American University

Explain a struggle you have faced in your life that helped define who you are “Aap meri choti shezadi ho, Hannah,” my Pakistani grandfather told me before I moved to the U.S. from Saudi Arabia. I was later able to translate his loving Urdu words into English: “You are my little princess, Hannah.” I am … Read moreMy Confusing Cultural Identity

The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? I have never loved math—in fact, it’s always been my least favorite subject. I spent years attempting to keep up with … Read moreThe 72 Point Trophy

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. The thought that nearly eight hours later we would be dragging a canoe through a swamp in the dark never crossed anyone’s mind as we began to film. Clad in American Revolution-era attire, my friends … Read moreLife in a Canoe

Why do you want to go to college? Looking down at the college preparation pamphlet laying on my dresser never seemed so dramatic, but with every word I read, and every page I turned, I could practically feel my future rushing towards me. As I approach the end of my high school I experience, I … Read moreWhy I Want a College Education

The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? I have no idea why freshman me signed up for debate. However, I marked a check next to “DEBATE1” on my … Read moreDebating My Way to Certainty

Personal Statement My mother was diagnosed with cancer. It all started in April of my sophomore year when she complained of exhaustion, nausea, a back ache, and bad breath. I remember the day perfectly. It was Easter morning and my mom was scheduled for a procedure to examine what was predicted to be a blockage … Read moreMy life defining moment

Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. When my mom gave birth to me, I weighed in at nine and a half pounds and measured twenty-two inches. One … Read more4’11 Forever

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. [Revised] My grandma thought I was going to die. By studying abroad in France, away from her care, I learned that I must be the one to make the most out of an experience, … Read more‘Ohana

Please write a personal statement. Please write a personal statement.The day Kurt Vonnegut died my friend Becca called me crying. “So it goes,” I said, and we chuckled in spite of our sadness. We had become devotees of Vonnegut since our introduction to Cat’s Cradle two years ago, and had long talked about holding an … Read moreNice, Nice, Very Nice

A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you. To the outside world, my high school is … Read moreThe Diversity of Thought