Life changes. I have always been told that it is not the challenges that define you in life, but your reactions. Each challenge comes with a choice and each choice comes with a consequence. I like to call difficult times "defining moments." In life, there are two types of people. There are those who rise above any conflict-The Risers- and those who allow challenges in their lives to determine them-The Settlers. I had never taken into consideration which kind of...

Together my family prepares food for the upcoming holiday. "Vivir Mi Vida" pours down the halls as my vivacious family listens to music in the kitchen. Our celebrations are anomalies to those who have never been with a Hispanic family for a party. Infusions of In this essay below, I give an inside look to the Cuban culture. I use being a minority as a blessing. I also display a love for the country I was born in and show...

In the essay bellow, I use my "academic weakness" as an inspiration. This essay showed my love for learning and my love to challenge myself. With this essay, I hope to establish the theme of appreciation towards education and a tone of dedication. "Math has never been my favorite subject; however, every year I valiantly pushed myself to do well in the subject. The day I chose to be in AP Calculus I knew I was in for a challenge....

In the essay below, I describe the two people on this earth that matter most to me. Specifically in this essay, I wrote it not to please the Admission Council (even though I hope it did), but to show my appreciation for those who have supported me all these years. This essay was my thank you letter. "There are two women who matter most to me- my abuela and my mother. As a child, my abuela (grandmother) told me stories...

This is my "opps" essay. I was unsure what to even write and honestly I was just being pure lazy. I did not research the school OR its programs whatsoever. Since it had such a small word limit I did not even attempt to put my best foot forward. I implore any students doing an essay like this to truly wallow in everything that school has to offer before righting the essay. The essay bellow is what I would say...

TIPS FOR ESSAYS FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCES (Please ignore typos and grammar errors I have not had the chance to edit this) -In every essay I submitted, for the most part, I attempted to place a tone that differentiates me from others students. Most students when I was writing my applications sounded like robots spitting out recycled words that the educational machine of the US public system has fed us. Student after student bragged endlessly about their achievements but rarely any...

For high school students, I recommend taking dual enrollment classes along with volunteer...

Accepting, Determined,...

I did not use a private admission counselor. Be mindful that there are millions of teenagers who go through...

I interviewed for one college and personally I had a great interview; however, be aware the interviews are not weighed heavily. They are simply a glorified recommendation letter. My interviewer herself had told me that while she enjoyed our interview and saw much potential in my acceptance to the University I was applying to, she was unsure of the extent the university looks at her letter. She continued to explain that for some...

I never knew how spirited my University was. Every student wears college shirts around the...