“My Inner Hero.” Fingertips trembling, I handed my novel to a postal worker on a snowy January afternoon in 2014. This simple act signaled a turning point in a journey that has lasted as long as I can remember, a journey to become a storyteller. Desperately wanting super powers, in elementary school I filled dozens of notebooks describing the antics of gifted children, students with supernatural abilities whom I called Weirdoes. When I began my second novel, nearly ten years later...

Gallup-Healthways recently discovered that only 18% of the world is thriving in purpose. As a researcher, this deficit concerns me. In my Independent Research Course, I studied youth purpose development with my advisor, created my own theory of purpose development, administered a survey to measure that theory, and published various publications with the intention of increasing purpose in my community. I see the dire need for more research in this field, and NYU offers the perfect environment for me as it...

You could say I had a rather unconventional childhood. After all, my parents lived in Russia for a year while my mom was pregnant with me. But I firmly believe that everything from seeing Les Miserables live when I was in second grade, to playing co-ed rugby for seven years, to having a pet newt, solidified my own eagerness to try new things. Through my eclectic experiences, I have learned not only to explore and ask questions but also to...

I used a essay reader and honestly, I only got into one of the schools (of the six) that she read. She really didn't change anything from any of...

Well, interviews can be an interesting experience but make sure you practice before hand and do your research. However, know that these people are volunteers and sometimes they might not be the best representatives of the...

I took a research course in high school where I really found my passion and a problem I cared about. I was then able to show how...

I had about two or three safety schools that I was sure I would get into. From there, I had schools that I really liked and didn't really pay much attention to the admit rates. I did not do any early decision because I was worried about cost and wanted to have all of my options laid out...

This is a must!!! I did this at Tufts and the professor offered me a letter of rec. I also did it at NYU and the professor is now my advisor. It really gave me confidence in the application cycle and helped me to see which schools I...

A lot of people think that extra curriculars are a game but I honestly followed my passion. Schools don't want to...