During the peak training time for my last cross country season I received heartbreaking news causing me to reevaluate my priorities. After enduring severe jaw pain for over a year, I went to a maxillofacial surgeon and discovered I had Temporomandibular Jaw Disorder with dislocated jaw joints. I underwent passive treatment for six weeks hoping the pain would subside. Unfortunately, it only temporarily eased the pain instead of resolving the problem. My dislocated jaw required surgery. Regrettably, the only possible...

Before we share one of the best years of our lives, I think you should learn a little about me. People describe me as active; I’m always busy. At Stanford, this means I will be up to attend sporting events and I would love a gym/running partner. Because I’m most productive at night, I stay up late. Don’t worry, I function well with low lighting and make little noise. As you can imagine, night-owls are not...

At the age of fourteen, I began to train for a half-marathon. After running five days a week for months, I was ready to race. The thrill of running 13.1 miles with crowds of people cheering amazed me. After finishing I knew I would be a lifelong runner. To date, I have run five half-marathons and am currently training for my sixth. Between the high school cross-country season (Jun.-Nov.) and track season (Jan.-Apr.), I have run a half-marathon every...

We began our journey to the bottom of the Grand Canyon as the sun rose toward the pink sky. I was 13 years old and about to face the most difficult task I had ever encountered. Our hiking party consisted of two families: four adults and three teens. For the first part of the trip we trekked in mere silence as we enjoyed the cool weather and breathtaking views. As time passed, we noticed the muddy river at the bottom of...

“Stories are for eternity, when memory is erased, when there is nothing to remember except the story.” – Tim O'Brien, The Things They Carried My memory of hiking the Grand Canyon has been blurred, but the story remains clear. We began our journey to the bottom as the sun rose toward the pink sky. Our party consisted of two families; four adults and three teens. The first part of the hike we trekked in mere silence as we enjoyed the cool...

Living life to the fullest is the ultimate goal. ‘The good life’ encompasses all factors that allow for one to live a successful life. The good life is different for every individual. My idea of the good life does not include material possessions, but rather intellectual and spiritual wealth. This cannot be achieved with simply a high salary or accumulation of riches. Instead, time must be invested in activities that bring enjoyment. For me, gratification comes from running, playing soccer,...

I believe I should be awarded this scholarship because of my commitment to my education throughout my academic career. With a goal of attending one of the nation’s top universities, I have worked to ensure admissions to one of these schools. Now I am working toward making these schools financially possible. This scholarship would help me in accomplishing that goal. I plan to further my education at a university because the ability to lead comes with higher education and...

The future of the world itself concerns me. I worry that humans are devastating the world’s ecosystems and even influencing the global climate. It seems that people have become so disconnected from nature that they are simply unaware of the problem, or even worse, do not care. If we continue our trend of destruction, our future may be very different from what we envision. In my AP Environmental Science class we study the environmental impacts of the American lifestyle...

Boston University Trustee Scholars are encouraged to develop well-informed and well-reasoned views of important political, social, and artistic issues. We select students who have a sense of how to present persuasive arguments in support of their views. With that in mind, please select one of the questions below and respond with an essay explaining your perspective in 600 words or less. 3. The International Criminal Court, established in 2002 to prosecute those guilty of wartime atrocities and crimes against humanity, has successfully tried...

The college search is difficult, particularly for students who have not decided on a major. As an undecided student, Boston University’s College of General Studies appeals to me. A program that lets me spend two years discovering what I want to pursue is exactly what I am looking for. Boston would provide a culturally diverse place to explore for the next four years of my life. The city, with its network of cultures and internships, offers much more than...

I applied to numerous schools, these are a few of the most difficult essays I was asked to write for various scholarships and applications. Some have similar information because they were used for different schools/scholarships to answer different questions or topics.

Narrowing down my choice schools before beginning the...

Interviews were much easier than I expected, be yourself...

Financial aid at...

It's in a...

Apply for as many scholarships as you can. The only reason...

Always ask in person and make sure it...

There is a legacy scholarship available for one...

I plan to continue my education with grad school...

The Alumni Association offers 1 freshman legacy a scholarship every year, a total of $20,000. You are automatically...

University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Vanderbilt and more. The interviews were very similar, except one or two where the interviewers enjoyed talking about themselves more than asking...

UM offered so many scholarships that I decided...

Consistency helps. If you have volunteered at the same church or...

I had interests across the board. I wasn't just interested in my academics...