Princeton_An
Princeton_An,
Princeton
B.A., Neuroscience
Dancer, Pianist, and Neuroscience/Premed student at Princeton
Features Included
56
Essays
15
Schools
9
Scores
6
Advice
9
ECs
0
Sports

Background

Hometown Bettendorf, Iowa
GenderMale
EthnicityAsian
Class of2026
First Gen College StudentNo

Results, Essays, and Advice

Accepted
Waitlisted or Withdrew
Denied
  • Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
  • Columbia University (New York, NY)
  • University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
  • Duke University (Durham, NC)
  • Emory University (Atlanta, GA)
  • Pomona College (Claremont, CA)
  • Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
  • Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
  • Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
  • University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
  • Rice University (Houston, TX)
  • Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)
  • Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)
  • Yale University (New Haven, CT)
  • Brown University (Providence, RI)
Tap/click a school logo above to view essays and advice specific to that school.

Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)

Applied for a B.A. in Neuroscience

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.
"E-D#-E-D#-E-B-D-C-A-... E-D#-E-D#-E-B-D-C-A-... E-D#-E-D#-E-B-D-C-A... E-D#-E-D#-E-B-D-C-A... E-D#-ED#-E-B-D-C-A..." Was I practicing piano? Or was I being punished? With the way those notes repeated, you might think I was mimicking a broken record instead of trying to master the opening of "Fur Elise." Hours stretched into days that stretched into weeks which stretched into months, until my sanity stretched so much I thought I would snap from all the torture my teacher called "training." ...
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
256 Words
As a research institution that also prides itself on its liberal arts curriculum, Princeton allows students to explore areas across the humanities and the arts, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. What academic areas most pique your curiosity, and how do the programs offered at Princeton suit your particular interests? (Please respond in about 250 words)
As I look forward to the future impact I seek to make, I look towards Princeton and its abundant opportunities for applying interdisciplinary curiosity. Primarily, I aim to explore the intersection between dance, neuroscience, and medicine. Through keeping up with the journal Frontiers in Psychology and the American Dance Therapy Association, I am fascinated by dance's potential as a therapy for neurological disorders like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's and also mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Endeavoring to advance...
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Supplemental Essay: Extracurricular activity
154 Words
Briefly elaborate on an activity, organization, work experience, or hobby that has been particularly meaningful to you. (Please respond in about 150 words)
[Name Redacted] was only eleven, yet she worked with the seriousness of a soldier. The way she looped the same passage mesmerized me--starting slowly before increasing in speed--like the Doppler effect of an echo approaching you. I moved to the next practice room where I saw [Name Redacted] at the piano. I was fascinated by her gestures while playing. Was she a snake charmer who hypnotized the piano? Or was she possessed by the music? She later explained that she...
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Supplemental Essay: Issue of personal significance
262 Words
At Princeton, we value diverse perspectives and the ability to have respectful dialogue about difficult issues. Share a time when you had a conversation with a person or a group of people about a difficult topic. What insight did you gain, and how would you incorporate that knowledge into your thinking in the future? (Max 250 words)
When the pandemic forced Interlochen to close in March, I returned to a home with tension so high its altitude felt suffocating. While at school, my mom lamented over the phone how my younger sister, [Name Redacted] stopped eating with the family, slept all day, and secluded herself. Even knowing all that, I couldn't have predicted discovering the scars on [Name Redacted] arms. When I confronted her about it, she broke down almost immediately, blaming her self-harm on me for...
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Supplemental Essay: Strong beliefs/principles
252 Words
Princeton has a longstanding commitment to service and civic engagement. Tell us how your story intersects (or will intersect) with these ideals. (Max 250 words)
It was the week before the opening night of The Nutcracker and dancers were dropping. Stage rehearsals were becoming an undefeated gladiator, eliminating dancers left and right, taking out their hips, ankles, knees, and feet. It aggravated eating disorders, and of the forty dancers in the cast, eight became injured. We were scrambling to replace their parts with understudies who had to learn some dances in just 30 minutes. Throughout four shows, we held our breaths each time someone danced. By...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
48 Words
What is a new skill you would like to learn in college? (Max 50 words)
