Abstract
This is an admissions essay for a MSW degree. The applicant discusses her initial bachelor's degree in psychology and also her desire to help others. In addition, the writer discusses the death of her sister in a car accident, which led to her return to Brazil and her first job experience in the field for which she is now seeking a degree. The writer is an immigrant to the U.S.. and this theme is threaded throughout the piece.

From the Paper
"In 1985, a young woman with a head full of dreams and aspirations came to the United State. Like many other immigrants, she was in search of a better life for herself and her family. Today, this woman is still here writing this statement in order to fulfill another dream, to earn a MSW degree. When I first arrived, I dreamed of attending college, a dream that seemed impossible to me since I did not speak English and was not eligible for federal financial aid. Many years have passed since my dream finally came true. I was in college, at the University of Maryland, studying Psychology. The first day in college felt wonderful, seeing the classroom, the diverse body of classmates, the green campus, and the gigantic library - it felt like heaven. I was the first person in my entire family, including extended family to ever go to college. However, at that time I also had to work and raise my daughter as a single mother. I had to divide my time among so many obligations. I have to admit that having a high GPA was not my primary concern at that time but I truly believe that I did my best under the circumstances. I finally graduated a B.S in Psychology. It is a day that I often go back to, and reflect on my past, all the financial difficulties I experienced as a child, and all the sacrifices my family made so I could immigrate to the USA."

Tags:admissions, immigrant, psychology, social work

Abstract
The paper presents a rationale in support of an action plan for admissions counselors working with students entering high school. The paper also provides a reference point to be used in the plan's implementation, program goals and behavior objectives of the plan and looks at the subjects involved in the action plan. The paper provides an overview of the action plan and a proposed way to evaluate it, followed by a discussion of the reasonable expectations of the action plan if it was actually implemented in a public high school today. The author is confident that this action plan can provide the framework for high school admissions counselors to help young learners formulate the right decisions concerning their high school experience and beyond.

Outline:
Rationale
Reference Point
Program Goals and Behavior Objectives
Subjects and/or Audience
Action Plan
Evaluation
Expectations if Plan is Implemented
Milestones
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Graduating middle school students are faced with some important decisions as they progress through their early academic careers and enter high school, and the decisions they make during this period in their lives may well affect their academic performance and professional careers later in life (Barrow, 2001). High school admissions counselors are in an excellent position to help these young learners make the right choice early on, but because resources are by definition scarce, many public high school admissions counselors are faced with some profound challenges in trying to deliver timely and effective guidance to these students because of the dynamic nature of the workforce and the changing definitions of what constitutes a quality education in the 21st century."

Tags:decisions, education, career, achievement, advice

Abstract
In this admissions essay, a student describes his educational background and why he would be an ideal candidate to study graduate level mathematics. First, the student tells about his undergraduate math studies, and even relates how his interest in math began as a child. Additionally, the candidate describes the areas of math that he would like to study as a graduate student. The essay concludes with the student summarizing why he feels he is an ideal candidate for the institution's doctoral program.

From the Paper
"My interest in math began long before college. As a preschooler, a toy calculator was my constant companion. It provided hours of entertainment in the form of allowing me to solving algebraic addition problems. My older brother coached me in multiplication tables and the more I learned the more I wanted to know. When I began primary school, my teachers noticed my fascination with math and responded with challenging mathematical learning opportunities; the more complex the better. In high school, I instructors was often singled me out for my math abilities and I took the most demanding mathematics courses the school provided. My appetite for knowledge impressed my high school teachers who did their best to provide unique and enriching academic experiences."

Tags:graduate school, advanced mathematics, algebra, physics

Abstract
This is an admissions essay from a young person who has always been interested in the field of medicine, and has taken many mathematics and science courses as well as gross anatomy, physiology, AP physics and calculus during her school days. In this paper she particularly expresses her desire to work with children and youth of all ages.

From the Paper
''Even before I went to elementary school in Virginia, I used to go to work with my mother, a pheblotomist. I would watch her draw blood and ready it to go to the laboratory for testing. Whether due to this early experience with healthcare or because I already had an innate interest - back to the nurture or nature question - I took as many mathematics and science courses as I could during my junior- and senior-high school curriculum. These included gross anatomy and physiology and AP physics and calculus. My interest in the medical field was further encouraged by experiences with my pediatric dentist. I remember thinking that it was ``cool'' that a dentist could work only with children. He (she?) could focus on children's unique dental problems and spend time with each patient to explain what needed to be done in order to prevent more problems in the future or to eliminate the present issues. Children would feel less anxious about going to a dentist that catered directly to them, rather than to a regular adult dentist that could be intimidating.''

Tags:experience, healthcare, medical

Abstract
This is an admissions essay for prospective law students. It provides both a personal and professional background and includes an explanation and/or reasons for the drive and desire to enter a school of law as well as various options for applying to specific schools which stress different areas of speciality.

