sahilitrix123
sahilitrix123,
UPenn
B.S., Computer Science
Comp Sci/Finance Dual Degree. M&T Program. Developer, Entrepreneur, Film/Photo Enthusiast, and Coffee Connoisseur.
Features Included
21
Essays
11
Schools
10
Scores
4
Advice
5
ECs
1
Sports

Background

Hometown Plainsboro, New Jersey
GenderMale
EthnicityAsian
Class of2023
First Gen College StudentNo

Results, Essays, and Advice

Accepted
Waitlisted or Withdrew
Denied
  • University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
  • University of Maryland - College Park (College Park, MD)
  • Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA)
  • University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign (Champaign, IL)
  • University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI)
  • Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA)
  • University of California - Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
  • University of California - Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
  • University of Texas - Austin (Austin, TX)
  • Rutgers, State University of New Jersey - New Brunswick (Piscataway, NJ)
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg, VA)
Tap/click a school logo above to view essays and advice specific to that school.

University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)

Applied for a B.S. in Computer Science

Accepted and Enrolled Legacy: Parent

School Specific Essays

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
Ink-stained canvas. Gentle strokes of color. A smudge of water. The thin paintbrush permits the precise crafting of mountainous terrain. The warm hues fuse together to form the autumn shades of the maple trees, and the water structures a path for the pigments to chase. “Paint with grace. Let your fingers do the work,” Mrs. Banks, my 4th grade art teacher, suggested as I watched the colors settle into the fibers of my canvas. In elementary school, I had begged...
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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.
spoke with panache: “What if we compete in the Verizon App Challenge? The winning organization gets sponsored!”. As Outreach Captain of my Robotics team, I saw this competition as an opportunity to raise funds for purchasing robot-parts and machinery. The rules of the contest were simple: in a team of six, design an application to address a social issue. After reading an article claiming that $115,000,000 was raised for ALS research through the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, I asked my team......
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Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
As a child, Star Wars films stole my imagination. These movies dared me to dream, but today, my visions aren’t restricted to my dreams. As a filmmaker, I bring them to life. Filmmaking has molded me into a visual storyteller. Through writing screenplays, directing shots, and editing scenes, I’ve learned how to effectively convey my visions to changing audiences. When I film documentaries for my robotics team or direct commercials for my school’s Technology Student Association, I...
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What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
My mind escaped into hyperspace, contemplating the possibilities...could food allergens be detected using image processing? Could I transform my body into a musical instrument using gesture recognition? Competing at Hackathons over the past four years has enabled me to develop softwares to answer these exact questions. As I facilitated coding sessions with my teammates, not only did I develop an avant-garde mindset by creating workarounds for technical limitations, but I also learned how to articulate my visions while demoing...
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Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
Lera Beroditsky’s recent TED Talk on foreign languages reminded me of a phenomenon I’ve pondered many times before: do humans decipher language the same way computers do? To explore this topic, I’ve been studying Spanish in the classroom for the past 10 years, supplementing it with online Duolingo and edX classes. As part of my school’s Spanish Honor Society, I helped set up a World-Language Night, an evening filled with performances and food from foreign countries. After...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
684 Words
How will you explore your intellectual and academic interests at the University of Pennsylvania?
I lay beside my grandmother in a wooden swing suspended by two ropes emerging from the cottage ceiling. My focus shifted to her hands as she lifted her phone and whispered the words “Happy Birthday” in Telugu. Her voice swiftly transcribed to English characters on-screen, and she sent the message to my brother. Witnessing voice-translation technology break this language barrier during my trip to India motivated me to zealously pursue software innovation that improves quality of life. Four years later,...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
260 Words
Describe a problem that you solved that showed leadership and creativity.