While Interlochen has helped me open up, I still mostly identify as a shy person. Whether it's contributing to political discourse, practicing public speaking during class presentations, or putting together a full-length ballet for Princeton University Ballet, I would like to work on becoming more assertive and outspoken.
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
50 Words
What brings you joy? (Max 50 words)
I have a box, while my sister has her bedroom wall, but no matter where our preferred storage space happens to be, we both enjoy collecting written notes and postcards--mementos of being thought of, artifacts of affection, littles things that somehow make a big difference in feeling happy and loved.
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
51 Words
What song represents the soundtrack of your life at this moment? (Max 50 words)
Whether mental, emotional, or physical, Bill Wither’s “Lean on Me” encapsulates how I strive to support my friends while they grapple with their struggles. More than an offer I extend, it resonates my soulful joy of helping others, of imbuing consoling harmony into whatever corner we inhabit--no matter how dark.
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
188 Words
List the titles of the required readings from academic courses that you enjoyed most during secondary/high school. (Max 150 words)
Just Mercy Blood Brothers Invisible Man; I was hooked on searching for symbolism and foreshadowing One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; enjoyed comparing my interpretation of the book against the director’s movie adaptation First They Killed My Father Of Mice and Men The Pearl; deepened my appreciation of what I already have Man’s Search for Meaning; pushed me to ponder what I’m trying to pursue in arts and academics A Separate Peace Ethan Frome Dandelion Wine ...
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
177 Words
List the titles of the books, essays, poetry, short stories or plays you read outside of academic courses that you enjoyed most during secondary/high school. (Max 150 words)
The Girl with Seven Names; about a North Korean escapee, made me grateful for my parents Beneath a Scarlet Sky; through dilemmas during war, conviction’s importance is witnessed The Winter Soldier; eloquent, inspired how I write narratives Deception Point and Child 44; thrillers worth sacrificing sleep for Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod; laughed, cried, (after reading) how could you not love dogs? Death of a Salesman; cautionary tale of unrestrained ambition The Boys in the Boat; hard...
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
136 Words
List the titles of the print or digital publications, websites, journals, podcasts or other content with which you regularly engage. (Max 150 words)
International Association for Dance Medicine and Science Business Insider (Technology, Intelligence, Health) Dance Magazine (Career Advice, Training, Style and Beauty, Auditions) Pointe Magazine (Cross Training, Company Life, Nutrition, Pre-Professional Guide, College Guide, Audition Guide) Buzzfeed (News, Videos) National Geographic (Science Galleries and Videos, History and Culture Galleries and Videos) New York Times (Arts, Opinion, Health, Books, Science, Politics) TED ED (Videos in Health: Growth, Development, Medical Conditions; Arts: Performing Arts, Value of Arts; Thinking and Learning) Smithsonian Channel (Modern History,...
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
191 Words
List the movies, albums, shows, museums, lectures, events at your school or other entertainments that you enjoyed most during secondary/high school (in person or online). (Max 150 words)
At Interlochen Singer/Songwriter Concerts (x12) Learned song-making process after talking with many songwriters Orchestral Performances: Classical Music (x8) Soloist Music Performances by Instrumentalists (x70) Interdisciplinary Arts Performances/Academy Cafe (x20) Jazz Ensemble Performances (x8) Always a weekend plan when performances are available Visual Arts Galleries (x8) Theater Productions (x16) Beyond the enjoyable performances, I study actors’ body language to see what I can incorporate into my storytelling ballets. Everybody The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime Violet...
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Supplemental Essay: Strong beliefs/principles
209 Words
Columbia students take an active role in improving their community, whether in their residence hall, classes or throughout New York City. Their actions, small or large, work to positively impact the lives of others. Share one contribution that you have made to your family, school, friend group or another community that surrounds you. (200 words or fewer)
When the pandemic forced Interlochen to close in March, I returned to a home with tension so high its altitude felt suffocating. While at school, my mom lamented over the phone how my younger sister, [Name Redacted] stopped eating with the family, slept all day, and secluded herself. Even knowing all that, I couldn't have predicted discovering the scars on [Name Redacted] arms. When I confronted her about it, she broke down almost immediately, blaming her self-harm on me for...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
204 Words
Why are you interested in attending Columbia University? (200 words or fewer)
