I feel as though I should first note that I in no way regret my decision to attend Loyola University Chicago for my freshman year. After only one semester, I feel as though I am much more confident in and satisfied with the direction in which I believe I am headed, both within my undergraduate career and beyond. I have learned a lot about myself, particularly in deciding which subjects I am passionate about, and am excited to apply those...

Denison University: This year I’ve had the pleasure of working as a tutor for an afterschool program providing extra academic support for 1st-6th graders from Chicago Public Schools who primarily come from low income and/or immigrant backgrounds. After some time allowed for play and winding down from school each day, the kids separate into their individual groups, composed of 3-4 children and a tutor. I remember looking up one day and glancing around at my assigned group...

College of Wooster: I believe that Wooster would offer me an enriching education both in and out of the classroom that would greatly complement my further development into a well-rounded individual. I am strongly committed to the idea that college is not only a time to study and perform well academically, but an invaluable period in one’s life during which students should get in-depth, hands-on experience in the field, or even fields, he or she is interested in. It...

Kenyon College: Attending Kenyon has been a dream of mine since before I even entered high school, starting with my discovery of the Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop in seventh grade. In the summer of 2012, three years later, I attended just that very program. Once there I fell in love with Kenyon all over again, with the feeling of unity between the college and surrounding population I sensed as we marched in the Gambier 4th of July parade, with the...

Earlham College: I have never been one to falter for very long in the face of academic or personal challenge. Rather, I would much prefer to dive right in and do what needs to be done right then and there, step by step. And I think that is reflective of the life which I hope to lead, both right now and going forward: I want to put myself in positions in which I can help people, whether small or large...

This personal statement is not a traditional one. It is rather one that was written as a personal statement for transfer applications. While the format is a little different than those used for applying as a high school senior, I've found that the language and honesty found in this essay forms a more genuine view of who I am as a person than my original essay.

First of all, if you realize you want/need to transfer, you should know that transferring is 100% normal. It's so ridiculously common that you really, really shouldn't freak out about it. I say that, of course, because I totally did freak out about it. I thought it was a big deal and that my parents wouldn't understand and that everything would just be awful, but it wasn't because why would it be? It's annoying, sure, but it will work out in your favor if you feel like it's the right choice for you. That being said, I'm not kidding when...

My Freshman year I took a class on the history of American education and just fell in love. It was a once a week Thursday night class, which can sometimes spells...

I would come at it much more realistically. I didn't apply to enough safety schools, instead believing my guidance counselor, who said that I was a shoe-in (if that's even how that's spelled) for most of the schools I applied to. I ended up...

I have a very big thing for life plans, so I am currently planning on applying for the Teach for America program, so that I can get some very hands-on experience in teaching elementary and possibly get certified...

Choose the teachers/other adults in your life who know you as a person best. My best recommendation was from my yearbook advisor, who really got to know me one-on-one. Anyone can find a teacher to tell admissions...