Sample Essays

Here are some of the college essays that our students have written in the past. Each personal statement showcases the following essential elements:

• the student’s personality

• a strong voice

• a global or broad perspective

• a sense of curiosity

• vulnerability

• ability to reflect and introspect

“A Magical Inter-linguistic, Inter-faith High Five”

It was a cold spring in Joliette, Quebec, and I was ten, meeting Aunt Dominique* for the first time. When we arrived, she greeted us happily, although I couldn’t understand any French. Then, she handed us colorful pastel baskets. Unsure what to do with the stuffed bunny and plastic eggs inside, I just smiled and said thanks. It was a confusing experience only compounded by looking out the window on the drive home. My parents say I asked them, “Why does everyone fly a Quebec flag, not a Canadian one? Where’s Joliette’s synagogue?”

Over the years, I’ve probed with more questions, and I have a better understanding of my place in our family’s homeland…

“Eating My Way through the World”

Wading through Singapore’s oppressive humidity, I spot an oasis: the corrugated steel roof and brightly-colored plastic tables and chairs of a hawker center. These bustling open-air markets represent the culinary diversity of Southeast Asia. As I pass vendors selling cool grass jelly and spicy laksa, I want to try everything.

But nothing compares to my favorite dish, Hainanese chicken rice. This Singaporean icon consists of flavorful rice topped with tender chicken. The chickens are fed specific diets and slow-cooked before being plunged into icy baths, while the rice is steamed with garlic and pandan leaves before being united with the chicken…

“Just Accept It And Move On”

“Just accept it and move on,” my mom said when I was eleven.

She, my brother, and I had been walking the crowded streets of Flushing when an elderly white woman had run up, screaming, “You don’t belong here! Go back to your country!” I quickly explained to my mom what had happened, translating for her. She looked at me with no sign of anger or surprise—as if she’d heard this a thousand times before. 

I tried to forget what had happened, to “move on,” but the memory stayed. It maddened me I’d stood motionless. Why hadn’t I stood up for myself and my family? Every time I relived the incident, a dark shadow made of fear and shame overtook my body... 

“This Man Is Not A Farmer”

Every day, a man checks on his plants. He inspects the shoots to determine if they are ready to harvest. He plucks a few leaves of lettuce, picks cherry tomatoes, and gathers strawberries—his daily reward. Then, he waters his plants and returns home.

This man is not a farmer; this man is me.

Being the youngest family member has numerous benefits: receiving more attention from parents, getting spoiled by grandparents, and learning from siblings’ mistakes. However, being the youngest child also comes with negatives. For example, my parents don’t permit me to go out much because I’m still the “baby.” I’m not allowed to get my own job, drive, or stay out late…