Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Laboratory 747 was cold, illuminated by harsh fluorescents, and filled with the potent, sweet smell of dichloromethane solvents. Several fume hoods stood sentinel, with shields of rusting, aegean-blue

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Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.

It was a cold January day, one week before the Science Olympiad Regional Tournament. The lab room was bustling with activity. Amidst this, I engrossed myself in fine-tuning my handmade antenna, a seem

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Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

Each word of the Spanish song, coupled with the cries of a mother, translated into the most fundamental human emotion: sadness. As the casket slowly descended atop the drawstrings of the lowering devi

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Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

As I stepped into the packed lecture hall on my first day of the [Organization Redacted] Summer Research Program, a new word entered my vocabulary, polymer. I learned about all types of polymers durin

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What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

Throughout high school, I've served my local community in many ways: coaching tennis, serving at my church, and performing music. However, two endeavors stand out as favorites: teaching chemistry and

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A topic or idea that excites you related to your academic interests? (250 words)

Polymer comes from two Greek words: polu—many, meros—parts. Berzelius invented the name; Staudinger adapted it to its modern definition. In 1920, “Über Polymerisation” served as his thesis: the molecu

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Why Yale (200 words)

dG=dH–TdS When Gibbs free energy, dG, is less than zero, a reaction will occur spontaneously. We would’ve never known this without Josiah Willard Gibbs’ 1876 On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Subst

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What inspires you? (30 words)

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Teach college course, write a book, create art (30 words)

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Who has had a significant influence & what impact? (30 words)

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Essay (selected from 3 options): 3. Reflect on an element of your personal experience that you feel will enrich your college. How has it shaped you?* (500 words)

Green turf mats covered sturdy hardwood planks. A deep, intentional hole could be found between the planks. Six trees surrounded the area, casting shade throughout. Beyond this area, eight deer and fi

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Something about you (30 words)

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List a selection of texts, resources and outlets that have contributed to your intellectual development outside of academic courses, including but not limited to books, journals, websites, podcasts, essays, plays, presentations, videos, museums and other content that you enjoy.

CrashCourse Science and Philosophy, Wikipedia, Principles of Polymerization, Polymer Science Learning Center: Macrogalleria, youtube.com/Veritasium, Chemical Principles: A Quest for Insight, Materials

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A hallmark of the Columbia experience is being able to learn and thrive in an equitable and inclusive community with a wide range of perspectives. Tell us about an aspect of your own perspective, viewpoint or lived experience that is important to you, and describe how it has shaped the way you would learn from and contribute to Columbia’s diverse and collaborative community.

When I first started running my Chemistry Olympiad meetings and TA-ing at [Organization Redacted], a non- profit academic program at [School Redacted] University, I thought teaching was straightforwar

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In college, students are often challenged in ways that they could not predict or anticipate. It is important to us, therefore, to understand an applicant's ability to navigate through adversity. Please describe a barrier or obstacle you have faced and discuss the personal qualities, skills or insights you have developed as a result.

I can still picture the day—11 AM burial, cloudy, grass still wet from morning dew. The family requested that we lower the casket while they were present. I remember the song: Te vas angel mio. While

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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.

My interest in Columbia starts with an isotope: deuterium. Columbia Professor Harold Urey discovered this extra-neutron hydrogen in 1931. In the basement of Pupin Hall, Urey used Columbia’s signature

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What attracts you to your preferred areas of study at Columbia College?

