Tapping touch screen. Snoring. Turning page. These were the noises of your typical New York subway during rush hour. Everyone was focused on reaching their destination on time. People were too engrossed with their own lives to acknowledge each other and their environment, even the acrid smell coming from the back corner of the train. An unfortunate passenger was trying to sleep, but the woman sitting next to him made him uncomfortable with her obvious gestures of disgust. A scowl...

COLUMBIA- Please tell us what you find most appealing about Columbia and why. (300 words or less) Searching for invisible matter in the universe. Studying the genetics and evolution of social communication using the South African clawed frog. Using deep-sea sediments to study the climate history of the last ice age. These are all the research projects I thought were out of my reach, but Columbia gives me the opportunity to hone my intellect and create new knowledge as it gave...

COLUMBIA - What single activity listed in the activity section of your Common Application are you most proud of and why? (150 words or less) I watched the Caenorhabditis elegan with a tumor-looking bump running along his side struggle to move. It had a mutation, bli-1, causing the organism to develop a blister on its epidermis. As alien looking as this worm seemed, it held the key to unlocking the mysteries of the human body. It carried the same chemical makeup,...

COLUMBIA- For applicants to Columbia College, please tell us what from your current and past experiences (either academic or personal) attracts you specifically to the field or fields of study that you noted in the Member Questions section. If you are currently undecided, please write about any field or fields in which you may have an interest at this time. (300 words or less) “What happened to Buggles?” I cried. In the midst of our crowded apartment sat a tank of...

CORNELL - How have your interests and related experiences influenced the major you have selected in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences? (Please limit your response to 650 words.) “Sakila! You’re going to miss your stop!” my sister yelled. A ladybug had gotten trapped in the back of our yellow bus, a rare occurrence. I stared at it curiously, anticipating its next movement. I was so engrossed in the bug that I had missed my stop. Growing up in...

CORNELL- Describe two or three of your current intellectual interests and why they are exciting to you. Why will Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences be the right environment in which to pursue your interests? (Please limit your response to 650 words.) I watched in amazement as the doctor diagnosed the village boy with malaria with a 50 cent paper microscope. This was a foldascope, a cheap, yet functional microscope designed to diagnose a variety of diseases. It was in the NYU...

MACAULAY HONORS- Tell us about a time in your life where you had to overcome an obstacle. What did you learn? (MAX: 500 words) Every child has a set of rules to follow, but as a Muslim girl, mine were different. Can I join Muslim Student Association? You should not. Can I represent Muslim Alliance of New York in the Muslim Day Parade? No. Can I go to the protest for Palestine? Definitely not. I was forbidden to express and share...

MACAULAY HONORS- From what frequent activity do you derive your greatest joy? Why is this activity meaningful to you, and how does it shape your perspective on life? (MAX: 500 words) I have been a teacher since the age of six. I was an expert at using my pretend dry erase board and was even better at drawing red check marks and X’s on scrap pieces of papers. But my greatest joy came from the art of explaining. Since my...

BROOKLYN COLLEGE B.A.M.D - Write your personal essay: - What characteristics and capabilities do you have that would contribute to making you a doctor who is concerned with caring for patients as well as with curing them? - What have you learned from some of the extracurricular activities that you listed above or from other experiences about the role, career, and life of a doctor? How have your experiences influenced your decision to pursue a medical career? ...

BRYN MAWR- The Bryn Mawr Honor Code and Self-Government Association affirm the importance of our academic and social communities. In what ways do you see yourself contributing to the Bryn Mawr community and how will these experiences shape your time at the College? “Your dreams speak too loudly,” my mother would say. As a Bengali Muslim girl, I had standards to meet: a soft-spoken, static, obedient girl who would grow up into a quiet, family-oriented woman. I tried to fit...

The hunt for looking for recommenders should begin towards the end of your junior. It is best to secure at least two good recommenders by the end of this year. Make sure to check with your college or program early to see if they require subject specific teachers. Otherwise, it is best to have one recommender from the humanities and another from the STEM field, showing that you are a well rounded student. Throughout your high school, make sure you get to...

Make sure you do something interesting and to your liking almost every summer --not just to build your resume, but to give you something to talk about. Colleges that require so many supplements, may have a supplement asking for an extracurricular or an experience. Here, you can mention these summer experiences and mention specific and memorable moments. Some of my best supplements were about my time working in a lab that I was connected to through my counselors at STEP (Science Technology...

I was offered an interview for the Brooklyn College BAMD program and Columbia University. Make sure you prepare for your interview beforehand. (DO YOUR RESEARCH) Common questions: Why do you want to go to the university or program? Show that you've done some real research and that you really love this school. Even if it is not your first choice, act as though it is. Interviewees never ask for the other colleges you apply too, so act as...

I had the luxury of getting full tuition to my university. Some universities have a No-Loan policy for students coming from families with low incomes, such as Columbia University. For low income students who are worried about applying to presitigious out-of-state colleges because they fear not being able to afford dorming, there...

I would definitely not procrastinate my application process. Perhaps, start drafting some of my supplements during the summer, rather than doing nearly everything during my winter break. I also wished I applied to more schools. The majority of...