13brendonw
13brendonw,
Brown
B.S., Biology
Fun and driven individual who enjoys a diverse range of activities.
Features Included
20
Essays
18
Schools
7
Scores
6
Advice
3
ECs
4
Sports

Background

Hometown San Francisco, California
GenderMale
EthnicityWhite Non-Hispanic
Class of2022
First Gen College StudentNo

Results, Essays, and Advice

Accepted
Waitlisted or Withdrew
Denied
  • Brown University (Providence, RI)
  • Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
  • University of California - Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
  • University of California - Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
  • University of California - San Diego (La Jolla, CA)
  • University of California - Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA)
  • University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
  • Rice University (Houston, TX)
  • Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)
  • Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
  • Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA)
  • Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
  • Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, PA)
  • University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
  • University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
  • University of California - Davis (Davis, CA)
  • University of California - Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, CA)
  • University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT)
Tap/click a school logo above to view essays and advice specific to that school.

Brown University (Providence, RI)

Applied for a B.S. in Biology

Accepted and Enrolled Legacy: No

School Specific Essays

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
My eyes were quickly moving from wall to wall passing over my closest friend sitting across the deceivingly long table. The artificial air conditioning between us seemed to create a barrier stopping the typical flow of words normally shared between us on car rides to Stinson Beach or across the table at our weekend family dinners. Sleep had eluded me the night before as I kept going over and over the impending conversation in my head. In the moment though,...
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What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
One of the things that I enjoy most is bringing people together. Over my time in high school I have utilized this is many different ways. Whether it is starting an after-school band or creating cross-departmental team to build a business curriculum, I can always bring this to the table. One action that makes me the happiest is when my friends come together for “family dinners.” While it may be hard to imagine a group of high schoolers coming together...
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What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
Before teaching my first lesson at Soundwaves: Marin City Youth Music Academy, I could feel the nerves poking at my stomach. I desperately wanted to inspire my students the way that my teachers inspired me when I first started taking lessons. Ever since starting piano in the second grade, followed by cello in the third grade, music has been a source of positivity in my life. In addition to developing my skills both my piano and cello instructors encouraged me...
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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.
When I started working for the Elix Incubator in October of 2016, we had five employees, no projects, and were working out of our living rooms. Twelve months later I have helped this social incubator become a registered LLC in Delaware, obtain permanent office space, raise over $42,000, and start ventures for over twenty high school groups from the United States, Costa Rica and Thailand. Elix is a group of self motivated high schoolers that wanted to pursue entrepreneurial dreams but were...
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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.
These past two years I have devoted a lot of my time and academic efforts to the AP Capstone program at Redwood. The two year program focuses on teaching research methods and ultimately leads up to an individual research paper completed during senior year. For my senior project, I am focusing on the salmon fishing communities in the Bay Area. This past winter and spring, there was an upwelling in the Northern Pacific Ocean that brought loads of the nutrients...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
100 Words
We all exist within communities or groups of various sizes, origins, and purposes; pick one and tell us why it is important to you, and how it has shaped you. (100 word limit)
Every Saturday morning I share my love of the piano with young kids from an underserved community. Over the past year, my Soundwaves students have grown from fumbling through C scales and awkward lessons to playing complex two-handed pieces and energetic lessons. Aside from having a new appreciation for my own music teachers I’ve realized the importance of continuing my own musical pursuits. I have been inspired to take my own participation in the Marin Youth Symphony more seriously....
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Supplemental Essay: Other
167 Words
Please add any additional information that might help supplement your application.
In the summer before 8th grade, I was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes. I had been going to the bathroom almost eight times a night so my mom thought I had a urinary tract infection and took me to the doctor (I later found out that UTIs are only common in sexually active elderly men... really mom?). Four days and twenty hours of doctor appointments later, my parents and I found ourselves at home with loads of equipment. After two...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
187 Words
Why Brown, and why the Brown Curriculum?
When I was presented with the opportunity to start a business incubator and helped companies beyond the realms of math and science I realized what I could find if I looked beyond what I was initially drawn to. The Open Curriculum offered to Brown students provides an ideal platform to accomplish my goals. The unique ability to plan a schedule without having to worry about filling core or distribution requirements would be invaluable to someone demonstrating a known interest who...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
669 Words
Fans of the movie Sharknado say that they enjoy it because “it’s so bad, it’s good.” Certain automobile owners prefer classic cars because they “have more character.” And recently, vinyl record sales have skyrocketed because it is perceived that they have a warmer, fuller sound. Discuss something that you love not in spite of but rather due to its quirks or imperfections. - Inspired by Alex Serban
Making the haul back from Santa Rosa, I could almost hear the tight phantom thump and licks of Eric Clapton’s guitar coming from the two ginormous speakers seatbelted into the back seat of the Subaru. I had just picked up a pair of Beovox s75 speakers off a craigslist advertisement. Discontinued in 1980, this Bang and Olufsen line was well known for their ability to kick out a tremendous but accurate sound had disappeared over time. Knowing that I had...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
338 Words
Successful students at Johns Hopkins make the biggest impact by collaborating with others, including peers, mentors, and professors. Talk about a time, in or outside the classroom, when you worked with others and what you learned from the experience.
Over the past year and a half, I have dedicated a large portion of my time to starting and building the Elix Incubator. With a group of five other Redwood students, we have created an international social incubator, helping teenagers make their communities better all over the world. As the Chief Product Officer, I managed a team of nine project managers and technical engineers. Working with Elix was the first time I had been asked to manage people in a...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
279 Words
Other parts of your application give us a sense for how you might contribute to Northwestern. But we also want to consider how Northwestern will contribute to your interests and goals.
