Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

The cookie looked delicious. Oozing chocolate chunks, it was warm and chewy with a hint of salt. (Actually, it might have been a Chips Ahoy, but I ate indiscriminately as a preschooler.) To eat it w

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List the titles of the required readings from academic courses that you enjoyed most during secondary/high school.

Literature. Schindler’s List, Beowulf, Cat’s Cradle, Beloved, Moby-Dick, King Lear, Gilgamesh, Canterbury Tales, Gawain and the Green Knight, The Winter’s Tale, Jane Eyre, The Metamorphoses (both Lite

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List the titles of the books, essays, poetry, short stories or plays you read outside of academic courses that you enjoyed most during secondary/high school.

Engineering/Physics/Math: Practical Electronics For Inventors, Probabilistic Robotics, Small Unmanned Aircraft, Ignition!, De Architectura (in Latin), Visual Complex Analysis, Lost In Math, The Lazy U

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We’re interested in learning about some of the ways that you explore your interests. List some resources and outlets that you enjoy, including but not limited to websites, publications,  journals, podcasts, social media accounts, lectures, museums, movies, music, or other content with which you regularly engage.

News: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Valley News, Forbes, The Economist, IEEE Spectrum Magazine, MIT Technology Review, Scientific American, Popular Mechanics, Medium, PhysicsWorld,

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A hallmark of the Columbia experience is being able to learn and live in a community with a wide range of perspectives. How do you or would you learn from and contribute to diverse, collaborative communities?

I live in a small town and a large city, which gives me multiple perspectives. These two lives look different, but rather than keeping them separate, I find synergy between them. Experiences in one wo

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Why are you interested in attending Columbia University? We encourage you to consider the aspect(s) that you find unique and compelling about Columbia.

As someone who loves both physics and engineering, the Applied Physics program at Columbia’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences strikes the perfect balance between them. I am specifically inte

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For applicants to Columbia Engineering, please tell us what from your current and past experiences (either academic or personal) attracts you specifically to the areas of study that you previously noted in the application.

Every time I read a chapter of a physics textbook, I come away seeing the world differently. It is sometimes a radical change of perspective, like learning about relativity or quantum mechanics, but s

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Penn Main Essay 1

Robots fascinate me because they are creative combinations of hardware and software, leveraging both to solve some of the most challenging problems. Although I would be pursuing a degree in Mechanical

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Penn Main Essay 2

Although I am interested in robotics, I like to think that I am far from robotic. As a model rocket enthusiast, I will join Team Rocket at the Penn Aerospace Club and reach for new heights. In between

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Why Duke?

I am excited by the enormous potential of quantum computers, with molecular simulation capabilities that could improve everything from batteries to fertilizers to pharmaceuticals. I have had some expo

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Share a Perspective Response

I moved three thousand miles from my home in rural New Hampshire to attend a school “for kids who love math.” I became closely integrated into this community of math lovers, from tackling tricky theor

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Favorite Activity/Experience

The summer after ninth grade, I began working in the Reality and Robotics Lab at [Organization Redacted]. Every weekday I would wake up and walk to the Computer Science building, where the project I w

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Why Purdue?

I hope to pursue a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering at Purdue, which would give me the opportunity to study fascinating subjects like computational fluid dynamics and control theory, as well as the skill

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Why Major?

I love aerospace engineering because it combines my interests in mathematics, physics, and computers to make vehicles that defy gravity, a challenging but inspiring problem. I have been around planes

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Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the second choice major you have selected. (Respond in 100 words or fewer.)

Every time I read a chapter of a physics textbook or solve a physics problem, I come away seeing the world differently and it feels satisfying. It is sometimes a radical change, like when I learned ab

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Communities Essay

Although I am from rural Hanover, New Hampshire, I go to a school for kids who love math in downtown San Francisco. Since seventh grade, I have spent my summers in a small college town, and the other

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Why that College or School?

I am looking forward to studying mathematics and physics at the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science and the Arts. Thanks to Michigan’s flexible placement policy, I would be able to

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"Why Northwestern" Statement:

Robots fascinate me because they are creative combinations of hardware and software, leveraging both to solve some of the most challenging problems. The philosophy of the McCormick School of Engineeri

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Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech?

