NYU: Tell us why you selected your major or your area of interest. (500 characters)

70-word version
While wallowing in depression with my subsequent injuries in lacrosse, I discovered my academic ambition as I realized how paranoid and depressed professional athletes would be after a sudden injury...

NYU-Poly: How are you a `PolyThinker`? (500 characters)

96-word version
Although many athletes might argue that the body is more dexterous than the mind..., in my opinion, the mind is more capable than any ambidextrous limbs or sensory vitals of the body by far...

UW-Madison: Activity Statement
Briefly explain (in 50-100 words), how you decided which activity was the most important to you.

96-word version
As numerous thoughts crossed my mind during the idle and insipid weeks of recovery after my subsequent injuries in lacrosse, I realized how paranoid and depressed professional athletes would be after a sudden injury...

NYU: Please respond to each of the following questions using a maximum of 1,500 characters (spaces and punctuation included) in the space provided.
A. NYU`s global network provides students with hundreds of academic areas of interest for students to cultivate their intellectual curiosity and to help achieve their career goals. Whether you are entirely undecided about your academic plans or you have a definitive program of study in mind, what are your own academic interests? Feel free to share any thoughts on any particular programs or how you might explore those interests at NYU on any of our campuses. (1500 characters)

209-word version
Although it was exciting to watch my teammates play and I was always cheering on the sideline, screaming “Let’s go 학교명!” on the outside, on the inside, I was wallowing in depression. I could never rid of the urge to be on the field and absolutely despised the fact that I was injured...

NYU: Please respond to each of the following questions using a maximum of 1,500 characters (spaces and punctuation included) in the space provided.
B. What intrigues you? Tell us about one work of art, scientific achievement, piece of literature, method of communication, or place in the world (a film, book, performance, website, event, location, etc.), and explain its significance to you. (1500 characters)

258-word version
Although many athletes might argue that the body is more dexterous than the mind, and I do grant the validity of the argument as I can dodge round my defender with a feign move more often than not, in my opinion, the mind is by far more capable than any ambidextrous limbs or sensory vitals of the body...

UIUC: ESSAY #1
In an essay of 300 words or less, please describe how your past circumstances and experiences (such as your upbringing, community, and/or activities) impacted who you are, your future goals, and your choice of major. If you haven`t decided on a college or major yet, briefly explain your intentions and aspirations for your first year at Illinois.

UMD-College Park: The college admission process is an effort to uncover the aspects of your personality and experience that fit well with the University of Maryland community. When considering your approach to the following essay questions, think deeply about your answers, making them creative and succinct. We hope that you will use this opportunity as a time for self-reflection and intellectual meditation. Please choose two of the following essay questions to answer. Each essay should be no more than 300 words. Include the question you choose at the start of each essay. The question will not be included in the essay word count. Please include both essays in a single document before uploading.
1. Each year the University of Maryland selects a book to provide a shared intellectual experience for faculty, staff and all first-year students. The First Year Book provides an opportunity for community dialogue on a topic from the perspective of different disciplines, from the sciences to the humanities. This year, the First Year Book committee selected journalist Brooke Gladstone’s The Influencing Machine. Gladstone, perhaps best known as the host of NPR’s "On the Media," built a career covering the media in all of its intricacies. The book considers the role of “objectivity” and bias in the media, observing that we use social media to filter and make sense of what we hear from traditional journalism sources. Discuss a time when you witnessed the impact of citizen journalism in your community. What did this event teach you about the potential for an individual to influence public opinion?
2. The I-Series is the signature program of General Education at the University of Maryland. I-Series courses are lively and contemporary courses that engage students on contemporary topics about big issues in society. They challenge students to wrestle with big questions and examine the ways different disciplines address them. If given the chance to create your own I-Series course, what would the course be titled, why would you choose it and what material would you cover?
3. “Seek the fashion which truly fits and befits you. You will always be in fashion if you are true to yourself, and only if you are true to yourself. You might, of course, rightly wear that style which is emblazoned on the fashion magazines of the day, or you might not.” -Maya Angelou Other than fashion, what medium(s) do you choose for self-expression and why?
4. “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” – Aristotle The intellectual, social and cultural differences embraced by the University of Maryland are integral to the fabric of our community. The strength of the University is realized through the contributions of every member of our campus. We understand each individual is a result of his/her personal background and experiences. Describe the parts that add up to the sum of you.

Syracuse: Please answer the following questions on a separate document and upload it:
4. Our mission of Scholarship in Action, education for the world in the world, extends beyond the classroom to include engagement opportunities with our campus community, the City of Syracuse, and locations across the globe. Based on your interests, tell us what real-world experiences you might pursue during your education at Syracuse as part of this mission.

300-word version
My subsequent injuries in lacrosse rendered my resolve in athletics and academics useless time and again. But I was able to discover my intellectual vitality and scholarly ambition in just that uselessness as my heart and mind always revolved around sports...

UC-Berkeley: Respond to both prompts, using a maximum of 1,000 words total.
You may allocate the word count as you wish. If you choose to respond to one prompt at greater length, we suggest your shorter answer be no less than 250 words.
Stay within the word limit as closely as you can. A little over — 1,012 words, for example — is fine.
PROMPT #2: Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

439-word version
Although many athletes might argue that the body is more dexterous than the mind, and I do grant the validity of the argument as I can dodge round my defender with a feign move more often than not, in my opinion, the mind is by far more capable than any ambidextrous limbs or sensory vitals of the body...

Common Application: Personal Statement
Please write an essay (250 words minimum 500 words maximum) on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below. This personal essay helps us to become acquainted with you as a person and student, apart from courses, grades, test scores, and other objective data. It will also demonstrate your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself.
1. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
2. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
3. Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
4. Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
5. 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.
6. Topic of your choice.

PSU: Personal Statement (Optional)
Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at Penn State. This is your opportunity to tell us something about yourself that is not already reflected in your application or academic records. We suggest a limit of 500 words or fewer.

UT-Austin and A&M: Topic C: optional
There may be personal information that you want considered as part of your admissions application. Write an essay describing that information. You might include exceptional hardships, challenges, or opportunities that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, personal responsibilities, exceptional achievements or talents, educational goals, or ways in which you might contribute to an institution committed to creating a diverse learning environment.

UW-Seattle: D. Additional Comments
What else would you like us to know about you? You are not required to write anything in this section, but feel free to include additional information if something has particular significance to you. For example, use this space if:
- You are hoping to be placed in a specific major soon
- You have experienced personal hardships in attaining your education
- Your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations
- A personal or professional goal is important to you

493-word version
Although many athletes might argue that the body is more dexterous than the mind, and I do grant the validity of the argument as I can dodge round my defender with a feign move more often than not, in my opinion, the mind is by far more capable than any ambidextrous limbs or sensory vitals of the body...

565-word version
Although many argue that the hand is quicker than the eye, in my opinion, the mind is quicker than any limb or sensory organ of the body. Likewise with my experience in trying to bounce back from my subsequent injuries. Just as the mind can deceive your visual sense, especially in reading..., the mind can also deceive your resolve...