alishaz
alishaz,
Stanford
B.S., Political Science and Government
A Cameron Impact Scholar, aspiring human rights lawyer, committed hiker, and proud tree.
Features Included
13
Essays
10
Schools
5
Scores
11
Advice
4
ECs
2
Sports

Background

Hometown Portland, Oregon
GenderFemale
EthnicityAsian
Class of2021
First Gen College StudentNo

Results, Essays, and Advice

Accepted
Waitlisted or Withdrew
Denied
  • Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
  • Yale University (New Haven, CT)
  • University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
  • Georgetown University (Washington, DC)
  • University of California - Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
  • University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
  • University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN)
  • University of California - Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA)
  • Brandeis University (Waltham, MA)
Tap/click a school logo above to view essays and advice specific to that school.

Stanford University (Stanford, CA)

Applied for a B.S. in Political Science and Government

Accepted and Enrolled Legacy: No

School Specific Essays

When I began high school in the heart of downtown Portland, my daily commutes revealed something I had never noticed before. Nestled in the shadows of Chinatown was a thriving homeless camp, sharply juxtaposed with the abandoned buildings right next door. Although the camp was surrounded by a rainbow of vibrant signs, I saw adults huddled underneath what looked like oversized tables protected only by tarps. What I found most shocking was that despite living along Portland’s busiest road...
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Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
Last May I decided to take on leading Oregon’s Global Youth Service Day, a feat that I knew was no simple task. At the time, I had been fixated on the idea of intersectionality within human rights, a realization that nothing is truly independent and every issue instead overlaps in constant flux. Aware that there were other youth-led initiatives addressing different needs outside of my nonprofit, *, I wanted to host an Intersectionality Workshop as a way for all of...
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What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
Slow down. Predict. Strategize. Trust your gut. These are the steps you have to take in order to win a game of chess. Growing up, my Saturday nights consisted of an eight by eight chess board, managing to captivate me for hours on end. Through eight hour tournaments and even longer days spent honing in my skills and analyzing different plays, I developed an ability to predict up to ten moves ahead during a game. Even though I only thought...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
674 Words
I’m looking for a school that makes me tick. For a place that thrives on interdisciplinary learning. For a think-tank bustling with leading experts and mentors. For somewhere that encourages me to apply my knowledge beyond the classroom. And, most importantly, for a community that truly understands the power of service-learning and collective impact. As I went through my college search with this checklist in mind, I found that there’s only one school that surpasses what I hope...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
205 Words
"This is your chance to take a risk." While experimenting with cooking in middle school, I realized that the ingredients within my pantry did not have to follow a recipe book—I could skip the milk and create lactose free ice cream using a single banana. With just the right blend of ingredients, the condiments of the latest recipe I’ve created will give you one serving of me. Ingredients 1 ounce of curiosity 2 cups of passion fruit 2 leaves from the...
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Supplemental Essay: Strong beliefs/principles
229 Words
"What is something about yourself that is essential to understanding you?" CE 400-500. My family legend holds that over hundreds of years, my ancestors immigrated through mountainous terrain from Mongolia to China. In the last few generations, no single family remained in one area, constantly venturing out into unfamiliar worlds in search of nothing but new perspectives and experiences. Resilient, my family continued on, eventually settling over a thousand miles away in the city of Dalian. 1989. Amidst the shouts and...
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Supplemental Essay: Other
354 Words
"What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?" Slow down. Predict. Strategize. Trust your gut. These are the steps you have to take in order to win a game of chess. Growing up, my Saturday nights consisted of an eight by eight chess board, managing to captivate me for hours on end. Through eight hour tournaments and even longer days spent honing in my skills and analyzing different...
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Supplemental Essay: Other
167 Words
"Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (150 word limit)" As the first youth to serve on Portland’s Human Rights Commission (HRC), I was nervous. Despite feeling a strong commitment to the invisible homeless population and vocal youth in my community, I questioned what impact I could have alongside experienced adults. However, I began to realize that each commissioner spoke through their own experiences. Our personal voices were just as important as the decisions we made...
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Supplemental Essay: Amusing anecdote
265 Words
"What matters to you, and why? (100 to 250 words)" On an ordinary Saturday morning three years ago, I was with my Hope For Homeless Club serving home-cooked breakfasts. As I delivered plates piled high with steaming sausages and cereal, I was surprised when a man beckoned me to sit down. “What would you do if you had a brain tumor and no family or friends left?” I couldn’t look up, struggling to imagine having to constantly search for ways to...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
301 Words
"Virtually 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 to 250 words)" Dear future roommate, Because it’s impossible to have too much chocolate, the plate of double chocolate chip cookies (my favorite recipe!) beside this note is for you. Anyway, my hometown’s motto is “Keep Portland Weird.” I promise you that although I may not...
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Supplemental Essay: Scholarship application
495 Words
Who has made a significant impact in your life and why?
My former lacrosse coach, advisory board member for *, and mentor, Shannon, has made a significant impact in my life because she has mentored me and served as an inspiration through a critical stage in my life. I first met her when I played lacrosse my sophomore year in high school. Most of my coaches in the past emphasized how practice and teamwork would lead to winning a game or becoming the best team in the league. However, Shannon was a...
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Supplemental Essay: Other
55 Words
Name your favorite books, authors, films, and/or artists. (50 word limit)

