The strong gust of wind blew my hair into my face. I was never quite sure if that air came from the train’s arrival or the loud sigh of relief coming from the people next to me. The screeching sound of metal against metal made my teeth clench, but there it was-- the Metro Blue Line heading to Los Angeles. We rushed into the small, grey cabin to find a seat. I pulled out my crumpled-up map of Los...

I fell in love with Reed College on a toilet. This is more symbolic than it seems; bathrooms have become my rite of passage for the last two years due to my weird intestinal disease. My first “Reed-ers Digest” began when I found a Reed magazine in a bathroom. I had heard about it before, but there was something intriguing about the magazine. While reading, I kept encountering the words “genuine skeptics”. As someone who has gotten in trouble for...

Don't feel pressured to write about a "traumatic" experience or some experience that makes you unique. The strongest essays are ones that make mundane and simple things beautiful. Talk about something that is meaningful to you. No matter how cliche. This will show colleges what you value, your level of maturity, and your insight into the world you live in.

Don't go for prestige, you are more likely to get rejected if that is your sole purpose for applying to a college. You need to find a good fit. What does good fit mean? Ask yourself a series of questions. What do I want out of college? Do I want to pursue a topic of interest, or do I just want a career? Do I prefer small classes where professors know my name, or am I okay with just blending in with the crowd? Does...

Don't go for prestige, you are more likely to get rejected if that is your sole purpose for applying to a college. You need to find a good fit. Visit the college....

I did a very good job of choosing schools that fit my preferences. Any school I decided to go to...

I chose my college, because I agreed...

Treat an interview like a conversation. Don't list your extracurriculars and awards. More so,...