"Give us today our daily bread." Such words I would hear both at Sunday congregations and from occasional bread-lovers that show up at our family bakery. Propelled by the entrepreneurial mentality of my family, I started to develop a growing desire for success at a young age. However, this seemingly ambitious desire gradually transformed into a self-centered way of life as I began to yearn for a sumptuous lifestyle that ignored the welfare of others. Despite my increasing appetite for...

As I embarked to find the most fitting institution, I discovered how many of them defined their community by their facilities. Initially, as I stood in front of the Kravis Center, I felt the same way —another impressive building. Noticing myself in the reflective pool, however, I began to wonder about my potential to contribute to this community, instead of the “ghee-whiz” factor of other campuses. I can only answer why I decided to apply to CMC by explaining how...

Every Sunday afternoon in the bustling hub within Taipei Main Station, an informal gathering of people occur. The sounds of Tagalog, Indonesian, and Vietnamese echo through the hallways as groups of migrant workers gather on their sole day off of work. An afternoon spent milling through the station offers a glimpse into how globalization shapes and re-shapes our world. With their financial needs unfulfilled, these migrant workers are forced to travel abroad to provide income for their families. This leads...

From an economic perspective, Chiang Mai, Thailand straddles the periphery. Locked between first-world tourists and natives entrenched in grinding poverty, the inequality can scarcely be imagined by those who experience the opulence of Phuping Palace. Paradoxically, it was within the unseen alleys where I discovered my reason for attending Notre Dame. Touring the city by bike, I squeezed the rusty brakes after suddenly encountering toddlers playing in the street. Despite wearing only torn shirts, they looked up and smiled. Set...

Stumbling upon an antiquated guitar in my grandfather’s house at the age of 10, I realized the power of simple curiosity. By picking it up, I became acquainted with one of my greatest passions—the guitar. From solo sessions in my room to live performances in front of a crowd, a small dose of curiosity led to a lifelong passion that shapes my desire to become part of Carnegie Mellon University. Given how valuable curiosity is in our lives, it...

Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, I’ve learned that statistics, investment, and accounting, while essential, are only parts of the success of a business. I believe that Haverford’s liberal arts curriculum provides far more than a grounding in these skills. By interacting, learning, and discussing provocative ideas and goals on a level of unique intimacy, Haverford empowers me to take action. Whether influenced by the creativity of James House or partnering with local initiatives through Eighth Dimension,...

Interning at Costco this summer gave me a first-hand glimpse at international business. Observing a meeting between Taiwan and American management, the discussion flowed through Costco’s logistics system, marketing, and labor laws until the discussion stalled over the most unlikely topic—soup. It was an interesting discourse that helped me realize that even the most well-oiled international management team can get caught up on not just the peculiarities of local markets, but even the semantics of language translation during...

Just as physicists wrestle with the contradictions of relativity and quantum mechanics, I wrestled with what seemed opposing forces: the appeal of the intellectual diversity of large institutions versus the intimate sense of community of a liberal arts college. Talking to a Rice alumnus, I discovered an academically rigorous college that values its sense of community as much as its cutting-edge research. Rice’s residential college system embodies the give and take of a true learning community. With a student-to-faculty...

Be sure to take risks in your essays because they will pay off!!

Definitely demonstrated interest at WashU. They really care...

Claremont McKenna College (ED). This was my only interview and it was a bad idea since it was my ED school....

Look at location, size, and talk to alumni that you know from each school. The way...

A Why Us topic essay would be so much better if you actually visited and if you started off with a hook of...

Make sure you get someone who actually knows and cares about you....

Collaborative, fun,...