained on the Kosh Trail, and the sweet, airy smell of the damp earth reminded me of past summers as I began the woodland trek around my school's campus. Considering my best options for the...

The Admissions Committee would like to learn why you are a good fit for your undergraduate school choice (College of Arts and Sciences, School of Nursing, The Wharton School, or Penn Engineering). Please tell us about specific academic, service, and/or research opportunities at the University of Pennsylvania that resonate with your background, interests, and goals. (400-650 words) Throughout my education so far, I have sought to take challenging courses in the fields of math and science, while remaining interested...

Ever since I was old enough to understand current events, I have followed them with passion. When I connected my curiosity for such issues to certain topics I learned about in school, I subsequently reached the next stage of interest. In computer science class, I learned about the vital roles of information security and cryptography after programming an enigma cipher in Java. Around the end of my sophomore year, the Edward Snowden case broke, and I spent a good deal...

Describe two or three of your current intellectual interests and why they are exciting to you. Why will Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences be the right environment in which to pursue your interests? (Please limit your response to 650 words.) Throughout my high school career, I have cultivated several interests that have driven me to pursue a degree from Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences. One such topic is the history of World War II, specifically with regard to...

My desire to effect positive change on my surroundings stems from experiences cultivated through academics and active participation in my local community. This change comes in several forms; I tutor children at a local elementary school, manage the Varsity Track and Field Team, and lead by example in the Community Service Club. In keeping with this theme, over the last several years, I have built a variety of interests that I have pursued with passion. These range from service-related, to...

My experiences have led me to pursue interests based on impacting the world. I took a course entitled "The Future of War" at Harvard University Summer School over the summer of 2013, which inspired me to learn more about the undercurrent of secrecy and cybersecurity that drives the current geopolitical system. Last summer, I continued pursuit of this passion through an internship at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, where I learned about cryptography, network security, and the art of lock picking. ...

What work of art, music, science, mathematics, or literature has surprised, unsettled, or challenged you, and in what way? When I read for the first time about the Enigma machine–the device used to interpret encrypted Nazi messages in World War II–I knew I had touched upon a topic that would captivate my interest. Cracking the code was vital to Allied progress in the war, since it would enable the Allies to understand intercepted German orders. Men and women...

In 500 words or less, give an example of a time you created and sustained meaningful relationships and how that contributed to the success of an endeavor or organization in which you’ve been directly involved. I volunteer at A+ Squash, a program for underprivileged 5th and 6th graders from Centennial Academy in Atlanta. As an urban squash program, the organization aims to motivate elementary school students towards athletic integrity, academic proficiency, and healthy lifestyles. In doing so, it allows kids...

Think about a simple, every-day act of kindness that you have observed recently—a few kind words or a simple kind deed directed by someone (not you) to someone (you or someone else) who needed some kindness at that moment. Describe the words or deed and why this struck you as an act of kindness.] I volunteer at an academic urban squash program for underprivileged 5th and 6th graders based in Atlanta, Georgia called A+ Squash. One day, a boy...

Students are often told what classes they should take. If you had the opportunity to create a class, what would it be and why? I would choose to create a course detailing an interactive historical study of British codebreaking during World War II, entitled, "Brilliance at Bletchley: Studying Allied Efforts to Crack the Enigma Cipher." The class would consist of a detailed look at the complex mechanics of the Enigma cipher. Much of the course would be devoted to studying...

Before writing a "why us" essay, I generally perused the college's website and took a virtual tour of the campus, taking notes on opportunities and pathways that seemed the most interesting to me. For these essays, specificity is key—include details that distinguish you from your peers.

My favorite courses have been the smaller, more discussion-based courses that center on specific topics. Since most of my freshman-year courses were taught in large lecture halls, it was great to return to the more personal classroom setting. I especially enjoyed a course in literature entitled "Trauma,...

Approach teachers with whom you have the best/closest personal relationships. Teacher recs aren't as important as essays, but they can work in conjunction with the rest of your application to paint a picture of who you...

Ambitious, personable,...

I interviewed for just about every school to which I applied. In the end, the interview counts for less than many students imagine, but for what it's worth, you're better off showing up well-prepared. Practice in...

Penn's urban campus offers easy access to Philadelphia while remaining a cohesive tract in University City. Philly is home to a host of major corporations, which makes club and internship opportunities more attainable. From a lifestyle perspective, the city is lower-profile, cheaper, and...

Business/investment clubs and...

Research your chosen school (SAS, SEAS, Wharton, or Nursing) or program in detail in order to gain a sense of the opportunities that the school/program offers. Show that you're driven and organized by communicating your genuine passion and connecting it to your personal experience and well-thought-out future plans. "Genuine" is...

I made a list of features I wanted, then found schools that met those specific criteria: medium-sized...

Apply Early Decision. Over half of the most recent...

I did not. (Hopefully you will...

If I could do it over again, I would start writing the supplemental essays earlier. I did the main personal statement over the summer, but...