I have a longstanding relationship with the blinking cursor that lives within the blank, white expanse of my Microsoft Word Document. Over the course of our turbulent adventures, I’ve discovered that it’s not judgmental nor does it ever refuse my company. It’s a constant friend that I can always turn to whether creativity is pouring down on me in a rush of exhilaration, or writer’s block is looming over me and cackling in my ear while...

Williams College: Imagine looking through a window at any environment that is particularly significant to you. Reflect on the scene, paying close attention to the relation between what you are seeing and why it is meaningful to you. Please limit your statement to 300 words. Through the grungy subway windows with provocative graffiti scratched into the glass like cracks against ice, the monotonous, dirty, and pest-ridden tunnels end to finally behold the monochrome rooftops of my comfortable suburb. The quaint, almost...

Yale: What would you do with a free afternoon tomorrow? I’d spend the day in Barnes and Noble. I’ll grab the latest issue of The Writer, some Margaret Atwood and Kazuo Ishiguro, and curl up in a corner reading until closing time. What is the best piece of advice you have received in the last three years? Fear what is ordinary and love what is abnormal. Aiming to become your role model is simply creating a copy. Aim...

Yale: I’m aiming for a liberal arts college where I can thrive academically and culturally. I adore Yale College’s English Literature program with its emphasis on cultivating the power of argument and analysis, as well as its creative writing curriculum that allows students to discover their own innovative style. Staying on Yale’s campus gave me a look at performance groups such as Danceworks and Steppin’ Out that appealed to my love for dance. I know that I...

Yale: In this second essay, please reflect on something you would like us to know about you that we might not learn from the rest of your application—or on something that you would like to say more about. We ask that you limit your essay to fewer than 500 words. When it comes to music, I think your ears are more honest than your eyes. I remember one of the first things drilled into my head when I was learning...

Brandeis University: As a person who loves to dabble in all sorts of interests and disciplines, a liberal arts education is important to me. I feel that Brandeis is the ideal place for me to express myself in a variety of disciplines and extracurricular activities while also being nourished in an intimate and collaborative environment. When visiting the campus and sitting inside the Cholmondeley’s Coffee House, I got a savory taste of Brandeis’s appreciation for the performing arts....

Allegheny College: Today's employers seek individuals who are both creative and analytical thinkers. It is this combination that Allegheny is known for providing by emphasizing the pursuit of a variety of academic disciplines from multiple perspectives. Briefly describe your interest in the liberal arts and how you plan to explore your talents and passions at Allegheny. As a person who loves to dabble in all sorts of interests and disciplines, a liberal arts education is important to me. I want...

Allegheny College: In a recent survey, students rank both Allegheny's level of academic challenge and supportive environment in the top 10% of all schools nationally. Share with us an example of a teacher who dramatically made a difference in your learning style or passion for a particular academic subject. Include detail about this teacher's unique characteristics and qualities and how s/he has impacted your expectations of Allegheny faculty. My first day of AP Chemistry was incredibly foreboding, mainly because it...

Columbia University: (600 char.) List the required readings from courses during the school year or summer that you enjoyed most in the past year: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Inferno by Dante Alighieri, Angels in America by Tony Kushner, Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville (600 char.) List the books read for pleasure that you enjoyed most in the past year: Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, The Handmaidâ€...

Columbia University: Growing up in New York City for my entire life, I realize in what a rich and engaging city Columbia is located. While I want to remain in an urban environment, I also want to attend a college that is small and will allow me to take advantage of individual and intimate attention placed on its students, supportive faculty, and a large array of academic opportunities. Columbia College offers this ambiance for me, and I believe that its...

I won't lie, financial aid was a huge part of why I chose my school. I didn't have the luxury of being blind to the money needed to attend college. However, I will say that the reason I chose the college I'm at right now is...

Once you have all of your acceptance letters in front of you, choosing a school is probably the hardest decision you'll make. I lined up all of the qualities that I was looking for in a college: good financial aid, diverse community, clubs and organizations that interested in me, flexibility to explore other subject areas, strong faculty support...

My chemistry teacher and my english teacher wrote my recommendations. If you're applying to a liberal arts college/program, first thing I would recommend if you're asking for two teacher recommendations is to pick one from the humanities (english, history, language, etc) and one from the math and sciences. It gives a more well-rounded and complete perspective of you. But more importantly, you have to pick a teacher/counselor that you have a good relationship with, and who you feel has...

I have a pretty good formula for that. 1) Talk about what you like about the community (small college, large university, city college, rural college, etc.) and how you feel that will benefit you. 2) Talk about your possible major/academic interests and how you feel the college will cater to that (I like to look on the website for specific majors,...

It's always important to keep busy in some way during the summer. Colleges like to see that you're not only intelligent, but also well rounded and getting involved outside of school. Some summer activities: 1) Internships!! Yes, there are jobs and organizations out there that take high school interns. Talk to your teachers or guidance counselors if you need help searching. 2) Get a job! This can be as...

I'm keeping my options open. I'm a person that doesn't function off of rigid plans for myself, and I'm comfortable with that. Currently, I'm a psychology and sociology double major. I'm thinking of exploring a career in law and/or social work. I have a strong passion for helping others, social justice, and community impact. I want to delve right into the work force and make a difference. I'm currently contemplating a degree in social...

In regards to scholarships, talk to your guidance counselor first. They'll always have resources for you. If you're a student of color, look for scholarships geared towards that. Personally, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund was my go to, and they gave me some decent assistance. There are a lot of well-known merit based scholarships like Millennium Gates that simply require some essays and recommendation letters. Sometimes, if your parents work for unions or organizations, they have college scholarship programs for children of employees (that was the case with my mother, a pleasant surprise for me!) But there are copious websites on...

Interviews were interesting. Sometimes I had a young grad student interviewing me who was warm, friendly and answered all of my questions and was really easy to talk to. Other times, I had 56 year old investment bankers interviewing me, and we literally had nothing in common. The most important advice I can give about interviews is to practice before hand. They usually ask similar questions (why do you like our school, what activities do you do in school/outside of school, what is...

1) Involved -- Columbia students like to take on a lot. It's not a competitive habit, but more a common attribute to get our feet wet in a lot of different things. I know engineers that are also full time dancers. I know pre-med students who are also full time musicians. I help out in the admissions office and also helped write curriculums and finance reports for two student led non-profits on campus. It's not really about having impressive resumes or showing off. We're all naturally inquisitive and love getting involved in different things. 2) Passionate -- I think it's safe to...

Columbia is right smack in the middle of New York City. Now I grew up in NYC so I may be a little biased when I talk about how amazing it is to live here, but I will say that the culture of New York City is thriving. There's a place for everyone here. Interested in the arts? We have world renowned museums, theaters, and galleries in the city for you take advantage of (Broadway, The...