A Hamburger Fresh and Fine and Mine While sorting through a box of old letters, I came across a Christmas card my grandfather gave me last year. As I read his messy scrawl, tears welled up in my eyes. “He’s really gone,” I thought. I suddenly realized I would never receive another special note from him. As I stared at his little doodle of a Christmas tree, I reflected on the tremendous impact my beloved granddad had on me....

When people ask if I have any siblings, I always respond, “Yes, I have a dog!” Until recently, I never realized the extent that being a dog lover defined me. My puppy Cassidy is my fourth golden retriever; in her mind she owns me. I see golden retriever traits in myself. Like Cassidy, I am smart, approachable, loving, spontaneous, athletic and outdoorsy. I like to believe I’m decently intelligent. I’ve always loved learning something new, blurting out a �...

Global warming, climate change and pollution are huge issues facing the United States and the international community. The ramifications are only increasing as developing nations such as India, China and Mexico strive to compete in the global economy. As previously undeveloped nations further industrialize, their demand for raw materials and output of pollutants markedly increases. This growing demand for products in newly industrialized nations results in a significant increase in factories. However, the governments of these nations have not enacted...

My waterskis skimmed the glassy surface of Lake Arrowhead. As frothy, white water splashed around me, I gazed out onto the pine trees that surround the alpine lake. I love it here. It’s my place to get away from the commitments and pressures I have at home and take time to enjoy nature and the people I love. I have spent the same week at “Bruin Woods” every summer since I was five years old. We see the same...

Start thinking about who you want to write your letters of recommendations early. It's best to use teachers from different...

Choosing a school was incredibly difficult for me. I ended up selecting Penn based on a combination of factors like:...