The Long Beach Public Library, which has been like a second home to me, is the one place where I am perfectly content. And when I say second home, I mean it- I essentially grew up there. By the time I was 5 months old, my mom had introduced me to all of the resources the library had to offer- not just books, but magazines, videos, and a variety of educational programs. This early exposure to the library has not only...

I first learned about Swarthmore from reading a Princeton Review book highlighting the best 379 colleges in the country. After researching and learning more about the campus and academics, I really found myself in love with this school. While looking into schools, I kept in mind a certain set of criteria, all of which I feel like can be found at Swarthmore. Since I live only a few hours away from campus, it is close enough to home to keep in...

I first learned about Vassar by reading a Princeton Review book highlighting the best 379 colleges. After researching and learning more about the campus and academics I really found myself in love with this school. While looking into schools, I kept in mind a certain set of criteria, all of which I feel like can be found at Vassar. Since I am only two hours away from campus, it is close enough to home to keep in contact with my family,...

Participation in a tutorial at Williams would be an amazing opportunity- one which I would love to share with Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter series. Although, obviously, it'd be impossible to work with her in real life, she's someone I'd choose to work with, given the chance. She has a number of characteristics that not only make her a genuinely inspirational person, but would make her an ideal person to collaborate with. As a Ravenclaw, there is no point...

One thing you should know about me is my passion for music. I've taken violin lessons in school, like many other kids my age, since fourth grade. Unlike some other children however, I have not been able to afford private lessons. Over the years, I have taught myself how to play guitar, piano, ukulele, and harmonica. Without formal lessons it hasn't always been easy, but I'm not one to give up. My mom has always said I have a good...

All of my personal statements and supplemental essays centered around a few central themes that really captured who I am as a person. These themes include my racial background and being biracial, my passions for art, music, and literature, and my excitement about college.

While I was accepted to several great schools, many of them offering amazing financial aid packets, I had to make a decision that would ultimately determine the next four years of my life. While I tried comparing academics, extracurriculars, and distance...

Although much of my application process was done on my own, I would not change anything. Not only did it make...

One of the more popular extracurricular activities is Quidditch,...

To write a good ¨why us¨ essay it is important to show your knowledge of the school. It shouldn’t sound like a generic essay that could be...

When looking for schools to apply to it is very beneficial to look at schools not just with the best academics, but with the best financial aid. There are several schools I would have loved to apply to, but wouldn’t have been able to attend even...