My personal statement was about how my life experiences helped craft my unique perspective that would contribute to the diversity of the university. I talked about living in a poor neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio but going to a private elementary and how that influenced my perceptions of people. I struggled with being different at my school, but I learned that many of my friends, although more affluent, had their own struggles. This really gave me understanding and empathy for others,...

One of Stanford's additional essays is to write a letter to your future roommate. I used this essay less to talk about my accomplishments and more to talk about myself as a person - my likes, dislikes, sense of humor. This was a lighthearted, fun essay to write. It really helps the reader see you as a human being.

The question was "what matters to you and why," and it was kind of hard to answer because it's so broad and they give you a low word limit.

The last question was "what excites your intellectual vitality" or something along those lines. I actually talked about television and how it influences and what we can learn from it (specifically satire like South Park and the Colbert Report).

The only school I interviewed with was Harvard University, which I was wait listed to. The interview took place very close to my home at a local nonprofit run by a Harvard...

I recommend focusing your time on local scholarships. They are usually worth less in prize money ($2000 or so), however...

I applied to four UC's, four CSU's, and 2 private...

Use any opportunities you have. It doesn't matter if your school doesn't offer as many AP classes or sports. Universities...

I am heavily involved in two student groups: The First-Generation, Low-income Partnership, which creates a resource and community for first-gen and low-income students at...

Stanford was my dream university. I loved the academic freedom students are offered. We are encouraged to explore...

I've talked to Stanford admissions people before, and the general consensus I get is that they really want students who are passionate about something, anything, and can really make that come across on paper. Of course, you want to get good grades and SAT scores, but the face is you'll be up against...

I still haven't decided exactly what I'm going to do after I graduate, but the great thing about Stanford is that it gives you the freedom to be unsure. You don't have to declare a major until the...

I didn't do much with my summers while I was in high school, but here at Stanford summer internships and research are a pretty big deal. It's kind of expected that you'll be working or researching each summer of your...

To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of Stanford's location. The nearest city is Palo Alto, which is definitely NOT a college town. It's pretty expensive, filled with small, fancy restaurants, and there...