What material do bulletproof vests, spacecrafts, superglues, and single-use plastics share? Polymers. From the Greek words polú, meaning many, and meros, meaning parts, polymers are substances with a

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Gratitude Question

Dear Dr. [Name Redacted], I remember when we first met at the [Organization Redacted] Program. While initially nervous about which research project to select, talking to you reassured me. After you

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Community Question

I can still picture the day—11 AM burial, cloudy, grass still wet from morning dew. The family requested that we lower the casket in their presence. I remember the song: “Te vas angel mio.” I coul

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Engineering and Applied Science Essay

What material do bulletproof vests, spacecrafts, superglues, and single-use plastics have in common?  Polymer comes from two Greek words: polu —many, meros —parts. Berzelius invented the name;

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Supplemental Essay

Polymers are an integral part of my identity. In the literal sense, polymers are my passion in science. In the metaphorical sense, polymers taught me how to collaborate and overcome challenges. Poly

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"Any person...any study" Writing Supplement

Every Wednesday, while admittedly a little nerdy, I join my 4-person Quizbowl team to “buzz” into various types of questions. These questions, ranging from science to pop culture, require me and my fr

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Engineering Required Writing Supplement

As an aspiring chemical engineer at Cornell Engineering, polymers have particularly fascinated me. Polymer comes from two Greek words: polu, many, and meros, parts. Berzelius invented the name; Staudi

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Engineering Prompts Question B: Diversity in all forms is intrinsic to excellence in engineering. Engineering the best solutions to complex problems isoften achieved by drawing from the diverse ingenuity of people from different backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity and/or the inclusion of the Cornell Engineering community? What is the unique voice you would bring to the Cornell Engineering community?

As I stepped into the industrial plant housed under the unrelenting Philippine sun, I felt a wave of heat. Massive oven chambers filled the plant, with workers around every corner. For the last forty

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Why Duke?

Self-healing polymers are as cool as the name suggests: materials that repair themselves using complex chemistry with applications in spacecraft construction, electronics, medicine, and more. But

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Application

As a gravedigger and pallbearer at [Place Redacted], I’ve gained a distinctive perspective on life. By assisting at burials, I’ve become increasingly aware of my limited time. Ancient Stoic philosophe

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Intellectual experience optional essay

Polymer comes from two Greek words: polu —many, meros —parts. Berzelius invented the name; Staudinger adapted it to its modern definition. In 1920, “ Über Polymerisation ” served as his thesis: th

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Communities Essay

Tea is more than just a beverage to me; it's a timeline, a reflection of my heritage. Within my tea cabinet lies not just an assortment of flavors, but a collection of stories, each brew steeped in

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Why that College or School?

My ambition is to join the Chemistry Department at the University of Michigan, with a particular focus on polymer chemistry. I am drawn to the University's BS Chem curriculum at the College of Lit

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

Georgia Tech leads the way in developing the most prolific material of the 21st century—polymers. From the Greek words "polú-" (many) and "meros" (parts), polymers reflect their structure: a collect

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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)

What material do bulletproof vests, spacecrafts, superglues, and single-use plastics have in common? Polymers. On my first day of the [Organization Redacted] Summer Research Program, a new word en

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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)

In ninth grade, the height of the pandemic, despite so much constant change, one thing remained certain in my life: tinnitus. The soundtrack of my life was a ringing—A hissing, nagging at me in every

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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)

My friend had been raving about his new summer job to me the last few times I saw him. In a coincidental meet-up during the late hours of Planet Fitness, he asked: “Hey, there’s an opening at the

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Please explain why you wish to study in the academic areas you selected above.

My fascination with polymers drives my desire to study chemistry and nanotechnology at Rice. “Polymer” comes from two Greek words: polu—many, meros—parts. Berzelius invented the name; Staudinger ada

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

When Rice Professors Richard Smalley and Robert Curl discovered buckminsterfullerene (C60, a soccer-ball-shaped carbon nanostructure), Rice became an international hub for nanomaterials research. With

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2023 Essay Selection The Residential College System is at the heart of Rice student life and is heavily influenced by the particular cultural traditions and unique life

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Application

1 Please write an essay on the topic selected. I’d like to share two aspects of my life that will help me contribute a unique perspective to Rice’s residential college system and its caring cultur

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Resume submission Upload later via your Rice Admission Student Portal Honor System acknowledgement Gavin Onghai

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How do you foster service to others in the your community?

