As you've probably heard, you need a "catch" or "it factor" to get into a top University. I can't say that's not true. Will some people get in based on intellect alone? Yes, of course, but schools don't just want brains, they want action. My biggest draw was receiving a national grant that I used for a community service project that then provided me a summer internship. But I didn't go into it thinking "this will get me into college."...

Princeton told me I was competing with thirty people for three spots. Penn...

My two best adult friends, who were my librarian and my AP English teacher wrote mine....