amustoe
amustoe,
Harvard
B.A., Neuroscience and Neurobiology
I'm a caring, bubbly person who's passionate about learning and ambitious in life.
Features Included
8
Essays
17
Schools
9
Scores
7
Advice
5
ECs
5
Sports

Background

Hometown Salinas, California
GenderFemale
EthnicityWhite Non-Hispanic
Class of2020
First Gen College StudentNo

Results, Essays, and Advice

Accepted
Waitlisted or Withdrew
Denied
  • Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)
  • University of California - Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
  • Yale University (New Haven, CT)
  • Brown University (Providence, RI)
  • University of California - Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Georgetown University (Washington, DC)
  • Duke University (Durham, NC)
  • Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
  • Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)
  • Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA)
  • Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
  • Tufts University (Medford, MA)
  • University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
  • University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)
  • Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)
  • Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
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: Parent + 2 more

School Specific Essays

Personal Statement
565 Words
Art/acting/singing
As I stepped out onto the dirt track in borrowed, black cowgirl boots, I felt like a fraud. An unfamiliarly heavy pendant bounced on my chest as I shuffled in front of two decorated horses whose equally adorned riders proudly gripped flags atop their steeds. I clutched the microphone in my clammy hand, clinging to my one comfort in the enormous, foreign stadium. I glanced up at the Jumbotron and I could see the back of a girl with pageant-worthy...
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Personal Statement
163 Words
Athletic achievement
Extracurricular Essay 150 word max. When I touched a field hockey stick for the first time, I had no idea the sport would become a four-year passion of mine, or that I would be captain for two years. I didn’t know I would use that stick to whack the ball past the goalie, scoring the first goal of the season last year. In that fateful game, I dribbled the ball down the field, passed it to my teammate, who then...
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Supplemental Essay: Issue of personal significance
481 Words
Dear Harvard University Admissions, I want to take this time to accept Harvard’s implicit apology. I know that you were inundated with early applications this year and perhaps there was confusion at the time of my deferral and wait listing, and I want to let you know that it’s okay, I understand. In the heat of the admission process, it’s understandable that my application was overlooked. Sure I didn’t win first place at the Google Science...
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Supplemental Essay: Other
672 Words
To My Future Roommate: Hi, my name is Audrey and I was born and raised in rural Salinas, California, (also known as “Steinbeck country”) where I’ve been spoiled with good weather my entire life. Seriously though, I break out my North Face jacket when the temperature dips below 60°F. Singing is my passion, and I do it all the time: in the shower, in my room, while playing the piano, while I’m walking to class. I hope you...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
337 Words
When thinking about college, I am looking for several things: A tight-knit learning environment rich with camaraderie, a wealth of resources and a home away from home. University of Chicago is a perfect blend of all of these aspects. The student to faculty ratio is an important reason why I love University of Chicago. Coming from an independent private school, I prefer the small discussion- based seminar style that is prevalent at UChicago. The Core curriculum is particularly appealing as...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
315 Words
Community is an important aspect of my life, and I want that to continue throughout college. I am looking for a home away from home. Northwestern with its strong community would be a good fit for me. The residential housing at Northwestern looks like the ideal way to meet new people and forge strong relationships. I am impressed by the relationship between students and the faculty housemaster. As an undecided major, I look forward to hearing the advice and guidance...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
494 Words
Although my plans for a major in Biology are not concrete, I know I am interested in learning more about it. Right now I am considering pursuing medicine, but I hope to take a wide variety of classes at Georgetown.   This past summer I worked alongside Dr. Ganeles, a practicing oncologist and hematologist, to explore my interest in medicine. As her assistant, I met and visited with patients who were diagnosed with cancer or various blood disorders. Before we entered...
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Supplemental Essay: Amusing anecdote
495 Words
The Three Mustoeteers I’ve grown up in a sorority. No, not like the ones you see in Girls Gone Wild. I’ve just been surrounded by females throughout my life. A faint smell of nail polish is always apparent in my house, and some sort of hair-styling equipment is always plugged in, ready for use. Some may think that such a high level of estrogen in one household could be toxic, but I disagree. My female relationships are some...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
325 Words
One of the most important things to me about my high school is our tightly-knit community. At Davidson, I found the same type of community. My headmaster, a Davidson alumnus, encouraged me to look at Davidson because of its similarities to my high school. When I visited, I found many of the things I love about York at Davidson. At my high school, I can leave my laptop outside and not worry about it being stolen. At Davidson, I was...
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School Specific Advice

Additional material sent in after waitlisted or deferred
128 Words
Dear ___ Admissions Committee, I would like to update my file with the following new accomplishments for your consideration for Fall 2015 admission. I was recently selected to be a member of the Monterey Jazz Festival’s...
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How to increase chances at my school
115 Words
In order to increase your chances of getting into UC Berkeley, I recommend applying to their College of Natural Resources. It’s a much smaller school with a higher acceptance rate than the College...
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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

My advice about getting recommenders
601 Words
Get at least two recommenders who are teachers and are able to attest to your academic work. Ideally one should be in the humanities field and the other in the STEM field. Make sure you ask teachers who know you well and are able to talk about your personality as well as your work in the classroom. I chose two teachers who knew different sides of me, who were able to contribute differently (but both positively) to my application. When asking for a letter make sure to first ask them in person!! Then attach a cover letter and send them...
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Did you take a gap year? Tell us about your experience.
218 Words
When I initially applied to Harvard, I intended on joining the Class of 2019—however, my Harvard admittance was dependent on me first taking a gap year, and then joining the class of 2020. At first I was hesitant to take a gap year—I hadn’t really thought about what I could do during that time. But I took the leap of faith to...
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What I’d change about my application process
121 Words
After I was deferred from Harvard Early Action, I got very nervous and applied to 17 schools. That was a big mistake. Instead of meticulously going through my essays, I sloppily turned them in which I think...
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Recommended summer activities during high school and college
136 Words
During the summer make sure you do something that YOU are passionate about. Summers are a great way to get to experience/learn things that you can’t learn in the classroom or during the year. What NOT...
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How I narrowed down my essay topics
159 Words
The most difficult part of my application was writing my personal statement. It felt so daunting, and I felt like I needed to reveal my darkest secrets or my greatest accomplishment in order for the admissions officers to like me. But it turns out that’s not...
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High School Performance

GPA
4.00
(no specification of weighting)
Rank
Top 1%
 
Academic Performance in High School Steady

Test Scores

Highest ACT
31
 
ACT Score Details
 
Other ACT Scores
ACT Prep
Highest SAT
1510
on 1600 scale
Highest SAT
2190
 
SAT Score Details
 
Original SAT Score2190
Other SAT Scores
SAT Prep

AP / IB Classes and Scores

Details7 classes and scores

Sports

SportsField Hockey, Soccer, Swimming/Diving, Track & Field, Lacrosse

Extracurriculars

ActivitiesKey Club, Student Council / Government, School Choir, French Club, Student Activities Committee
Elaborate on Extracurriculars or Work

Experience & Awards

Volunteer Experiences
Awards Received
Application Additional Materials

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