HOMINES PRO ALIIS , Latin: “people for others.” This Catholic principle dictates that living righteously in solitude isn’t enough; creating a positive ripple is a necessity.  At my first drive wi

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What is distinctive about your personal experiences and development ? Why are these experiences important to you and how will you enrich the Notre Dame community?

As a gravedigger and pallbearer at [Place Redacted], I have gained a distinctive perspective on life. Digging plots, pruning bushes, and blowing leaves in harsh weather isn’t always fun, and sometim

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What is worth fighting for?

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What is something that genuinely interests you and how does this tie to the academic area you hope to study at Notre Dame?

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How does faith influence the decisions you make?

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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 250 words or fewer)*

What material do bulletproof vests, spacecrafts, superglues, and single-use plastics share? Polymers. From the Greek words polú, many; meros, parts; polymers are substances with a special molecular ma

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Princeton values community and encourages students, faculty, staff and leadership to engage in respectful conversations that can expand their perspectives and challenge their ideas and beliefs. As a prospective member of this community, reflect on how your lived experiences will impact the conversations you will have in the classroom, the dining hall or other campus spaces. What lessons have you learned in life thus far? What will your classmates learn from you? In short, how has your lived experience shaped you? (500 words or fewer)*

Green turf mats covered the area. Underneath them were planks, sturdy hardwood planks. A deep, intentional hole could be found between the planks. Six trees surrounded the area, casting shade througho

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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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Why did you choose that area of interest? *

Polymer comes from two Greek words: polu—many, meros—parts. Berzelius invented the name; Staudinger adapted it to its modern definition. In 1920, “Über Polymerisation” served as his thesis: the molecu

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At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? STEM experience/activity #1* (500 words)

I was first introduced to graphene in a lecture at the Garcia Summer Research Program. Dubbed “the wonder material” and the “world-strongest material”, graphene is an allotrope of carbon, a single lay

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STEM experience/activity #2*

One week before the Science Olympiad Regional, our lab buzzed with activity. I focused on perfecting my handmade antenna, a blend of metal and wires capable of transmitting 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi waves. My bes

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The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech's students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars. But Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to how to 3D print dorm decor. How have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life? 250

It was a hot summer day in the Houston suburbs. With my entire mother’s side at my uncle’s house, however, my brothers and I were forced to sleep in the tightly-spaced attic. On the first night, more

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Caltech's mission – to cultivate learning, discovery, and innovation for the benefit of humanity – relies on its community members embracing our Mission-Based Values, which include: 1. Openness and enthusiasm for having preconceptions challenged 2. Respect and appreciation for the idea that, while we are all members of the same community, the opportunities we've had to develop, showcase, and apply our talents have not been equal 3. Passion for the ideal that science can and should meaningfully improve the lives of others Share what one or more of these values evokes for you.* (500 words)

Before I first started teaching chemistry at [Organization Redacted], a non-profit academic program at [School Redacted] University, I thought teaching was straightforward. Explain the material, and a

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If there are aspects of your life or social or personal identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please tell us about them below. (150 words)

I can still picture the day—11 AM burial, cloudy, grass still wet from morning dew. The family requested that we lower the casket in their presence. I remember the song: Te vas angel mio (You Are Leav

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When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. What is a favorite interest or hobby, and why does it bring you joy? (100 words)

The volatile organic compounds release from the plastic metal tube with a burst. Three green, fuzzy balls fell out. I was at home—my school’s tennis court. Tennis is my favorite sport: I’ve been playi

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Vanderbilt offers a community where students find balance between their academic and social experiences. Please briefly elaborate on how one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences has influenced you. (Max 500 words)

Each word of the Spanish song, coupled with the cries of a mother, translated into the most fundamental human emotion: sadness. As the casket slowly descended atop the drawstrings of the lowering devi

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