Change is my middle name. Figuratively, that is. My parents divorced when I was very young. Understandably, I couldn't choose between living with either of them. So since kindergarten, I have attended nine different schools, trading off between living with each parent every year. Yet, the largest transition in my life came when my mom remarried and moved us to Washington two days before my fifth grade graduation. I had been used to starting new schools, but this was different....

Dear Roommate, I am so excited to be spending my first year with you. I really wanted to give you a chance to get to know me better before moving in together, so I thought I would send you a quick email about myself. I absolutely love getting to know new people so be prepared for me to bombard you with questions upon our first encounter. My most important characteristics have to do with my heritage and my personality. Overall,...

My French teacher tremendously impacted my life before he unexpectedly left this world. Known for his unrelenting smile and love for cats, Mr. Gurule was someone who truly cared about the lives of his students. Although it hurts to remember him, I am so glad to have been one of his students because he continues to influence me today. I remember when I first met Mr. Gurule at the end of my freshman year because I was scared out of...

As far as recommendations go, get them from teachers who know you well and like...

To get into Harvard, my best advice is to highlight your unique qualities. Every year, Harvard gets over 30,000 applicants, and I bet that most of...