50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays

The Role of Friendships
“I learned a great deal from writing my college application essay, more 
than I would have expected at the outset. Like most experiences, though, it 
was neither fully appreciated nor understood until processed reflectively.
“Writing my essay, which was about a trip to a science fair competition, 
gave me the opportunity—maybe even forced me—to reflect on the events 
and activities swirling around me at the time. not only did I recognize the 
role of this trip in the greater context of my junior year, but also I found 
certain gems in several, seemingly minor, events. Distancing myself from my 
experiences was impossible—I simply found myself retelling my story with 
a refined lens. This new perspective taught me a great deal about myself as 
well. I discovered how much friendships, despite their apparent brevity, af-
fected me.
“Additionally, I recognized the role of these friendships in molding my ex-
periences and perceptions. Fred, the main focus of my essay, showed me how 
the role of genuine passion could trump physical disabilities. I expect that this 
lesson would have never revealed itself had I not written my essay on Fred 
and taken the time to study the nature of his character.”
—Jonathan Cross, Duke University