1.what is your biggest challenge and growth during the past two years?

I feel that my biggest growth during my college application experience came from always exploring who I really am while writing my application essays.

While brainstorming ideas, my consultants and I reflected together on all the activities I did in high school and what they meant to me. That was the first time that I actually deeply thought about important subjects like why I did those activities, what they taught me, and how they will help me in the future. In turning my thoughts into words on the page, I slowly figured out my writing process while also discovering the answers to those questions. 

It can be said that writing these application essays allowed me to understand the meaning of my four-year high school experience more deeply.

2.How did you plan your extracurricular activity and essay?

Regarding application essays, I wrote intensively for about two weeks time during the summer holiday. Every day I would go to the assigned office to write, write, and write some more, and also repeatedly edit and refine my work. When I also brainstormed with Minmin, any questions I had could be answered correctly on the spot. As a result, my regular schedule during that time was to write a draft, immediately review and discuss it, and then rapidly receive a new version with comments and corrections. Working through this complete process step by step, I was able to work more efficiently and write about two or three essays each day. 

Regarding application essays, I wrote intensively for about two weeks time during the summer holiday. Every day I would go to the assigned office to write, write, and write some more, and also repeatedly edit and refine my work. When I also brainstormed with Minmin, any questions I had could be answered correctly on the spot. As a result, my regular schedule during that time was to write a draft, immediately review and discuss it, and then rapidly receive a new version with comments and corrections. Working through this complete process step by step, I was able to work more efficiently and write about two or three essays each day.

With regards to extracurricular activities, I served in a leadership role at my school, founded a humanities club outside the schools, among others. We created two paths: one for arts, and one for humanities, and also created specialized planning for related activities. In addition, we received resources for activities platforms and teams that worked together.

In terms of humanities, I was accepted to the prestigious Iowa University Summer Program and the Stanford Humanities Summer Program. These two summer programs had a profound impact on me. Not only did I met lots of like-minded friends and peers there, but these programs also helped me come closer to figuring out where my academic interests lay. I was able to better understand my academic path, which also helped lay down a good foundation for my college applications.

At the same time, I also contributed to America’s top student history publications under the guidance of my teacher. Even though I waited for quite a long time, I finally received the notice that my work was selected as the winner during the application season! I was really astonished at that moment, and immediately shared the good news with my family and teacher.

When I was in the eleventh grade before the pandemic, two other students who also loved writing and I started an online volunteer writing workshop series, under the guidance of my teachers. I took on the responsibility of teaching, and shared my knowledge and love for writing with young students.

In terms of art, I participated in a famous professor’s visual arts class hosted in China, while also establishing an art account on social media under the guidance of Minmin, who helped me connect with other like-minded students to work together on this project. We published articles about art appreciation periodically, which accumulated tens of thousands of views.

These experiences all served as material I can use in my essays. Up till the point I began writing my essays, I found that all the small details and passing moments linked together, telling the story of my four years in high school.

3.Advice for future students:

1) Choose a school that suits you, don’t put too much focus on prestige.

2) Plan to complete standardized testing early. I was lucky to have been done with testing by the summer of my tenth-grade year, and I found that my peers who took the tests later were quite rushed, and had to use valuable essay-writing time.

3) There are some things in applications that don’t need to be made perfect, such as standardized test scores or grades – as long as they meet a certain level, that is fine. Extracurricular activities and awards are the same, but of course the more prestigious credentials you have, the better. However, you don’t need to overwork yourself, or give yourself a hard time over just a couple of points and other insignificant details. Rather, you should spend more time and energy into writing good essays and advancing your extracurricular activities.

4) You need to be patient when it comes to writing your essays. Through the process of continuously revising your writing, you’ll have new discoveries and ideas.

5) Express your true self in your essays and in interviews. In the end, schools will appreciate you for you, and not because of flowery language or a false display. Showing your true self can also find a school that truly suits you – a place where you can happily spend the next four years.