Application Essay Excerpts

Sometimes words get taken out of their intended context and get lost in translation. These words that are meant to make us understand, can as easily make us confused. When my parents informed me of our financial status, I listened and nodded, but in all honesty, I missed what they were trying to portray to me. Behind the facts that they were spewing, they were trying to paint a picture of urgency. My miscalculation of the situation made it impossible for me to understand this urgent message...

Throughout my childhood, I can remember watching all the superhero movies my heart desired. I was always enthralled by the idea of someone who could single-handedly beat evil geniuses with time to spare. These men and women were seen as saviors of the world while keeping humanity out of danger's harm. However, each protagonist faced his or her own corresponding antagonist without fail...

As a Roman Catholic Dominican, my grandmother was not always tolerant or open to other beliefs that were not similar to hers. She was quite close-minded and this was not uncommon in the environment she grew up in...

Ever since I was a little girl, traveling has been in my blood. It was never something I chose, but rather it chose me...

I am more likely to pursue a degree in the Computer Sciences, as I am fascinated by the way computers work. I would love to study the way they solve complex problems and how they interact almost seamlessly...

All the members of my family have impacted my life in one way or another. I come from a rather large, Honduran family: my grandfather had six siblings and he in turn had eight children...

Next to my left ear sits a nanobot calling out, “Inject me quickly, I’ve got a liver to repair!” Next to my right ear sits a human brain pleading, “Probe me please!” Who should I listen to?..

I ring the doorbell. The door unlocks. I slide it open gently and head over the wooden floors to Dr. Medappa’s waiting room...

Yellow and blue jigsaw puzzle mats. Beige tiles. Strollers. Two computers. Audio cassette rack. Shelves of elementary school books...

My upbringing never strayed far from perfection. Opportunities came my way as my parents worked hard to ensure that I’d be raised in a gated community located in a well-respected school district. I have nothing but the fondest of childhood memories which include exploring my remarkable talents, or lack thereof, in swimming, singing, and soccer. As my high-school graduation approached, the safe suburban shell that I once so comfortably inhabited was infiltrated by a disturbing personal encounter...