I break the silence permeating the room, speaking with panache: “What if we competed in the Verizon App Challenge? The winning organization gets funded!” After further discussion, my teammates get on board. The plan was set in motion. On my robotics team, funding is necessary for purchasing essential tools and machinery. After exhausting all options of additional company sponsorships, I saw this competition as a potential fundraising opportunity. The rules of the contest were simple: in a team of six,...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
661 Words
Identify a disruptive technology, one that many consider could drive truly massive economic and societal transformations in the coming years. Argue why the technology may not be as successful as observers think and suggest ways to address the concerns.
Picture this — a farmer in a remote village in Bangladesh asks his virtual assistant if it’s forecasted to rain over his orchard. An uneducated laborer in Ghana asks Alexa where he can purchase affordable medicine for his ailing mother. Modern advancements in cognitive technologies such as natural language processing are transforming computing by enabling a natural means of interaction. The development of voice-enabled products is thought to make technology easily accessible to a large segment of the global population:...
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
305 Words
“Most students choose their intended major or area of study based on a passion or inspiration that’s developed over time—what passion or inspiration led you to choose this area of study?” (300 words)
I lie beside my grandmother in a wooden swing suspended by two ropes emerging from the cottage ceiling. My focus shifted to her hands as she lifted her phone, whispering the words “Happy Birthday” in Hindi. Her voice swiftly transcribed to English characters on-screen, and she sent the message to my brother. Witnessing voice-translation technology break the language barrier between my grandma and brother kindled my ambition to develop an interconnected world using artificial intelligence. Four years later, I continue...
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
260 Words
Career Interest and Why Georgia Tech?
My eyes fixate on my grandmother’s hands as she lifts her phone, whispering the words “Happy Birthday” in Hindi. Her voice is swiftly transcribed to English characters on-screen, and the message is sent to my brother. Witnessing voice-translation technology enable this interlanguage communication years ago kindled my ambition to develop an interconnected world through natural language processing (NLP). At Georgia Tech, I will chase this dream by pursuing a B.S. in computer science through the College of Computing. ...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
251 Words
Prompt: Georgia Tech is always looking for innovative undergraduates. Have you had any experience as an entrepreneur? What would you like Georgia Tech to provide to further your entrepreneurial interests?
This past June, I received an all-expense paid scholarship to attend Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference. After Apple Executive Ester Hares’s presentation on diversity and accessibility in the Steve Jobs Theater, I unlock my phone to discover Apple had featured my app Glimpse, a tool for the visually impaired to recognize everyday objects, on the homepage of the iOS App Store. While this homepage feature alone amassed 6,800 downloads and $129 profit within 24 hours, my entrepreneurial endeavors began a whole four...
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Supplemental Essay: Extracurricular activity
156 Words
If you could only do one of the activities you have listed in the Activities section of your application, which one would you keep doing? Why? (150 words)

“I had enough!”, he screams, crumpling the worksheet into his fist. I’ve tried everything — pictures, analogies, videos — but Edison still doesn’t grasp the concept of fraction addition. I unravel the sheet and tear it into three pieces, handing two of them to Edison. “How many of the total sheets do I have?”, I ask him. “One out of the three.” “Good. Now, hand me one of your pieces. How many do I have now?”, I continue. “Two out...
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Supplemental Essay: Diversity statement
303 Words
Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it.
My mouth readily embraces the warmth. A lingering trace of espresso trails down the porcelain, as a final splurge of caffeine rejuvenates my eyes from their sunken state. The clock next to me reads 4:17 AM. Yet, any hint of exhaustion is immediately lost in the sense of energy that permeates the halls, for we programmers know that despite all the internal groaning, hair-pulling and sleep deprivation that comes with our work, there is no greater feeling than witnessing an idea...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
568 Words
Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests? (550 words)
My focus shifts to my grandma’s hands as she lifts her phone and whispers the words “Happy Birthday” in Hindi. Her voice swiftly transcribes to English characters on-screen, and she sends the message to my brother. Witnessing voice-translation technology break this language barrier during my trip to India motivated me to zealously pursue software innovation that improves quality of life. Four years later, I continue to chase this dream. This past June, I received a full scholarship to attend...
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
410 Words
Explain your interest in the major you selected and describe how you have recently explored or developed this interest inside and/or outside the classroom. You may also explain how this major relates to your future career goals. Limit your response to 300 to 400 words.
I lie beside my grandmother in a wooden swing suspended by two ropes emerging from the cottage ceiling. My focus shifts to her hands as she lifts her phone, whispering the words “Happy Birthday” in Hindi. Her voice is swiftly transcribed to English characters on-screen, and she sends the message to my brother. It was during this trip to India that my love for computer science implanted. Witnessing voice-translation technology break the language barrier between my grandma and brother kindled...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
188 Words
Multiple Short Answer Questions.

If I could travel anywhere, I would go to... Alaska. With hot cocoa in one hand and my camera the other, I can capture the most epic, most legendary picture of the aurora borealis. The most interesting fact I ever learned from research was... that male penguins will gift a pebble to female penguins that they like. My porch is filled with pebbles. I might as well give it a try. In addition to my major, my academic interests include......
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
310 Words
Do you believe your academic record (transcript information and test scores) provide an accurate representation of you as a student? Why or why not?
While my transcript and test scores accurately represent my performance in academic subjects within the classroom, they don’t convey my innate thirst for exploration as a programmer outside of school. Over the past four years, Hackathons (programming marathons that span up to 48 hours) have constantly challenged my ability to think creatively as a coder. How could image recognition be used to detect food allergens? How could gesture recognition be applied to transform my body into a musical instrument? As...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
308 Words
If you could have any career, what would it be? Why? Describe any activities you are involved in, life experiences you’ve had, or even classes you’ve taken that have helped you identify this professional path.

I lay beside my grandmother in a wooden swing suspended by two ropes emerging from the cottage ceiling. My focus shifted to her hands as she lifted her phone and whispered the words “Happy Birthday” in Hindi. Her voice swiftly transcribed to English characters on-screen, and she sent the message to my brother. Witnessing voice-translation technology break the language barrier between my grandma and brother kindled my ambition to develop an interconnected world through software engineering. Four years later, I...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: Diversity statement
732 Words
How has your environment shaped you?

