kingcooper
kingcooper,
Georgetown
B.A., Mathematics
Pre-med Math major at Georgetown University
FREE PROFILE
Features Included
11
Essays
10
Schools
7
Scores
28
Advice
3
ECs
3
Sports

Background

Hometown Hong Kong, Hong Kong
GenderFemale
EthnicityAsian
AdmissionRegular Decision
Class of2014
First Gen College StudentNo
English First Language No
Other Language(s) Spoken English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese

Results, Essays, and Advice

Accepted
Waitlisted or Withdrew
Denied
  • Georgetown University (Washington, DC)
  • Yale University (New Haven, CT)
  • George Washington University (Washington, DC)
  • Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)
  • Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
  • Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)
  • Occidental College (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
  • Columbia University (New York, NY)
  • Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA)
Tap/click a school logo above to view essays and advice specific to that school.

Georgetown University (Washington, DC)

Applied for a B.A. in Mathematics

Accepted and Enrolled Legacy: Sibling

School Specific Essays

Personal Statement
773 Words
Childhood memory, Family background
I never knew pain so palpable. The shock, the hurt, the abandonment was bone-chiseling. The man who has been there for all my ups and my downs had just walked away. I was jettisoned. I was thirteen.
My father had been everything to me. He introduced me to the world of literature, kindled my passion for soccer, and encouraged me to chase my dreams. He was my inspiration, my fountain of energy. When he walked out on my mother and me, I was facing an emotional abyss.
I did not know I had it inside me. The internal struggle was long and hard. However, self preservation eventually triumphed over self pity. Insights and lessons gained in history and literature have also brought me solace.
History and history lessons always make me think and think hard. Ms. Fearns’ discourse on Cultural Revolution was particularly moving that one afternoon. As I tried hard to grapple with the political-ideological issues and at the same time imagine the pains of betrayal, abandonment and cruelty inflicted by friends, brothers, sisters, children, wives and husbands, I realized my personal travails were paltry in comparison. Shouldering the suffering of others assuaged mine.
A little salt in life went a long way to help me savor great works of prose differently. Great works of words are not just great plays on words but great lessons on life. Jane Austen taught me that there are always choices if we have courage, and not hating my dad takes courage. Jeffrey Archer mocked me with his red herrings when I was too quick to judge his characters. It is simply too easy to overlook the better side of people when you know of their flaws. I learned to appreciate the kinder side of my father, which takes even greater kindness on my part. Eileen Chang made me see that the worst happenings in life are never just fate but consequences of the choices we make. My dad made one about his family. I made a better one about him.
As misfortune would not have it, I have the good fortune to have my mom as my mom. She had been always a mere star next to a supernova. When the brightest of the bright burn out, she was still my sole provider of warmth and light. She taught me how to forgive and love in spite of the greater pains and sufferings she had to endure. It is ironic and not without shame that I have only discovered her real worth, steadfast strength, genuine kindness and inner beauty only after such an ordeal. Without her boundless love and gentle guiding hands, I would not have survived this trail.
Adversity also taught me a lot of empathy and a little leadership. It had a wonderful way of making me focus on more constructive endeavors. My academic achievement gained me both self esteem and semblance of security. My sports taught me that if I show respect and considerations for the feelings of others, I will gain trust and friendship over time. It is never the calculus of power and benefits that cement a team; it is mutual respect and emotive bonds. Leadership is about showing support for your teammates not only when they are doing well, but also when they are not. Changing performance instead of performer is sometimes more effective in building a better team in the long run. With five minutes to go and both sides exhausted, morale and motivation can perform miracles. These miracles made me realize that my father will always be part of my team. Just as my fallible basketball teammates deserve support, my father does too.
It gradually dawned on me that love and forgiveness are our only salvation. We can all be unkind, inconsiderate and myopic at times. We can all be confused, greedy and selfish. We are all fallible and imperfect and so very human. The world would be a very cold place if we could not forgive and be forgiven. It is heartwarming to see how so many of the victims of the Cultural Revolution forgave those who victimized them. And it is always the hardest to deal with those closest.
Today, I converse with my father about the history of China, the works of our favorite authors, and the progress of Manchester United. But I reserve my most intimate thoughts and feelings with my mom. I have to thank my father for inspiring me intellectually and artistically. And I have to thank my mom for making me a better person. Perhaps my father too, for making me stronger.
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
483 Words
For Georgetown:

I believe most of us are born anthropologists and naturalists. Nothing comes more naturally to children than observing, probing and provoking adults or centipedes. As I have lost none of my childhood fascinations, my early antics have blossomed into passions for social and natural sciences. And Anthropology makes combing these interests into something tangible and tantalizing.

