(I began my essay with the story of my encounter with a black homeless man while volunteering at a soup kitchen) ...Serving at the soup kitchen on Saturdays over the last three years exposed me to the pitiable quality of life for so many black individuals in downtown ghettos. While my socioeconomic status deprives me of some of the luxuries enjoyed by my peers, volunteering with those whose struggles are more severe than mine heightens my sense of gratitude. When...

I never paid for an outside counselor during my application process. I personally thought that their exorbitant cost outweighed their usefulness. For others...

I interviewed at only two schools, the two Ivy Leagues that I applied to. One interview was held in the cafe of a local Barnes and Noble bookstore. It lasted about 40 minutes and felt very informal but informative. My interviewer was an older white man who went to the school before it...

At the end of the process, my choice came down to Harvard and Princeton. I chose to attend both of their admitted student weekends (Princeton's was only one day) to choose. Because I...