The smell of burning plastic and waste wafted through the windows around me as our bus pulled into the dump outside of Estelí, Nicaragua. The road leading into the dump was lined with litter and tin shacks. I was told that seeing extreme poverty in Nicaragua would be appalling, but I was not prepared for this. As the twenty people in my group and I exited the bus, we were met by emaciated stray dogs and dangerous mountains of garbage....

Boston University’s French courses and study abroad programs are extremely appealing to me. French and Francophone language and culture are some of my greatest passions, and I will thrive in an environment where I can be challenged and immersed in these topics. Studying abroad is something that I have dreamed of since I was little, and BU’s unique opportunities to study in France, are key factors in my decision to apply. Another amenity that draws me to BU...

I tried to be as real as I could in my essays. My main goals were to let my personality and ambitions be made clear to the colleges I applied to. I think it's really important that you don't just talk about how great you are, but how you are going forward and using your education to be an aware and productive citizen.

I would definitely...

I did not receive any...

Travel!!!!!!! Go to other countries and immerse yourself...

Being very specific about programs helps...

Boston is so diverse in so many ways,...