Childhood travels offered me the opportunities to appreciate the unique charms and idiosyncrasies of many cultures, but I want to probe deeper. Seeing how the Japanese would bow instead of kiss twice on the cheeks like the French do to bid farewell whetted my inquisitiveness. I want to know how cultures, traditions and rituals develop. Why is ancestral worship so dominant in Chinese culture and so rare in the west? Why is patriarchy the dominant social form while some of the advanced economies seem to be drifting back towards matriarchy? Will globalization completely homogenize traditional cultures? An education at Georgetown can provide me many of the answers. Though Anthropology is my predilection, East Asian studies, Economics, and World History will also help me gain the breadth and height that is essential to obtain genuine insights.

If I am fascinated by the past, I am equally troubled by our future. As I am alarmed by the downsides of unfettered technological changes, I am even more enthused about the upsides of judicious scientific progress. I am an ardent student of the sciences, who is mesmerized by the beauty of number theories and the mystery of special relativity. I admire the dedication, imagination and creativity involved in the discovery process. These are the things I want to experience myself by taking advantage of Georgetown’s curriculum and inspiring environment.

Even though Anthropology is something I know I want to pursue, there is still so much more I want to learn. Georgetown College’s liberal arts curriculum gives me that opportunity and the freedom to explore. More importantly, Georgetown’s political proclivity and physical proximity to Washington DC make lectures and seminar by world leaders on campus frequent events. It is one thing to read books and yet another to rub elbows and be inspired by seasoned leaders likes the Clintons, Michael Bloomberg and President Obama.

While the curriculum provides insights into the past, the eminent speakers offer insights into current affairs and future trends. With technologies and economic changes galloping forward in unprecedented rates, our cultures and societies will see wholesale transformations. Could cultural evolution keep pace? Would this historical change be the cultural equivalent of the globalized financial crisis? To me, these are Anthropology as much as they are International Affairs. Georgetown is the school that offers me the breadth and depth, the knowledge and inspiration I need to tackle the challenges and opportunities offered by the future. These are the reasons I want to attend Georgetown.
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
428 Words
For Georgetown:

I love the environment but unfortunately, failed efforts in the past and private interests have led to the Copenhagen Climate Conference being the last chance for policy makers to cooperate and save our planet from the depths of no return.

I believe in living responsibly, especially to protect and sustain this beautiful world we live in. However, alone there will be no great impact. So, I joined the Green Group at my high school that carried the same beliefs. Skepticism about the effectiveness of our efforts diminished neither my enthusiasm nor my belief in the mission of the group. Instead, it motivated me even more in my work and contribution and eventually, I became the Co-Chairman. Our work may not have been much in the eyes of those who were apathetic, but we believe any impact is still impact that will bring us a step forward in fulfilling our mission. With that in mind, the group attended the International Environmental Conference held at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

The keynote speakers gave some fascinating insights about environmental protection in their respective fields of work. Politicians, businessmen, and environmental enthusiasts were met with dubiety about the reality of their proposed work by the students of the conference. The little insights they provided were not enough for the eager minds that filled the room.

For me, however, the highlight of the conference is realizing the most important environmental concern in different parts of the world. The forest fires in Singapore, the drought in Australia, the sustainable development in England, and the air pollution in Hong Kong were few that were addressed by the respective high schools. They discussed the issues of their own home country, suggested possible solutions and showed us their own efforts. It really was awe-inspiring to see so many young zealot and intellectual minds at work together.
I came back from the conference even more enthusiastic than I was before. The research and the strategies that international participants presented were valuable assets that helped improve and expand the work I did. More importantly, despite the inadequate progress made by world leaders, the conference showed me other fellow young enthusiastic environmentalists, like me, that have not given up on the world yet. Georgetown offers me the wide range of extracurricular activities and a unique location that allows me to act with passion. Eco-action on the campus, internships at NGOs in the city – I have all the opportunities at Georgetown to enforce what I believe in.
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Supplemental Essay: Strong beliefs/principles
451 Words
For Georgetown:

I love sports and I played varsity Basketball and Netball. I am enthused about helping the disadvantaged and I was VP of Interact Club. I am fascinated about entrepreneurship and I was elected as the CEO of the Junior Achievement startup company. If I have any talent, it would be my passion. I am passionate about playing sports, effecting positive changes around me and creative problem solving in the real-world.
Passion gives me eloquence and power of persuasion as a change-maker and visionary. Observation told me that browbeating people into submission about their un-environmental habits makes few converts. Getting people enthused by my vision of a “Fragrant Harbor” (the original meaning of Hong Kong) is more effective in winning hearts and minds. Therefore, as the co-chairman of Dream Green Team, the environmental group in my school, I opt to convince than to coerce. To keep enthusing others, I also have to keep enthusing myself and not let the skepticism of others dampen my ardor.

