50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays

Trouble Writing about Myself
“I learned that I have a lot of trouble writing about myself. It’s a completely 
different experience than writing an essay in class. In addition, I learned to be 
proud of myself! I have done a lot!”
—Ariela Koehler, MIT
Thinking about My Brother
“In the process of writing this, I literally spent hours every day for months 
reflecting on my brother’s death. I have learned that reflection truly can be a 
very powerful thing. I do it every day—when I’m walking to school, washing 
the dishes, doing the laundry.”
—Timothy Nguyen Le, Yale University