I have been around planes my whole life, because my dad flies them. During flights, he would explain the dials and switches covering the cockpit as I sat in the co-pilot’s seat. I was impressed by man

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The Admission Committee is interested in getting to know each student as well as possible through the application process. Please respond to each of the following prompts. Please explain why you wish to study in the academic areas you selected above.

Every time I read a chapter of a physics textbook, I come away seeing the world differently. It is sometimes a radical change of perspective, like learning about relativity or quantum mechanics, but s

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Based upon your exploration of Rice University, what elements of the Rice experience appeal to you?

Rice University’s research in computational plasma physics is especially strong, and attending Rice would give me the opportunity to contribute to this research. I am particularly interested in this f

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Rice is lauded for creating a collaborative atmosphere that enhances the quality of life for all members of our campus community. The Residential College System and undergraduate life are heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural tradition each student brings. What life perspectives would you contribute to the Rice community?

I spend each academic year in San Francisco, CA to attend [School Redacted], a school “for kids who love math.” There I take all sorts of math classes, from “Stochastic Processes” to “Complex Analysis

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The Box

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Short Answer Essay

Having grown up with [Organization Redacted] just beyond my backyard, I am well aware of its bucolic location, numerous traditions, and intimate connections between students and professors. I have tas

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Short Response Essay

I have been a Hanover resident for the last fourteen years, and winter is naturally my favorite season. It’s amazing—you can ski, skate, sled, and slurp syrup off of snow. These classic activities obv

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Extracurricular Activities

The summer after ninth grade, I began working in the Reality and Robotics Lab at [Organization Redacted] College as an intern. Every weekday I would wake up and walk half a mile to the Computer Scienc

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Additional Intellectual Experiences

I mathematically modeled the phenomenon of laminar fluid chains, measured them experimentally, and submitted a paper to Regeneron describing my results. I independently built and programmed a GPS-gu

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EC Essay

During the past three summers, I worked with [Organization Redacted]’s Reality and Robotics Lab. I was always busy: pouring cement, fine-tuning PID gains, soldering electronics, or standing waist-deep

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Most significant challenge society faces

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Last two summers

[Organization Redacted] Reality Lab underwater robotics research STEM Robotix summer camp instructor Stanford ULO Physics (Light and Heat, Modern Physics) [Organization Redacted] Astronomy cours

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Historical moment or event

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Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family.

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One thing you are looking forward to at Stanford

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Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you excited about learning

At [School Redacted], we take many math courses. I like them all, but my favorites have real-world applications. Thus, I loved “Linear Algebra” and its applications to electric circuits, graph theory,

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Note to future roommate

Dear future roommate, My physics-oriented brain loves discovering patterns. They take our often messy world and reveal its underlying structures. I might be biased coming from New Hampshire, but my

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Something meaningful to you and why

Each class begins not with roundhouse kicks or nunchaku-wielding (although we eventually get to those) but mokuso . Meditation. As you take deep breaths, you can collect the thoughts that are racing t

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Extracurricular Activity and Work Experience Briefly elaborate on an activity, organization, work experience, or hobby that has been particularly meaningful to you. (Please respond in about 150 words)

During the past three summers, I worked with [Organization Redacted]’s Reality and Robotics Lab. I was always busy: pouring cement, fine-tuning PID gains, soldering electronics, or standing waist-deep

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Your Voice Please respond to each question in an essay of about 250 words. At Princeton, we value diverse perspectives and the ability to have respectful dialogue about difficult issues. Share a time when you had a conversation with a person or a group of people about a difficult topic. What insight did you gain, and how would you incorporate that knowledge into your thinking in the future?

Although I audited an Astronomy class to learn about the universe, the discussions we had occasionally heated up faster than a capsule reentering the atmosphere. For example, while launching huge sate

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Princeton has a longstanding commitment to service and civic engagement. Tell us how your story intersects (or will intersect) with these ideals.

In fifth grade, I joined STEM Robotix, a local program teaching STEM concepts with a hands-on approach. I learned how to build and program robots and quickly realized that this was something I enjoyed

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More About You Please respond to each question in 50 words or fewer. There are no right or wrong answers. Be yourself! What is a new skill you would like to learn in college?

