Prompt: Rutgers University–New Brunswick Honors Scholar
To be an Honors Scholar is to explore, learn, and engage at the highest level. If this describes you, we invite you to examine our website and then apply here by telling us: How have you challenged yourself to embrace new experiences and continue learning about yourself and the world? Also, how will your experiences enhance the Rutgers University–New Brunswick Honors community? Aim for about 500 words.
Essay
As the child of a history obsessed father, who happens to be an architect, I was always “dragged” to museums when I was younger. As a kid who would’ve rather be playing soccer with my friends, I was not thrilled about these trips. I remember visiting family in Italy and spending entire Saturday afternoons in the halls surrounded by the great works of Italian artists, totally unimpressed.
However, when I was 10 years old, my entire family visited Pompei for the first time. When I first arrived it just looked like a run-down city. But then my father started to explain what I was looking at. He told me the approximate age of the ruins and I remember being completely amazed by that fact. It was hard for me to fathom that I was walking the same roads that people nearly 2,000 years ago traversed. My father guided me through the ruins and showed me the artifacts that were miraculously preserved by the ash from the volcano. I was amazed to see the remnants of the daily lives of people which were cut short by the catastrophic events of that fateful day in 79 BC.
After that first trip, I have been almost obsessed with discovering as much as I can about the ancient history of Italy. I have traveled to Rome and seen the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Circus Maximus and the Pantheon standing proud as it has for centuries. I also visited The Vatican and the Sistine Chapel and admired the famous carving “La Pieta”. In Florence I visited il Duomo and was in awe of the sheer size of the building. All of these ancient buildings are fascinating to me. Each step through these streets feels like walking through living history, where centuries-old masterpieces tower overhead not in museums, but as part of daily life. It’s humbling and overwhelming.
I am continuously learning about the world and the masterpieces of history. I have learned a love for history that I protested as a child. I continue to embrace new experiences and new discoveries and love to share my experiences with anyone who will listen.
Coincidentally I had a full circle experience. On one of our trips to Pompei my father explained how he worked on a program in Naples to create the evacuation plan for the city of Mt. Vesuvius ever erupts again. I found myself reminiscing about us wandering the ruins and I thought how different things could have been if there was an evacuation plan in 79 BC.
Tips for Writing
When starting a college essay, the most important tip is to focus on a personal story that reveals who you are. First things first, you want to reflect on personal experiences. Think about moments that shaped your perspective or taught you something new. You want to think of experiences that have had a lasting impact on you. Next, make sure that your story is unique. College admissions officers read through thousands of essays, so you want to make sure that your essay is unique to you and isn’t something that somebody else could write. Make sure that the essay shows you and is authentic. Use your natural voice and avoid over-complicating your language. Let your personality and enthusiasm come through. Lastly, connect your essay to the future. Colleges want to know how your past experiences will contribute to their community, so make sure you show how your past experiences are contributing to who you are today and what you will do with them.