Beyond chances to continue ballet with the Columbia Ballet Collaborative, Barnard Dance, and the Ivy Ballet Exchange, Columbia is an interdisciplinary dream. There are a wide array of opportunities to intersect my academic and artistic interests, but the intersections I am most excited to explore are those between dance, neuroscience, and medicine. While building an academic foundation in Neuroscience & Behavior, I aim to pursue courses like Neurobiology: Cellular & Molecular as a gateway into investigating how dance therapy can benefit mental...
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
211 Words
For applicants to Columbia College, please tell us what from your current and past experiences (either academic or personal) attracts you specifically to the areas of study that you previously noted in the application. (200 words or fewer)
Some dancers fixate on obtaining the “ideal” ballet body image. Despite decades of campaigns and cautionary films like Black Swan showing how attempting to achieve these ideals can be deadly, these false ideals persist. When I first met [Name Redacted], she seemed like any other dancer, full of passion and commitment to her art. After a five-hour rehearsal, she collapsed while walking. Everyone flocked to help her up, offering her fruit and drinks to keep her from fainting again. No...
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
463 Words
How did you discover your intellectual and academic interests, and how will you explore them at the University of Pennsylvania? Please respond considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected. (300-450 words)
A week before the opening night of Interlochen’s 2019 production of The Nutcracker, dancers were dropping like bugs hitting a zapper. Stage rehearsals became a gauntlet, eliminating dancers left and right, taking out their hips, ankles, knees, and feet. Of the forty dancers in the cast, eight suffered injuries. We scrambled to replace their parts with understudies who in some cases learned their roles within 30 minutes. The physical toll was severe and the mental toll palpable. In the end, we...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
207 Words
At Penn, learning and growth happen outside of the classrooms, too. How will you explore the community at Penn? Consider how this community will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will help shape this community. (150-200 words)
Whether dancing to fundraise for disabled children in Hanoi or the Ronald McDonald House in Des Moines, I will continue to engage with communities near and far. I would immerse myself in the Penn arts community, joining clubs like Penn Ballet and Sparks Dance Company, which focuses on dance and civic engagement. I also want to pursue the creation of a “Ballet for Bliss,” a club that would engage with students and community members in discussions about stress and body...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
209 Words
Please share with us why you consider Duke a good match for you. Is there something in particular about Duke’s academic or other offerings that attracts you? (200 word limit)
Drawn to Duke’s commitment to inquiry across disciplines, I aim to explore the intersections between the arts, neuroscience, and medicine. Reading the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Psychology, I am fascinated by dance's potential as a therapy for neurological and psychological disorders like Parkinson's and anxiety. Endeavoring to advance its efficacy, I’ll build an academic foundation through courses like Neurobiology of Learning and Memory before pursuing undergraduate research or a Project Team through Bass Connections. Duke alumna Miurel Price,...
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Supplemental Essay: Issue of personal significance
262 Words
Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you'd like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you've had that would help us understand you better, perhaps a community you belong to or your family or cultural background, we encourage you to do so here. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke. (250 word limit)
When the pandemic forced Interlochen to close in March, I returned to a home with tension so high its altitude felt suffocating. While at school, my mom lamented over the phone how my younger sister, [Name Redacted] stopped eating with the family, slept all day, and secluded herself. Even knowing all that, I couldn't have predicted discovering the scars along [Name Redacted] inner forearms. When I confronted her about it, she broke down almost immediately, blaming her self-harm on me...
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Supplemental Essay: Strong beliefs/principles
159 Words
Share about a time when you questioned something that you believed to be true. (Max 150 words)
While presenting on political groups run by young leaders around my age, Mr. [Name Redacted] introduced our class to Madison Cawthorn, a young Republican who uses social media to impress the urgency of political engagement. As the youngest member of Congress, Cawthorn’s story captivated me. Like most teens, I believed I needed to stay out of politics or activism. Cawthorn’s story teaches otherwise: I could have a tangible impact on the society that governs me. Greta Thunberg, Jamie...