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What brings you joy?

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What song represents the soundtrack of your life at this moment?

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As a research institution that also prides itself on its liberal arts curriculum, Princeton allows students to explore areas across the humanities and the arts, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. What academic areas most pique your curiosity, and how do the programs offered at Princeton suit your particular interests? (Please respond in about 250 words)

Although I attend [School Redacted], a school “for kids who love math,” physics is the perfect concentration for me. I have always wanted to know how things work, and physics has always given me the a

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Essay 1 - Tell us about a time or experience in which you encountered failure.

The sight of birds soaring overhead with effortless grace is awe-inspiring. But no bird learns to fly in a day. The same statement holds for the Unladen Swallow , a miniature autonomous plane I buil

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Essay 2 - Tell us about a life situation, media story, or topic – beyond or outside of a classroom or formal assignment – that has captivated you, inspired your curiosity, and lead you to delve more deeply into learning about a subject on your own.

On February 11, 2016, the executive director of Caltech/LIGO presented an astonishing discovery to the physics community. Using the most precise scientific instruments, a team had detected gravitation

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Essay 3 - Tell us about how you have collaborated with and worked together within a small group of your peers on some task or endeavor in the past, or about how you imagine you will work with your Caltech peers in the future.

A flyer tacked to a bulletin board caught my eye. Written across it in big orange letters was the word PARSEC—Propulsion, Aeronautics, and Rocket Systems Engineering at Caltech. I love every word in t

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Engineering Response 1

I learned an important lesson about collaboration from working in [Organization Redacted]’s Reality and Robotics Lab during the last three summers. The first summer, the graduate students and I work

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Engineering Response 2

At Cornell Engineering, my robots will navigate on land, underwater, and through the air. Cornell's programs are particularly suited to this: I can study Mechanical Engineering and pursue a Robotics m

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Most students choose their intended major or area of study based on a passion or inspiration that’s developed over time – what passion or inspiration led you to choose this area of study? (300 word maximum)

Robots fascinate me because they are creative combinations of hardware and software, leveraging both to solve some of the most challenging problems. Although I grew up inspired by Star Wars droids a

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Many students pursue college for a specific degree, career opportunity or personal goal. Whichever it may be, learning will be critical to achieve your ultimate goal. As you think ahead to the process of learning during your college years, how will you define a successful college experience? (300 word maximum)

With respect to the process of learning, the successful college experience begins in the classroom. The courses form the foundation upon which everything else is built, and it must be strong to ensure

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Consider your application as a whole. What do you personally want to emphasize about your application for the admission committee’s consideration? Highlight something that’s important to you or something you haven’t had a chance to share. Tell us, don’t show us (no websites please). (300 word maximum)

I love space. In kindergarten, I gravitated towards books on the Apollo and Mercury-Redstone missions. I spied the Galilean moons of Jupiter through my Galilean telescope, assisted by rural New Hampsh

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Prompt Essay:

I have been fascinated with antiquity since elementary school. I taught my second-grade friends the Greek alphabet so we could write “secret” messages. I read histories by Anthony Everitt, Mary Beard,

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Academic Interest

I plan to major in Aerospace Engineering at the Viterbi School. My interest in aerospace comes, perhaps ironically, from under the water. I worked in the Robotics Lab at [Organization Redacted] over

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Your Unique Contributions to USC Viterbi The student body at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is a diverse group of unique engineers and computer scientists who work together to engineer a better world for all humanity. Describe how your contributions to the USC Viterbi student body may be distinct from others. Please feel free to touch on any part of your background, traits, skills, experiences, challenges, and/or personality in helping us better understand you.

At [School Redacted], I take many math courses. My favorites have real-world applications. I loved linear algebra and its applications to electrical circuits, image compression, machine learning, stat

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The Engineering Grand Challenges The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and their 14 Grand Challenges go hand-in-hand with our vision to engineer a better world for all humanity. Engineers and computer scientists are challenged to solve these problems in order to improve life on the planet. Learn more about the NAE Grand Challenges at http://engineeringchallenges.org and tell us which challenge is most important to you, and why.

As the engineering behind global positioning systems and transistors approaches the frontier of physics and physics experiments like space-based telescopes and gravitational wave observatories become

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