Hey all! This is a collection of the supplementals that got me rejected from colleges. Maybe this will help and it’ll show you what not to do, or it’ll encourage you and show you that it’s okay to not be accepted into some colleges. Anyways, enjoy! It’s all going to be okay guys 🙂

Amherst College

1. Please briefly elaborate on an extracurricular activity or work experience of particular significance to you. (175 words)

My most significant activity is working at my school’s aftercare every week. I work with kids in Pre-K through fifth grade, and they always bring a smile to my face. Even when I’ve had a long day or a rough class just a few minutes before, their happiness and excitement to be where they are always makes me put things in perspective. We don’t do crazy things, usually just playing with blocks or a kitchen set inside, reading books, or going out onto the playground, but no matter what it’s stress relieving and fun. In all honesty, it’s not always great or perfect. Sometimes they don’t listen or want to go outside even though the weather is not conducive, but that never destroys their entire time. Seeing them and how their moods can only last so long before returning to positivity always helps me to remember that it’s best to not let one negative situation impact my whole day. Because it’s much more fun to play princesses in a good mood than a bad one. (175)

1. Option A: Choose one of the following quotations, and respond to the question posed, in an essay of not more than 350 words. It is not necessary to research, read, or refer to the texts from which these quotations are taken; we are looking for original, personal responses to these short excerpts. Remember that your essay should be personal in nature and not simply an argumentative essay. (350 words)
   1. Prompt 3: “Strong commitment to the freedom of inquiry lies at the heart of Amherst College’s mission to create a home in which the liberal arts may flourish. As a small residential liberal arts college that prides itself on the ability, curiosity, and diversity of its students, Amherst seeks to create a respectful environment in which members of its community feel emboldened to pursue their intellectual and creative passions.” – from the Amherst College Statement of Academic and Expressive Freedom Prompt 3 Question: Tell us about an intellectual or creative passion you have pursued; what did you learn about yourself through that pursuit?

When I was finishing seventh grade, and heading into the summer, I had the opportunity to take some classes for a few weeks in July to jump ahead a year in math. That meant that in eighth grade I would be taking honors geometry instead of algebra I. My parents had encouraged me to take the classes, saying I should take every academic opportunity available to me but in all honesty, one of the main reasons I took the summer classes was because one of my best friends at the time was taking them too. But five years later, all that has led to me taking multivariable calculus right now. I am really grateful I decided to skip algebra I because that set me on the path to taking one of the most interesting classes I’ve ever been in. I wouldn’t say I’m a mathlete or an aspiring mathematician, but multivariable calculus has pushed, challenged, and interested me in more ways than I can count. Transitioning from a 2D plane to a 3D plane and then applying the techniques of calculus but adjusting them to fit multiple variables is not easy, but it’s really fun to try. I love working to imagine surfaces in 3D planes and finding how they change and fitting the puzzle pieces together of not only having an x-axis and a y-axis for a surface to change on, but a third z-axis as well. So although I initially skipped a math class mostly to be with my friends, it led to me discovering some topics that I’m actually really interested in and finding a new love for math. I had never really seen myself as the smartest person in my math classes or the fastest to calculate a number, but that doesn’t really matter as long as I have an interest and passion in what I’m learning. That’s what I discovered; my passion for learning what I consider to be really cool math. (327)

Boston College

We would like to get a better sense of you. Please respond to one of the following prompts (400 word limit).

1. At Boston College, we draw upon the Jesuit tradition of finding worthwhile conversation partners. Some support our viewpoints while others challenge them. Who fulfills this role in your life? Please cite a specific conversation you had where this conversation partner challenged your perspective or you challenged theirs.

