13
Colleges
3
Q&As
16
AP/IBs
38
Essays
5
Awards
0
Activities
BA/MA History and Economics at UChicago
I ranked 12 schools as part of the QuestBridge National College Match program and ended up matching with my top choice: UChicago!
P
BA/MA History and Economics at UChicago
13
Colleges
3
Q&As
16
AP/IBs
38
Essays
5
Awards
0
Activities
P
Race
Asian
Gender
Male
School Type
Public
Legacy
No
Low income
Yes
First generation
Yes
International
No
Recruited Athlete
No
GPA (W)
4.5
GPA (UW)
4
GPA Scale
4
SAT
1540
ACT
34
# AP/IB Exams
16
Personal Statement
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. (650 words max)
My grandmother loves to talk. She would tell me everything from her thoughts about the latest K-drama she watched, ask me what she should cook for dinner, or about the books she read every day. Of it
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We are interested in learning more about you and the context in which you have grown up, formed your aspirations, and accomplished your academic successes. Please describe the factors and challenges that have most shaped your personal life and aspirations. How have these factors helped you to grow? (800-word limit)
My grandmother loves to talk. She would tell me everything from her thoughts on the latest Korean soap opera she is watching, ask me what she should cook for dinner, or about the books she read every
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University of Chicago
How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago. (~500-550 words)
I often ponder the great statistical questions that linger throughout history. How likely were the analytical chances for Justinian the Great to reconquer fallen Rome from the Ostrogoths or the econom
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Joan of Arkansas. Queen Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Babe Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Mash up a historical figure with a new time period, environment, location, or occupation, and tell us their story.
Everything has come down to this: the ball is placed on the three-yard line with one second left in regulation. The roaring crowd is deafening as the quarterback hastily lines up under center but fumb
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Stanford University
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. (100 to 250 words)
8:00 AM Greetings roommate, I just wanted to start off by saying that I am so excited to reside in the same enclosure with you for the next year or so. Also, don’t let the early timestamp fool you-
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What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (50-word limit)
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How did you spend your last two summers? (50-word limit)
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What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50-word limit)
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Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family. (50-word limit)
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Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford. (50-word limit)
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P
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)
I have always had a particular affinity for history. I remember staring at maps and analyzing the plethora of unique landforms and countries that made up the world while being enamored by the wonderfu
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Briefly elaborate on an activity, organization, work experience, or hobby that has been particularly meaningful to you. (Please respond in about 150 words)
“This court is now in session,” declared the judge as he slammed his gavel. I slowly walked up to the podium, took a deep breath, and began: “May it please the court...” While I have always thought o
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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? (250 words)
Everyone says I’m the spitting image of my father and it isn’t hard to see why. I have the same curly hair, short limbs, and bushy eyebrows that are indicative of my old man. But perhaps it is because
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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. (250 words)
Living in Texas, sweltering summer days and cool, mild winters are the norm. So when unprecedented snowstorms struck in winter 2021, it created a flurry of issues that we as a state were woefully unpr
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What is a new skill you would like to learn in college? (50 words or fewer)
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What brings you joy? (50 words or fewer)
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What song represents the soundtrack of your life at this moment? (50 words or fewer)
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Yale University
As of this moment, what academic areas seem to fit your interests or goals most comfortably? Please indicate up to three from the list provided. History Statistics and Data Science Economics Why do these areas appeal to you? (125 words or fewer)
I have always had a particular affinity for history. I remember staring at maps and analyzing the plethora of unique landforms and countries that made up the world, while being enamored by the wonderf
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What is it about Yale that has led you to apply? (125 words or fewer)
Yale’s refusal to compromise on academic exploration, by serving as both a world-class research institution and a haven for the liberal arts is incredible. This dichotomous environment at Yale is what
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Columbia University
List the titles of the required readings from academic courses that you enjoyed most during secondary/high school. (75 words or less)
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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. (75 words or less)
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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. (125 words or fewer)
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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? (200 words or fewer)
Ever since becoming a head section leader my sophomore year, I have been thrust into an environment of unprecedented interdependence. I learned to not only take accountability for my own decisions and
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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. (200 words or fewer)
Columbia seems to provide me with the ideal environment of academic freedom and social immersion. The Core Curriculum, and the opportunities that it presents, establishes a unique connective thread
