Thirty-seven very mathematically inclined high-school students and a dozen professors stand in a long hallway on the third floor of a building devoted to the physical and natural sciences. They wear white t-shirts, all of which bear the stenciled likeness of a yellow pig. Now they begin to sing in almost-unison about axiomatic set theory to the tune of “Californication” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Mathematical talent, unfortunately, does not directly translate into vocal aptitude, and so collectively they...

Why Yale? 100 words I want to be able to take classes in Yale's math, physics, and philosophy departments. They are an uncommon combination of interests, and not many schools would give me the flexibility to explore all three in as much depth as I would like. If I were admitted to Yale, I would apply for placement into MATH 230a and 231b - an advanced road not many schools offer to incoming students. I would also pursue Yale's 4-year combined...

Why Notre Dame? 150-200 words Notre Dame is a rather bizarre tradition in my family. Few of us have gone to school there - only an uncle and a great-uncle, to my knowledge. Yet growing up, yours was the only football team for whom my family cheered. I learned from a very young age of the reputation associated with Notre Dame - a school dedicated to both excellence and integrity, and one of the only schools of its caliber. When...

Why UChicago? “I think everything happens 33% faster there.” I’d claim this is a well-known quote, but you wouldn’t believe me. It’s what I said to my father, immediately after visiting the University of Chicago. It was a theme that I felt pervaded all areas of the campus. I felt a dedication towards progress and a determination to be ahead of our time. The percentage stemmed from the academic rigor I see in the school – being on the...

Why Harvey Mudd? 350 words I would not be applying to Harvey Mudd if it were not for Sean "Day[9]" Plott and his daily Starcraft II show. I had never heard of the school except in passing, never having lived on the West Coast, and as a result I had never given much thought to attending. I was not looking to apply to the West at all; I had convinced myself that I wanted to go Northeast. But Harvey Mudd caught...

Why Columbia? 300 words 1. I see Columbia as a university where mathematics and physics interact on a level virtually unparalleled by other institutions. The emphasis on analytic and algebraic geometry in the math department allows a student to truly work in the blend between disciplines. I would love the opportunity to explore string theory and the interactions between relativity and geometry. As a student who is excited by the abstract and the theoretical, Columbia is a uniquely attractive place. 2. I am...

What attracts you to your intended field of study? (Columbia) Math and science have held my attention since I was very young. The rules were clear, and I found pleasure in playing number games. With my sophomore year of high school and my first year of physics, that vague childhood interest was codified into a more significant pursuit. I enjoyed what I was learning; I felt motivated to look deeper into both math and science. That next summer, I attended...

Tell us about your name. (Dartmouth) My full name is Connor James Halleck-Dubé. "Connor" is an Irish name, meaning "lucky." James is traditionally English, with roots in both Greek and Hebrew. "Halleck" is an anglicization of "Holloch," a Germanic name of unknown meaning. "Dubé" is French, meaning "oak," and named for a region of France known for both its oak trees and its hardy population. I was given this name to represent my ancestral roots, which expand across all four...

First piece of advice: Never repeat material for a "Why us" essay. It is completely unnecessary. The "Why us" essays are incredibly easy, require a few hours of research, and be a strong benefit to your application.

From an admissions standpoint, what matters most is that you do /something/. My most successful friends did not do prestigious research programs or the like (although if you get the opportunity to do so, more power to you). One of the best things you can do is get a job. It demonstrates work ethic and reliability - my never having...