What do the Pullman strike, a swinging strike (baseball), and a bowling strike have in common? They’re all worth 10 points in Scholastic Bowl. A test of knowledge as a citizen of the world, Scholastic Bowl - also known as Quizbowl in states outside of Illinois - allows students to display their knowledge in all subject areas. This versatile extracurricular gave me the opportunity to discover new favorites, from all kinds of literature and fine art to the geniuses that...

Tradition and modernization tend to have an inverse relationship. If a place has more tradition, it tends to lag behind in innovation, stuck in the past; if a place is fully modernized, it tends to lose its roots in tradition, fixated on the future. A versatile microcosm in a sea of one-dimensional educational institutions, the University of Chicago bucks this trend as a wholesome blend of past, present, and future. The campus itself is a manifestation of this fusion. As...

Make sure you are applying to only schools that you have legitimate interest in because of factors such as faculty, students, population/location, programs, etc., and not just brand name prestige. Anybody can write about the great name of a top school - only you can write about the personal connection you felt with a tour guide when you visited, or the love of a certain plant you saw as you walked by. Push your writing to display the dynamic,...

passionate, driven,...

Harvard, Stanford, Princeton - I thought...

Find teachers that saw you both in the classroom and outside in extracurricular activities ...

Take the initiative and get involved. Whether it is volunteering, internships, studying new...

Everybody is extremely tight-knit at...

I was involved in almost all of extracurriculars my school had to...

The atmosphere, the passionate student body, the...

Visit and really get a feel for the university. If you...

I hope to continue with volunteer work/philanthropy as...

Highlight a small, neat tidbit that really stuck with you about...

I applied to a lot of scholarships, and though very few were successful, it's...

Intramural sports, Scav (short for Scavenger Hunt), Kuvia (weeklong winter activities),...