My dad lives in an old, Mao-era apartment in the outskirts of the modernized Chaoyang district in Beijing. Distinctly anti-American, my airport arrivals are always coupled with a reprimand for my new pair of Nike tennis shoes and my carefully-instilled mannerisms. His deeply fervent recitations of the Chinese national anthem strike me as an anomaly from American multiculturalism—in his apartment, inscrutable Chinese brand names replace the Colgates, Polos, and Apples that dominate my Westchester home; the fridge is filled...

Today I am in Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party, as preppy as can be in my Sperry shoes and an Abercrombie button-down. I sit cross-legged, sipping a freshly-brewed Le Pain Quotidien latte, oblivious to its pungent heat until the mist renders my glasses invisible. Still early, I take out a threadbare copy of Debussy’s L’Isle Joyeuse for analysis, waiting for others to arrive, reveling in my embrace of Western elegance and tradition. Places are set for...

The University of Chicago’s commitment to creating dynamic, transformative thinkers through its academic and extracurricular opportunities, as well as through social life, makes the school a perfect fit for me. Though many schools have general education requirements, UChicago’s core curriculum is truly unique in its seminar-style classes and its ability to produce fearless inquirers amongst the student population. Debating has made me realize that, in order to be a literate and productive citizen in the 21 st century, a...