longhornlove
longhornlove,
UT Austin
B.S., Psychology
Hey there! I’m Tara, I’m an American born half Colombian, half Persian International Baccalaureate student attending UT Austin in the fall!
Features Included
13
Essays
6
Schools
8
Scores
6
Advice
7
ECs
0
Sports

Background

Hometown Houston, Texas
GenderFemale
EthnicityHispanic
Class of2024
First Gen College StudentNo

Results, Essays, and Advice

Accepted
Waitlisted or Withdrew
Denied
  • University of Texas - Austin (Austin, TX)
  • Fordham University (New York, NY)
  • University of Houston  (Houston, TX)
  • University of British Columbia (British Columbia, Canada)
  • Texas A&M University (College Station, TX)
  • Tulane University (New Orleans, LA)
Tap/click a school logo above to view essays and advice specific to that school.

University of Texas - Austin (Austin, TX)

Accepted and Enrolled Legacy: No

School Specific Essays

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
Somewhere in the Middle "All Colombian girls shave," my father proclaimed, handing me a razor, a device that was quite intimidating to my nine-year-old self. "Use this in the shower," he instructed, oblivious to my distress. That night, I said goodbye to the dark strands of hair on my arms and legs, though not without cutting myself multiple times in the process. I couldn't stop staring at my blank arms. I felt so different. The next day, my stepmom took...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
831 Words
Please describe why you are interested in attending Tulane University (optional).
About a year and a half ago, during a late-night, random Youtube-video binge, I stumbled upon a video called "I'm Feeling Tulane," by an acapella music group called "Green Envy." The video switched between scenes of students' playful interactions with each other or with their professors on campus to a scene in which a New Orleans jazz band skillfully played music alongside students in the lively streets of New Orleans. It was clear that this school was not just any...
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Supplemental Essay: Extracurricular activity
228 Words
Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences.
My first major role in a play was that of Jean Valjean from Les Miserables in the 8th grade. When I discovered the French ex-convict character was the lead role, I auditioned for it without even thinking about the fact that my theater teacher might have wanted to pick a boy classmate of mine over me. However, she graciously chose me to do it, and ever since then, I have discovered the invigorating, epic experience of putting on a play...
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Supplemental Essay: Other
469 Words
"Additional information"
My younger sister, Elena, was born in 2007 with stage 3 neuroblastoma and a tumor on her spine that caused her to become paralyzed from the waist down and wheelchair bound. Chemotherapy also caused her mental development to be stunted and at most develop to the mental capacity of an 8-year-old. However, one thing that has always amazed me growing up is that, although she is placed at a disadvantage to others her age, Elena has always been excited about going to...
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Supplemental Essay: Other
323 Words
Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?
My whole life I have been a philomath. A philomath, by definition, is a person who greatly enjoys learning and studying. My eclectic range of interests, from theater to psychology to music to biology, is something I am proud of, as I have always been eager to educate myself about many different topics. Because of my many interests, I have found it difficult to decide upon a career path, so I have chosen to apply as an undecided major. As...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
317 Words
Leadership can be demonstrated in many ways. Please share how you have demonstrated leadership in either your school, job, community, and/or within your family responsibilities.
My younger sister, Elena, was born in 2007 with stage 3 neuroblastoma and a tumor on her spine that caused her to become paralyzed from the waist down and wheelchair bound. Chemotherapy also caused her mental development to be stunted and at most develop to the mental capacity of an 8-year-old. From the minute she was born, I immediately felt a protective instinct over Elena. My sister taught me many lessons that caused me to mature a lot faster than most children,...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
325 Words
Please share how you believe your experiences, perspectives, and/or talents have shaped your ability to contribute to and enrich the learning environment at UT Austin, both in and out of the classroom.
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas to a Persian mother and a Colombian father. I have an older brother and a younger sister, two 'bonus parents,' my stepmother and stepfather, and a very mischievous teacup Yorkie dog. Less factual, however, I believe that I possess many qualities that would allow me to contribute to and enrich the learning environment at UT Austin. My coming from two very different, rich cultures has allowed me to be able to...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
264 Words
Please share background on events or special circumstances that may have impacted your high school academic performance.
My little sister, Elena, was born in 2007 with stage 3 neuroblastoma and a tumor on her spine. This tumor caused her to become paralyzed from the waist down and wheelchair bound. Chemotherapy also caused her mental development to be stunted and cause her to at most develop to the mental capacity of an 8-year-old. However, one thing that has always amazed me growing up is that, although she is placed at a disadvantage to others her age, Elena has always been...
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Supplemental Essay: Other
378 Words
If there are additional personal challenges, hardships, or opportunities that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, which you have not already written about, please note them in the space below.
My younger sister, Elena, was born in 2007 with stage 3 neuroblastoma and a tumor on her spine that caused her to become paralyzed from the waist down and wheelchair bound. Chemotherapy also caused her mental development to be stunted and at most develop to the mental capacity of an 8-year-old. However, one thing that has always amazed me growing up is that, although she is placed at a disadvantage to others her age, Elena has always been excited about going to...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: Issue of personal significance
252 Words
Tell us about who you are. How would your family, friends, and/or members of your community describe you? If possible, please include something about yourself that you are most proud of and why.
Those who know me well would describe me as someone with an exuberant personality and loud speaking voice, but most importantly as someone with a very open mind. This year I visited Arusha, Tanzania. I spent most of my days at Banjika Secondary School, where my group and I were working on building a science lab for the school’s students. I became good friends with a girl my age named Deanna. One day, Deanna and I were tasked with...
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Supplemental Essay: Issue of personal significance
244 Words
What is important to you? And why?
One of the most important things to me is passion. Passion in one’s career, in their hobbies, in their relationships, and in helping others. The magnificent art of baking is a passion of mine that has engrossed me my entire life. Not only is it a passion of mine in and of itself, but I love it most because it is a way of connection to my greatest passion: my friends and family. Food is a social urge; something...
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Supplemental Essay: Extracurricular activity
357 Words
Tell us more about ONE or TWO activities listed above that are most important to you. Please explain the role you played and what you learned in the process. You will be asked for a reference who can speak to your response.
Being a leader is not simply a good quality to have, but a necessary one if you want to create any kind of change for something you believe in greatly. For me, one of my greatest passions is being a leader and advocate for accessibility. My younger sister was born with neuroblastoma and a tumor on her spine that caused her to become wheelchair bound. For as long as she has used a wheelchair, inaccessibility has made navigating a difficult...
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Supplemental Essay: Issue of personal significance
100 Words
Additional Information: You may wish to use the space below to provide UBC with more information on your academic history to date and/or your future academic plans. For example: How did you choose your courses in secondary school? Are there life circumstances that have affected your academic decisions to date? What have you done to prepare yourself specifically for your intended area of study at UBC?
I want to be someone who plays a leading role in mental health. I wrote my extended essay about a psychological topic in abnormal psychology that greatly interested me. Along with the higher level psychology course I have taken for the past two years, I believe the extensive research I put into this paper has better prepared me to undertake a psychology major in university. Furthermore, I would take full advantage of UBC’s wide range of unique, unmatched opportunities...
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School Specific Advice

