"The confines of Apartment 1C leave insufficient room for the distinct hopes of five beings but enough room for my mini notebook, through which I bear with the unforeseeable nature of life. With school mere days away, I fear letting down a mom restarting a business, a dad seeking work. Meanwhile, I have the privilege not to start but to continue learning. In the spirit of continuation, my notebook transforms from a nostalgic cure into a personal motivator as I...

Thoroughly researched aspects of Columbia University's resources that I knew I would commit myself to if/once accepted

No matter the school, for the most part, high grades won't get you in and lower grades won't keep you out. It's about the rest of the application. Work as hard...

Diversity is huge. Even if you've lived in one place...