dkragheb
dkragheb,
Harvard
B.A., Neuroscience and Neurobiology
Harvard Premed and Business student consulted for public, private, and non-profits, and recently admitted to Med School on a full ride!
Features Included
13
Essays
24
Schools
14
Scores
22
Advice
4
ECs
2
Sports

Background

Hometown Los Angeles, California
GenderMale
EthnicityWhite Non-Hispanic
Class of2020
First Gen College StudentNo

Results, Essays, and Advice

Accepted
Waitlisted or Withdrew
Denied
  • Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)
  • Columbia University (New York, NY)
  • Yale University (New Haven, CT)
  • Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
  • Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
  • Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH)
  • Brown University (Providence, RI)
  • University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
  • University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
  • University of California - Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
  • University of California - Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
  • University of California - Irvine (Irvine, CA)
  • University of California - San Diego (La Jolla, CA)
  • University of California - Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA)
  • University of California - Riverside (Riverside, CA)
  • Duke University (Durham, NC)
  • Georgetown University (Washington, DC)
  • Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
  • University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
  • University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI)
  • Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
  • Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
  • University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)
  • Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)
Tap/click a school logo above to view essays and advice specific to that school.

Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)

Applied for a B.A. in Neuroscience and Neurobiology

Accepted and Enrolled Legacy: No

School Specific Essays

It was freshman year of high school, and I wasn't eating enough. Following two days of sickness, primarily blurry vision and agonizing headaches, my mother announced her personal diagnosis: insufficient eating. When the pain became more than I could bare, after I ate a dinner for four to appease my worried parents, I went to the emergency room. There, an observant nurse and an incredulous doctor discovered an anomaly. It was freshman year of high school, and my body was...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
831 Words
Who Am I? What makes us unique? What defines us? Three features special to each individual: our experiences, our minds, and our personalities. What have we undergone, how do we reason, and how do we affect others around us? Defining these three aspects of my person is a significant part of my application, my penchants, and my aspirations. Our minds and bodies have always captivated me in a unique way. Such is my rush, and adrenaline junkies seeking similar pleasure...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
102 Words
I used to fear not having the answer to a problem. In the maths and sciences, I loved the sensation of circling my solution at the end. Yet, a passion for the unanswerable perfectly matches my inquisitiveness. Yale is founded on such a principle of exploration. Each classroom thrives on discussion, introspection, and awareness of other perspectives, as it also poses questions unsolvable and instills the education of a conscientious citizen and a well-rounded scholar. Such a school which will...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
655 Words
I used to fear not having the answer to a problem. Even as I explored higher levels of math and science which required multiple pages for a single question, I loved the feeling of circling the answer at the end. That sense of accomplishment and confidence as I looked down at the single correct response was unmatched in my humanities classes. I can’t say I had an epiphany, as many others claim, during which I suddenly realized that a...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
636 Words
I used to fear not having the answer to a problem. Even as I explored higher levels of math and science which required multiple pages for a single question, I loved the feeling of circling the answer at the end. That sense of accomplishment and confidence as I looked down at the single correct response was unmatched in my humanities classes. I can’t say I had an epiphany, as many others claim, during which I suddenly realized that a...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
301 Words
Northwestern is founded on three principles: preparation, exploration, and happiness. Preparation is essential. As a student with a passion in medicine I am unable to subdue, I crave an education that will adequately prepare me for the path ahead. Already actively pursuing all medical environments, from volunteering at hospitals, reading case histories of patients, and shadowing in the operating room, I understand that in the next step of my education I need a community that will propel me to new...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
704 Words
Our minds and bodies have always captivated me in a unique way. Such is my rush, and adrenaline junkies seeking similar pleasure are common. Whether the specific excitement comes from jumping out of planes or trying a new dish, the search for thrill is a universal one. The human body, the natural key which holds answers to questions still unasked, fascinates me in such a manner inexplicable through speech. This intellectual fervor continually isolates me in thought and study, as...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
147 Words
Exploration is growth. I used to fear not having the answer to a problem. Even as I ventured through higher levels of math and science which required multiple pages for a single question, I loved the feeling of circling the answer at the end. And yet, a love for the unanswerable perfectly matches my inquisitiveness rather than challenges my confidence. Blurring the line between subjects, and creating an interdisciplinary approach to questions which will produce a multitude of answers – or...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
282 Words
I used to fear not having the answer to a problem. Even as I explored higher levels of math and science which required multiple pages for a single question, I loved the feeling of circling the answer at the end. That sense of accomplishment and confidence as I looked down at the single correct response was unmatched in my humanities classes. I can’t say I had an epiphany, as many others claim, during which I suddenly realized that a...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
102 Words
Brown is founded on two principles: freedom and happiness. Freedom is dangerous. Yet, for the most enthusiastic of learners, it can be thrilling. The absence of a core curriculum gives me the ability to explore all my curiosities. From political thought and law to ancient philosophy, I can satiate my inquisitiveness while still studying neuroscience. Happiness is rare. An individual before a student, I crave a community to call home for four years rather than buildings to call school. Understanding...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
254 Words
Idea or experience important to intellectual development Our minds and bodies have always captivated me in a unique way. Such is my rush, and adrenaline junkies seeking similar pleasure are common. Whether the specific excitement comes from jumping out of planes or trying a new dish, the search for thrill is a universal one. The human body, the natural key which holds answers to questions still unasked, fascinates me in such a manner inexplicable through speech. This intellectual fervor continually...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
256 Words
Note to future roommate I doubt you twitch in your sleep as much as I do. I know; it's a unique, bizarre characteristic to have. In fact, I'm sure we're completely different people and we'll find countless weird things about each other – but don't worry; I really enjoy getting to know others from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and families. I embrace unique qualities in others because I want to learn and accept inherent dissimilarities, and highlight their exceptionality. Likewise, I hope...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: Strong beliefs/principles
260 Words
What matters to you, and why? Why? The simplicity of the question is as beautifully elegant as the answer is intricately eloquent. From the moment I understood that things happen I craved to understand why. Why do we think, act, and communicate in the way we do? I started to think about thinking, to question motivations behind actions, to continuously search for answers. Why are we able to formulate abstract thought, conceptualize past, present, and future, or express a conscious?...
Read more...

