How much does the moon influence your weight? What path does a boomerang take? Questions like these run through my mind like squirrels through a forest; and I take it to myself to explore them. Finding and solving real world problems make up who I am. Exploratory endeavors outside of school are staples to my education, teaching me lessons that I would not otherwise learn. One example of my many adventures started in chemistry class with a lecture about Graham's...

Pratt School of Engineering One of the undergraduate aspects at Duke which particularly appeals to me is the diversity of research at Duke. I always ask colleges, "What makes your research opportunities different than the other guys'?" Duke is unique in its extensive animal research. I love studying the diversity of wildlife and I can't imagine any other university offers quite the same experience as Duke, with attractions such as the largest lemur sanctuary outside Madagascar. Furthermore, Duke also has...

Share a Perspective Response When I want something for aiding my education, I can generally get it. Sitting on my desk is a salvaged optical disk drive that I disassembled to understand the lensing and linear actuator, two weathered computers for both researching and programming on different platforms, and a violin, Craigslist piano keyboard, and eBay guitar nearby to experiment with music. I am fortunate to have the means to complement desire and resourcefulness. Unfortunately, not everyone has the means....

Science Related Extra-Curricular Activities Accomplishments: • USA Mathematical Talent Search medal winner - 2012-13 & 2013-14 • American Invitational Mathematics Examination qualifier - score of 5 • top school scorer- 2014 • American Mathematics Competition • Top scorer in school - 2013 • Mu Alpha THeta math honor society treasurer - 2013, 2014 • Mathematical Council of Western Pennsylvania finalist - 2012, 2013, 2014 • Pennsylvania Mathematics League finalist - 2013, 2014 • American Regions Mathematics League Mathlete - 2013, 2014 • Mandelbrot Competition regional top 10 scorer - 2012, 2013 • Calcu-solve • 1st place winner - 2011, 2012; 2nd place winner - 2013, 2014 • Purple Comet Math competitor - 2012 • Regional...

I would have spent more time laying out my application and polishing my essay. The way you convey yourself is just as important if not...

Every school and every interviewer is different so you have to adjust to show them that you are the right fit. It really helps to know the school through research, visits, and...

I did NOT use a private counselor, but 2 of my interviews directly asked me if I had and when I said I didn't, they expressed very, very negative views towards the use of private college counselors. I believe the two were Brown and Dartmouth...

I had qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination but the scores didn't arrive until mid-April so when they did arrive, I sent...

The most important thing about recommenders is that they really especially like you and WANT YOU TO SUCCEED. It is important that they be good writers, but teachers who really care about your success will write glowing recommendations whereas teachers who just like you because you pay attention in class will write...