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For applicants to Columbia College, 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. (200 words or fewer)
History Statistics Classics I have always had a particular affinity for history. I remember staring at maps and analyzing the plethora of unique landforms and countries that made up the world, while
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University of Pennsylvania
Considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected, how will you explore your intellectual and academic interests at the University of Pennsylvania? (300-450 words)
Tracy Porter’s game-winning pick-six in Super Bowl 44 was the moment I became a football fan. I became enamored with football ever since that fateful night, not only with the sport itself but the inne
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At Penn, learning and growth happen outside of the classroom, 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. (150-200 words)
Ever since becoming a head section leader my sophomore year, I have been thrust into an environment of unprecedented interdependence. I learned to not only take accountability for my own decisions and
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Swarthmore College
We are inspired by students who are flexible in their approach to learning, who are comfortable with experimentation, and who are willing to take intellectual risks that move them out of their comfort zone. Reflect on a time that you were intellectually challenged, inspired, or took an intellectual risk—inside or outside of the classroom. How has that experience shaped you and what questions still linger? (500 words max)
“This court is now in session,” declared the judge as he slammed his gavel. I slowly walked up to the podium, took a deep breath, and began: “May it please the court...” I have always thought of myse
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Duke University
Please share with us why you consider Duke a good match for you. Is there something in particular about Duke’s academic or other offerings that attract you? (200 words maximum)
I have always had a particular affinity for history. I remember staring at maps and analyzing the plethora of unique landforms and countries that made up the world while being enamored by the wonderfu
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Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you’d like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you’ve had that would help us understand you better, perhaps a community you belong to or your family or cultural background, we encourage you to do so here. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke. (250 words maximum)
As Korean immigrants, my parents had the difficult task of setting themselves and their children up for success in a foreign nation. Nonetheless, my parents never gave up their hard-working ways, as t
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Northwestern University
While other parts of your application give us a sense of who you are, we are also excited to hear more about how you see yourself engaging with the larger Northwestern community. In 300 words or less, help us understand how you might engage specific resources, opportunities, and/or communities here. We are curious about what these specifics are, as well as how they may enrich your time at Northwestern and beyond. (300 words)
I often ponder the great statistical questions that linger throughout history. What were the chances of Hannibal and his smaller army surrounding the Roman forces at Cannae or the econometric causes a
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Brown University
Tell us about a concept, theory, or topic you have explored simply because it sparked your intellectual curiosity. Why do you find it intriguing? How do you want to explore it further? (500 words)
The trombone is one of, if not, the most difficult yet rewarding instruments to play in the world. Despite its deceivingly simple design, which consists of little more than elongating tubing, a large
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Tell us about one of your proudest achievements or moments and what it says about you. (200 words)
One of our annual church trips was to the local blueberry farm, a trip I attended alone because my parents worked day and night. Regardless, I had promised them an entire bucket full of fresh blueberr
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If you could meet a character from a book or a historical figure, who would it be and what would you ask them? (200 words max)
Hannibal ad portas! This Latin expression of fear and despair immortalizes the Romans’ ultimate bogeyman and my historical figure of choice: Hannibal Barca. The legendary Carthaginian general was only
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What is your favorite subject to study, and why? (35 words max)
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Dartmouth College
While arguing a Dartmouth-related case before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1818, Daniel Webster, Class of 1801, delivered this memorable line: “It is, Sir…a small college. And yet, there are those who love it!” As you seek admission to the Class of 2024, what aspects of the College’s program, community, or campus environment attract your interest? (100 words)
The quaint ambiance of Dartmouth provides an unparalleled environment for a history fanatic and an aspiring lawyer like myself to pursue my passions. Whether it be by taking courses like Professor Chr
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What excites you?
“Dear trombones…” It's a scorching day on the concrete lot. Summer band is in full swing and as head section leader I got a bunch of faces, both new and old, that I am tasked with getting in marching
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University of Notre Dame
The founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, Blessed Basil Moreau, wrote, “We shall always place education side by side with instruction; the mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart.” How do you hope a Notre Dame education and experience will transform your mind and heart? (150 words)
Growing up, church was always a haven for me. As part of a small, Korean-American congregation, church always served as a center for both religious devotion and cultural connection. Notre Dame reminds
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How did you choose your recommenders?
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Do you recommend using private counseling and/or essay editing services?
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Did you earn any selective scholarships? How did you strategically position yourself to get selected?
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Gates Scholarship