School Specific Advice

5 adjectives that describe a typical student at my school (Feel free to elaborate!)
5 Words
Ambitious, Curious,...
Read more...
Research, job or internship opportunities available to students at my school
132 Words
This is easily the biggest plus of going to an ivy. Connections and money mean opportunities in most fields, and the connections these old money schools have are limitless. Take advantage of this! Someone once told me something I've been...
Read more...
How to increase chances at my school
103 Words
Harvard, and almost all schools, accepts students not only based on individual capabilities, but also on how you will fit in with the rest of the class. They pride themselves on...
Read more...
How I would describe the wider community surrounding campus
79 Words
Harvard is lucky to be right next to the beautiful city of Boston. Boston is filled with a million things to do, is considered...
Read more...
List of schools I interviewed with and my interview experience
121 Words
Interviewing for Harvard was actually one of the reasons I chose the school. I got to talk to an alumni who was wildly excited about the school for hours, and he did more of the selling...
Read more...
My plans for a typical weekend
126 Words
I truly believe that this area is whatever you make of it. Some students really care about their extracurriculars, and thus spend the entire weekend at choir rehearsals. Others really value social life, and spend the majority of...
Read more...
Why I declined other schools
75 Words
Harvard's reputation is of course, a big factor for many students when choosing where to go. However, for me, a big big selling...
Read more...
How important school spirit is around athletics at my school
78 Words
Unfortunately, this is one thing that Harvard does not do well. Other than our yearly Harvard-Yale football game, students rarely go out for...
Read more...
How I would rate the diversity of the student body
97 Words
This is also another part where Harvard lacks, especially economically. The majority of students seem to be extremely well off, while many others seem to have overcome many barriers,...
Read more...
Most popular extracurricular activities at my college
115 Words
One of the coolest things about Harvard, and I’m sure this is true of many schools, is the extreme diversity in hobbies that people have. The majority of students actually do extracurriculars that they...
Read more...