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Supplemental Essay: Amusing anecdote
157 Words
Introduce yourself to your first-year Emory University roommate. (Max 150 words)
Full disclosure: I’m a neat freak. So if you enjoy channeling your inner Marie Kondo, I look forward to geeking out over our clean room! Improving a space's cleanliness stems from my love of helping out. I like to think of myself as someone who supports his friends and family. You can ask [Name Redacted]--one of my friends at Interlochen--who will vouch for me. She struggled with online college chemistry at Columbia, but luckily, I could help. Whether...
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
157 Words
Students at Pomona are encouraged to take a variety of classes before declaring their major(s) in their second year. Tell us what gets you excited about the academic interest(s) you selected or any other fields of study you hope to explore in college. (Max 150 words)
Like a baby bird hesitating to take flight for the first time, her arms suddenly extended into the full span of swan wings when the crescendo exploded. I teared up as I watched this recording of Prima Ballerina Marta González reliving her Swan lake choreography despite suffering from Alzheimer’s and being confined to a wheelchair, her eyes searching for a past life she lost. Although González’s episodic memories had faded, the music triggered a procedural recall....
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Supplemental Essay: Diversity statement
49 Words
If there are aspects of your identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please provide that information below. (Max 50 words)
As an Vietnamese-Thai American, my appearance is clearly different than that of a boy born and raised in an Iowan white family. When I moved to Iowa from Hawaii, I never embraced my culture for fear of being outcast. 8:00-3:00 stranded me on a boat in the pacific.
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Supplemental Essay: Diversity statement
51 Words
If not captured elsewhere in your application, please share with us how you have overcome challenges in your life. (50 words or less)
As a male ballet dancer, bullying never ceased. Until sophomore year of high school, I dealt with it by hiding myself, omitting talking about what I loved. My true form finally sparked when I met other dancers and artists at Interlochen. Discussions about similar experiences bonded us together in solidarity.
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
53 Words
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? (Max 50 words)
“Life is a graph with discontinuities.”--Ms. Kullenberg, AP calculus teacher She believes life is full of jump discontinuities, even possibly starting over from zero. Or there might be a removable discontinuity, a hole of missed opportunities. We just have to push through the tough times--things might get exponentially better.
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
53 Words
What’s your favorite way to eat a potato? (Max 50 words)
I follow a strict diet, but sometimes I need to relax. Potatoes bring me to heaven, but there’s guilt associated with french fries (my favorite!). What’s the solution? Potato salad. With the ingenious linguistic framing of adding “salad” to the name, I get a trip to heaven without the guilt.
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
49 Words
You’re relaxing on a Friday night. Suddenly, your favorite song pops into your head. What is it? (Max 50 words)
“Take Five”--Dave Brubeck. This song follows a unique 5/4 rhythm, a jazzy atmosphere, and a nonchalant Ocean’s Eleven vibe. Whether I am happy or sad, an inexorable drum starts pulsing in my stomach, making its way to my shoulders and feet every time I hear this tune.
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Supplemental Essay: Issue of personal significance
209 Words
Tell us about an experience when you dealt with disagreement or conflict around different perspectives within a community. (Max 200 words)
When the pandemic forced Interlochen to close in March, I returned to a home with tension so high its altitude felt suffocating. While at school, my mom lamented over the phone how my younger sister, [Name Redacted] stopped eating with the family, slept all day, and secluded herself. Even knowing all that, I couldn't have predicted discovering the scars on [Name Redacted] arms. When I confronted her about it, she broke down almost immediately, blaming her self-harm on me for...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: Strong beliefs/principles
214 Words
Helen Keller once said, “The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker.” Whether you aspire to be a hero or an honest worker, what impact do you want to have in the Pomona community, your community back home, or any new community? (200 words or less)
Whether dancing to fundraise for disabled children in Hanoi or the Ronald McDonald House in Des Moines, I will continue to engage with communities near and far. I’d immerse myself in the Pomona arts community, joining the Turf Dinner to meet with students leading clubs of other disciplines. In addition to joining clubs like Claremont Colleges Ballet Company, I want to pursue the creation of “Ballet for Bliss,” a club that would engage with students and community members in...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
