SHORT RESPONSES (required of all applicants)

1. Which aspects of Tufts’ curriculum or undergraduate experience prompt your application? In short: “Why Tufts?” (50-100 words)

2. There is a Quaker saying: “Let your life speak.” Describe the environment in which you were raised?your family, home, neighborhood, or community? and how it influenced the person you are today. (200-250 words)

3. For some, it’s politics or sports or reading. For others, it may be researching solar power fuel cells or arranging hip-hop mash-ups. What makes you tick? (200-250 words)

1. Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. (Approximately 250 words)

2. Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests? (500 words maximum)

1. Please tell us what led you to select both your anticipated academic area(s) of study and the NYU school/college/program or the Abu Dhabi campus. What interests you most about your intended discipline? Mention any extracurricular or non-school-related activities or experiences that demonstrate your interest.

2. NYU is "In and of the City" and "In and of the World." What does the concept of a global network university mean to you? How do you think studying in New York City, Abu Dhabi, or one of NYU's global sites would change you as a person and equip you to build cross-cultural relationships at NYU and beyond?

3. If you had the opportunity to bring any person?past or present, fictional or nonfictional?to a place that is special to you (your hometown or country, a favorite location, etc.), who would you bring and why? Tell us what you would share with that person.

Short Answer

Please select three of the following five prompts and provide a response of approximately 150 words to each. Your responses will be read by Notre Dame admissions counselors as they strive to learn more about you. Feel free to use personal examples, anecdotes, or anything that helps differentiate you from your peers.

1. The Grotto is a cherished destination on Notre Dame’s campus, a space that invites students and visitors to pray and take time for reflection. Do you have a place that you seek out, and what do you contemplate there?

2. What is one small detail in the world that you notice and wish others did, too?

3. The curriculum offered at Notre Dame varies from what you might expect (e.g., Introduction to Biological Sciences, Accountancy) to topics you might not (e.g., Theology and Engineering, Friendship: From Aristotle to Facebook). If you could introduce a new course and serve as the expert instructor, what would it be and why?

4. Tell us about a time when you have surprised others or yourself by doing something unexpected.

5. Why are you interested in attending the University of Notre Dame?

Essay

Please write an essay of approximately 500?700 words (typically about two double-spaced pages) on one of the following topics. Check the box of your selected topic.

1. USC’s speaker series “What Matters to Me and Why” asks faculty and staff to reflect on their values, beliefs and motivations. Presenters talk about choices they have made, difficulties encountered and commitments solidified. Write an essay about an event or experience that helped you learn what is important to you and why it is important.

2. “Visions and Voices” is a university-wide arts and humanities initiative that seeks to transform students’ perspectives through presentations and performances by top artists, writers and scholars. Tell us about a creative project, performance or other work of yours and how it reflects your vision or voice.

3. Thomas Edison failed many times before successfully inventing the modern electric light bulb. He said, “If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.” Reflect on a challenge you overcame through persistence.

Optional Short Answer

Please include a short response to one of the following prompts. (250 words or fewer)

1. Why would you like to attend Brandeis?

2. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis said, "If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable." Tell us about an unjust law (written or unwritten) that you believe should be broken.

3. If you could choose to be raised by robots, dinosaurs, or aliens, who would you pick? Why?

Essays

Please respond to two of the prompts below. One of your essays should be short (about 250 words), and one essay should be longer (about 500 words).

1. People find many ways to express their inner world. Some write novels; others paint, perform, or debate; still others design elegant solutions to complex mathematical problems. How do you express your inner world, and how does the world around you respond?

2. It’s easy to identify with the hero?the literary or historical figure who saves the day. Have you ever identified with a figure who wasn’t a hero?a villain or a scapegoat, a bench-warmer or a bit player? If so, tell us why this figure appealed to you?and if your opinion changed over time, tell us about that, too.

3. Carolina students conduct original research and work to solve problems in almost every imaginable field. If you could spend a semester researching a specific topic or problem, what would you choose and why?

4. Tell us about a group project in which you had to collaborate with your peers. How did it go?

5. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received or given?

6. Tell us about a recent dream. What do you think it meant?

7. In our history various people have taken stands against injustice, or what they viewed as injustice, often at great personal risk. Have you ever taken a stand against something you considered unjust?or if you haven’t, do you have an idea of what it would take for you to take such a stand? Please explain.

8. If you have written an essay for another school’s application that you really like, feel free to use it as your short or long essay for us. Please be sure to tell us (a) what essay you
are answering and (b) why you think this essay represents you well (your explanation will not be included in the word count).

Essay 1: In an essay of 300 words or less, please discuss your academic interests and/or professional goals.