More Essays

These essays haven't been tagged by school. Click school logos above to see tagged essays.

General Admissions Advice

How I made up for low grades in high school
284 Words
When applying to schools, I was terrified that because my GPA and test scores were not as competitive as others at my school or others in general that it would be impossible for me to get admitted at any competitive university. Even my high school counselor worsened that fear by labelling all of my top schools were "reach schools." For this reason, I spent a lot of time and effort on my supplemental essays and the way that I presented myself to colleges. After becoming...
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My advice about getting recommenders
203 Words
Not everyone knows someone who's attended a college they're applying to (an alumn), but IF you do, you're in a really good position! No matter who it be (other than like a parent, sibling, or friend), get them to write a letter of recommendation for you! Along with two letters of rec from my Biology and English teacher, I had my...
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My insights about the IB (International Baccalaureate) program
96 Words
Does the IB give you an edge in college admissions? I couldn't really answer that question. BUT, what it does definitely help with is college readiness and in some...
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What set me apart from other applicants
171 Words
I think what really set me apart from other applicants is how I highlighted my uniqueness and how I would add a great deal of diversity to their school. This isn't to say that I'm some super unique, edgy, person. As cliché as it is to say, everyone is unique in...
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Recommended summer activities during high school and college
53 Words
Get a job or intern somewhere! Contribute to society! I wish that I had gotten some...
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Post-college plans
118 Words
I'm a pre-med student, so I plan on going to medical school after undergraduate school. My main interests are psychiatry and plastic surgery. Some people think that to be a pre-med student you have to...
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High School Performance

Unweighted GPA
3.70
 
Rank
Top 50%
 
Academic Performance in High School Steady

Test Scores

Highest ACT
28
 
ACT Score Details
 
Other ACT Scores
ACT Prep
Highest SAT
1330
 
SAT Score Details
 
Other SAT Scores
SAT Prep

AP / IB Classes and Scores

Details6 classes and scores

Sports

Extracurriculars

ActivitiesTheater/Drama, School Theater/Plays, School Choir, Model Congress / Model UN, Big Brother/Big Sister, Multicultural / International Club, Other Club/Activity
Elaborate on Extracurriculars or Work

Experience & Awards

Volunteer Experiences
Awards Received
Application Additional Materials

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