51 Words
What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (Max 50 words)
“Conservatives are racist!” “Liberals are soft!” “Coronavirus is a deep state hoax to control us!” “Only I can save you from ruin!” Society’s uneasy complexities have pushed us to search for easy solutions--ad hominems, conspiracies, strongmen. Our inability to confront a complicated and uncomfortable reality will lead to our downfall.
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Supplemental Essay: Extracurricular activity
50 Words
How did you spend your last two summers? (Max 50 words)
To grow: Russian classical ballet at the Ellison Ballet Intensive and jazz improvisation on the piano at St. Ambrose. For others: teaching kids overseas piano while instilling the value of “boring,” fundamental technical exercises in my sisters’ violin practice. For fun: science videos, everything from muscle growth to mummy preservation.
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
51 Words
What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (Max 50 words)
Former POW Pete Peterson returning to Vietnam and shaking the hands of his former captors, cementing a new period of peaceful prosperity as US and Vietnam normalized diplomatic relations, without which my mother wouldn’t have received a Fulbright scholarship, moved to America, and given my siblings and me our lives.
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Supplemental Essay: Extracurricular activity
50 Words
Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family. (Max 50 words)
When Ellison Ballet waitlisted my sister, I championed her by appealing to the director, who surprised our family with housing scholarships so we could stay together in NYC during the Summer Intensive. As the eldest, while striving to set an example, I must enable my sisters to become exemplary too.
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
48 Words
Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford. (Max 50 words)
With the Cardinal Ballet Company’s dance community at the center, exploring interdisciplinary intersections, like the effects of dance and art on mental health at Building 420, or mingling with musicians at the Braun Music Center who provide orchestral music for ballets as I inquire into their practice process.
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
259 Words
The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (Max 250 words)
Mr. [Name Redacted] was presenting on political groups run by young leaders--leaders not much older than me-- when he introduced to our class Madison Cawthorn, a young Republican who uses social media to reach young voters and impress the urgency of voting and political engagement. As the youngest member of Congress, his story captivated me. Like many young people, I’ve been told to know my place. I feared the dogmatic fury of the politically devout on both ends of...
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Supplemental Essay: Amusing anecdote
264 Words
Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate – and us – get to know you better. (Max 250 words)
Dear future roommate, Full disclosure: I might be a bit of a neat freak. So if you also enjoy channeling your inner Marie Kondo, I look forward to geeking out over our clean room! But really, my inclination to improve a space's cleanliness stems from my love of helping out. I like to think of myself as a hard worker who works even harder to help his friends and family. You can ask [Name Redacted]--one of my friends at...
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Supplemental Essay: Issue of personal significance
262 Words
Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why. (Max 250 words)
A thought that makes my skin crawl every time it creeps into my head: death. Any hour can be our last. Dancers are often extremely obsessed with their body image. Whether print or social, the media constantly reinforces dancers being super skinny. Some dancers fixate on obtaining the “ideal” ballet body. Despite decades of campaigns and cautionary films like Black Swan showing how attempting to achieve these ideals can be deadly, people persist. When I first met [Name Redacted], she...
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
314 Words
In about 250 words, tell us about something that really sparks your intellectual interest and curiosity, and compels you to explore more in the program/area of study that you indicated. It could be an idea, book, project, cultural activity, work of art, start-up, music, movie, research, innovation, question, or other pursuit. (Max 300 words)
Like a baby bird hesitating to take flight for the first time, her arms suddenly extended into the full span of swan wings when the crescendo exploded. My eyes watered as I watched this recording of Prima Ballerina Marta González (first dancer of the New York Ballet in the 60s) reliving her Swan lake choreography despite suffering from Alzheimer’s in a wheelchair, her eyes searching for a past life she had lost. The brain and how little is...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
409 Words
Founded in the spirit of exploration and discovery, Johns Hopkins University encourages students to share their perspectives, develop their interests, and pursue new experiences.

