Elon University

Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family. “Food is the way to a man’s heart.” This surprisingly sexist saying has always been a coveted motto among the women in my large Latino family. The number of times my abuela disclosed … Read moreFood & Family

Choose a literary character who experienced a great personal struggle or challenge. Briefly describe this challenge and how the character overcame it. Why did this have an impact on you? Are there ways in which you identify with this character? One hundred and forty-eight years ago, in the midst of exile on the island of … Read moreThe Toilers of the Sea

What three objects would you use to describe American culture to people who have never been here? The grass brushed against my ankles and my backpack bounced with each step as I walked through the field. Through my sunglasses, I looked towards kids playing what I knew was soccer. With my school, I had traveled … Read moreHaitian Orphanage

What is one place in the world where you feel totally at peace? Both heels of my four-year-old, worn out, hand-me-down tennis shoes were propped up on the tree branch in front of me. In my lap, I held the seventh book in the Series of Unfortunate Events, and a half-empty bottle of water was … Read moreLog Cabin

If you were given $10,000 to invest in a project you are passionate about or a business or non­profit you want to start, what would it be and why? Who would benefit and how would you spend the money? “Acting is a spiritual quest to touch human beings” ­­ Larry MossActors hold a tremendous amount … Read moreThe Weight of Words

Tell about an experience that has shaped you as a person. “That song is so overdone.”“She is so fierce.” “I totally booked that audition.”Thespians have earned a reputation for being catty. Sure, we all strut like divas and belt the “Wicked” soundtrack, although privately wishing we could sing five notes higher. But as Drama Queens, … Read moreFail Forward

Challenges are often the catalyst for change. What do you see as the greatest challenge for your generation and how are you working to meet that challenge? I had no idea my boyfriend and I had broken up until my friends started texting me asking why. Confused, I logged onto my Facebook account. I had … Read moreA Challenge For My Generation

“Nature vs. Nurture” is one of the most debated arguments in history. Reflect on your identity and describe how concepts described in the “Nature vs. Nurture” debate have influenced who you are today. “E is for EMILY!” To most, this statement is obvious. But to a two-year-old learning her letters using colorful wooden blocks lined … Read moreNatural Learner, Nurtured Writer

College applications are often about listing achievements. We want to know what matters about you that doesn’t fit into a simple list or a box on this application. What counts in your life that’s not necessarily an obvious, quantifiable accomplishment? Monday: “We men are just better than the women.” And in that moment I zoned … Read moreTire changing and women in STEM

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? I slowed my car outside of the soup kitchen and looked at the parking lot. There was … Read moreSelfishness