My passion also makes me a natural leader. My fervidness about basketball makes me a ubiquitous cheerleader in good times or bad. Enthusiasm drove me to lead by example, and that’s what I did. Those of my class watched me grow as a character and those younger watched me grow as a player. Through pain and sweat, I became captain, and many now aim to do the same. As the captain, I lead by persuasion and inspire by vision. My game is all about building and investing trust in the skills we have acquired in the plays we develop as a team. There can be no team spirit without passion.
Passion also got me through the tough challenges of running a venture business. My enthusiasm and can-do spirit got me elected as the CEO of the Junior Achievement startup company in my school. My fervid depiction of my vision for the company fired up everyone’s imagination and their urge to come up with innovative ideas. My fierce devotion to my team mates fanned up everyone’s sense of ownership and their willingness to work long and hard hours. However, my fervor did not take the pain out of making tough decisions and delivering unpalatable truth. My mission is to fuse creativity with consistency, and fervor with discipline.

It would be unfortunate to have the talent but not the passion. I would be equally disastrous to have the passion but not the talent. But it is hard to tell if one has the talent without trying. With enthusiasm, small talent may be wrought large and large talent wrought larger.
I have a passion for passion.
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
380 Words
For GWU:

Similar to other outstanding institutions, George Washington has a diverse student body, great facilities, renowned professors and a unique location. However, for me the defining difference that separates GWU from the rest is its two amazing campuses.

Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon makes George Washington’s location even more unique that it already is. Instead of feeling the constant hectic, you can always dodge the traffic and find a peace of mind. If you’re feeling daring, you can always be adventurous in the cultural city of DC. Students at GWU can have the best of both worlds.

The hustle and bustle of the city can be a distraction, but not for those at George Washington I have come across. With Foggy Bottom as the main campus, students are provided with the likes of a more urban neighborhood. The easy access to libraries and museums provides solid ground for doing research and makes fertile soil for finding inspirations. Abundance of cultural attractions in the city also offers student good complements to the rigor of academic life. As a history buff and an enthusiast for science, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Space and Air Museum, and especially, the Smithsonian will be a godsend.
The rapid pace of the city and an urban neighborhood are highlights for most, but even the most energetic needs occasional salubrious breaks. Mount Vernon, located less than 3 miles away, has a more tight-knit community that gives students a sense of belonging. Even with a relatively large student body, you’ll never feel foreign or alone. It is refreshing to have a change of pace and scenery from city buildings to wooded acres with a short walk. Besides the serene environment, the catering services, the rentals, and the sports that Mount Vernon hosts and embodies make it a place I can call home.
Whether it is Foggy Bottom, or Mount Vernon, the students at GWU will still be able to enjoy the balance of a rich academic life and a vibrant social life in the heart of Washington, DC. I want such a balanced life. I want to be a well rounded student. There is no better suited school for me than George Washington University.
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
546 Words
For Johns Hopkins:

Is it necessary to know someone’s past, in order to truly understand the person he or she is today?

For an impressionable young oriental, steeped in Chinese classics, and schooled in the occidental literatures, Dr. Temperance Brennan, the fictional character created by Kathy Reichs in Bare Bones, is most impressive in her ability to solve the most elaborate crimes in employing acute observation and forensic anthropology. Her unique ability to extrapolate future behavior from the past patterns is simply awesome. I never thought one can derive so much from someone’s ethnicity and cultural background. After witnessing Dr Brennan’s amazing feats of sifting through individual quirks and idiosyncrasies to zero in on the culprits, I became a steadfast fan and convert. Forensic anthropology became my calling.

I believe most of us are born anthropologists and naturalists. Nothing comes more naturally to children than observing, probing and provoking adults or centipedes. As I have lost none of my childhood fascinations, my early antics have blossomed into passions for social and natural sciences. And Reich’s captivating words make combing both of my interests into something tangible and tantalizing.

Good fortune and fortuity have exposed me to varied cultures with all their unique charms and idiosyncrasies. Seeing how the Japanese would bow instead of kiss twice on the cheeks like the French do to bid farewell whetted my inquisitiveness. I want to probe deeper. I want to know how cultures, traditions and rituals develop. Why is ancestral worship so dominant in Chinese culture and so rare in the west? Why is patriarchy the dominant social form while some of the advanced economies seem to be drifting back towards matriarchy? Will globalization completely homogenize traditional cultures?

If I am fascinated by the past, I am equally troubled by our future. With technologies and economic changes galloping forward in unprecedented rates, our cultures and societies will see wholesale transformations. Could cultural evolution keep pace? Would the majority of us attain some resemblance of “happiness” or “contentment”? Would this historical change be the cultural equivalent of the globalized financial crisis we almost did not survive?

But don’t take me for a Luddite. If I am alarmed by the downsides of unfettered technological changes, I am even more enthused about the upsides of judicious scientific progress. I am an ardent student of sciences, mesmerized by the beauty of number theories and the mystery of special relativity. I admire the dedication, imagination and creativity involved in the discovery process. I just don’t want to be a technocrat. Technocrats of this world may bring science and technology to a new level, but with anthropology, my passion for science can be used to serve mankind, benefiting the world instead of ruining it, because of blind scientific ambition.
The past helps the present and will tell the future. Anthropology embodies the three time periods and combs my passions into one. And that’s why I want to study it.
And yes, it is necessary to know someone’s past to know who he or she is today. But it is far more important to know who he or she wants to be in the future.
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
450 Words
For Northwestern:

There are a lot of similarities among great universities, such as having great facilities, renowned professors, and a diverse student body. However, for me, the defining difference is how much professors care for the students – a quality that Northwestern embodies.

