Barnard College: Community - educational, geographic, religious, political, ethnic, or other - can define an individual’s experience and influence her journey. How has your community, as you identify it, shaped your perspective? (1000 characters)

Rochester: Rochester Meliora: `Ever better` - The University`s motto, Meliora, directs our focus toward continual improvement through research, understanding, and collaborative efforts. Offer an example from your personal experience of an obstacle you faced or a problem you identified. Describe the actions you took and the result. (1000 characters)

991-character version: Barnard College & U of Rochester
Although I now speak the language fluently, when I first began learning Mandarin, it was not out of free will but of necessity to survive my childhood...

NYU: Regardless of whether or not you have an intended major or concentration, please elaborate on an academic area of interest and how you wish to explore it at NYU`s campuses in New York or Abu Dhabi or at one of our global academic centers around the world. Please share any activities or experiences you have had that have cultivated your intellectual interests leading you to choose to study at the NYU campus of your choice. (1500 characters)

1481-character version: New York U
Although I now speak the language fluently, when I first began learning Mandarin, it was not out of free will but of necessity to survive my childhood...

USC: Describe your academic interests and how you plan to pursue them at USC. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections. (approximately one paragraph)

292-word version: U of Southern California
Although I now speak the language fluently, when I first began learning Mandarin, it was not out of free will but of necessity to survive my childhood...

307-word version: U of Southern California
Although I now speak the language fluently, when I first began learning Mandarin, it was not out of free will but of necessity to survive my childhood...

BU: Essay 1 Please respond to one of the following questions in an essay of no more than 500 words: (5000 characters)

A. It is three weeks before the start of your freshman year at BU, and you are talking to your new roommate for the first time. Since you are trying to get to know each other, what are a few things you would want to share about who you are?

B. BU attracts students from more countries than are represented in the United Nations. Our global presence and reputation are important and are reflected in the perspectives, opinions, and experiences of our students. Why is this type of environment important to you?

385-word version:
Although I now speak the language fluently, when I first began learning Mandarin, it was not out of free will...but of necessity to survive my childhood...