Use this space to share something you’d like the admissions committee to know about you (your interests, your background, your identity, or your community), and how it has shaped what you want to get out of your college experience at Hopkins. (300-400 words)
The way [Name Redacted] looped the same passage mesmerized me--starting slowly before increasing in speed--like the Doppler effect of an echo approaching you. I moved to the next room where I saw [Name Redacted] and became fascinated by her gestures while playing. She later explained that she was constructing a story for her piece, shifting pacing for plot twists and emphasizing silence for cliffhangers. Although most people know me as a dancer, it was while practicing with such young yet...
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
156 Words
Please explain why you wish to study in the academic areas you selected above. (Max 150 words)
Driven by interdisciplinary curiosity, I aim to explore the intersection between dance, neuroscience, and medicine. Keeping up with the journal Frontiers in Psychology and the American Dance Therapy Association, I am fascinated by dance's therapeutic potential for neurological disorders like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's and also mental health issues like depression and anxiety. To advance the efficacy of dance therapy, I will build an academic foundation in Neuroscience. While dance holds promise as therapy, many professional dancers still suffer from devastating...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
164 Words
Based upon your exploration of Rice University, what elements of the Rice experience appeal to you? (Max 150 words)
Rice’s Student Taught Courses grants me the privilege to teach ballet to peers. As I instruct “Ballet for Bliss”, I’ll find associations between dance, medicine, and neuroscience while teaching pliés, jetés, and frappés. I’d focus on creating a good mind-body balance while studying/training. The unique Honor Code system inspires a level of trust, autonomy, and responsibility between students and teachers. Meanwhile, Rice’s extensive connections with the Texas Medical Center--the largest in the...
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Supplemental Essay: Diversity statement
509 Words
Rice is lauded for creating a collaborative atmosphere that enhances the quality of life for all members of our campus community. The Residential College System and undergraduate life are heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural tradition each student brings. What life perspectives would you contribute to the Rice community? (Max 500 words)
Telling people I danced ballet in middle school became social suicide. From homophobic slurs to being teased about wearing tights, the bullying never ceased. My peers' relentless mocking gradually tainted my love of ballet until I started developing a hate for it, crying and shouting at my parents for putting me into something so “weird”. Struggling with being ostracized, I became the quiet kid. When I transferred to Interlochen, I went from trying to fit in by telling people I...
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Supplemental Essay: Extracurricular activity
156 Words
Your intellectual life may extend beyond the academic requirements of your particular school. Please use the space below to list additional intellectual activities that you have not mentioned or detailed elsewhere in your application. These could include, but are not limited to, supervised or self-directed projects not done as school work, training experiences, online courses not run by your school, or summer academic or research programs not described elsewhere. (Max 150 words)
While discussing my future plans with Mr. Ellison during the 2019 Ellison Ballet Summer Intensive, he asserted, "Dancers are artists, and artists must engage with other arts." He emphasized how ballet dancers must be curious and observant towards other disciplines to improve their own craft. “Ballet training shouldn’t consist purely of ballet,” he stressed. I've since adhered to his advice. I have deliberately attended visual art galleries for spontaneous moments of inspiration. I can’t stop leaning in to closely...
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Supplemental Essay: Extracurricular activity
154 Words
Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (Max 150 words)
[Name Redacted] was only eleven, yet she worked with the seriousness of a soldier. The way she looped the same passage mesmerized me--starting slowly before increasing in speed--like the Doppler effect of an echo approaching you. I moved to the next practice room where I saw [Name Redacted] at the piano. I was fascinated by her gestures while playing. Was she a snake charmer who hypnotized the piano? Or was she possessed by the music? She later explained that she...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
