Attending Vassar College Essay

It is an honor be part of the Geography department at Frostburg, and earned a 4.0 GPA in my first semester at Frostburg State University, and getting accepted into the National Honor Society. I was never an honors students. In fact, growing up involved a life of setbacks and challenges. School was very difficult for me. I was held back a year in first grade, and placed in self-contained special education classes, I been diagnosed with severe ADD and learning disabilities. While in elementary school, at one of my I.E.P meetings, the teachers told my parents that I would never make it to college and that as a teenager I could get caught up in drugs and possibly be suicidal, And, that I would need medications and to see therapists. Also, the

Although it may be clear the countless ways in which the Honors College can contribute to my goals post graduation, it is also crucial to acknowledge the ways in which I will positively contribute to the community as well. For one,

Pursuing a degree in Anthropology provided me with the opportunity to learn analytical techniques that facilitated an appreciation for unfamiliar cultures and belief systems. College shaped who I am today, allowing me to learn and grow in a challenging and fostering environment. Participating in service learning and study abroad had a profound impact on my education. Collaborating with the Appalachian Community Together (ACT) Office I participated in two Alternative Service Experiences (ASE). These programs allowed me to volunteer during spring break within the United States and abroad. Upon completion of my first ASE, I developed a drive to make a difference. Subsequently, I spent the next spring break in Granada, Nicaragua working with the nonprofit La Esperanza Granada teaching English in a local school alongside my fellow peers. This program was an extraordinary experience that had a profound impact on my outlook of service leading me on a path of personal growth and my commitment to serving the community as an active and informed citizen. Gaining the tools to effect positive change is my

I was first introduced to Vassar by an exemplary woman whom I’ve grown to cherish and admire: Elizabeth Bishop. Looking back on the day I was randomly assigned Bishop for an extensive poetry project in my AP Literature and Composition class, I couldn’t have anticipated the impact her story would have on my life. Not only was I enticed by her profound and eloquent poetry, but also her life as a whole -- the trials she faces and the milestones she reached as a prominent

Although critics such as Stanley Fish believe that institutes of higher education should not promote civic engagement, universities such as Duke University heavily push students to become more civically and politically engaged, even making certain courses have requirements to complete a service component. Numerous civic engagement programs exist at Duke that offer different services and opportunities for students to engage with the community. Duke University’s Center for Child and Family Policy offers a civic engagement program the School Research Partnership (SRP), which attempts to address issues of education inequity and achievement. To understand the vastness of civic engagement opportunities, I will compare SRP to Bass Connections at

In all honesty, it was not until last week when a stark white envelope was delivered to my house with my name printed in the top left corner that I would have considered myself to be an honors student. Prior to this moment, I had believed I was merely doing what was expected of me. Report cards littered with A’s and B’s kept mom and dad happy. I participated in clubs that brought joy to my life, introduced me to the people who are now some of my best friends, and allowed me to discover a passion for performing. I worked two jobs to help put food on the table during some rough times which taught me to tackle problems head on and allowed me to give back to my family. I’ve been fortunate for the opportunities I’ve had throughout my high school career; I value deeply what I have learned and the growth I’ve experienced, but I had never taken a moment to examine the true weight of what I was doing. My white envelope moment changed the way I thought. Throughout this past week, I have reflected on the qualities that separate me from any ordinary student and have determined that it is my grit and resilience that have catapulted me on to the path of the SNHU honors program.

One of the most admirable aspects of Wellesley College is that hugely ambitious projects are not only encouraged by the institution, but are assisted and funded by Wellesley. Ever since I was a child, I chased after dreams that were unrealistically bold. Most of the time they truly were unrealistic -- I have probably failed twenty times for every success I’ve had. While the few triumphant successes I’ve had are minuscule achievements compared to large-scale research projects or service trips, I realized through these experiences how much easier and motivating it would be to have an encouraging community supporting my goals. As a person who has had countless insane ambitions and will have many more in the future, I find the supportive community at Wellesley incredibly attractive and inspiring. One project I have always hoped to start is an art collective where different

