Halfway into the race, my friend Lex stopped running and plopped onto the ground. He had a cramp in each leg, making it difficult for him to move at all. Just a year earlier, I had run my first Spartan Race. My friend Rishab posted information about the event on Facebook: it was a 4 mile outdoor obstacle course on a ski resort full of challenges including rope climbs, wall jumps, and even barbed wire crawls. Though a bit intimidated, I...

Please submit a one page, single-spaced essay that explains why you have chosen Carnegie Mellon and your particular major(s), department(s) or program(s). This essay should include the reasons why you've chosen the major(s), any goals or relevant work plans and any other information you would like us to know. For freshmen applying to more than one college or program, please mention each college or program to which you are applying. Because our admission committees review applicants...

Last summer, I attended the CMU AP/EA program. It was my first time being away from home for an extended period of time, but I was grateful to have spent my summer on the campus of a world-class institution. I was most strongly drawn to the program by the strong computer science department at Carnegie Mellon. I have been interested in programming and computer science since my father showed me how to create a website when I was eleven...