While lectures are informative, private discourses with the professors can be even more inspiring. Probing and impromptu questions always throw more light on the original thought process and creative thinking behind the facts. Shorter idea proposition-correction cycles would also enliven the creative process that would beget still better ideas. Knowledge is critical but it’s no substitute for creative thinking. This is the reason I value accessibility to professors in Northwestern so highly.
I had the good fortune to come across teachers that truly cared for the well being of their students in and out of school. Their mentoring imparts in me not just knowledge but also methods, changes not only my analytics but also my vista. When I heard that how many of Northwestern professors really care for the students, I know I have found the right school for myself. Without genuine trust and solid bond between teachers and students, there can be no candid critique and constructive criticism to prepare us for the harsh reality of the outside world. I believe that the inspiring pedagogy of Northwestern’s professors and the unique way Northwestern chooses its students would create such a closely-knit community that will go a long way towards polishing my intellect and realizing my potential.

Northwestern proximity to myriad of museums and libraries also provides solid ground for doing research and makes fertile soil for finding inspirations. Abundance of cultural attractions in the city offers student a good complements to the rigor of academic life. As an art enthusiast who loves textiles, sculptures, and paintings, Art Institute of Chicago, with its world class collections, will be a godsend.

Northwestern’s Quarter System can be tough on the mind and the body. However, it is exactly that that allows students time to explore various courses, and yet still participate in internships and student groups the university has to offer. SEED is one that I am excited about as I was the Co-Chairman of the only active Green Group in my current high school that held events that were similar to those of SEED. Skepticism about the effectiveness of our efforts diminished neither my enthusiasm, nor my beliefs in our mission, as I now want to be part of a unique group like SEED.

Whether it is the curriculum and the student groups, or the location and the community, Northwestern is the school for me.
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Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
324 Words
For Occidental:

Similar to other outstanding small liberal arts colleges, Occidental has a diverse student body, great facilities, and renowned professors. However, for me the defining difference that separates Oxy from the rest is its unique location in the heart of LA.

As a small liberal arts college, Oxy has a tight-knit community that values close relationships between professors and students. Lectures in bigger institutions are informative, but private discourses with the professors can be even more inspiring. Probing and impromptu questions always throw more light on the original thought process and creative thinking behind the facts. Shorter idea proposition-correction cycles would also enliven the creative process that would beget still better ideas. Knowledge is critical but it’s no substitute for creative thinking.

Occidental’s proximity to both Pasadena and Los Angeles is what makes this small liberal arts college stand out. Instead of feeling secluded, there are a myriad of museums and libraries that provide solid ground for doing research and makes fertile soil for finding inspirations. Abundance of cultural attractions in the city offers student a good complement to the rigor of academic life. As a fanatic reader, initiative learner and a fan of the arts, the Huntington Library, the Norton Simon Museum and the new Disney Hall will be godsends.

In addition to the Core Program that puts great emphasis on a true liberal arts education, something even more unique about Occidental is its undergraduate research that I wish I could be a part of. As an ardent student of the sciences, this can pave way for me to experience the dedication, imagination and the creativity involved in the process of scientific discovery. To be able to help, participate and finally present at the Southern California Conference would be my fortune.
Whether it is the curriculum and the research, or the location and the community, Occidental is the school for me.
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
343 Words
While we realize your interests may change in college, what are your current academic or intellectual curiosities? (For Occidental)

I believe most of us are born anthropologists and naturalists. Nothing comes more naturally to children than observing, probing and provoking adults or worms. As I have lost none of my childhood fascinations, my early antics have blossomed into passions for social and natural sciences. Anthropology makes combing my interests into something tangible and tantalizing.

Good fortune and fortuity have exposed me to varied cultures with unique idiosyncrasies. Seeing how the Japanese would bow instead of kiss twice on the cheeks like the French do to bid farewell whetted my curiosity. I want to probe deeper. I want to know how cultures and traditions develop. Being in a traditional Chinese family, I follow conventional rituals every festival and live by the Chinese values indubitably, but now I find myself asking the simplest, yet most fundamental question: Why? Why did Chinese conform to the cultural beauty of foot-binding? Why did men once have long braids? Why do married couples have to give out red packets? Why?
If I am fascinated by the past, I am equally troubled by our future. With technologies and economic changes galloping forward in unprecedented rates, our cultures and societies will see drastic transformations. Could cultural evolution really keep pace?

