Tell us about one of your proudest achievements or moments and what it says about you. (200 words or less) Word count: 200 In lab 356, I’m the head-chef and the chemical fume-hood is my kitchen. I fill the beakers with three-fourth cups of water, two-third cups of coconut and sunflower oils, and exactly 2.3 ounces of sodium hydroxide. Once blended, I add a dash of soothing lavender to complete my signature dish: soap. Crafting soap is my most meaningful hobby, allowing me...

Super-Short Answers (35 words or less): What is your favorite subject to study, and why? Biology because it’s so perplexing. Was life created by the Big Bang or from organic-rich coacervates? Those questions are impossible to answer, but I find beauty in the inexplicable as it fosters curiosity and discovery. What are your favorite books and/or movies? Books: “The Da Vinci Code” — Dan Brown, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” — Maya Angelou, “The Count of Monte Cristo” — Alexandre...

Describe an experience that caused you to change your perspective and/or opinion. (QB) I could ramble endlessly about the fascinating complexity of science, the expressive timbre of classical music, or the gut-wrenching scenes in each episode of Grey’s Anatomy—but when it comes to politics, words that normally spill from my lips with ease come to a complete halt and my thrill for discussion diminishes. Politics is a matter I have persistently avoided, fearing that conflicting opinions will...

We are interested in learning more about you and the context in which you have grown up, formed your aspirations, and accomplished your academic successes. Please describe the factors and challenges that have most shaped your personal life and aspirations. How have these factors helped you to grow? (800 words or less) Word Count: 754 What used to be two comforting orbs was now a pair of lethal daggers, piercing my heart with its cold, unfamiliar glare. She was completely unrecognizable. The...

If you could meet a character from a book or a historical figure, who would it be and what would you ask them? (200 words or less) Word count: 200 “Photograph 51” renders one of the most significant revelations in scientific history: the true structure of DNA. The image led to monumental breakthroughs for biologists, Watson and Crick, who received Nobel Prizes for realizing the double-helical backbone of DNA. However, the “backbone” of this discovery was not Watson or Crick, but Rosalind Franklin,...

The beautiful, inclusive community at Dartmouth is what kindled my burning desire to attend. Among programs such as Intergroup Dialogue (IGD), I know the Big Green and all it has to offer will steer me toward a life of meaningful engagement. When speaking with current Dartmouth students, I was inspired by how IGD encourages them to bridge the racial, socioeconomic, and gender norms that divide society through multicultural discussion. Whatever direction life takes me, this amazing community at Dartmouth allows...

My mornings never begin with the savory fumes of bacon and pancakes, typical of most families. I wake up to the earthly aroma of incense wafting through each room of my home, luring me out of slumber and into the promising awakening ahead. I follow the smoky trail of frankincense into my living room and sit criss-cross on the tapestry running across the floorboards. As I elevate my spine and rest my hands upon my thighs, my daily routine begins. ...

The hours spent poring over all the scientific encyclopedias in my public library have prepared me for this very moment. The proctor sets a bulky, white packet in front of me and my mind begins to race. “Question 1: Describe the pathway of blood in the cardiovascular system.” I visualize the crimson blood as it flows through every facet of the heart— streaming first into the superior vena cava, coursing into each chamber, then rushing out of the aorta to the...

The summer before my junior year, I explored Lexington Medical Center through an intensive student internship. The crisp hospital air welcomed me the moment I entered the 8th floor where patients recovering from stroke and epilepsy resided. I bonded with my patients over I Love Lucy and bland hospital food as I took their vitals, bathed them, and restocked their medical cabinets. During the final week, I ventured into the realm of runny noses and worried mothers in the pediatric...

Your favorite book and its author: The Da Vinci Code — Dan Brown Your favorite website: dosomething.org Your favorite recording: First Suite in E-flat, Gustav Holst—I played my very first clarinet solo during the second movement of this piece. Your favorite source of inspiration: “Order up!” My 6-year-old sister hands me a plate full of twigs, leaves, and other questionable playground items, inspiring me through her unwavering imagination. Your favorite line from a movie or book and its title: �...

Newton’s First Law states that an object at rest will remain at rest until swayed by some external force. The same is true about me. I’m an object full of potential energy, fueled by my desire to explore anything that fascinates me, and Duke is my external force, bringing my potential into motion through its unparalleled opportunities to make an impact. At Duke, I can explore my passion for biology without bounds. When “bookbagging” for classes, I’d...

My mornings never begin with the savory fumes of bacon and pancakes, typical of most families. I wake up to the earthly aroma of incense wafting through each room of my home, luring me out of slumber and into the promising awakening ahead. I follow the smoky trail of frankincense into my living room and sit criss-cross on the tapestry running across the floorboards. As I elevate my spine and rest my hands upon my thighs, my daily routine begins. ...

When my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, I became infatuated with how cells, so small and intricate, can change one’s life tremendously. As her once healthy brain metamorphosed into clumps of misfolded proteins, I realized that I too was experiencing a life-changing transformation. No longer content with sitting idle as the disease deprived my grandma of her most delicate memories, I made it my mission to investigate the unpredictability of Alzheimer’s by using statistical-modeling to track...

Newton’s First Law states: “an object at rest will remain at rest until swayed by some external force.” For me, this “force” is Yale, whose interdisciplinary-approach will steer my eclectic passions into motion. My first experience with a Yale education drove me to explore the combination of science and politics. I completed Professor Ian Shapiro’s “Moral Foundations of Politics” on Coursera and was fascinated by how these seemingly unrelated disciplines intertwined. At Yale, I’d take “PLSC-248”, and...