My dad and I have always had something we called “truck talk.” This was the place for 100% honesty and feedback, tough love and reality, and no it doesn’t always happen in his truck. I think this is where I have shared some of my opinions that I have been scared of. It’s not that I’ve been scared of what I actually think; I’ve been scared of the reactions the people close to me would have. I’m not saying this was a judgment free space because it wasn’t; but it was a space where my dad would explain what he thought and why we were agreeing or disagreeing. One of the best examples of our conversations is about a history essay I was researching in my junior year. I’ll admit, before I had done much research, I formulated an opinion about the war and conflict I was researching. I was looking into Desert Storm because it was a war my father had served in before he retired from the Army. I am proud of my father for fighting for the freedom of others and because of that, I have researched when he served every chance I could. And when I was entering this discussion, I definitely should’ve had some more background knowledge to back me up. I was sitting on my kitchen counter when I said “I think that Desert Storm was a pointless war and the U.S. should’ve never gotten involved”. As you can probably guess, that didn’t go over too well. My dad’s response was, “how much do you know about the war?” and then “you’re just flat out wrong about that”. I debated that if the U.S. had never gotten involved then there would be less Anti-Western sentiment in the Middle East, and that it was never their place to interfere. He introduced Kuwait and the invasion they couldn’t fight. This is where he brought tough love and reality into the conversation. Basically, he told me you don’t have enough knowledge about the war and its causes to say that, and he was right but he gave a place to start. Even though I had no idea what I was talking about, he helped me learn and educate myself. That’s why he is my conversation partner; he helps me make educated statements and teaches me to disagree with the knowledge to support it. (398)

Brown University

1. Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about any academic interests that excite you, and how you might pursue them at Brown. (200-250 words)

The aspect of Brown’s Open Curriculum that I am most excited about is being able to pursue multiple subjects at once, including my two possible majors (education and marine biology), while also pursuing some outside interests like astronomy, ceramics, economics, Spanish, French, Italian, ASL, creative writing, botany, anatomy, and forensic science that don’t relate to my major. Learning for me is something that is a never ending wonder and stimulation for my mind. I’ve always been a person who has a range of topics and classes I’m interested in, and a list of different career opportunities I would love to pursue, and I’m excited to test out an array of different classes and options. Another academic opportunity I want to pursue is studying abroad. I think learning in a different environment and culture rounds out your perspective and broadens your knowledge and understanding of what you’re studying. I know Brown offers multiple different opportunities to study abroad or assistance in designing your own excursion for what best fits your goals and needs. One of my favorite things about Brown is the independence and freedom you get in deciding your education, but also the resources that are available to guide and help you through that. And lastly, one of the most important opportunities I’m looking for is experiential learning, like internships or co-ops. As I’m taking higher education, I want experience in my field of choice so I can know I will enjoy and be happy in my field. (248)

1. Students entering Brown often find that making their home on College Hill naturally invites reflection on where they came from. Share how an aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you, and what unique contributions this might allow you to make to the Brown community. (200-250 words)

Growing up, my family and I lived in a townhouse community, primarily filled with older families. The average age of my community is at least 55. Although the one family with a baby and toddler may bring that average down a bit. As a kid, this meant I was used to living and sharing common spaces (like our clubhouse and pool) with a community. When I say there were no kids my age I mean it. There had been nobody else under the age of 20 living in my community for the first 15 years of my life. Both my high school and home consisted of  communities smaller than 200 people, so the idea of being around and living with a lot of people my age both excites and terrifies me. But I think my experience interacting equally with older adults at home and people my age at school makes me a good communicator. I am and will be a good community member because I have learned to acclimate and exist in a range of surroundings and people. I have made a lot of friends involved in different places and activities, which is one of my favorite things about high school, and I think will be one of my favorite things about college. So I think my unique contributions can be the connections I will make, what I create and the places that they will lead me to. (236)

1. Brown students care deeply about their work and the world around them. Students find contentment, satisfaction, and meaning in daily interactions and major discoveries. Whether big or small, mundane or spectacular, tell us about something that brings you joy. (200-250 words)

One of the things that brings me joy in my day to day life is working at my school’s aftercare every Tuesday. I work with the kids in grades Pre-K to grade one, and they always bring a smile to my face. Even when I’ve had a long day or a rough class just a few minutes before, their happiness and excitement to be where they are always makes me put things in perspective. We don’t do crazy things, usually just playing with blocks or a kitchen set inside, reading books, or going out onto the playground, but no matter what it’s stress relieving and fun. One of their favorite things, and mine, is playing on the swings. It’s the easiest way to just have fun and get involved. Playing rollercoaster is obviously a fan favorite. The game is pulling the swing back while making a “ticking” noise, like a rollercoaster, and letting them go at the peak. In all honesty, it’s not always great or perfect. Sometimes they don’t listen or just want to go outside even though the weather is not conducive, but that never destroys their entire time. If anything, it lasts maybe 10 or 20 minutes. Seeing them and how their moods can only last so long before returning to positivity always helps me to remember that it’s best to not let one negative situation impact my whole day. Because it’s much more fun to play princesses in a good mood than a bad one. (249)

1. Help us get to know you better by reflecting briefly on each of the questions below. We expect that answers will range from a few words to a few sentences at most.

