CONTENTS

Preface

On Writing the College Essay

Simplicity and Impact

By Amy Miller Harriman

Admissions Director, Randolph-Macon Academy

Front Royal, Virginia

You Will Like Me

By Brenda Lee Barr, MSEd.

College Counselor, Randolph-Macon Academy

Front Royal, Virginia

Advice from the Inside

By Fred A. Hargadon

Former Dean of Admission, Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey

How to Use This Book

By Thomas D. Harvey

Former Assistant Headmaster for External Affairs,

Poly Prep Country Day School

Brooklyn, New York

Essays on Applying to College

Charles W. Applegate • Jennifer Applegate • Eric A. Maki • William Meyerhofer • Arun Ramanathan • Karen Steinig • Kristin Ward

Essays on Coming to America

Anonymous • Sayantan Deb • Thai Pham • Nzuekoh Nvepowoh Nchinda • Baffour Osei

Drawings and Cartoons

Paul K. Min • Zoe Mulford • Jaeyong So

Essays on Death and Dying

Julie C. Cantor • Stephen Gripkey • Juliet Siler

Essays on Family

Angelique Henderson • Meghan Elizabeth Brooks • Anonymous • Lydia Bassett • Kelley P. Borden • Ellen L. Chubin • John R. Trierweiler • Julia D. Kyle • Deanna E. Barkett • Ron Lee • Kimberly D. Morgan • William S. Plache • Jacob Press • Leah S. Schanzer • Brittany Krupica • Susan Ashley • Michael Wechsler

Offbeat and Other Essays

Anonymous • Sarah H. Bayliss • Paula Bernstein • Matthew Brady • Adam Candeub • Theodore Grossman • Sam Liu • Scott Locke • Jamie F. Metzl • Eric Pulier • Brian C. Smith

Self-Portraits

Ellen L. Beckerman • Jordana Simone Bernstein • Arielle Simon • Ann Cox • Theodore C. Dros • Cody Corliss • Don Hoffman • Josh Jacobs • Joseph Libson • Heather L. Nadelman • Travis Hallett • Phillip Rodgers • Sara G. Silver • Dawn N. Skwersky • Julia Marie Smith • Dimitri Steinberg • Jo-Ellen Truelove • David C. Weymouth • Joanne B. Wilkinson • Srinivas Ayyagari • William Couper Samuelson

Essays on Sports and Activities

Whitney Lee • Shelley Ledray Bornkamp • Terrance Darnell Moore • Joseph Libson • Gregory Lippman • John C. Martin • Kimberly I. McCarthy • Mitch S. Neuger • Christine Richardson • Alexander P. Nyren • Dani Ruran • Peter Urkowitz

Idea Essays

Lindsay Grain Carter • Jennifer L. Cooper • Annelise Goldberg • Colin Hamilton • Alan P. Isaac • Ameen Jan • Anne M. Knott • Zoe Mulford • Kristen Mulvihill • James P. O’Rourke

Essays on Work Experience

Janet Dix • Celia E. Rothenberg • Mina Le • Ariel Fox

Essays on Experiences Abroad

Matthew Yglesias • Olivia Hung • Whitney Lee

Essays on Writing

Anonymous • Michael Chaskes • Nikolas R. Elevitch • Carol Zall