A ONE Institute
Nov 13, 2024
Today, I’ll be sharing a post on how to craft your unique story for college applications.
When applying to college, one essential consideration is this: Is my story attractive to the college? Many students worry about whether they’re expressing a consistent interest in their intended major, and I’d like to share my thoughts on this.
For example, a student preparing for Pre-med might naturally lean toward a major in Biology and demonstrate a strong focus on science, particularly in the field of biology. This could involve participating in Olympiads, joining medical clubs, or interning and volunteering at hospitals. They may also engage in biology-related research to deepen their academic interests.
If a student is considering a major in Computer Science or Computer Engineering, they might showcase strong math skills, take CS-related courses, and join computer science clubs. Additional projects may include robotics, school website development, app creation, and other project-based activities. To demonstrate problem-solving abilities, they could also participate in USACO, AMC, Science Fairs, or attend Pre-College classes.
Is this, however, their unique story? Following a structured path of related activities can seem more like one example among many rather than a unique personal story.
To explain what I believe is important, let me use books as an example.
One such book is Scale by Geoffrey West, a scientist whose book I find fascinating. In a nutshell, the book introduces the idea that there are scientific principles governing the rise and fall of all life forms, nations, and organisms. One of the sub-chapters discusses how larger cities offer opportunities for cooperation and efficient development.
In The Mystery of Capital, the author explores why certain nations prosper while others do not. For example, economically undeveloped countries may have only simple laws and agreements concerning land, while wealthier nations establish complex legal frameworks for buildings, addressing safety, insurance, and financial backing, allowing for secured loans and stimulating economic growth. The Mystery of Capital highlights that countries with a structured financial “playground” for investment potential tend to thrive, while those without it do not.
Then there’s The Millionaire Mind by Dr. Thomas Stanley, who researched millionaires and compiled his findings in this book. When asked how they chose their careers, the answers followed this sequence: unexpected opportunity → trial and error → related to previous work → an opportunity missed by a previous employer. The book reveals that very few actually pursued their initial career goals; most found their paths through unexpected opportunities.
In Chemistry, we observe that reactions between substances A and B to form substance C only occur when the molecules collide in the right way. Reactions tend to happen more by chance when there are numerous particles, as seen in the top-right image, rather than fewer particles with less movement, as in the top-left. In this same way, meaningful opportunities often arise by chance; therefore, countries or companies with numerous complex relationships are more likely to experience beneficial change.
Summing up what I’ve discussed here: If we structure students’ activities or stories too rigidly, focusing only on specific related activities, they may succeed individually but miss out on unexpected opportunities. They may merely follow a set path without creating a unique story that combines various elements into something new.
One of our students at the academy, for example, began researching Guatemala, a nearby agricultural country in Central America.
There, the student met Guatemalan students, learned about the vast socioeconomic disparities in the country, and eventually traveled there to volunteer, creating a unique story that led to a positive outcome.
Another student interested in CS secured an internship in a congressperson’s office, working on statistics, data collection, and analysis. The student earned a recommendation letter from a high-ranking individual and achieved an excellent result from the experience. My point is this: instead of following a pre-set path, pursue diverse activities that allow for unexpected opportunities—opportunities that can become part of your unique story. Continue engaging in spontaneous activities to build a unique journey.
Today, I wanted to emphasize the importance of not missing out on these spontaneous activities that help create your unique story. For any questions, please contact us at A-One Institute.
Thank you!