I am alarmed by the downsides of unfettered technological changes, but I am even more enthused about the upsides of judicious scientific progress. I am an ardent student of sciences, mesmerized by the beauty of number theories and the mystery of special relativity. I admire the dedication and imagination involved in the discovery process, but I don’t want to be a technocrat. Technocrats of this world may bring science and technology to a new level, but with anthropology, my passion for science can be used to serve mankind, benefiting the world instead of ruining it, because of blind scientific ambition.
Anthropology embodies the past, present, future and combs my passions into one.
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Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school
500 Words
Something Interesting about you: (For Yale)

Leadership isn’t just about being on top and having all the power and authority over a particular group, or party; it is about teamwork.

For over a period of 18 weeks, I was elected to be the CEO of a simulated company in our school for the Junior Achievement Company Program. I was proud to have earned such a position, but I was soon to learn the hard way that being on top is not as glorious as it sounds.

Every week for 2 hours I stood before a group of 22 high school students, all with individual minds of their own, waiting to contribute their ideas and thoughts to the development of this company. I felt I needed to listen to everyone’s opinions to be a good leader, but instead it made everything worse. Listening to one, I had to listen to another. I wanted to be fair.

Before long, inner conflicts began to rise and problems of the company surfaced. Such a rigorous activity like Junior Achievement needed dedicated commitment and like any other company, ours needed better communication. The process of self-improvement is easier said than done, but as the leader I had to set an example. Being CEO meant more than just overlooking the progress of each department, I had to keep everyone motivated and instill hope and creativity in the hearts of all the members, even during the hardest times.

It is no doubt that many of my friends were also part of the company; however, these personal relationships cannot get in the way. To be respected, I had to be worthy of it. Positions had to be earned through hard work, just like in the real world. This also included gossips and rumors that were ubiquitous about my performance as a CEO, my executive decisions and overall progress of this entrepreneurial business. At the beginning, these false claims got to me, and sometimes I felt betrayed, but I’ve been through that before; I had to keep standing even when members walk out on me. Instead of confrontation, I simply did better. I didn’t dismiss any of these gossips or rumors, because their existence reflected the feelings of many in the company. They were inevitable; everyone do things differently.
We all know everyone shares different opinions, but in this world, it isn’t always a democracy. Listening, as I previously thought, may be vital, but at times executive decisions were a more practical solution. I had learned to balance the ideas and opinions contributed by the company with the power I possessed. Family and friends are still fascinated by the position I had once held, vicariously living the excitement of the power. I agree. It was an experience of a lifetime, but not because of the power. The power did not teach me how to listen to others, or keep the company motivated; it was the teamwork.
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School Specific Advice

Additional material sent in after waitlisted or deferred
163 Words
I was deferred from Yale for Early Action. I submitted a letter expressing my continued interest in January when the Regular Decision applications were due. I had also just ranked #1 in my school for the American Math Contest, which gave me something to talk about, raising my academic ability. I can't tell you whether or not it made a difference, but I was still deferred from Regular Decision. I think it's important to re-affirm your interest with the school you applied to, and to keep showing that you're still growing as a person - academically and personally even though it's your senior year.

In the letter, don't forget the little things! Make sure you have your full name, the Common App ID or the School's application ID attached. It makes it SO much easier for them to find your materials, so at the very least, they have a better chance of filing the additional material you sent in with the rest!
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Most popular extracurricular activities at my college
108 Words
This is hard to say, because it's different for everybody. However, the biggest student organization on campus is The Corp. It is also the largest student-run organization in the nation! The Corp has a a few components to it - 2 coffee shops, 2 convenience stores, catering service, shuttle service and a philathropic committee. I'm pretty sure everyone at Gerogetown has at least applied to The Corp once, so it is extremely competitive. To this day, I have no idea what they really look for because their application questions are really random, so it's mostly about your personality and whether you would be compatible with the rest of the organization!
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My favorite course thus far, and why
119 Words
Introduction to Cryptography - The way I explained it to my mom is you're using math to do what Indiana Jones did. The math department at Georgetown is really small, so there's no distinction between Applied and Pure Maths. I was desperate to get into this class because I love applied maths and didn't care that it was an 8:30AM class MWF. We did so many different types of projects and basically we were just cracking codes every class and during exams! It is such a thrill to get it done, but of course extremely frustrating when you don't get it right. Professor Hans taught the class, and he's still by far one of my favorite professors at Georgetown!
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5 adjectives that describe a typical student at my school (Feel free to elaborate!)
5 Words
Political, Creative, Hardworking, Intelligent, Kind
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What I now know about my school that I never would have known prior to enrolling
92 Words
How truly awesome it is to have a sports team to support at your school. Personally, I've always been a sports fanatic, but honestly, having school spirit changes a lot of things. You get to know a lot of people through it, you have more in common with people.

I've mad new friends camping outside of Verizon Center in freezing temperatures just to get a good seat at the Georgetown-Syracuse game.