Essay 2: In an essay of 300 words or less, choose one extracurricular activity, work experience, or community service project from the list you provided on the application and explain why you initially chose it, why you continued with it, and how you benefited from it.

Select and respond to ONE of the following topics:

(1) Please expand on an aspect(s) of your academic or extracurricular background that you feel is especially important to you and that will help us get to know you.

(2) Georgia Tech is proud to draw students from around the United States and countries throughout the world. This unique compilation of academic interests, personal backgrounds, and various life experiences creates an exciting and inspiring educational mix. Given your personal background, what would you hope to learn and contribute through becoming part of this sort of campus community?

The Rochester Curriculum - University of Rochester students enroll with no required subjects as they design their own college path. Write about the subjects and learning situations that interest you most, and how you intend to use your autonomy here.

Meliora: 'Ever better' - The University's motto, Meliora, directs our focus toward continual improvement through research, understanding, and collaborative efforts. Offer and example from your personal experience of an obstacle you faced or a problem you identified. Describe the actions you took and the result.

1. The University of Wisconsin values an educational environment that provides all members of the campus community with opportunities to grow and develop intellectually, personally, culturally and socially. In order to give us a more complete picture of you as an individual, please tell us about the particular life experiences, perspectives, talents, commitments and/or interests you will bring to our campus. In other words, how will your presence enrich our community?

2. Tell us about your academic goals, circumstances that may have had an impact on your academic performance, and, in general, anything else you would like us to know in making an admission decision.

1. Describe the world you come from ? for example, your family, community or school ? and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

2. Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

1. Describe the world you come from ? for example, your family, community or school ? and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

2. Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

Personal Essay 1
Write an essay in which you tell us about someone who has made an impact on your life and explain how and why this person is important to you.

Personal Essay 2
Choose an issue of importance to you?the issue could be personal, school related, local, political, or international in scope?and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community, or your generation.

There are three questions from which students can choose for their essay (below). Essays should be 250-1,000 words in length.

1. What are the qualities of a good leader? Use examples from your personal experiences to illustrate your particular leadership style.

2. Describe how your Purdue education would support the attainment of your personal and/or professional goals.

3. If you had a second chance ? the opportunity to do something over and do it differently ? what would you choose to do over and what changes would you make?

Attach an essay of no more than 500 words indicating what most influenced you to apply to The George Washington University (required of all applicants). If you are applying to an accelerated or special program, also explain why you are interested in this program at GW.

Please choose two of the following essay questions to answer.

1) All first-year students at the University of Maryland read one book together as part of our First Year Book program. This year’s book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn chronicles the courageous stories of women who, through education and microfinance strategies, were able to break free from oppressive situations. The authors show us how “social entrepreneurs,” both in the United States and around the world, create constructive social change through their innovative approaches to empower the women of the world.

　　　a. Do you think there are groups of people whose potential contributions have not yet been fully realized
　　　　or appreciated? What is something you have done, or would like to do in the future, to support one of these
　　　　causes or groups?

　　　b. Select your own book for the First Year Book program and tell us why you would want to share it with your
　　　　 classmates in the incoming class. Why does this book have personal meaning to you?

2) “Seek the fashion which truly fits and befits you. You will always be in fashion if you are true to yourself, and only if you are true to yourself. You might, of course, rightly wear that style which is emblazoned on the fashion magazines of the day, or you might not.”
　 - Maya Angelou.
There are no boundaries to personal style, whether it is expressed through the clothes you wear, the music you listen to, or the books you read. What does your style say about you?

3) “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” - Aristotle
The intellectual, social and cultural differences embraced by the University of Maryland are integral to the fabric of our community. The strength of the University is realized through the contributions of every member of our campus. We understand each individual is a result of his/her personal background and experiences. Describe the parts that add up to the sum of you.

4) According to Henry David Thoreau, “One is not born into the world to do everything, but to do something.” What is your something?

5) Write your own question and respond to it. Please be sure to tell us why you think this essay represents you well. (Your question will not be included in the essay word count.)

Why are you interested in The Ohio State University?

Essay #1:

Given what you know about Boston University, what do you hope to accomplish as an undergraduate here? Please respond in an essay of no more than 500 words.

No Supplemetal Essays

Rutgers University is a vibrant community of people with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. How would you benefit from and contribute to such an environment? Consider variables such as your talents, travels, leadership activities, volunteer services, and cultural experiences.

Personal Essay 1
Write an essay in which you tell us about someone who has made an impact on your life and explain how and why this person is important to you.

Personal Essay 2
Choose an issue of importance to you?the issue could be personal, school related, local, political, or international in scope?and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community, or your generation.

No Supplemetal Essays