I am from bike rides down the street. I am from the home of baseball. I am from mornings on the porch swing and an "egg with a hole in it." I am from the church across the street and the belief that God will always love you. I am from virtuosos, pounding at the piano keys. I am from intelligence too great to measure; crazy aunts and uncles deep in thought. I am from not one, but from many...

Dublin: the epitome of quaint. Each lawn is green with its friendly neighbors and suburban charm. Dublin is my home and I wouldn't change it for anything. I have been blessed enough to grow up in a city where we have the means to get a good education and learn so much about the world around us. So much, however that these things can be taken for granted. As the kids in this town, including myself, grow up, we sometimes...

For each essay I wrote, I tried to really dig down deep and consider who I am and what is important to me. Schools aren't looking for the generic "this school provides educational opportunities" or "I did this extracurricular because I like helping the needy". That could be anybody. They're looking for your personal voice. If you can't find something to discuss that isn't entirely unique, write about that, but create a different format. For example, for Notre Dame, when...

The University of Chicago provides a thriving environment of students that are diverse and engaged. People don't come here for the name, they come here to be a part of such a brilliant student body in...