Even if you weren't much of a sports fan, it's great to be part of that camaraderie!
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What I like about my school’s location and culture
96 Words
I LOVE WASHINGTON, DC. Not only is it a great college town, I would move there permanently in a heart beat. It is the perfect combination of what I love. It is quiet when I want it to be, but as the Capital of the US, it also has the hustle & bustle that you want from a city.

There are so many things to explore. There are constantly new people to meet from all over the world. That's what you get for being in the same city as the IMF and the World Bank!
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How to increase chances at my school
79 Words
I don't actually know there's anything specific that you can do that will guarantee your acceptance. If you're a good student with good grades, the rest is just about being you.

Georgetown is well known for accepting a particular "kind" of student. You may get into all Ivy's but you might not get into Georgetown. So, let yourself shine and choose to apply to Georgetown because you believe you're the right fit and you'll do just fine!
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What might make for a good “Why Us” essay topic at my school
125 Words
Regardless of which college you're applying to within Georgetown, it's important to show that you at least have some sort of interest in politics and current affairs. It is a really important part of Georgetown's community. Georgetown brings in a lot of speakers because of how interested our students are. Both Clintons have been to Georgetown during the 4 years I was there. President Obama was also there to give a speech, so make sure you hint at it!

A part from that I would say really emphasize on what being part of the Jesuit community would mean to you even though you're not religious. I'm not, but I very much appreciated the Jesuit teachings and having Theology as one of the required courses.
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My extracurricular activities in college, and why I chose them
96 Words
I was part of the student-run EMS organization on campus. It's called Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service, or better known as GERMS! We are about 120 active members, all of us are EMT-B certified! It was probably one of the best decisions I made. I was a pre-med student, but majority of the organization aren't pre-med students and we all have very diverse academic backgrounds. The thing we have in common is how much we love helping people, the adrenaline of being out on a call and the teamwork that is part of being on a crew.
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More Essays

These essays haven't been tagged by school. Click school logos above to see tagged essays.

Additional Essay Details
131 Words
I knew exactly what I wanted to write about by the time I needed to work on my common app. It was the moment that changed my life and my outlook on life. Personally, it was a good way for me to really reflect on how the event changed me as a person. Not going to lie, the story first sounded really morbid. That's where you really need to figure out where that fine line is: what's showing personal growth and what's just too personal/TMI. Talking about a difficult time and how you came out of it is great, but don't focus too much on the downside of it. You need to be able to show the hope, the passion, the compassion that you have. Or at least try to!
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General Admissions Advice

Additional material sent in after waitlisted or deferred
163 Words
I was deferred from Yale for Early Action. I submitted a letter expressing my continued interest in January when the Regular Decision applications were due. I had also just ranked #1 in my school for the American Math Contest, which gave me something to talk about, raising my academic ability. I can't tell you whether or not it made a difference, but I was still deferred from Regular Decision. I think it's important to re-affirm your interest with the school you applied to, and to keep showing that you're still growing as a person - academically and personally even though it's your senior year.

In the letter, don't forget the little things! Make sure you have your full name, the Common App ID or the School's application ID attached. It makes it SO much easier for them to find your materials, so at the very least, they have a better chance of filing the additional material you sent in with the rest!
Read more...
List of schools I interviewed with and my interview experience
226 Words
I interviewed with most of the schools that I applied to, and for most of them, I would say the interviewer really told me what kind of school it was and whether or not it would be a right fit for me. Yale has always been my first choice, but after interviewing with them, I lost a significant amount of interest. I graduated top of my class and have always been active with basically every type of extracurricular, so I am not inadequate by any means, but I must also admit that I know that I am not the best. However, the interviewer I had for Yale had already made her mind up before I said anything. She was super condescending the entire time and didn't seem like she wanted to be there. In comparison, the interviewers I met for Vanderbilt, WUSTL, Georgetown, and GW were all extremely nice. The difference was they were all excited about the school that they went to. As much as this interview is for them to get to know more about you, it is also for you, as an applicant, to get to know the school, the type of people that went there, and to get you excited to want to go there. So, go to your interviews prepared, knowing what kind of school it is, and just be yourself.
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How I chose schools to apply to
172 Words
I took a college tour Junior Fall in high school. I visited Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Swarthmore, Amherst, Brown, and Harvard. College tour is a MUST. If you have the time and the ability to do it, I highly suggest it. You can do as much research on the internet as you want but going to the school allows you to get a real sense of what it feels like to go to the school.

For me, the trip taught me that I wanted a mid-size school. I wanted it to have a campus but still be in or near a city. I grew up in Hong Kong, so I've always been a city girl! On my way to Amherst, I already knew that there was no way I would be applying, because the drive from Boston was 2-3 hours long. As much as I loved the green scenery, I knew I couldn't stare at that 3 months at a time, especially since I don't know how to drive. ( I still don't)
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What I’d change about my application process
123 Words
I would choose to apply to schools I want to go to. I applied to 10 schools and as decisions start to roll out, it was obvious which ones I really cared about. All I wanted to know is whether or not I've been accepted to Yale or Georgetown. To this day, I have no idea whether or not I got accepted to Columbia, because I never checked. I didn't care, and I still don't. All of it is because I knew I didn't want to have such a strict and intense curriculum that Columbia offers.