What three words best describe you? (3 words)

Creative, organized, passionate (3)

1. What is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it? (100 words)

I think my most meaningful extracurricular is volunteering with Why Me, a nonprofit organization that supports families affected by childhood cancer. I know it’s a bit cliché to say volunteering, but the hug I get every time I see one of the kids really  means the world to me, and makes it the most meaningful thing I do. Interacting with kids and helping them to have a good day fills me with happiness and satisfaction to know that I helped them and made their days better. (86)

1. If you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be? (100 words)

If I could teach a class on anything, I would teach it on music. I don’t mean a music class like teaching an instrument, as I’m currently trying to teach myself piano, but more referring to musical and lyrical choices that the artist made. Music has always been a comfort to me and something I enjoyed talking about, whether it be the double meanings of lyrics or how a description’s imagery contributes to the emotions of the song. I think it could be a really interesting seminar style class that I personally would love to teach or participate in. (99)

1. In one sentence, Why Brown? (50 words)

When I visited Brown and walked around the campus with our guide, I could hear myself in the way she described the student body and her classmates, and I could see myself in the quads and being friends with the people I met there. (44)

Dartmouth College

1. Dartmouth celebrates the ways in which its profound sense of place informs its profound sense of purpose. As you seek admission to Dartmouth’s Class of 2028, what aspects of the College’s academic program, community, and/or campus environment attract your interest? In short, why Dartmouth? (100 words)*

One of the main reasons I was attracted to Dartmouth is because of the close knit community. Coming from a small and close school, it would be a comfort to enter into a similar community. From there, after looking into what it offers more, the flexibility students have in customizing their terms is something I could see myself taking advantage of. I also am excited to write for The Dartmouth, as I was a head of my school’s publication, and learning more about the breakfast club. I will definitely be a loud supporter of the hockey teams, bringing my spirit. (98)

1. “Be yourself,” Oscar Wilde advised. “Everyone else is taken.” Introduce yourself. (250 words)

My name is Sophia Gendron. I’m an only child but my family has had pets my whole life. When people ask if I’m a dog or cat person, I don’t choose but if I had to explain it I’d probably say: I resemble a cat, but I want a dog. I love to read, and one of my favorite books is The Book Thief, which my dad introduced me to when I was younger. I love when books involve the narrator and point them out, like Death in The Book Thief. I love to travel, and I went to Italy with my mom last summer. I’m pretty good in language classes, and while I was visiting Italy I picked up a few words and phrases (specifically how to ask for a small cone of gelato). I’ve been going to my school, Bancroft, for the majority of my life and I’ve built some really strong friendships here that mean a lot to me. I love listening to music and have a pretty wide range of genres I like, from my dad’s rock of the 80’s to Taylor Swift to The Backseat Lovers. I wouldn’t say I’m naturally an extrovert, but once you get to know me and I’m comfortable with you, I am. In most other settings I’d say I’m a talkative introvert. I love getting flowers for any occasion and giving gifts, but I get nervous receiving both. Salty foods are my favorites, but I love a bit of sweet. (250)

1. Celebrate your nerdy side. (250 words)

In math class, we were handed a sheet of paper with practice problems. We had some spirited debate in class and lots of contradicting ideas. At the end of the class, we asked our teacher and boom, I was right. Later that day, my robotics team was discussing the highlights of our days, and my highlight was getting the problem right in class. I was so excited to understand the material, that I started to explain the problem to my team and dive into my line of thinking and why people disagreed or doubted it. They were a little lost, but happy I was excited about math. And then, while Christmas shopping, I was holding a bag by one handle and walking, and I started thinking about physics. In my physics class, we had just finished discussing forces and how they can be applied on a system. So I started thinking, if the bag was my system, I could see two forces acting on it: tension from my hand to the bag handle (which points directly up parallel my arm) and gravity pulling the bag down. Then when I stepped it would swing, and so as I walked I was thinking if the mass was heavy enough to break the bag handle or cause so much swinging, the things it was holding would fall out (neither was true). I told my friends about these inner thoughts and they called me crazy for thinking about physics over break. (247)

