By: Undergraduate Applicant 28
Subject: Successful Princeton Applicant3

QUESTION: How do you think programs offered at Princeton might suit your particular interests?

I always liked small communities, because I always had more opportunities to share my opinions and to get to know other people more deeply. I felt more comfortable expressing myself and sharing my ideas. In a small community, I can more easily understand things and concentrate on what interests me most. Above all, small communities make me feel at home, secure, and safe.

When I first saw Princeton University’s booklet on my counselor's desk, I knew right away that I wanted to attend that school. Looking at the pictures, I gained a mental image of Princeton as a small liberal arts college with enormous opportunities for personal growth. The pictures attracted me at first sight. I could hear the discussions of the students sitting under trees and could feel the friendly atmosphere among students and teachers. I imagined the warm, inviting dorms being identical to my room at home. I decided this was the place where I wanted to be. In addition, I found Princeton University's course offerings fascinating, especially the math department’s offerings. As I continued to work towards a major in engineering, I could also study applied mathematics, which only few schools offer. Since mathematics has always been my favorite subject, I look forward to the opportunity of studying at Princeton.

OUESTION:If you were given the time and resources to develop one particular skill, or talent, or area of expertise, what would you choose to pursue and why?

Few people handle death well; my family is no exception. We were sitting in our living room and discussing my future educational plans, whether I would study in the US or not, when the phone rang. As my mother hung up the phone, I saw her trembling, trying hard not to cry. She sat on the couch and explained what happened. Grandfather had called to tell us that he carried my grandmother to the hospital because of a critical situation. We knew that she didn't feel well, but nobody thought the situation could become this serious. For a moment, I read the noticeable signs of guilt in my mother's eyes because she was 400 km away when my grandmother needed her. The coming days were not easy for us. My mother went to look after my grandmother at the hospital. Although my father tried hard to fill my mother's place, he had to concentrate on his business also.

We were waiting for a promising word from the doctors, but we received no positive feedback. They said that they would try chemotherapy but that they couldn't promise success. The cancer might destroy her. Meanwhile, the time was shortening. I had to choose between staying in my country or going to the US the mysterious and fascinating place whose pictures and maps decorated my room. The chemotherapy might last an entire year, and my mother had to stay with my grandparents through this process since she was their only child. That meant that my mother wouldn't be with us for one whole year and somebody had to take care of the housework. Since my father needed to support the family by going to his job regularly, I had to stay home to help both him and my little sister.

With this responsibility, I couldn't selfishly leave my family to study in the US. My mother painfully watched her mother become emaciated as the cancer advanced day by day, so I had to be there for her. As the months passed by, it was becoming more and more apparent that our waiting would end unsuccessfully and that the cancer would not be stopped. At the moment, I prayed to have the money, the time, and the knowledge to find the remedy for breast cancer so that my grandmother could be with us now and see her grandchild achieving her childhood dream of attending school in the United States.

By: Undergraduate Applicant 29
Subject: Successful FDU Applicant 19

Shakespeare once said, "We know what we are, but know not what we may be." While I do not know what my future holds or how I will spend the bulk of my adult life, I know that only education will give me the opportunity to detect my interests and enrich my soul. I believe Fairleigh Dickinson University will provide me with the perfect atmosphere for bettering my life and my creative abilities.

One of the most important factors that I look for in a college is a low student-to-teacher ratio and an accessible faculty willing to work with students. I believe faculty accessibility plays a key role in helping to inspire students to be passionate about their fields of study and in preventing them from growing discouraged from the work load or from difficult problems. At Fontbonne Hall Academy in Brooklyn, New York, I enjoyed friendly teachers and individualized attention, and I believe this attention contributed to making my grades as high as they are. My brother, Charles Ciccotto currently attends F.D.U., and his experiences with his classes and professors have been exceptional. I feel that I would also benefit from the eagerness of the teachers to help the students.

I also look for a breadth of program offerings in a potential college. Since I am not completely certain what field I will pursue, I need a college with a wide array of majors, but most of all, I need a college with excellent departments in the areas I am seriously considering majoring in. I am very interested in psychology, and for the next three months, I will be volunteering at the Dylan Child Study Center in Brooklyn, New York. There, I will be able to learn and gain a better understanding of what the job of a child psychologist entails. From this experience, I hope to gauge my interests in psychology. Since I have dreamt of becoming a psychologist since childhood, I am optimistic that I will major in psychology at F.D.U.. After asking many questions pertaining to the reputation and excellence of the psychology program at a recent F.D.U. open house, I found that the school has a strong psychology program and would provide me with an excellent background with which to pursue a further degree.

In addition to my interests in psychology, I will bring my background in swimming to F.D.U.. For as long as I can remember, swimming has been a big part of my life, and I have been swimming competitively for over eight years. I plan to continue swimming during my college years. When I toured F.D.U.'s new sports complex, I was thoroughly impressed by the magnificent Olympic-sized pool. After speaking with the swim coach, I was invited to watch a swimming practice and meet, and I stayed overnight with several of the girls on the team. Warm and friendly, the other girls made me feel truly welcome and encouraged me to become a part of the F.D.U. family.

After my visit, I realized I began to frame my college search with F.D.U.’s attributes. I want a college with a friendly "family like" environment that will provide me with not only a good education, but that will also build my future and provide me a friendly home away from home where I can grow as a person. I have researched many colleges and universities and when compared with my personalities and my goals, I find Fairleigh Dickinson University to be the best choice for me. I hope you will seriously consider my application and what I have to offer the F.D.U. community.

For two more general undergraduate essays please see Why take me?

