“Aiyaaaa!” is the first exclamation that pops out of my mother's mouth as soon as she comes home from a three week trip to Taiwan, a journey she takes every other month to visit her ailing parents. Even before she actually sees it, my mother already imagines the presumed entropy of our home, and she's rarely disappointed—the house is a mess, there are unpaid bills strewn on the kitchen counter, laundry is piled waist high, and worst of all,...

Tell us what you find most appealing about Columbia and why. (300 words or fewer) Columbia is a microcosm of New York City—a melting pot of ethnic and intellectual diversity. When I visited the University for an Engineering Invitational and sat on the steps of Low Memorial Library, I could feel the energy from the city reflected in the bustling student population and vibrant campus. When Mr. Vallancourt presented to the audience a tidbit of his “The Art of Engineering,"...

If you are applying to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, please tell us what from your current and past experiences (either academic or personal) attracts you specifically to the field or fields of study that you noted in the Member Questions section. (300 words or fewer) My interest in biomedical technologies, coupled with summer program experiences in STEM, has given me the desire to become a bioengineer so that I can develop healthcare solutions to help those,...

We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do for the pleasure of it. (*)(100 words or fewer) 122 On Saturday mornings, I like to bake. When I am in the kitchen, bathed in the aroma of white chocolate macadamia cookies or double fudge brownies, my worries of the week melt away. Mixing batter by hand is soothing, and I am mesmerized with the way the bright yellow...

Describe the world you come from; for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations?(*) (200-250 words) 236 In a high school population that is predominately Hispanic, I am one of eight Asian students. Most of my classmates view me as the "nerdy girl" who always gets straight A's and participates in nearly every activity in school. Still others adhere to an Asian stereotype and consider me an overachieving student who...

What attribute of your personality are you most proud of, and how has it impacted your life so far? This could be your creativity, effective leadership, sense of humor, integrity, or anything else you'd like to tell us about. (*) (200-250 words) 215 As a toddler, resilience is what kept me in sports even after I'd manage to strike out in T-ball and run around the bases in the wrong direction. As a high schooler, it is what keeps me working hard...

Although you may not yet know what you want to major in, which department or program at MIT appeals to you and why? (*) (100 words or fewer)  109 My interest in biomedical technologies, coupled with summer program experiences in STEM, has given me the desire to become a bioengineer so that I may develop healthcare solutions to help those, like my brother, with chronic autoimmune disorders. My older sibling has ankylosing spondylitis (AS), long-term arthritis that affects his spine. On some days...

Tell us about the most significant challenge you've faced or something important that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?(*) (200-250 words) 259 "No, that can't be right," I declared to my two partners as we shared looks of confusion after examining our Petri dishes. With only a week left before our final reports were due, my team had no conclusive data regarding sunscreen and its efficacy in shielding our yeast against the sun's death rays. In...

Tell us about a person who has influenced you in a significant way. 515 I stand on the edge of the court after warmups, waiting for the buzzer to signal the start of the game. I pull up my kneepads and adjust my headband as I peruse the crowd for any signs of my family. Before I finish scanning our fans, however, wondering if my mother or brother has made it to the last volleyball game of my high school career,...

Used for Columbia, MIT, and Princeton.

Apply to MITES, E2@MIT, or MOSTEC if you're a high school junior! They are sister programs hosted by MIT, so there's only 1 application for all...

Quirky (we're each unique in our own way Accepting (regardless of how you identify yourself, what your personality...

Most students are recruited for crew, but it's...

Join MIT Dance Troupe! I came in with absolutely zero...

MIT's interview is very chill- mine was held at a McDonald's haha. I think I geeked...

Introductory Chem (5.111 in the fall) and Introductory Bio (7.013 in the...