cindy888,
UC Berkeley
B.A., History
Avid traveler, video gamer, reader, and History geek. UC Berkeley '21 (History/Political Economy double major, Pre-Law)
Features Included
10
Essays
17
Schools
8
Scores
8
Advice
7
ECs
0
Sports
Background
Hometown
Arcadia, California
GenderFemale
EthnicityAsian
Class of2021
First Gen College StudentNo
English First Language
Yes
Other Language(s) Spoken
French, Mandarin
Results, Essays, and Advice
Accepted
Waitlisted or Withdrew
Denied
-
Tap/click a school logo above to view essays and advice specific to that school.
University of California - Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
Applied for a B.A. in History
Accepted and Enrolled Legacy: NoSchool Specific Essays
Personal Statement689 WordsBizarre talent, Childhood memory, Chinese heritage, Failure experience, Feeling out of place, Interest in fine arts, Interest in other academic subject, International background, Issue of personal significance, Love of writing, Overcoming personal struggle, Reaching a goal, Story central to identity, Study/travel abroadI wrote to create perfection--both in me and in the world around me. As a child, I was often left to my own devices while my immigrant mother juggled university classes and a waitressing job. To pass the time, I devoured the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie--mysteries captured my imagination--and mimicked their intricate plots in my Hello Kitty notebook, where they’d be edited and proofread until deemed worthy for narration in front of my audience...Read more...Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay400 WordsWhy not? Why wouldn’t I want to attend a top school located in the heart of NYC? The College of Arts and Sciences’ College Core Curriculum is the blueprint of my ideal education; an institution that actively works to facilitate the values of thoughtfulness, critical thinking, and analysis. NYU also has a great collection of academic resources, such as the renowned Tamiment Library; I can spend hours researching radical politics and civil rights movements, both of which are relevant...Read more...Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school636 WordsI recall my first time traveling abroad without my parents--or anyone I knew, really. I had enlisted with GlobalWorks, an organization that sends small groups of teenagers all over the world to perform service learning while experiencing new cultures. The idea seemed rather stereotypical--privileged American youth going off to help the masses--but my excitement to travel (to see the world past the barrier of tourist traps and shiny hotels!) outweighed my fear of being branded a stereotype. On the first...Read more...Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school148 Words150 word limit, how I spent past 2 summers The summer before junior year, I took two classes (AP Psychology and Chemistry) and spent about half of August backpacking through Japan. I made a wish at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo; bathed in natural hot springs and gazed at Mt. Fuji in Hakone; splurged on Kobe beef in the namesake city of Kobe; fed deer (and almost got bitten!) in Nara; revelled in Kodai-ji Temple’s nighttime light show in Kyoto. This past...Read more...Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school346 WordsOnce I set a goal for myself, I strive to both achieve and surpass it. The most acute example of this is my penchant for advanced computer game strategies and competitions. I discovered League of Legends the summer before high school and was immediately humbled by the game's complex mechanics and steep learning curve. Although many people pursue video games for unproductive reasons such as escaping their real-life responsibilities, I saw gaming as an instrument to develop skillsets such as...Read more...Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school285 WordsI am a traveler, of both geography and time. My adventures began at age three, when I was shipped off to stay with my grandparents in Harbin, China. Every Saturday, my grandfather and I would stroll through Zhongyang Dajie or explore St. Sophia Cathedral, flush with Russian architecture and tumultuous history. Although never formally educated, my grandfather would do his best to read museum placards and placate my endless barrage of questions; in my eyes, Laoye was the smartest man...Read more...Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school241 WordsName your favorite books, authors, films, and/or artists. (50) Books: On Writing, Gone Girl, Tristan and Isolde, The Kite Runner, A History of the American People, Count of Monte Cristo Authors: Agatha Christie, Paul Johnson, Leo Tolstoy, Arthur Conan Doyle Films: Her, Saving Private Ryan, Kubo and the Two Strings, Forrest Gump Artists: Roy Lichtenstein, Miguel Blay, Edward Hopper What newspapers, magazines, and/or websites do you enjoy? (50) Newspapers: New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Arcadia Weekly Magazines:...Read more...Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school297 WordsVirtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate -- and us -- know you better. (100-250) Dear Roommate, You don’t know me yet, but that’s okay--I know we’re going to have so much fun in our next four years at Stanford. But before we meet in the fall, I wanted to give you some insight into who I am. ...Read more...Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school357 WordsFrom a very young age, books were my solace. I started at my small local library, checking out three dozen books on Saturday, finishing them all by Sunday, and revisiting my favorites throughout the week until Saturday happily came around again. After devouring the humble selection offered by my local library, I cajoled my mother into driving an extra hour every weekend so I could start chipping away at the neighboring town’s larger collection. My life was divided into...Read more...Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay329 WordsPlease tell us what you value most about Columbia and why. (300) (300 Words) When I got a Columbia Blue viewbook in the mail, I didn’t know what to expect. Photographs of Columbia’s stunning campus immediately caught my eye, but the Core was what ultimately captured my mind. As a History major, I’m excited for Contemporary Civilization’s studies of Plato, Machiavelli, the Bible, and Qur’an--while I may not agree with all of the ideas presented, learning how...Read more...School Specific Advice
How to increase chances at my school86 WordsAbove all else, WashU values demonstrated interest. Because they don't require any essays, they get a lot of kids applying every year "just because". So to...Read more...How to increase chances at my school112 WordsThe UCs generally prioritize GPA/test scores/grades over essays. However, holistic reviews are increasingly popular (Used at Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, and maybe more), so polish those essays! For my 4 essays, I wrote about:...Read more...Why I ultimately chose my school121 WordsI was rejected from or waitlisted by most of my reaches and "dream" schools, and honestly I just went for the cheapest and most prestigious option. I was lucky to get accepted to all the UCs...Read more...More Essays
These essays haven't been tagged by school. Click school logos above to see tagged essays.
General Admissions Advice
How to approach transferring schools66 WordsHonestly, if you're unsure about the future or have money problems, instead of taking out huge student loans or regretting...Read more...Post-college plans107 WordsPlans change, a lot. Don't be too set on your future career or grad school ambitions, because people change as well. You might take a philosophy course and emerge enlightened, or spend...Read more...My advice about getting recommenders93 WordsGet to know 2-3 teachers junior year -- your favorite subjects, or just classes you put a lot of effort in. Even if you have a B or...Read more...Recommended summer activities during high school and college85 WordsApply for prestigious programs (TASP, for example -- but none of the $4000 Harvard/Stanford/Princeton ****, only go for programs that are merit-based and...Read more...What I’d change about my application process64 WordsSTART. EARLIER. Really. It seems obvious, but seriously do not procrastinate. And it's fine to copy skeletons of essays ...Read more...High School Performance
GPA3.89(no specification of weighting)RankTop 10%
College Classes In High School
Academic Performance in High School Steady
Test Scores
Highest ACT35ACT Score DetailsOther ACT ScoresACT Prep
AP / IB Classes and Scores
Details10 classes and scoresSports
Extracurriculars
ActivitiesFrench Club, Quiz Bowl/Academic Bowl, Tutoring/Mentoring, Clean Ocean Beach Sweeps / River Cleanup, Community Cleanup / Service, American Red Cross, Nonprofit, NGO or Charitable Organization
Elaborate on Extracurriculars or Work
Experience & Awards
Volunteer Experiences
Awards Received
Application Additional Materials
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