So, choose wisely! You should really care about all the schools you apply to. If you don't, they will know and you won't get in anyways.
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Most popular extracurricular activities at my college
108 Words
This is hard to say, because it's different for everybody. However, the biggest student organization on campus is The Corp. It is also the largest student-run organization in the nation! The Corp has a a few components to it - 2 coffee shops, 2 convenience stores, catering service, shuttle service and a philathropic committee. I'm pretty sure everyone at Gerogetown has at least applied to The Corp once, so it is extremely competitive. To this day, I have no idea what they really look for because their application questions are really random, so it's mostly about your personality and whether you would be compatible with the rest of the organization!
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My advice about getting recommenders
119 Words
Choose someone you have a personal relationship with and be diverse about it! You need to have teachers/mentors that can write about the different sides about you. A teacher who knows you really well academically - how hardworking you, how proactive you are, how intellectually curious you are. You also needs to have somehow share that, but also understand how well rounded you are. So maybe a teacher who is also a coach of yours for a sports team. Or one who is an advisor to one of the clubs you run.

This is an important part of the application! You need someone else to corroborate and support what the numbers in your application is stating.
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My favorite course thus far, and why
119 Words
Introduction to Cryptography - The way I explained it to my mom is you're using math to do what Indiana Jones did. The math department at Georgetown is really small, so there's no distinction between Applied and Pure Maths. I was desperate to get into this class because I love applied maths and didn't care that it was an 8:30AM class MWF. We did so many different types of projects and basically we were just cracking codes every class and during exams! It is such a thrill to get it done, but of course extremely frustrating when you don't get it right. Professor Hans taught the class, and he's still by far one of my favorite professors at Georgetown!
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Whether I used a private admissions counselor, and advice I received
74 Words
I did use a private counselor, but he's really more like a mentor than anything else. I've known him since I was 11. He didn't coach me through what I should and shouldn't do. He definitely did help me out with my essays and help me change direction when I needed to. He doesn't believe in helping students edit/write their essays. He was just really a huge emotional support for me through it all.
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5 adjectives that describe a typical student at my school (Feel free to elaborate!)
5 Words
Political, Creative, Hardworking, Intelligent, Kind
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Recommended summer activities during high school and college
79 Words
Do something that's meaningful to you or something that will give you more exposure. I've been in the US for summer camps since I was 8. I've been to Ranch camps, summer schools, activity camps, etc. My mom thought it was a good idea, and before I knew it, I would look forward to it every summer. It was a great opportunity for me to realize how others lived in the US and the different kind of experiences others had.
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What I now know about my school that I never would have known prior to enrolling
92 Words
How truly awesome it is to have a sports team to support at your school. Personally, I've always been a sports fanatic, but honestly, having school spirit changes a lot of things. You get to know a lot of people through it, you have more in common with people.

I've mad new friends camping outside of Verizon Center in freezing temperatures just to get a good seat at the Georgetown-Syracuse game.

Even if you weren't much of a sports fan, it's great to be part of that camaraderie!
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What set me apart from other applicants
61 Words
What set me apart...that's difficult to tell you since I don't know what others in my applicant pool was like. Maybe my intellectual curiosity. I've always been a huge math/science geek but a huge history/classics buff. It's the combination of the two and I had a really difficult time choosing which one I should major in at Georgetown.
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Why I declined other schools
23 Words
As I mentioned before, Yale and Georgetown were really the only two I cared about. I got into Georgetown and that was it!
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My extracurricular activities in college, and why I chose them
96 Words
I was part of the student-run EMS organization on campus. It's called Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service, or better known as GERMS! We are about 120 active members, all of us are EMT-B certified! It was probably one of the best decisions I made. I was a pre-med student, but majority of the organization aren't pre-med students and we all have very diverse academic backgrounds. The thing we have in common is how much we love helping people, the adrenaline of being out on a call and the teamwork that is part of being on a crew.
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Post-college plans
83 Words
I took the MCAT and thought I was going to apply to medical school, but decided to put that on hold for now! I am from Hong Kong, so at some point, I do want to go home. Unfortunately, the conversion for the medical license for the US and HK is extremely difficult, so before I commit to staying in the US or go back to HK, I thought I would gain some other work experience and find out what I really like.
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What might make for a good “Why Us” essay topic at my school
125 Words
Regardless of which college you're applying to within Georgetown, it's important to show that you at least have some sort of interest in politics and current affairs. It is a really important part of Georgetown's community. Georgetown brings in a lot of speakers because of how interested our students are. Both Clintons have been to Georgetown during the 4 years I was there. President Obama was also there to give a speech, so make sure you hint at it!