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Author)—publicizes the dangers of a single story Moana (Film)—journey to save her village and culture + best music track Stephen King (Author)—storytelling mastermind The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang (Book)—gripping perspectives To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Book)—empathy is human nature
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Supplemental Essay: Other
50 Words
What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (50 word limit)

Poverty and its intersections with education and human trafficking around the world—while developing solutions for China’s urban-rural gap at the Yenching Social Innovation Forum, I was shocked when I realized how similar poverty’s effects on migrant children in Beijing are with youth experiencing homelessness in Portland.
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Supplemental Essay: Other
49 Words
What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50 word limit)

Throughout history, the most successful reforms to improve human rights have been a result of persistent peaceful protests. I wish I witnessed the drafting of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, but I would have added in the right to peaceful protest without threat as Article 31.
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Supplemental Essay: Scholarship application
137 Words
Do you have any additional personal information that you wish to share with the Bryan Cameron Education Foundation?
As an ENFJ, I am driven to learn when I know the material can be applied and developed into solutions that will help others. Outside of Constitution Team, I used my IB math and economics independent research projects to explore the learning curve relationship between poverty and childhood development as well as the intersectionality between human trafficking and poverty, respectively, as ways to explore my passions. My discoveries in my math project allowed me to present it to human rights...
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School Specific Advice

How to increase chances at my school
98 Words
Stanford is by far one of the most holistic schools out there. Rather than focusing on increasing that 32 ACT score or taking subject tests just because it is "highly...
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What might make for a good “Why Us” essay topic at my school
133 Words
Because Yale only gives you 100 words for the "Why Us" essay, rather than listing a ton of different aspects you like about the school, focus on one that aligns with your interests and what you will bring to them. While...
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5 adjectives that describe a typical student at my school (Feel free to elaborate!)
6 Words
Entrepreneurial, intellectual,...
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5 adjectives that describe a typical student at my school (Feel free to elaborate!)
5 Words
Passionate, thoughtful,...
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Why I ultimately chose my school
173 Words
I'm writing this as I go into my sophomore year at Stanford. Looking back, I know that I made the right choice. I'm sure that I would be happy at any of the schools I got into, but Stanford has given me opportunities that made my first year one that I will...
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Research, job or internship opportunities available to students at my school
179 Words
I can speak to internship opportunities because I was able to do one through Stanford's Haas Center Cardinal Quarter program this past summer. Stanford offers students two options: to apply for a placed internship or find your host organization and apply for funding. All internships provide students with $5000 - $5500 worth of funding. I lived...
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My favorite course thus far, and why
133 Words
Neuroethology! I initially enrolled in the class to complete the science ways requirement, but it became my favorite class for so many reasons. First, the professor who teaches the class is fully invested in his students and was one of...
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My extracurricular activities in college, and why I chose them
196 Words
I am currently involved in Stanford Housing Justice, Stanford Social Entrepreneurial Students' Association, Stanford in Government, Stanford Women's Club Lacrosse, and the Handa Center Student Advisory Board. I chose these activities because they all represent a different interest that I have that I'd like to remain engaged in while in college. I've found that they're all great ways to...
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More Essays

These essays haven't been tagged by school. Click school logos above to see tagged essays.

General Admissions Advice

What set me apart from other applicants
200 Words
When I began receiving mail and notes from my admissions officers from the schools that I had been accepted to, I noticed that all the AO's commented on my passion for human rights and dedication to my work on youth homelessness. Showing passion and commitment is definitely important in college admissions and can often make up for subpar grades...
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What I’d change about my application process
225 Words
First: Start. Your. Essays. Early. Especially before you become stressed with senior year and approaching deadlines! I wish I had worked on and finished my common app essay over the summer so that I could focus on finishing up standardized testing and all the supplementary essays each school requires. I started brainstorming my essay in September and edited my common app essay up until January 1st, which...
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Whether I took out loans or applied for scholarships, and my advice
213 Words
I applied to most of my scholarships during the fall of senior year. While it's the most stressful period because of first semester grades and college applications, it's the window for the best-valued scholarships. Because I prioritized scholarship applications over my college applications in September, I ended up receiving the full tuition, merit-based Cameron Impact Scholarship and several other smaller scholarships. I think...
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High School Performance

Weighted GPA
4.50
(equivalent to 4.00 unweighted)
Rank
Top 1%
 
College Classes In High School
Academic Performance in High School Steady

Test Scores

Highest ACT
33
 
ACT Score Details
 
Other ACT Scores
ACT Prep

AP / IB Classes and Scores

Details4 classes and scores

Sports

SportsLacrosse, Cross Country

Extracurriculars

ActivitiesNational Honor Society, Community Cleanup / Service, Nonprofit, NGO or Charitable Organization, Student Council / Government
Elaborate on Extracurriculars or Work

Experience & Awards

Volunteer Experiences
Awards Received

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