Turmeric. Coriander. Ginger. Kumin. The aroma of spices embraced its presence in the air, sifting past the kitchen door, up the stairs and into my room. Immediately, I rushed downstairs, taking my place at the dinner-table next to my mom, dad and brother. A vast array of south-indian cuisines sat before us: yellow rice, chicken tikka masala, lentil curry, and white chutney. But dinner with my family is about more than quenching our appetites. It is a moment of reflection...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
307 Words
Example of Leadership

I broke the silence permeating the room, speaking with panache: “What if we competed in the Verizon App Challenge? The winning organization gets sponsored!”. As Outreach Captain of my Robotics team, I recognized funding was needed to purchase proper lab-equipment and machinery. After exhausting all options of attaining additional company sponsors, I saw this competition as a potential fundraising opportunity. The rules of the contest were simple: in a team of six, design an application to address a social issue....
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
809 Words
Describe your significant activities, employment and achievements. Be sure to include information that is relevant to the study of computer science. For example you may describe classes and programming activities, other science and math activities, honors and awards, and other activities that demonstrate leadership potential.
As part of FRC Robotics Team 1923 for the past four years, I became involved in both the programming and business fields. As a programmer, I code autonomous modes for subsystems that allow the robot to complete tasks on the game field without any user control. Doing so has helped my team win two district competitions and progress to the World Championship Division Semifinals in 2017. However, after my freshman year, I realized that Robotics involved more than just technical aspects. In 1...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
121 Words
Virginia Tech’s motto is "Ut Prosim" which means 'That I May Serve'. We are interested in learning more about your interests and how you have been involved and/or served. Briefly describe a group, organization, or community that you have been involved with. Is this a special area of interest for you, and why? How long have you been involved? What role did you play? What contributions have you made to this group? Were you able influence others and/or influence decisions for the good of the group?
Edison, a 5th grader I’ve tutored through A2Z Mentoring for the past 3 years, comes from a low-income household void of computers and a school without technology courses. When I realized that other kids, like Edison, lack the resources to explore STEM fields, I co-created Project Code (www.projectcode.live), an initiative to teach free coding-classes to disadvantaged students.. The following summer, I, along with a friend, designed a 12-week Scratch programming curriculum filled with engaging activities and hands-on...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
127 Words
Describe a situation where you were involved or witness to an act of discrimination. How, or did, you respond? Do you wish you would have responded differently? Did this situation cause any change to happen based on this event and did you have a role in that change? What did you learn from this experience?

When I was a freshman, a girl on my robotics team was told by the Captain that her code wouldn’t be tested because “it wouldn’t work anyway. it was written by a girl”. Intimidated by the upperclassmen, I thought it best to not aggravate the situation and to stay silent, putting his comment off as a joke. After all, since I was only a freshman, I thought my voice was meaningless anyway. Four years later, I’ve learned...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
123 Words
Describe an example of a situation where you have significantly influenced others, took on a leadership role, helped resolve a dispute, or contributed to a group’s goals. What was your role, what responsibilities did you take on? Did you encounter any obstacles, and if so how did you respond, were you able to overcome them? What would you do differently?

With 110 students on my robotics team and only 2 robots to build, my teammates always complained about not receiving enough hands-on time. As a solution, I co-founded a chapter of the Technology Student Association (TSA), a club where my classmates could design independent engineering projects with complete control over their creations. After marketing the club through promotional videos, flyers, and posters and holding a booth at my school’s club fair, 83 students promptly joined. As President, I lead them in weekly...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
121 Words
Briefly describe a personal goal you have set for yourself. Why this goal, what is your timeline to achieve this goal, what precipitated this goal? Have you turned to anyone for advice or help, what was their role, what did you learn about yourself, are you still working toward this goal?

After watching the 2013 livestream of Apple unveiling Xcode 5, their latest development environment, it became my goal to build my own app. Soon enough, I began scouring through my dad’s programming books. Months later, I had created a working mobile helicopter game. Yet, my app-development pursuits didn’t stop there. Since then, I’ve turned to hackathons and a summer internship at Ello, where collaboration with teammates and guidance from mentors helped me publish 6 apps that have been used by...
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School Specific Advice

How to increase chances at my school
50 Words
Unlike other ivies, Penn likes well-rounded applicants as well as spiked applicants. This means you...
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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 I narrowed down my essay topics
89 Words
It is important to first sit down and figure out "what makes you, you". Note down all the things about you, in every category, that make you...
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How to deal with the stress of applying to college
14 Words
Apply early! That's the...
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Recommended summer activities during high school and college
10 Words
Don't do international...
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High School Performance

Weighted GPA
4.64
(equivalent to 3.955 unweighted)
Rank
Top 10%
 
College Classes In High School
Academic Performance in High School Steady

Test Scores

Highest ACT
35
 
ACT Score Details
 
Other ACT Scores
ACT Prep

AP / IB Classes and Scores

Details9 classes and scores

Sports

SportsTrack & Field

Extracurriculars

ActivitiesRobotics, Computer / Technology Volunteer, Computer / Technology Volunteer, Computer / Technology Volunteer, Photography / Film
Elaborate on Extracurriculars or Work

Experience & Awards

Volunteer Experiences
Awards Received

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