A part from that I would say really emphasize on what being part of the Jesuit community would mean to you even though you're not religious. I'm not, but I very much appreciated the Jesuit teachings and having Theology as one of the required courses.
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How to increase chances at my school
79 Words
I don't actually know there's anything specific that you can do that will guarantee your acceptance. If you're a good student with good grades, the rest is just about being you.

Georgetown is well known for accepting a particular "kind" of student. You may get into all Ivy's but you might not get into Georgetown. So, let yourself shine and choose to apply to Georgetown because you believe you're the right fit and you'll do just fine!
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What I like about my school’s location and culture
96 Words
I LOVE WASHINGTON, DC. Not only is it a great college town, I would move there permanently in a heart beat. It is the perfect combination of what I love. It is quiet when I want it to be, but as the Capital of the US, it also has the hustle & bustle that you want from a city.

There are so many things to explore. There are constantly new people to meet from all over the world. That's what you get for being in the same city as the IMF and the World Bank!
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Misconceptions I had about college before attending
290 Words
I spent my entire high school career dedicating my time to studying for IB, participating in tons of extracurriculars and playing on 3 different sports teams in school. As crazy as it sounds, I enjoyed all of it. I truly enjoyed tutoring disabled students after school, loved all the sports I played, and even liked the IB classes I was taking. But I must admit I did all of it thinking this will help me get into a good college, which will get me into a good medical school. That was the trajectory. All I had to do is get into a good college and everything else will fall into place.

So, once I got into college, I just floated. I didn’t take part in any extracurriculars (I tried rowing, but quit after 2 months), and didn’t study as hard as I did in high school. Looking back, I was honestly so burnt out from high school I couldn’t get myself to do anything. Needless to say, my grades slipped to a point my high school self wouldn't have recognized. I no longer knew if I even wanted to pursue medicine.

Getting into Georgetown didn’t do what I thought it would. Everything didn’t fall into place. In fact, everything fell apart. But that wasn’t Georgetown’s fault; it was mine. I had treated getting into college as the end game, I never thought about what I’d actually do in college. Thankfully, I managed to pick myself back up, get my grades up and get involved on campus. So, my advice to college-bound students is this: getting into college is a fantastic achievement, but don’t stop there. Make it worthwhile.
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High School Performance

GPA
3.80
(no specification of weighting)
Rank
Top 5%
 
High School TypeInternational
Academic Performance in High School Steady

Test Scores

Highest SAT
1390
on 1600 scale
Highest SAT
1970
 
Math
710
Reading
600
Writing
660

Original SAT Score1970 ( M 710, R 600, W 660 )
Other SAT Scores
SAT Prep Private SAT tutor

AP / IB Classes and Scores

✓ = no score reported
7
IB Chemistry - HL
7
IB Mathematics - HL
7
IB Physics - HL
7
IB Chinese Language A: Literature - SL
7
IB History SL
6
IB English Language A: Literature - SL

Sports

Basketball
4 Years
· Varsity · Captain · Not Recruited
Swimming/Diving
2 Years
· Varsity · Team Member· Not Recruited
Track & Field
2 Years
· Varsity · Team Member· Not Recruited

Extracurriculars

Tutoring/Mentoring
2 Years
Member
Athletics Organization
4 Years
Member
Nonprofit, NGO or Charitable Organization
4 Years
Executive Board
Elaborate on Extracurriculars or Work - Interact Club: I was the Vice President for the Interact Club at my school in Hong Kong. We had a strong connection with the Rotary Club, and worked with a various of community & service, and NGO groups such as Green Peace, Orbit, and more. - Junior Achievement: JA was an entrepreneur program where every school can participate with team that sets up as a company. I was elected as the CEO - we had to come up with our own capital, write up a business plan, design our product, contact manufacturers, and finally write up an annual report for our shareholders. - Green Group: I was the leader of the Green Group, and held protests, organized carpooling systems, and attended an International Environmental Conference that included schools from Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, UK. I have done many charity works before but one has a special place in my heart: Interact Club. Modeled loosely on the Christina Children’s Noble Foundation, Interact Club aims at fund-raising for orphans in Vietnam and Mongolia and doing community and service for the local community. Even though we realize that charity should know no national boundary, we should give our brethrens and elderly in Hong Kong some priority. It is totally wrong that we allowed perpetration of such poverty in one of the most affluent cities in the world. That was why I organized flag days and visits for elderly homes and orphanages. I can tell you that I got more than my fair share of rewards in seeing the gratitude on faces of octogenarian cage people and toddler orphans. I am glad I did a little, but I wish I could have done a lot more.

Experience & Awards

How Spent Summers I went to Choate Rosemary Hall for summer school the summer after sophomore year.
Awards Received American Chamber of Commerce Award 2010 in Hong Kong 1st in American Math Contest 2010

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