Few things are ubiquitous about the perennial college search. Emails back and forth between admissions and prospective students, mountains of college mail, and a ritual of using every spare moment to write essays are some of the things that come to mind. This is not in vain, however. At the University of Chicago, I can look forward to more than overcrowded classes and tunnel vision in my field. With the Core Curriculum, I hope to go away from the archaic system of choosing a major and pretending that none of the research done

The acclaimed best years of a young adult’s life, holds within itself a paradox. Students can essential accomplish all the desires of their heart in college but at the same time these same individuals can falter under that same pressure and crack. Success is not easily attained; a keen sense for opportunity and the ability to utilize this opening are necessary. College presents a time frame in which students can develop this skill. Opting to take a course with a reputation for rigorous material and taking the necessary measures to thrive in that class will speak wonders about a student’s propensity to succeed. A small triumph such as this goes a long way in building a student’s professional

I seek a college experience that allows for inquiry and discourse to thrive; an institution that greatly invests in its undergraduate program and fosters an atmosphere of unrestricted learning. These desires make me gravitate towards the liberal arts, and as I narrow down my list of colleges, Dickinson stands out as a community I want to join. The emphasis on experiential learning, especially through studying abroad, corresponds with my aspiration to immerse myself in different cultures and ideas. An interesting and broad selection of classes, such as history courses that focus on pivotal events and time periods, parallels my eagerness to delve into a subject for an entire course rather than a couple of lecture hours.

My phone rings. “I got into Vassar!” my brother exclaims. “Vassar?” I respond. That was three years ago. Fortunately for me, I now know about Vassar College and I have seen first-hand how Vassar promotes growth by intertwining a diverse student body with dedicated professors. During my first visit in late October of 2015, I stayed with my brother in his dorm for a weekend. While I formally met the campus through a student-led tour, I found that I truly got to know it after I ate cafeteria pizza for the third meal in a row, and studied in the library for six hours straight (I aced the test when I got home). Acclimated to campus life in seventy-two short hours, I knew that college life - Vassar College life - was for me. While I will be majoring in film with a minor in Arabic language and culture, Vassar’s open curriculum allows me to take courses in different topics I am interested in (and trust me, there’s a lot).

As I was searching around the country for colleges to apply to, my cousin, who went to the Columbia Law School, recommended that I consider Columbia University. Initially, I was hesitant, thinking that Columbia was for the “ultra-nerdy” and only concerned about academics. However, after going to an informational session, doing research, and visiting the Manhattan campus; I discovered so much more about Columbia. One detail that caught my attention was the unique 3-2 Program that the college offers so that students can pursue both a Bachelor of the Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree. This is important to me because I cannot decide whether I want to pursue a scientific career or a job in education or political science, and this will allow me to attain both. Outside of the educational realm, I also loved Columbia’s location in Manhattan. When I visited Columbia, it was my first time in New York City, and I instantly fell in love with its cosmopolitan nature. Columbia’s New York location and its great historical reputation give a great opportunity for students to connect with businesses related to the students’ fields and find internships and jobs easily. Columbia’s reputation also gives it numerous connections with many global leaders, many of who are alumni. This not only gives students the opportunity to discuss real-world issues with those who make decisions, but also reinforces the fact that students set themselves up for a great life when they attend Columbia

Even though these articles covered a range of specific topics, they all seemed to center around students improving the community and using their education to immerse themselves to their community, which in turn collectively teaches life lessons they couldn’t learn in a classroom. As a Columbia student, I would join the Columbia Political Union, Columbia UNICEF, and the Columbia Community Outreach to further act upon my interest in service and activism.

Where: The Retreat and Deece. These areas are well trafficked by most of the Vassar student population, and we believe that individuals surveyed here are representative of Vassar’s student body with respect to our research question.

     Though, as of this point in my life, I do not yet know what career I would like to pursue, or even what general field I would like to study or work in. I do have certain goals that I know I shall work to attain. These goals are fairly common among most people. Such as the goal of financial security, and financial ability to support a family; the goal of continuous intellectual and physical competitiveness; as well as a goal of general well being, and happiness. In America, many people with these goals go to a college or university in order to achieve them. Their path has been proven to be effective, and so I too have chosen to go to college.