This year, the most significant disappointment that I’ve had has been with our school’s theatre company. It was the third week of school, and it was time for auditions for the fall play. It is usually up to the seniors to carry the heaviest roles, as they have the most experience. More than that, it is a measure of how well each has mastered the art over the last four years (at least in the students’ minds). I...

The best part about me is undoubtedly my compassion for others. No matter what activity I am involved with, my motivation is focused more toward helping other people than toward myself. Because it is such an integral part of who I am, it has touched all parts of my life, from my family to my friends to my hobbies and extracurriculars. Whether it’s helping underclassmen study for a big test, pulling a friend out of the darkness of depression,...

My family situation, though sadly not unique, has forced me to face some of the dirtiest parts of the world and to push myself above them. My parents divorced when I was seven, leaving me in a home with a working mother and an abusive stepfather. I had to learn how to take care of myself as well as my little sister when I should have been playing on the swing set. I learned that I could not depend on...

Getting into MIT requires more than simply being smart. The university has been known to turn down students with perfect SAT scores and perfect GPAs because they didn’t have or didn’t demonstrate the necessary qualities to succeed at MIT. The school is challenging: to be able to balance classes alone can be difficult, not to mention extracurricular activities...

MIT is situated in an absolutely perfect location. It sits directly next to the Charles River, which is perfect for sailing and kayaking in the warm weather, and for slow Sunday afternoon walks in any weather. The campus is situated between Boston, with all of its theatrical, educational, beautiful, and gastronomic adventures right across the bridge, and Cambridge, with its eclectic, down-home feel and any number of stores and secret spots just a walk away. Although people tend to get trapped in the “MIT bubble” if they become too focused on schoolwork and jobs, getting off campus is incredibly easy...