Blog posts on college admissions by Arjun Seth
Colby College application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
Fall 2015
First Year
- Early Decision - 11/15/2014
- Early Decision II - 01/01/2015
- Regular Decision - 01/01/2015
The questions for this college are not yet ready for completion. Thank you for your patience as the college and The Common Application finalize these questions. In the meantime, here are some steps you can take to make progress on your application:
Claremont Mckenna College application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
Fall 2015
First Year
- Early Decision - 11/01/2014
- Regular Decision - 01/01/2015
- Early Decision II - 01/01/2015
What influenced you the most in your decision to apply to CMC? Please limit your response to no more than 200 words.
Carleton College application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
Fall 2015
First Year
- Early Decision - 11/15/2014
- Regular Decision - 01/15/2015
- Early Decision II - 01/15/2015
Why are you interested in Carleton College and how did that interest develop? (no more than 250 words)
Carleton is powered by wind turbines. What empowers you? (no more than 150 words)
Now, for a bit of fun…
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you see the word (word association - just a few words):
Knowledge?
Play?
Future?
Have you ever tossed around…
a Frisbee?
a hot potato?
an idea?
California Institute of Technology application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
Fall 2015
First Year
- Early Action - 11/01/2014
- Regular Decision - 01/03/2015
- Please list three books, along with their authors, that have been particularly meaningful to you. For each book, please include a sentence explaining their influence upon you. Please note that your response is not limited to math, science or school-assigned texts.
Book 1:
Influence upon you:
Book 2:
Influence upon you:
Book 3:
Influence upon you:
1) Members of the Caltech community live, learn, and work within an Honor System with one simple guideline; 'No member shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community.' While seemingly simple, questions of ethics, honesty and integrity are sometimes puzzling. Share a difficult situation that has challenged you. What was your response, and how did you arrive at a solution? (200 word max)
2) Caltech students have long been known for their quirky sense of humor, whether it be through planning creative pranks, building elaborate party sets, or even the year-long preparation that goes into our annual Ditch Day. Please describe an unusual way in which you have fun. (200 word max)
3) In an increasingly global and interdependent society, there is a need for diversity in thought, background, and experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity of Caltech's community? (200 word max)
4) Scientific exploration clearly excites you. Beyond our 3:1 student-to-faculty ratio and our intense focus on research opportunities, how do you believe Caltech will best fuel your intellectual curiosity and help you meet your goals? (500 word max).
Bryn Mawr College application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
Fall 2015
First Year
- Early Decision - 11/15/2014
- Early Decision II - 01/01/2015
- Regular Decision - 01/15/2015
The Bryn Mawr Honor Code and Self-Government Association affirm the importance of our academic and social communities. In what ways do you see yourself contributing to the Bryn Mawr community and how will these experiences shape your time at the College?
Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in the space below. (Minimum 50 words, Maximum 75 words)
Brandeis University application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
Fall (August 2015)
First Year
- Early Decision - 11/01/2014
- Early Decision II - 01/01/2015
- Regular Decision - 01/01/2015
Spring (January 2015)
First Year
- Regular Decision - 11/01/2015
Please include a short response to one of the following prompts (250 words or fewer, not more than 2000 Characters)
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) What one invention would you uninvent if you could, and why?
For International Students Only
Brandeis attracts students from many corners of the world. As an international student at Brandeis, how would you enrich the campus community?
Bowdoin College application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
Fall 2015
First Year
- Early Decision - 11/15/2014
- Regular Decision - 01/01/2015
- Early Decision II - 01/01/201
How did you first learn about Bowdoin?
(Limit 100 characters)
In an effort to understand your interests and aspirations for college, we ask you to select one of the three topics below and provide a response of up to 250 words.
Bowdoin students and alumni often cite world-class faculty and opportunities for intellectual engagement, the College's commitment to the Common Good, and the special quality of life on the coast of Maine as important aspects of the Bowdoin experience.
Reflecting on your own interests and experiences, please select and respond to one of the following topics: ( 250 words)
1) Intellectual Engagement
2)The common Good
3) Connection to place
Boston University application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
September
First Year
- Early Decision - 11/01/2014
- Regular Decision - 01/01/2015
- Early Admission (juniors only) - 01/01/2015
January
First Year
- Regular Decision - 11/01/2014
In no more than 250 words, please tell us why BU is a good fit for you and what specifically has led you to apply for admission.
Additional Information (optional): Please use this space if you have additional information, materials, or writing samples you would like us to consider.
Hint: A .pdf file under 500 KB in size will be accepted
Boston College application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
September 2015
First Year
- Regular Decision - 01/01/2015
- Early Action - 11/01/2014
January 2015
First Year
- Regular Decision - 11/01/2014
We would like to get a better sense of you. Please select one of the questions below and write an essay of 400 words or less providing your response.
1. What contemporary issue or trend relating to politics, culture, and society, or foreign policy particularly concerns you and why?
2. Many human beings throughout history have found inspiration and joy in literature and works of art. Is there a book, play, poem, movie, painting, music selection, or photograph that has been especially meaningful to you?
3. Contemporary higher education reflects a tension between preparing for a meaningful life and preparing for a career. What are you looking for in your undergraduate education? Which emphasis is more important to you at this time and why?
4. “Magis,” a Latin word meaning \"more,\" is often cited in reference to goals of Jesuit education, which seeks to help students become better, do more, and have as much impact on society as possible. How do you hope to achieve the Magis in your life?
Bates College application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
September 2015
First Year
- Regular Decision - 01/01/2015
- Early Decision - 11/15/2014
- Early Decision II - 01/01/2015
January 2015
First Year
- Regular Decision - 11/01/2014
In addition to the Common Application essay, please select one phrase from the Bates mission statement below and comment on how it inspires you and draws you to Bates (1–2 paragraphs).
Since 1855, Bates College has been dedicated to the emancipating potential of the liberal arts. Bates educates the whole person through creative and rigorous scholarship in a collaborative residential community. With ardor and devotion — Amore ac Studio — we engage the transformative power of our differences, cultivating intellectual discovery and informed civic action. Preparing leaders sustained by a love of learning and a commitment to responsible stewardship of the wider world, Bates is a college for coming times.
Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences.