As the clock ticks past five, I leave behind the busy world and retreat to the paradise behind my neighborhood – dirty, rocky trails. This is where I bid farewell to my everyday engagements – homework, texts, essays. It’s my time, my escape, and I’m smiling. The first two miles are always the most difficult. Blood begins draining from my organs, flowing to my limbs, leaving my unconscious wondering where the AC went. My breath becomes labored, the warm Santa...

On the surface, I am the antithesis of diverse. I come from an average family with two kids and two dogs. My parents’ marriage, like many others, ended in divorce. As a blonde in southern California, I’m fairly accustomed to blending in. While I may seem merely average in these terms, I have realized that it is my wide range of experiences and interests that takes me away from the normal crowd. The first time I left the country,...

"‘Twas the night before Duke interview deadlines, when all through the school, Not a senior was sleeping, not even the jewel." I continued through the poem by setting it up somewhat similarly to the Night Before Christmas poem. It was lighthearted and fun, and showed how I could write despite my AP language score.

When I was eleven, it became clear to me – my brother was a ruthless capitalist. It was the summer of 2008, and Northern California was cloaked in a blanket of smoke. The two of us sat inside, day after day, passing the time playing Monopoly. Seven years my senior, his strategy and knowledge of economics far surpassed my own. Each and every game finished the same way: me, bankrupt. I hated to lose. Determined to beat him just once, before he...

My personal statements took a lot of time and effort. And that is what it comes to when you are applying to college, this is not a thing you can do over one weekend, or let alone the night before. Start as soon as possible. And work as much as you can on improving your essays, they say the most about you, and when I met with the admissions officer who accepted me, he told me how my essays stood...

The school spirit is...

Start working as soon as possible, trust me procrastination is not fun...

Dedicated, spirited,...

Volunteer. Volunteer wherever you can, and apply...

Set yourself apart. I used a poem for my ...

I was waitlisted at Harvard but chose to withdraw my position. I felt that I had already found the school that would suit me best, and...

I am currently still in the process of applying for scholarships (yes, it does not stop after high school!). Do as much as you...

Many people may say that Durham is not exactly a college town. It is a small town, and I won't disagree with that, but it has exactly what I was looking for. Duke's campus is stunning, and if you haven't visited, I would strongly encourage you to do so. I like how Duke is located in...