In high school, I enjoyed the freedom to pursue loads of different activities outside of my academics. The time spent playing with the Marin Youth Symphony, volunteering in the ICU at Marin General, working with teen run socially conscious businesses, and coaching a recreational soccer team hold some of my favorite memories in high school. When I visited the Northwestern campus over my spring break, I was pleasantly surprised to find that all the students I talked to were involved...
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Supplemental Essay: Extracurricular activity
148 Words
Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences.
When I started working for Elix in October of 2016, we had five employees, no projects, and were working out of our living rooms. Twelve months later I have helped this social incubator become a registered LLC in Delaware, obtain permanent office space, raise over $42,000, and start ventures for over twenty high school groups from the United States, Costa Rica and Thailand. As Chief Product Officer, I manage a team of five project managers and six tech engineers. I’m responsible...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
494 Words
The quality of Rice's academic life and the Residential College System are heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural traditions each student brings. What personal perspective would you contribute to life at Rice?
I enjoy bringing people together. During high school, I have utilized this in many different ways. Whether it is starting an after-school band or creating a cross-departmental team to build a business curriculum, I can always bring this skill to the table. One action that makes me the happiest is when my friends come together for “family dinners.” While it may be hard to imagine a group of high schoolers coming together to sit down at a formal home cooked...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
151 Words
With the understanding that the choice of academic school you indicated is not binding, explain why you are applying to that particular school of study.
For as long as I remember, I’ve wanted to be a doctor. Maybe it was because in the game of LIFE the doctor was obviously the best career card, but as I’ve moved through my own game, other aspects of a medical career have become apparent. Most notably, the convergence of the known and unknown is extremely appealing. Studying medicine offers a known path to discovering the unknown. It is important to have this assurance so I can...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
219 Words
How did you first learn about Rice University, and what motivated you to apply?
The initial draw to Rice University came from its reputation of having a rigorous curriculum and an extremely strong science department. In high school, I have actively participated in the AP Capstone curriculum and introduced high level research into my academic journey. This has been an important part of my high school experience that I hope to bring with me to college. At Rice, I hope to take advantage of the undergraduate research funding and available professors that make research...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
134 Words
Briefly describe how you learned about Santa Clara University.
Working with all the different startups with the Elix Incubator focused a lot of my attention to the Silicon Valley area. Wanting to stay a part of the startup community I began researching universities that both had the resources to support student ventures and were geographically advantageous to other business opportunities. Santa Clara University immediately became an obvious choice for a entrepreneurial student. Santa Clara University is in the unique position to support its students in all aspects of business...
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Supplemental Essay: Strong beliefs/principles
300 Words
Santa Clara University's strategic vision promises to educate citizens and leaders of competence, conscience, and compassion and cultivate knowledge and faith to build a more humane, just, and sustainable world. What aspect of SCU’s strategic vision appeals to you? Why?
What inspires me most about Santa Clara’s mission is its desire to create a sustainable world. Located in such an epicenter of business and community, Santa Clara is in the unique position to influence the how the world grows. Sustainability is extremely important to my personal strategic vision and values. All of the companies that I am currently assisting with the Elix Incubator have sustainability as a top priority. Not only are these businesses economically sustainable, but they also...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
231 Words
The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.
Walking out of my third AP class of the day headed to my fourth, I was stunned at how excited I felt. Starting my junior year I had known that I was planning on taking a difficult class load, 4 APs and 1 honors was a lot. I found that I was finishing each of my AP classes not burned out or tired, but refreshed. While this was the case for all of my advanced classes, I was most blown away by...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
248 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.
Hi Roommate, Acid jazz plays quietly in the background. Everyone is standing around the island snacking on a cheese board I prepared earlier in the day. Conversation flows freely from our summer plans to Logic’s new album as I put the finishing touches on dinner. Tonight’s menu is smoked prosciutto wrapped pork roast with pea and prosciutto risotto, one of my favorites because tonight we are celebrating the end of AP testing. This is a tradition unique to...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
236 Words
Tell us about something that is meaningful to you, and why?
Conversation about sports, the election, and family flowed from person to person. I sat there slowly eating a cracker utterly amazed by the people around me. The orthopedic surgery team had just spent the last 4 hours fixing an ACL tendon, repairing an achilles tendon, and fixing a rotator cuff. These people have devoted their careers to improving the quality of life for their community and I had the privilege of witnessing talents and compassion as an intern. For as long...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
234 Words
Why Swarthmore?
In high school, I value maintaining a diverse group of activities. Whether it is assisting nurses in the ICU, coaching a U12 soccer team, or playing in the Marin Youth Symphony, I enjoy being able explore so many different interests. When taking the next step in my life, Swarthmore has the unique resources to help me continue exploring my passions. Swarthmore’s Honors Program sets it apart. If I have the opportunity to attend Swarthmore, I plan on pursuing the...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
254 Words
How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago.
Looking forward, one of the most appealing things about college is the freedom to design a personalized curriculum that defines both who I am and where I want to go. The University of Chicago is in a unique position to make this happen. The Core curriculum offered at UChicago finds an ideal balance between encouraging students to explore a diverse range of courses while also giving them the ability to specialize in a certain area. I really appreciate that instead...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
221 Words
Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests at USC. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections.
The scientific opportunities presented to USC undergraduates are exceptional. If accepted into USC I plan to apply to the Freshman Science Honors program. This program’s access to smaller science classes is very important to me. One of my favorite classes at Redwood was my AP Seminar class. This class had a size of only 12 students. I developed a close relationship with both my teacher and the other students in my class. Being able to participate in an environment similar...
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
251 Words
Describe something outside of your intended academic focus about which you are interested in learning.
Over the past year, I have deeply invested my time in the Elix Incubator. This has both helped me give back to my community and beyond while nurturing an entrepreneurial spirit. When I started working for Elix in October of 2016, we had five employees, no projects, and were working out of our living rooms. Twelve months later I have helped this social incubator become a registered LLC in Delaware, raise over $42,000, and start ventures for over twenty high school groups...
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School Specific Advice