46 Words
What specific plan do you have, if any, for using the education you hope to receive? (Max 50 words)
Whether it be physical or mental healing, I aspire to work with pre-professional and professional dancers and reduce the harmful effects of training and performances through orthopaedics. I also want to advance dance as therapy for neurological disorders or develop methods for repairing tissue through research.
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
33 Words
What inspires you? (200 characters)
Sheer tenacity. As a chess fan, the beauty of The Queen’s Gambit thrilled me. The producer, Allan Scott, created nine rewrites through 30 years of ordeals before finally witnessing his work’s success.
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
35 Words
Yale’s residential colleges regularly host conversations with guests representing a wide range of experiences and accomplishments. What person, past or present, would you invite to speak? What question would you ask? (200 characters)
Pete Peterson, a Vietnam War POW who put past hatred and grudges aside to create a brighter future for Vietnam. I just wonder: How did he feel while shaking the hands of his former captors?
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
32 Words
You are teaching a Yale course. What is it called? (200 characters)
"Ballet for Bliss”--a course for all levels of experience that will teach a basic ballet class (elementary ballet movements at the barre and center) and its mental, emotional, and physical benefits.
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
36 Words
Most first-year Yale students live in suites of four to six people. What do you hope to add to your suitemates' experience? What do you hope they will add to yours? (200 characters)
Food! I love trying new cuisines, but there’s nothing like a steamy bowl of Vietnamese pho (noodle soup) to help out with finals. I hope to receive boosts of confidence, to minimize my shy tendencies.
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
130 Words
Why do these areas (academic interest) appeal to you? (up to approximately 125 words).
Through keeping up with the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Psychology and the American Dance Therapy Association, I have been inspired and fascinated by dance's therapeutic potential for mental and movement disorders like depression, anxiety, Parkinson’s, and even autism. Endeavoring to advance the efficacy of dance therapy, Neuroscience allows me to combine my academic and artistic interests and research its scientific foundations, current applications, and possible innovations. I aim to craft a more nuanced understanding of how dance therapy affects...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
132 Words
What is it about Yale that has led you to apply? (125 words or fewer)
Students like [Name Redacted]--a tenor for the a capella group, The Whiffenpoofs, who double majors in Cognitive Science and Ethnicity, Race, and Immigration. I want to ask what inspires him and his groupmates’ polymathy, and how they do it all. [Name Redacted], an alumna of the Yale School of Medicine, is also a role model. She danced ballet, jazz, and modern while in school until a hip injury ended her career. Now she uses her experience and education to...
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
256 Words
Yale’s extensive course offerings and vibrant conversations beyond the classroom encourage students to follow their developing intellectual interests wherever they lead. Tell us about your engagement with a topic or idea that excites you. Why are you drawn to it? (250 words or fewer)
Watching Interstellar launched my curiosity towards exploring the possibilities of manipulating time and space dimensions. Conversing with my dad about black holes and time travel, we dove into a rabbit hole of speculation about wormholes and relativity. Curiosity is a double-edged sword; sought-after answers may never appear. But without curiosity, especially the kind that takes courage to explore the unknown, would we ever dare to take risks that will potentially yield progress? For example, some rare diseases are never researched...
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
256 Words
Tell us about your relationship with a role model or mentor who has been influential in your life. How has their guidance been instrumental to your growth? (Max 250 words)
Considering the ideal body for ballet, mine is littered with more physical deficiencies than an experimental drug has questionable side-effects. My quads weren't developed correctly, my arms and feet too stiff. I could barely balance on one leg let alone touch my toes. So why did Mr. [Name Redacted] champion me? Was it charitable generosity? Or did he see promise underneath all my flaws? Regardless, his approval and support skyrocketed my motivation. As my growth took flight, Mr. [Name Redacted]...
