An Unlikely Marriage
 I encountered the first book I ever loved when I was five years old: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. My dad read to me at night, using a gravelly voice for Hagrid, a British accent for Harry, and a soft, feathery voice for Dumbledore. I remember lying in my bed transfixed in the fictional land.
 This adoration of reading that I developed on those nights followed me into school. Whenever teachers asked my favorite subject,...

In this essay I talked about the anti-drug organization I started at my school, making it personal by discussing the effects of one of my loved one's struggle with addiction. I focused on how I do not want to see anyone else go through what my family and I did when you know someone with a drug addiction.

It can be difficult to decide the topic for your personal statement, but ultimately it has to be something true to you. My personal essay is much less about an event in my life than it is an extended metaphor about my parents and potential career paths I planned to take.

I applied to Harvard under the restrictive early action program and was deferred to regular decision. After...

I applied for a lot...

I interviewed with Harvard, Brown, and Columbia. All three were just alumni interviews and they were...

Use teachers with whom you have a personal connection. Generally, colleges require two recommendations. Avoid using...

Ultimately, Harvard was always my dream school. When I was accepted, it was kind of a no brainer for me. Not only was it where I always wanted to...