Where should I sit at lunch today? At the table with Asians, or the table with Asians? This is the situation I face as I walk into my school lunchroom and feel myself blend in with the other kids who share the same ethnicity as me. My high school student body comprises sixty percent Asians, a greater ratio than that of many other New York City schools. People can spot large waves of us swim through the hallways like groups...

The teacher grabbed my artwork and slammed it down onto the classroom floor. I stood next to her, frozen in shock, not knowing what to do. Had she gone mad? My fresco lay flat on the ground, the hard plaster chipped and crumbled. She picked it up and threw it again. The regal red rooster I had painted now had a crack across its neck. Once more, she threw it. The painting I worked so hard on was falling apart...

When I started writing essays for the college process, I had no idea where and how to begin. So I bought a book of college application essays that have succeeded in the past. I read each one and browsed through all the different kinds of topics, stories, and experiences that might give me some inspiration. I noticed how much more interesting other people's essays were and how I almost lost hope that my life was too boring for me to write about....

I did not use a private admissions counselor; I mainly consulted with my guidance counselor at my high school. She made us schedule two days to meet with her regarding our college choices and what we want to...

First off, I applied to schools only in my state. I had a few that were outside my city, but the rest were inside. I ended up going to a school outside my city. I declined all the schools inside the city mainly...

I did not take out any loans. I was the first one going to college and my parents had some money saved up for me. I applied to many scholarships, mostly small ones that valued $500 or $1000. I used a free scholarship search online and chose the ones that interested me. Then, I...

Summer is the perfect time to get jobs, internships or volunteer work. If you want to do any of these, apply super early. The applications come out as early as September. Make a list of options in case something you really wanted to do doesn't work out. You don't want to be left with nothing to do during the summer. Volunteering is usually easier to find because your help could be...

Lots of factors made me choose the college I will be attending. First, the school was in a good location- close enough to come home on the weekends, but far enough that I will learn to be more independent. I really felt like I had to live on campus because I needed a change in environment. I study well if people around me are also...