Bright-eyed, motivated, determined, a seven year old me sets out for the first day of first grade in a new school. My patchwork turtleneck covers every inch of my neck while the butterflies swirl in my stomach, but I force myself to ignore the feeling. I’ve done this whole “school” thing before, this time it’s just in a new town. But one thing haunts me: what will people think when they find out I’m not like everyone...

I was driving home from work, as the clanging noise that I had been hearing for the past five minutes continued incessantly. Every possible worst-case scenario raced through my mind: my tires are about to explode, my engine is about to spontaneously combust, and worst still, there’s a murderer in my trunk. Slowly, I shifted my gaze to my left side mirror, wondering if perhaps I was missing something obvious…. Oh, man. How could I be SO clueless? To...

Since the day I began looking into colleges, the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been on my radar. I am seeking a large, spirited university located in the Midwest, in a city that always has something new to do and to learn about. The University of Wisconsin-Madison offers me exactly this. When I got the chance to visit the campus and take a tour in March, I was intrigued by what it had to offer me. The University of Wisconsin-Madison has...

I feel my insides convulse as I encounter the final moments before my teammates and I take the field and perform. As a senior, I’ve done this endless times, yet somehow every time that same nerveracking feeling overwhelms my body. Despite the emotional games that my body plays on me, I wouldn’t give up what I do for the world. Unlike my peers, I didn’t realize my passion for dancing until seventh grade, but I proved to...

I interviewed with Vanderbilt University. My biggest tip would be to be yourself...

It's really important to me that Vanderbilt is located near a...

Definitely stay involved and on top of things....

I did use a private counselor, and mine strongly encouraged showing my personality through my application. Admissions...

I don't think there's necessarily the "right" activities you can do throughout high school. To colleges, it's...