Newest College Application Essays

As a son of first-generation Indian immigrants, stories of hardship were not unfamiliar to me. Hate manifested in the form of chants like "Go back to YOUR country!". Hate manifested in the form of fear- fear of wearing our traditional kurtas or...

Nothing strips away the social constructs that divide us like an emergency. Having witnessed multiple people lying helplessly in need of medical treatment, I’ve been forced to acknowledge the universality of human fragility. As an EMT, my job can...

Come on Otis! I tugged on my dog’s leash. My feet pounded the ground, quickly accelerating in speed because the kitchen was awaiting my arrival. I opened the door and was hit with a wave of anxiousness and excitement.

What should I cook? All this...

Crystals fell from the sky, images of a never-seen winter wonderland falling into place. Snow flurries drifted through the air; a faded yellow fluorescent light from the rundown Chinese restaurant radiated through each flake, reflecting the...

How does one prepare for a test with no correct answer? There aren't flashcards to flip through, past practice tests to predict similar problems, or a study guide to fill out. How would a test like this even be administered? The answer - a...

In December of 2017, I traveled to Mumbai, India. What was supposed to be just a two-week, relaxing, and fun-filled trip visiting extended family, turned into a chain of eye-opening and life-changing events for me. My cousins were part of a local...

Grasping the air bulb in my hand, I squeeze till the arm cuff is snug around the nurse. Methodically, I turn the valve on the bulb, letting out a faint stream of air, still pressing my stethoscope firmly upon the brachial artery, listening for the...

I clock my final break on a brutally hot June Thursday. Stepping outside for a phone call, I have one thing on my mind: what is Saturday’s verdict? Dave, my Eagle Project counselor, has been corresponding with Portland Parks and Recreation (PPAR)...

While waiting at the Dunkin’ near Bardeen Quad, I noticed students took out caffeinated coffees, whereas visitors bought sugary ones. It was interesting correlating those two. Until my cousin bought Ice Tea. Finding such correlations – and...

I grew up in Canton, where the wealthiest Chinese cities were within hours. For a child and an expatriate, the bustling rich of China struck 10-year-old me. The stories behind Chinese affluence mesmerized me, and they still do.

For high school, I...

As much as I’m interested in the technical aspects of data science, I’m more intrigued by why a data result. Why New York City has higher covid cases than Atlanta; why Biden defeated Trump. I want to understand how human lives work, through...

In my senior year of high school, my piano teacher introduced me to Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in G Sharp Minor. It was a daunting prospect; it was November, and I had to memorize and perform it along with two other pieces by February. This was...

Meet Julian, Eloise, Damien, Georgie, and Caesar; a few of my best friends. These friends have helped me through the brightest and the darkest days of my life. They inspire me to think creatively, comfort me during the low times, challenge me, and...

Remus and Romelus faced each other with fiery eyes.Clad in a _______________, Romelus seemed to . . .

The above description conveys a moment that is handpicked from my attempts to compose historical fiction. I find myself stumbling on the...

As I sit in psychology class and learn about Social Identity Theory, I reflect on my cultural identity. I moved from California to Karnataka when I was six. My Abba decided we had to go back to our home, hence my parents started filling suitcases...

“Do you have any siblings?”

It’s a simple question, yet for the longest time, it was a question that I dreaded, a question that I felt the need to avoid at all costs. The answer, in essence, is simple. I have two older brothers: one 22, the other...

My father has always been complaining about the escalating cost of electricity. He continuously replaces the lights of our house with new power-saving bulbs to cut down bills. There have always been strict rules on the use of electrical devices at...

My program was successful, but the determination to continue competing further eluded me. I longed for the hackathon to finish, staring at the minute hand on the clock as it inched closer to the hour. As soon as the buzzer sounded, I felt I had to...

At Hogwarts, House Cup rivalries & petty squabbles are more often than not, the norm. Although our community is large and diverse, its existence is threatened by dark forces - the ever-present danger of plastic pollution, unequal opportunities...

In Biology, acronyms make learning easier. I took the liberty to create my own, CELL, allowing exploration both inside and outside the classroom.C: Cleveland & ClinicsI talked to the Head of the Department of Ocular Oncology at Cleveland...

While our teacher was explaining the impact of COVID-19 on international trade, I was creating a fairytale: finding a savior amidst warring global economies. When the textbook spoke of symbiotic relationships, I was weaving a fable on luminescent...

I did not realize life could be so fragile and unpredictable until my grandmother was diagnosed with lung cancer. With social security as her only form of income, my family was burdened with extreme financial pressure. It was through this...

The smallest things in life often carry the most meaning.

I realized this when I found myself as the only teen among a group of teachers for a USACF meeting in Brooklyn. As I sat there nervously, clenching onto my shirtsleeves, I came face to...

From a one-man bake sale bringing in hundreds of dollars to spending hours between classes boxing stuffed animals, I have found the best of myself in my work for U.S.-Africa Children’s Fellowship (USACF). But more than finding pride in what I do,...