arn.s.wu
arn.s.wu,
UCSB
B.A., Physics
I'm a first generation college student starting a physics major at UCSB this fall.
Features Included
4
Essays
13
Schools
5
Scores
4
Advice
4
ECs
2
Sports

Background

Hometown Foster City, California
GenderMale
EthnicityAsian
Class of2022
First Gen College StudentYes
English First Language Yes
Other Language(s) Spoken Mandarin

Results, Essays, and Advice

Accepted
Waitlisted or Withdrew
Denied
  • University of California - Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA)
  • Emory University (Atlanta, GA)
  • Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA)
  • Tulane University (New Orleans, LA)
  • University of California - Irvine (Irvine, CA)
  • University of California - Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA)
  • California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo, CA)
  • Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH)
  • University of California - San Diego (La Jolla, CA)
  • University of California - Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, CA)
  • University of California - Davis (Davis, CA)
  • San Diego State University (San Diego, CA)
Tap/click a school logo above to view essays and advice specific to that school.

University of California - Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA)

Applied for a B.A. in Physics

Accepted and Enrolled Legacy: No

School Specific Essays

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
I take cold showers. Several years back, the water heater in my house broke, and for weeks, bathing in freezing water was my reality. Although it took some getting used to, I discovered that there’s something refreshing about being drenched in icy droplets. And so, even after the water heater was repaired, I kept the habit. To this day, each time I step in the shower, I first turn the knob to the cold side. More than just being...
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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.
Some days, the Burlingame Aquatics Center (BAC) is run entirely by teenagers. Working there as a swim instructor and coordinator, I was oftentimes put in charge of the whole facility. My role revolved primarily around responding to customers and ensuring that swim lessons went smoothly. Of course, with any customer service job comes working with difficult customers. During one of my first days in the position, I faced a challenging situation when a parent of one of our swim lesson...
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Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
As an annual school tradition, the entire sophomore class at my high school puts writer William Golding, famous author of The Lord of the Flies, on trial. In the case, Golding has been accused of committing libel against the human race in his allegorical assertion that violence and evil is an innate part of human nature. The whole class is split into two groups: one prosecuting and one defending Golding. Four attorneys are selected for each side, with the rest...
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Supplemental Essay: Scholarship application
478 Words
“Safe spaces” on college campuses have garnered a lot of attention and differing opinions in recent years. Do you think they should become a common entity found at institutions of higher education? Why or why not?
The idea of “safe spaces” has become so politicized, so derogatory, so different from what it had set out to be that I think we need a new term: community support gatherings. Community support gatherings are what safe spaces were intended to be: a place where minority and marginalized students can voice their concerns and engage in dialogue with other members of the group that have faced similar difficulties, helping empower those students to become their best selves. The problem...
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Supplemental Essay: Scholarship application
406 Words
On a college application, what are some questions that would help the readers determine if the applicant is a “good person”? How should admission committees define a “good person”?
Short of straight up asking applicants if they are a good person, here are some questions that I came up with that may help offer insights into the personalities of college applicants: Who’s your hero and why? I think you can learn a lot about people based on who they admire. Our heroes often embody the types of people we ourselves want to become. A person who has ambition and work ethic and has big dreams for the future...
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Supplemental Essay: Other
360 Words
Boston College strives to provide an undergraduate learning experience emphasizing the liberal arts, quality teaching, personal formation, and engagement of critical issues. If you had the opportunity to create your own college course, what enduring question or contemporary problem would you address, and why?
Last year, my physics teacher introduced me to the book "Physics for Future Presidents" by Richard Muller. From nuclear warheads to space exploration to climate change, this book explores the science behind many of today’s most complex political issues. After reading Muller's book, I began to wonder, if politicians need science to generate effective policy, how should scientists navigate politics to educate the public about their discoveries? My response to this question would be to create a course called, ...
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School Specific Advice

Additional material sent in after waitlisted or deferred
60 Words
Definitely apply for one of the additional scholarships, whether it's the Paul Tulane Scholarship, the music scholarship, whatever....
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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

How to deal with the stress of applying to college
55 Words
Don't be afraid to ask for help from others, especially your own friends. Many of them are...
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How I narrowed down my essay topics
101 Words
A college admissions officer that came to speak to our class told us that some of the most memorable essays that he'd read were those about seemingly trivial things. I...
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What I learned transitioning from high school to college
27 Words
The summer between senior year and college is...
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High School Performance

Weighted GPA
4.04
(equivalent to 3.76 unweighted)
Rank
Top 10%
 
High School TypePublic
College Classes In High School
Academic Performance in High School Steady

Test Scores

Highest ACT
34
 
ACT Score Details
 
Other ACT Scores
ACT Prep
Highest SAT
1500
 
SAT Score Details
 
Other SAT Scores
SAT Prep
Other Standardized Tests

AP / IB Classes and Scores

Details3 classes and scores

Sports

SportsWater Polo, Swimming/Diving

Extracurriculars

ActivitiesSchool Jazz / Orchestra, After School Program Coordinator, After School Sports Coach, Church

Experience & Awards

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