Not as Simple as Black or White “So are you white or are you black?” I’ve been asked this question a lot, and many others like it. People always seem to be curious about my background, either when they see my voluminous, golden-brown curls or notice that I took my mother’s last name. Over time, as I’ve tried to make sense of my unconventional upbringing and the impact it has had on me, I’ve realized that...

ESSAY ABOUT "WHY UPENN ARTS AND SCIENCES": I am unsure if it’s a blessing or a curse, but I still do not know what I want to study, as there are too many subjects that interest me. That is why I believe that the College of Arts and Sciences will give me the flexibility and breadth of subject matter to fulfill my academic curiosity. I love that I can develop key intellectual capacities and get a great general education...

"WHY YALE" SHORT ANSWER (500 CHARACTERS): From the minute I arrived at the Old Campus, I immediately fell in love with Yale. I love that New Haven isn’t New York City or Beverly Hills, and that Yalies are grounded in the real world. I love that the residential college system promotes friendly rivalry and school spirit. I love that there is a “shopping period” and blue book parties to help students decide which classes to take. I love that Yale...

UPENN SUPPLEMENT ESSAY: WHICH CLASS OF MANKIND ARE YOU (IMMOVABLE, MOVABLE, OR A MOVER). BASED ON A QUOTE BY BEN FRANKLIN: A Balanced Mover Each class of mankind could represent good or bad qualities in a person, depending on which perspective one is looking from. Being immovable could be seen as having integrity or being intolerant. Being movable could be seen as being adaptable or being a pushover. Being a mover could be seen as being proactive or being an...

My Personal Statement, or "Common App" essay, is simply the story of my background and upbringing: who I am, where I came from, how it shaped me, and where I am going as a result. It was a thoughtful, well-written, unique piece, but at the same time it was very simple! The beauty of a good common app essay is that nobody else should be able to replicate it, or even come close to doing so. I didn't write about...

Don't procrastinate, and don't be overwhelmed by all...

The conventional wisdom is that it is essential to have a long-list of extra-curriculars to impress college admissions officers...

My AP European History and AP Chinese Language & Culture teachers wrote my letters of recommendations. I took AP Euro junior year, and took Chinese all 4 years of high school, so I...

It is tough to say at a place like Harvard, with people from all over the world. First, surprisingly a lot of people are involved in...

1. Smart--but not in your face smart. Everyone is actually very friendly, polite, and seems normal. But at one point you'll realize that the...

I would try to make Harvard's social spaces more inclusive and unified. Upperclassmen get placed into 13 different houses and...

Harvard's location and culture are maybe two of its biggest perks. Harvard is located...