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

I Eat, Therefore I Am Now that I’m a dedicated foodie, it seems strange that food was once my downfall. At the beginning of high school, society's beauty standards weighed on me, a short girl with c

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Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

Searching for Seaweed In Port O’Connor, my mom approached me, holding an unknown, scrappy specimen with a hopeful look in her eyes. It was all dried up—probably from sitting in the sand for weeks—but

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Describe the world you come from; for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations?

My dad was late to pick me up after school that day. When he finally pulled up, my brother, Alex, was in the passenger seat, silently sulking with a black eye. When he was 4, Alex was diagnosed with

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At MIT, we bring people together to better the lives of others. MIT students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world's biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way in which you have contributed to your community, whether in your family, the classroom, your neighborhood, etc.

When Anish was presented with his $1,000 check, I stood and cheered, maybe even louder than his parents. In 10th grade, I was the only person at my school to compete in science fairs. I was completel

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Tell us about the most significant challenge you've faced or something important that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?

It would be a cookie-less Christmas. Ms. Clennedan, The Salvation Army’s volunteer coordinator, had told me about the annual Christmas party in their downtown Austin homeless shelter. I happily offere

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Please tell us more about your cultural background and identity in the space below.

Wearing my Cavender’s leather boots and a white cowboy hat, I walked through the gates to the State Fair of Texas. In the swarms of similarly-clad people, I noticed an absence of people who share my b

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We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do for the pleasure of it.

I’m constantly searching for my next five-star meal. I spend hours perusing Yelp, reading reviews and discovering ‘Restaurants Near Me.’ I’ve found delicious food at places like L’Oca D’Oro, Taste of

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Although you may not yet know what you want to major in, which department or program at MIT appeals to you and why?

Since middle school, playing Plague Inc. and wiping out humanity on my tablet, I’ve been interested in diseases and their impact on society. In high school, I explored this curiosity by conducting med

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How did you discover your intellectual and academic interests, and how will you explore them at the University of Pennsylvania? Please respond considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected.

Mr. Sah walked me around the facility, pointing out the brand-new ARIES System, a platform that could diagnose almost any infectious disease. Even though I wasn’t allowed to touch it, the buttons and

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At Penn, learning and growth happen outside of the classrooms, too. How will you explore the community at Penn? Consider how this community will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will help shape this community.

When I get home, I turn on channel 21.4 and watch anchor Terri Gruca give a rundown of Austin’s news. I scan through magazines (anything from Time to Vogue) and absorb each article. In 8th grade, I w

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Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?

As the light scattering instrument whirred, my worry started to build. I had used up the last of my samples on these nanoparticles. If they didn't turn out right, that was three weeks of work down the

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Please share how you believe your experiences, perspectives, and/or talents have shaped your ability to contribute to and enrich the learning environment at UT Austin, both in and out of the classroom.

I can smell the scent of bacteria culturing in the lab and hear the buzzing of power tools in the robot room. From research to robotics, science occupies a large part of my mind. But underneath my la

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Dean's Scholars: How will you benefit from participation in this community? How will you contribute to this community?

Science isn't just logic and numbers. It's connection. Science has connected me with ideas, but, more importantly, with people. This past year, I competed in the Intel International Science and Engin

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The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.

This summer, on one of my daily scans through the news, I came across an article in Reuters: “U.S. dependence on China's rare earth: Trade war vulnerability”. With the trade war raging on, China was t

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Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—know you better.

Dear Future Roommate, I'm so excited to meet you! Here's a quick tour of my side of the room. My desk: You'll find a pair of tangled-up earphones. I'm from Texas, so naturally, I love country music.

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Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences.

In 10th grade, I was the only person at my school to participate in science fair. I was completely inexperienced, but as my project progressed, I became captivated by the entire research process. It w

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Short answer responses

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? White male: $1.00. Asian female: $0.87. White female: $0.81. Black female: $0.65. The wage gap between genders and races is costly, to

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