List of schools I interviewed with and my interview experience
97 Words
Brown was the only school that I had an in-person interview with. I do believe that this interview did help my admissions into the school. Most interviews with alum...
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Reaching out to professors and coaches at schools I applied to
91 Words
Before accepting my admissions to Brown I reached out to a handful of professors to make sure that Brown was the right school for me. The response...
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Why I ultimately chose my school
125 Words
Brown is a community of self-driven go-getters. I first realized this after I researched the open curriculum a bit more. Brown does not require students to take any general education courses. If you are a complete history buff...
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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

Recommended summer activities during high school and college
110 Words
I would recommend trying to work somewhere. Having a job not only shows reliability and consistency, but it also demonstrates that you have the ability to take initiative. I believe that my time...
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How I narrowed down my essay topics
119 Words
When faced with the daunting task of writing essays it can be very frustrating and overwhelming. So many students now days have so many different activities that when faced with only writing about one or two...
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Whether I used a private admissions counselor, and advice I received
94 Words
I had a private admissions counselor and it helped me a great amount. While my admissions counselor did little is choosing schools or writing essays, she did make...
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High School Performance

Weighted GPA
4.36
(equivalent to 3.98 unweighted)
Rank
Top 5%
 
Academic Performance in High School Steady

Test Scores

Highest ACT
35
 
ACT Score Details
 
Other ACT Scores
ACT Prep
PSAT Scores

AP / IB Classes and Scores

Details11 classes and scores

Sports

SportsLacrosse, Skiing, Soccer, Track & Field

Extracurriculars

ActivitiesMusic: Instrumental, Career Oriented, Volunteer Coach
Elaborate on Extracurriculars or Work

Experience & Awards

Volunteer Experiences
Awards Received
Application Additional Materials

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