“You ready?” he asks. I nod, masking my uncertainty. I have been waiting for this moment as long as I can remember, and I must swallow my fear. I grab my mother’s hand and close my eyes. Not much time has passed when I hear, “All done.” I cautiously open one eye, then the other. My heart is pattering in my chest, but I force myself to look. I smile. My Hebrew tattoo is beautiful, written in black ink. ...

my essay was bad, and it did not reflect my true desire to attend.

I would have applied later. I...

Do not talk about how prestigious the...

Ask early in the year, and pick a...

I applied for scholarships, but I did not receive as...

I ultimately chose my school because it is the perfect combination of academics and social life. I have...