By: Undergraduate Applicant 28
Subject: Successful Princeton Applicant3

QUESTION: How do you think programs offered at Princeton might suit your particular interests?

I always liked small communities, because I always had more opportunities to share my opinions and to get to know other people more deeply. I felt more comfortable expressing myself and sharing my ideas. In a small community, I can more easily understand things and concentrate on what interests me most. Above all, small communities make me feel at home, secure, and safe.

When I first saw Princeton University’s booklet on my counselor's desk, I knew right away that I wanted to attend that school. Looking at the pictures, I gained a mental image of Princeton as a small liberal arts college with enormous opportunities for personal growth. The pictures attracted me at first sight. I could hear the discussions of the students sitting under trees and could feel the friendly atmosphere among students and teachers. I imagined the warm, inviting dorms being identical to my room at home. I decided this was the place where I wanted to be. In addition, I found Princeton University's course offerings fascinating, especially the math department’s offerings. As I continued to work towards a major in engineering, I could also study applied mathematics, which only few schools offer. Since mathematics has always been my favorite subject, I look forward to the opportunity of studying at Princeton.

OUESTION:If you were given the time and resources to develop one particular skill, or talent, or area of expertise, what would you choose to pursue and why?

Few people handle death well; my family is no exception. We were sitting in our living room and discussing my future educational plans, whether I would study in the US or not, when the phone rang. As my mother hung up the phone, I saw her trembling, trying hard not to cry. She sat on the couch and explained what happened. Grandfather had called to tell us that he carried my grandmother to the hospital because of a critical situation. We knew that she didn't feel well, but nobody thought the situation could become this serious. For a moment, I read the noticeable signs of guilt in my mother's eyes because she was 400 km away when my grandmother needed her. The coming days were not easy for us. My mother went to look after my grandmother at the hospital. Although my father tried hard to fill my mother's place, he had to concentrate on his business also.

We were waiting for a promising word from the doctors, but we received no positive feedback. They said that they would try chemotherapy but that they couldn't promise success. The cancer might destroy her. Meanwhile, the time was shortening. I had to choose between staying in my country or going to the US the mysterious and fascinating place whose pictures and maps decorated my room. The chemotherapy might last an entire year, and my mother had to stay with my grandparents through this process since she was their only child. That meant that my mother wouldn't be with us for one whole year and somebody had to take care of the housework. Since my father needed to support the family by going to his job regularly, I had to stay home to help both him and my little sister.

With this responsibility, I couldn't selfishly leave my family to study in the US. My mother painfully watched her mother become emaciated as the cancer advanced day by day, so I had to be there for her. As the months passed by, it was becoming more and more apparent that our waiting would end unsuccessfully and that the cancer would not be stopped. At the moment, I prayed to have the money, the time, and the knowledge to find the remedy for breast cancer so that my grandmother could be with us now and see her grandchild achieving her childhood dream of attending school in the United States.

By: Undergraduate Applicant 29
Subject: Successful FDU Applicant 19

Shakespeare once said, "We know what we are, but know not what we may be." While I do not know what my future holds or how I will spend the bulk of my adult life, I know that only education will give me the opportunity to detect my interests and enrich my soul. I believe Fairleigh Dickinson University will provide me with the perfect atmosphere for bettering my life and my creative abilities.

One of the most important factors that I look for in a college is a low student-to-teacher ratio and an accessible faculty willing to work with students. I believe faculty accessibility plays a key role in helping to inspire students to be passionate about their fields of study and in preventing them from growing discouraged from the work load or from difficult problems. At Fontbonne Hall Academy in Brooklyn, New York, I enjoyed friendly teachers and individualized attention, and I believe this attention contributed to making my grades as high as they are. My brother, Charles Ciccotto currently attends F.D.U., and his experiences with his classes and professors have been exceptional. I feel that I would also benefit from the eagerness of the teachers to help the students.

I also look for a breadth of program offerings in a potential college. Since I am not completely certain what field I will pursue, I need a college with a wide array of majors, but most of all, I need a college with excellent departments in the areas I am seriously considering majoring in. I am very interested in psychology, and for the next three months, I will be volunteering at the Dylan Child Study Center in Brooklyn, New York. There, I will be able to learn and gain a better understanding of what the job of a child psychologist entails. From this experience, I hope to gauge my interests in psychology. Since I have dreamt of becoming a psychologist since childhood, I am optimistic that I will major in psychology at F.D.U.. After asking many questions pertaining to the reputation and excellence of the psychology program at a recent F.D.U. open house, I found that the school has a strong psychology program and would provide me with an excellent background with which to pursue a further degree.

In addition to my interests in psychology, I will bring my background in swimming to F.D.U.. For as long as I can remember, swimming has been a big part of my life, and I have been swimming competitively for over eight years. I plan to continue swimming during my college years. When I toured F.D.U.'s new sports complex, I was thoroughly impressed by the magnificent Olympic-sized pool. After speaking with the swim coach, I was invited to watch a swimming practice and meet, and I stayed overnight with several of the girls on the team. Warm and friendly, the other girls made me feel truly welcome and encouraged me to become a part of the F.D.U. family.

After my visit, I realized I began to frame my college search with F.D.U.’s attributes. I want a college with a friendly "family like" environment that will provide me with not only a good education, but that will also build my future and provide me a friendly home away from home where I can grow as a person. I have researched many colleges and universities and when compared with my personalities and my goals, I find Fairleigh Dickinson University to be the best choice for me. I hope you will seriously consider my application and what I have to offer the F.D.U. community.

For two more general undergraduate admissions essays please see Why take me?