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Supplemental Essay: Extracurricular activity
154 Words
Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (Max 150 words)
[Name Redacted] was only eleven, yet she worked with the seriousness of a soldier. The way she looped the same passage mesmerized me--starting slowly before increasing in speed--like the Doppler effect of an echo approaching you. I moved to the next practice room where I saw [Name Redacted] at the piano. I was fascinated by her gestures while playing. Was she a snake charmer who hypnotized the piano? Or was she possessed by the music? She later explained that she...
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Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest
266 Words
Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about an academic interest (or interests) that excites you, and how you might use the Open Curriculum to pursue it. (Max 250 words)
Like a baby bird hesitating to take flight for the first time, her arms suddenly extended into the full span of swan wings when the crescendo exploded. I teared up as I watched this recording of Prima Ballerina Marta González (dancing in the 1960s New York Ballet) reliving her Swan lake choreography despite suffering from Alzheimer’s and being confined to a wheelchair, her eyes searching for a past life she lost. The brain and how little is known...
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
261 Words
At Brown, you will learn as much from your peers outside the classroom as in academic spaces. How will you contribute to the Brown community? (Max 250 words)
Whether dancing to fundraise for disabled children in Hanoi or the Ronald Mcdonald House in Des Moines, I will continue to engage with communities near and far. Brown’s lack of a ballet-centered club or curriculum is an opportunity for me to co-teach a Community-Based Learning and Research ballet course, drawing from my comprehensive background to introduce and educate students on its many benefits. After teaching at the Ashamu Dance Studio, I aim to engage students and community members in...
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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 narrowed down my essay topics
69 Words
The goal here is to narrow down your topics to experiences, aspirations, and passions that truly represent you. For me personally,...
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My insights about AP (Advanced Placement) courses and exams
116 Words
I think there's always a question of how necessary AP exams are, and how many you should have. For me personally, my school only offered 2 AP courses (only one of which I took). So I...
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What I’d change about my application process
230 Words
I would prepare for the essays better. To be completely honest, I started writing my essays 6 days before the first deadline. My story is a little unique because I was planning to take a few gap years to dance with a professional ballet company, but Covid hit right before senior year and it made me rethink my path after high school (and the possibility of dancing/performing during a...
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My advice about getting recommenders
44 Words
I choose teachers that I had very good relationships with (which is a...
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What set me apart from other applicants
139 Words
I think I my goal was always to choose stories that made me stand out, but another important aspect is which schools you choose to apply to. I looked for universities with a strong presence of arts/ballet on campus. Ballet is...
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What I learned transitioning from high school to college
103 Words
The interviews really shouldn't be a huge stress because the most amazing interview I had was with Yale University (45 minute interview lasted almost 2 hours because we had such a good conversation),...
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High School Performance

Unweighted GPA
4.00
 
Rank
Top 1%
 
Academic Performance in High School Steady

Test Scores

Highest SAT
1550
 
SAT Score Details
 
Other SAT Scores
SAT Prep
PSAT Scores

AP / IB Classes and Scores

Details7 classes and scores

Sports

Extracurriculars

ActivitiesDance, Music: Instrumental, Nursing Home Volunteer, Animal Foster Care Provider / Animal Rescue Volunteer, Tutoring/Mentoring, Robotics, Tutoring/Mentoring, Dance, Music: Instrumental
Elaborate on Extracurriculars or Work

Experience & Awards

Volunteer Experiences
Awards Received

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