From the Paper
"This opportunity to finally put my abilities as a lawyer to the test was pivotal for me. Although I had never prepared a case for a real trial before, I was excited and optimistic. By examining every aspect of the case's documentation, gaining full insight into Russian taxation legislation, and applying my logical reasoning and judgement, I was able to prepare a strong argument supported by the statutes to prove that the actions of the Revenue Board were in fact unlawful."

Tags:specialization, jurisprudence, lawsuit, lawyer

Abstract
In the paper, the author discusses the relevance of affirmative action in college admissions, first introduced by President Johnson in 1965. The author says that affirmative action is a complex idea because it helps those who have been discriminated against but also creates the same problem that it is trying to solve by saying that race is a factor. The author then discusses why diversity is important in college, the positive and negative effects of affirmative action on dominant culture and the positive and negative effects on minorities. The author continues and discusses a number of issues arising from affirmative action before reaching a final conclusion. The author reaches the conclusion that whilst affirmative action is problematical, overall it has a beneficial impact on the ability of minority groups to obtain a higher education.

From the Paper
"I believe that affirmative action has brought social justice to minorities and helped root out discrimination which was one of the most important things that our country needed to fight against, but the fight for equal admissions to colleges should help raise the opportunities of minorities while not disparaging dominant culture or creating unfairness for them. I consider the college admission standards to be a scale, and years ago that scale was tilted towards dominant culture which gave them more opportunities than minorities had. Affirmative action is what helped to level the scale and I believe that it did that and is now raising the scale towards the minority side. Often when I debate this with people I hear the same thing "Well now you know how they felt years ago", or "It's compensating for past discrimination and slavery." Now I agree that slavery was perhaps one of the most horrible things in American history but to be blatant I do not know how minorities felt years ago during slavery and neither do the minorities living in this country today because slavery no longer exists. That is why I disagree with the idea of compensation for the basis of affirmative action."

Tags:racial, ethnic, black, hispanic, asian, discrimination, human, rights, education, constitution, equality, inequality

Abstract
This paper constitutes an admission essay into a specialized program. The essay itself is an answer to an open-ended question. The question asks if one could travel abroad for education, where would the author choose to travel and what would the author hope to gain from the cultural experience. In this case, the author choses to hypothetically travel to China and answers the question accordingly.

From the Paper
"If I had the opportunity to travel for my education or personal interest I would be most interested in visiting Eastern Asia, particularly China. I feel that I could learn a tremendous amount from the culture, people and historical sights in that area of the world. The Chinese have had an extremely rich and varied history, often struggling but maintaining a strong lineage of culture and pride. While they still sometimes struggle with politics and individual rights, they are currently emerging as an economic power in the world. The political balancing act that is constantly going on there is fascinating, and I would love to learn and see first hand what changes are taking place. Most of the information about China that most Americans see is from news sources taking a more global and Westernized view of things."

Tags:admissions, essay, travel

Abstract
This paper presents a personal account of one person's life experiences that led him to apply for admission to Harvard University. The writer describes his childhood in Romania and his life-long dream to enter into the field of law in order to better the living situation of the Romanian citizens who suffered deprivations under the former Ceausescu regime. The paper presents the writer's academic achievements and aspirations.

From the Paper
"In Romania, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to assist several practicing attorneys pursue claims of pensioners dispossessed of their homes and properties by the Communist Ceaucescu authorities. More than anything else, the experience satisfied me that, despite any cynical claims to the contrary, it is not unrealistic or "idealistic" to achieve socially relevant change and redress social or institutional injustices through legal means, even in parts of the world marred by political oppression and violence."

Tags:academic, university, studies

Abstract
This paper presents a graduate admissions essay for a sociology PhD program at the University of Southern California (USC). The paper begins by discussing why the writer became interested, as an undergraduate, in studies on race and identity and the societal factors that influenced them and how that led to his current interest in a career in academia as a sociologist. The paper then goes on to discuss why the author would like to pursue a PhD in sociology in USC's program.

From the Paper
"I would very much like, having now completed my Bachelors degree, to pursue a Ph.D in Sociology at USC. Upon completing my Ph.D., I would like to teach at the university level, and continue my work on race and biracial identity. USC is, in fact, my first choice of Ph.D. programs in sociology, since Los Angeles itself has such large diverse populations, including bi-racial ones. Should I be accepted to your program, I would make the most of my opportunity for graduate study at USC, which would, I believe, prepare me optimally to contribute gainfully to my profession in the future."

Tags:USC, inter-racial, academic

From the Paper
"This study will argue that the use of racial and ethnic preferences in college or professional school admissions are morally defensible. The basis for the argument will be the Bakke case and the Supreme Court decision on that case which clarified some matters on preferential treatment and left others unsettled.

The Bakke decision of the Supreme Court upheld the California Supreme Court decision which held that white student Allan Bakke had suffered illegal discrimination as a result of the specific University of California at Davis preferential treatment program which set aside a certain number of spots for "minority" group members. Bakke was admitted to Davis as a result of the Supreme Court decision, but the Court "reversed (the California) court's prohibition against taking race into account in any way" (Dworkin, 1985, p. 304)."