Application Essay Excerpts

Sitting in third period had never been so dull. Learning about the joys of parabolas was getting old, fast. I began to drift away with my vivid imagination when the classroom telephone rang...

I began the intensive year-long science project at the start of my ninth grade year. When my Biology teacher first introduced the class to the science project, he stressed the fact that we should be creative—that we should dare to step outside of the typical science volcano project. His encouragements were so vague that many students did not know where to begin...

As of today, I have a general idea of what I hope to become—what I hope to accomplish after college. Though this vision is a little hazy now, I can certainly see myself living in a comfortable apartment in a large city (away from my small, rural town), performing on stage—perhaps writing a few plays on the side—all while attending law school to study criminal law in hopes of becoming a District Attorney, happy, content, fulfilled...

Teacher is only one of many roles that Mr. C plays in the lives of his students. He can be called a mentor, an advisor, a guidance counselor, and a lifesaver. Although he also teaches normal biology classes, I have never had Mr. C as a teacher in a traditional classroom setting...

Columbia is my first choice and it appeals to me because of both common reasons and specific opportunities that interest me. There is no escaping that Columbia is a leading university with incomparable location. Delving into New York City will allow me to engage in metropolitan life, with the cultural events, the fast pace of life, and the diverse population, all of which are reflected in Columbia and its student body...

My heart pounds violently against my chest, pushing against the smooth blue fabric of my dress. My eyes and ears strain to listen for a possible approaching threat, while I try to appear mesmerized by the white satin tablecloth. I can practically see the silverware quivering, shaking, and as I realize that the adrenaline rush I am feeling is causing my hands to tremble, too, I feel someone seize my arm...

An optimistic middle-aged mother named Francesca walks us through mountains of trash of the Estelí city dump in Nicaragua: her home...

A pivotal characteristic that defines me is the fact that I am an African American. Many Americans, especially Black Americans living in inner cities, do not take that brave step and apply to a higher education institution because many have a “why bother?” attitude...

Thousands of schools where students are fighting to get in. Thousands of schools fighting to get some students to come in. Thousands of schools, but only one Yale...

I was riding in a white van rumbling along a dirt road in the Arizona desert. It was spring break of my sophomore year of high school, and my church’s youth group was excited about the prospects of our service trip...