The All-State Orchestra was the chance to prove that I was one of the top high school cellists in the state. My first year, I was rather immature about practicing and thus failed to make the orchestra. Next year, however, as soon as the excerpts came out, I immediately started practicing and adhered to the rigid practice schedule I had created for myself. I vowed not to let a lack of discipline again be the cause for me not making...

When tackling this question, I first decided to research the etymology of the word “odd”. I learned that it is derived from the Old Norse word oddi, which means “third or additional number.” It was first used as an English word circa 1300 AD and meant “constituting a unit in excess of an even number.” Not until the 1850’s was the meaning “strange or weird” attached to the word “odd.” Perhaps someone has already given you this information. Only, I wondered...

I am not one of those people who already has my entire life planned out. When the inevitable question, “So, what do you want to study?” is thrown at me by a well-intending person, I have no answer for him or her. I know that he or she is expecting a quick-fire response like “Biology” or “Chemical engineering”, but I don’t have that answer in me. I want to tell them, “I want to know what the good life...

(note: in the actual essay, I had a few pictures from my favorite movies, artists, and books. I think having some color in the essay was nice. Also, this rambling "essay" still really embarrasses me so don't judge too harshly) Movies: Opera used to be the most encompassing of all the art forms: it contained story, music, philosophy, and acting. I think that nowadays, movies are our modern day operas. I love that one single great movie can represent the...

The typical UChicago student has a clear love of learning and a sort of quirkiness that might not be found in other schools. Especially in the "optional" favorites essay, let your passions be clear! Go on for awhile about how brilliant Beethoven and Eminem are and why you love The...

I only had to interview at UChicago (I missed the deadline for USC and Columbia, oops!). My interviewer pretty much asked the questions that if you search "college interview questions" will come up. It's ok not to know what you want to major in! But make sure you are still able to elaborate...

When I wrote my essays, I never tried to portray myself as something I was not. I was willing to share my insecurities and the questions I have about the world. I really do think that the essays, especially at UChicago,...

Since I didn't know what I wanted to major in, I didn't choose a school based off whether or not it had a certain major. But I did have a few basic criteria that helped me narrow my...

I only had a school counselor. But since my school is...

Arizona State University Barrett Honors College- There is nothing wrong with going to a state school. But too many kids from my school were going to the honors college and I...

It really was just between USC and UChicago in the end for me. I basically ended up choosing UChicago because the financial aid offer was so great (I actually never got a financial aid offer from USC because I had been dumb on my common...

Choose teachers who like you but also choose teachers who you know can write well. Your physics teacher might...

Make it clear that you are aware of...