Newest College Application Essays

In the spring of my sophomore year, an ordinary Tuesday took an unexpected turn. After the lunch period ended, I stood up to a world spinning with severe vertigo. Soon after, my speech began slurring, and my right hand trembled uncontrollably.

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From a grade school classmate who mocked me by stretching out the corners of his eyelids (I’m Thai!), to people who thought it was okay to use Asian slurs because they didn’t include me (I’m not Thai!), to a middle school “friend” who texted me a...

From a future French Prime Minister’s daring escape from the Paris Commune to a Nepalese prince’s massacre of his royal family, History has allowed me to discover unexpected stories that have shaped the world today. This exploration is exactly...

It was an ordinary day in Mrs. Johnson's second grade classroom, filled with the usual hum of young minds at work, when suddenly, chaos erupted. A gigantic bug, the likes of which none of us had ever seen, appeared out of nowhere, causing panic...

Strike.

I turned and faced the most cheerful and excited group of students. All different kinds of students on one team–happy to be there, socialize, and watch me get my first strike. I tried to hold back a smile, but it was impossible. I’m a...

When you listen to a podcast, it sounds smooth and fluid like the people are having a fun conversation in their living rooms. At least, if it is a semi-decent production. Basically, if things are done well, you don’t even think about what goes...

Vision blurry, fastened heartbeat, confused & humid head. There’s an excruciating pain all over my body and fear has engulfed my heart. The sun aggressively embraces my eyes. I raise my right hand to block the light, simultaneously bringing my...

Creativity, to me, is not just an act but a symphony, where each note represents a unique idea and every melody a new perspective. My creative side manifests itself in various ways, from problem-solving and innovative thinking to artistic...

The notion of family in my Latino community is one that is extremely fluid, with the expectation that we treat others with respect. Albert, my “neighbor,” has occupied the bush in front of my house for over two years and has become a part of my...

At the age of seven, I would collect ladybugs in small containers, take them home, and play with them. I admired how they traveled high and low, imagining their view of the world to be even more exhilarating than mine. Entering high school, my...

The process of watering my houseplant grounds me. I believe that every plant lives its own story, just like the eight million different forms of life that inhabit the Earth. As I learn more about the life cycle of my plant and the support Aurora...

Thud!

The sudden noise interrupted the flow of dynamic movement. My passport had slipped onto the floor with the documents required for the flight. I let out a small sigh as I put the things back onto the desk.

Growing up as a third-culture kid,...

"As a Black man, you must work ten times harder than everyone to succeed."

My father's words hit home every time I commute to my predominantly white high school. I always lock eyes with several homeless people while riding the train.

They all look...

What do the wings of a flightless bird, a whale's pelvis, and a human's wisdom tooth have in common? They are all vestigial structures—organs or body parts of a species deemed useless. Like all vestigial structures, many perceive wisdom teeth to...

“We would get chased home because Italians didn't want us in their neighborhood.”

“It causes gentrification and…[section 8] people to move out…prices go up.”

These are 2 of the many testimonies I gathered while conducting research last summer. I...

After building the portable tennis court, I signal one of my eleven-year-old students to come and play. He returns every ball over the net despite having a racket with two broken strings. The uneven concrete does not hinder him from speeding...

I initially saw obtaining hearing aids as admitting defeat to a disability. Being Hard of Hearing, I struggled with following conversations for years. Even after learning three foreign languages to communicate better, I realized in college that I...

To the left of me, there were graves. To the right of me, there were mountains, and ahead were the beautiful seas of Çanakkale (Gallipoli). Standing in the center of the historic war zone, young and confused, I asked my parents “Did we win?”. My...

Starting in a dark, unknown place full of ‘enemies’, after passing the initial area, you will approach a desolate but welcoming town. Elderbug startles all travelers who enter Dirthmouth. Everything seems as simple as just traveling and meeting...

I was twelve years old the first time my ballet teacher looked at our class and told us she could see our lunches through our leotards. Before her comment, I had never really thought about the way my body looked in the mirror, I just enjoyed going...

After working at an ice cream shop for over a year, I have become familiar with more ice cream flavors than I would have ever imagined. Over forty I believe. Along with the flavors changing every month, I have seen a bit of myself change over the...

“A mi no querer takar la clase de español”, I fervently and somewhat jokingly argued with my mother after she DECLARED that I would take Spanish 1 in 7th grade. It’s sort of like those times when you know the battle has long been over, yet you...

“When are you coming home?” I anxiously asked my mother over the phone.

Home for Christmas break, I grew tired of playing with my two-year-old brother while my parents worked. Glen was adopted domestically from a Bengali and Puerto Rican family,...

"Hey Gran how have you been hol-"

"Graaan? Can you hea-"

"Great, she can't hear us. *Sigh*. Mom, I thought Dad fixed issues with her sound?"

"Well, what are we supposed to do?"During the initial lockdowns, I tried to keep in touch with my...