One of the most important and influential figures in my life has been my maternal grandmother. Although less than five feet tall, my grandmother is a towering figure who personifies an unstoppable work ethic. Her example has exerted a huge influence on my personal and academic life. My grandmother was born in a small town in Durango, Mexico more than 80 years ago, and only completed school through the sixth grade (the highest level offered). She migrated to Mexico City where...

Question: Please submit a one page, single-spaced essay that explains why you have chosen Carnegie Mellon and your particular major(s), department(s) or program(s). This essay should include the reasons why you've chosen the major(s), any goals or relevant work plans and any other information you would like us to know. For freshmen applying to more than one college or program, please mention each college or program to which you are applying. Because our admission committees review...

Question: List the books (if any) you've read this year for pleasure. Choose one and in a sentence describe its impact on you. Answer: Books: Bobby Fischer teaches chess, The Onion: Our Dumb World, Jurassic Park, How to Beat Up Anybody: An Instructional and Inspirational Karate Book by the World Champion (by Judah Friedlander), 2001: A Space Odyssey. East of Eden: Life is defined by the choices we make, not by predestination.

My only advice is to let the essays show off your personality. I did not do this terribly well, but those of you who are more expressive writers will be able to. Demonstrate your passions and interests to whatever university you apply to. Make sure to be funny and informative, and show that you are a well rounded, interesting person.

I interviewed for MIT, Cornell, Harvard, Columbia, and Stanford. Among those colleges, I was only admitted to Cornell. However, for any interview, the key is to keep the interest...

I was accepted to UT, Cornell, Rice, and Carnegie Mellon. I chose Carnegie Mellon because of their strong CS program. If you're applying to them, just know that you have to specifically apply to a school within the university (for computer science the school is School of Computer Science, or SCS...

Carnegie Mellon really has a culture of hard work. In all of their programs, but particularly CS, you'll have plenty of homework. This much work may take away from the...

For any all recommenders, get people who really know you well. Even if you have a recommender who is a great writer, do not use their recommendation unless they know you...

My advice is to not worry about money until you have to. Don't let concerns about financial aid decide which college you'll be applying to. I didn't think I'd get to go to CMU...

One great way to increase your chances of getting into Carnegie Mellon is to attend the sleeping bag weekends that happen every...

What really set me apart from other applicants was my dedication to working hard. I took 12 AP exams through high school and wound up getting 11 5's. CMU really...