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
123 Words
Write something specific, unique, and compelling about yourself. Every single personal statement essay I've edited, I've had to ask the student "why does this make you special?" Let me phrase it like this to you: you might...
Read more...
How to deal with the stress of applying to college
47 Words
This is simple. Start early, edit often, and restart if needed. Do not get...
Read more...
My advice about getting recommenders
164 Words
This is easily one of the most underrated parts in your application. College admissions officers put so much emphasis on your rec letters, and yet, kids spend so little time on them! So do yourself a favor and commit to finding stellar rec letters. Do this in...
Read more...
Misconceptions I had about college before attending
160 Words
Everyone is just as nervous as you are to start college. And just as excited. Don’t be fooled into thinking that everyone has their lives figured out like I did. It can be real scary to come into college thinking you’re lost and drifting but everyone...
Read more...
Post-college plans
161 Words
So obviously, this ranges from person to person. Many kids will want to go directly to grad school, be it med school, law school, or business school, and that’s perfectly fine. What else is perfectly fine, is doing none of the above. Not going to grad school...
Read more...
What set me apart from other applicants
67 Words
Colleges want to see you be thoughtful. Be introspective, be critical of yourself, and show that you know you make...
Read more...
Whether I used a private admissions counselor, and advice I received
100 Words
I did not use a private admissions counselor, and I don't think you really need one anyways. The majority of these people will give you advice you can easily google!...
Read more...
Whether I took out loans or applied for scholarships, and my advice
85 Words
Apply, apply, apply. Whether it's through Fastweb, or your school programs, apply to as many scholarships as you can. And they don't always have to be...
Read more...
Recommended summer activities during high school and college
58 Words
Honestly, do what you love. At this point, you're done applying and don't need to impress colleges,...
Read more...
How I made up for low grades in high school
72 Words
Colleges understand that we all make mistakes, especially in our earlier years of high school. So take time to explain yourself! Many...
Read more...
What I learned transitioning from high school to college
157 Words
To me, high school and college had one immediately noticeable difference in terms of classes. For me, high school was 7am to 3pm, and kids often didn't get home until 6 or 7 depending on sports, choir, dancing, etc. That's sometimes 12 hours! However, once home, we all had very...
Read more...
Did you take a gap year? Tell us about your experience.
350 Words
I did not take a gap year, although I had the option to do so. In fact, many schools give students the option to "defer" their acceptance, which essentially means you take a gap year to do something and then go to the school you were admitted in to. I don't think there is a right answer to whether or not you should do this, but I do think there are certain questions you HAVE to ask yourself before making the decision. 1) Are you taking the gap year to do something you're passionate about, and something that you know you...
Read more...

High School Performance

Weighted GPA
4.45
 
Rank
Top 1%
 
Academic Performance in High School Steady

Test Scores

Highest ACT
32
 
ACT Score Details
 
Other ACT Scores
ACT Prep
Highest SAT
1550
on 1600 scale
Highest SAT
2280
 
SAT Score Details
 
Original SAT Score2280
Other SAT Scores
SAT Prep

AP / IB Classes and Scores

Details12 classes and scores

Sports

SportsVolleyball, Basketball

Extracurriculars

ActivitiesOther Religious Affiliation, American Red Cross, Tutoring/Mentoring, Student Council / Government
Elaborate on Extracurriculars or Work

Experience & Awards

Volunteer Experiences
Awards Received

Similar Profiles

harvard22
Harvard


Accepted to Harvard, Hamilton, JHU, Dickinson, UVM, William & Mary, UNC, Vassar

Took a gap year and just finished up my freshman year. Interested in archaeology and biology, on the crew team, and I love to eat. Feel free to shoot me a message!
chris_willis
Harvard


Accepted to Harvard, Duke, Vanderbilt, GA Tech, Harvey Mudd, Auburn, Colorado

I'm an optimistic person who loves playing tennis, cooking, and reading!
YCJ17
Harvard


Accepted to Harvard, Rutgers, Stevens, Villanova, CMU

If you think it's weird that there's a Pepsi bottle in my profile photo, please check out my profile. I'm a normal person just like you!
bchab
Harvard


Accepted to Harvard, Oxford

Junior ar Harvard University studying Humanities and involved in the Arts/Literary community
RGS17
Harvard


Accepted to Harvard, Birmingham-Southern, Vanderbilt, UVA, UGA

Junior at Harvard