Duke University

1. What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you?  If there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well. (250 word limit)

I think Duke is an inclusive and encouraging community. It seems like a place where differences and interests are encouraged, and students are inspired to pursue their interests in whatever way they hope to. One of the reasons I consider it a good match for me is because I have many different interests I hope to pursue in college and I think Duke could foster that curiosity. One of the specific opportunities there that I think fits me perfectly is the Duke University Marine Lab. Marine Biology is what I’m currently planning on concentrating in, but even if I decide against majoring in it, Duke allows students to take classes there for a semester. It seems like a really cool opportunity and I would be really excited to participate in that. Duke also offers a minor in education (elementary specifically), which is a career I am considering doing later on. Another reason Duke and I are a good match, students at Duke have said it’s pretty easy to double major or fit a major and a minor together, so I could easily pursue both education and marine biology, which is one of my main goals and hopes from the colleges I’m looking at. One of the other reasons I think Duke and I are a good fit is because I think it’s a school that values education academically and experientially, meaning both experiences in the field you will be working in and within your community. (245)

1. Please describe your gap year plans as you currently are considering them. You are not making a commitment to these plans (250 word limit)

If I took a gap year, I would probably spend it working and traveling. There are a lot of programs that combine work and travel, which in total provides a lot of life and learning experiences in general. I think if I decided to take a gap year, I would spend most of my time doing that, and if it ended early I would work a job to save some money for schooling. Earning money and job experience is a good way to gain life experience and general knowledge about how to work a job and do things like pay bills and taxes, and I think it’s something that gets overlooked and would be a good use of time. I think nowadays the value of work experience has become underrated, but it’s something I need to learn. I would also continue taking classes like Spanish or online beginning college courses, that way I could keep up good study habits in the time between my schooling. (165)

Choose two

1. Perspective response
   We believe a wide range of personal perspectives, beliefs, and lived experiences are essential to making Duke a vibrant and meaningful living and learning community. Feel free to share with us anything in this context that might help us better understand you and what you might bring to our community.

I have never lived near or with anyone my age. Growing up, my family and I lived in a townhouse community, primarily filled with older families. The average age of my community is at least 55. Although the one family with a baby and toddler may bring that average down a bit. As a kid, this meant I was used to living and sharing common spaces (like our clubhouse and pool) with a community. When I say there were no kids my age I mean it. There had been nobody else under the age of 20 living in my community for the first 15 years of my life. Both my high school and home consisted of  communities smaller than 200 people, so the idea of being around and living with a lot of people my age both excites and terrifies me. But I think my experience interacting equally with older adults at home and people my age at school makes me a good communicator. I am and will be a good community member because I have learned to acclimate and exist in a range of surroundings and people. I have made a lot of friends involved in different places and activities, which is one of my favorite things about high school, and I think will be one of my favorite things about college. So I think my unique contributions can be the connections I will make, what I create and the places that they will lead me to. (248)

1. Being different
   We recognize that “fitting in” in all the contexts we live in can sometimes be difficult. Duke values all kinds of differences and believes they make our community better. Feel free to tell us any ways in which you’re different, and how that has affected you or what it means to you.

I am an only child. I have brown hair, brown eyes, I’m average height and weight and fit most of the stereotypes of an American teenage girl. I love Tay-Tay (Taylor Swift), and cheesy rom-coms on Netflix. I check the boxes in so many ways and I don’t mind it. I love all these things-I can’t say shamelessly, because no one likes admitting they cry to The Fault in Our Stars, but wholeheartedly. While this may not make me different, these are things that influence “fitting in”. Most of my friends are not Tay-Tay fans, but listen to J. Cole and Tyler the Creator, so I’ve listened to both of those. Instead of staying within the boxes I’ve checked, the people around me have expanded what I thought I considered things like my music taste. The moral of what I’m trying to say here is that while I think I’m not different, the people around me help me realize I am. They help me discover new parts of myself and in return I share some of the things that make me. (181)