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3 Tips to Write Your Stanford Roommate Essay

College Essays

Are you preparing your college application for Stanford University? If so, you've probably heard about the Stanford roommate essay, which you must complete as part of your application. The Stanford roommate essay is a unique essay that asks every applicant to write a letter to their future roommate.

In this article, we'll talk about what the Stanford roommate essay is, show several Stanford roommate essay examples, and offer tips for making your response stand out from the thousands of other Stanford applicants.

What Is the Stanford Roommate Essay?

The Stanford roommate essay is one of four essays you must write as part of your Stanford University college application.

Let's take a look at the actual text for this essay question:

"Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better."

The Stanford letter to roommate prompt has a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 250 words. Other than that, there are no specific guidelines for how you should answer the question.

What Is the Stanford Roommate Essay Question Asking (and Why)?

Since Stanford doesn't give any specific examples of what they're looking for in responses to the Stanford roommate essay prompt, you might be wondering what you should write about for the question and why they're asking it in the first place.

The Stanford roommate essay is definitely unique—and you should take that as license to write about topics you otherwise wouldn't in your college application.

The admissions committee includes this prompt to get an idea of what you're like with your peers, as well as how you'll fit in with Stanford's student body. This prompt is an opportunity to show a different side of yourself than what you emphasize in the rest of your application.

The question isn't concerned with your plentiful extracurricular achievements or spotless academic record; rather, it's asking about what you do after you're finished studying or practicing. What do you like to do when you're just relaxing? How do you spend your free time? How do you interact with your peers? What are the quirks that make you you ?

Asking this question gives the admissions committee a better picture of the whole you, rather than just the student who will be attending class.

This essay question is a great opportunity to talk about unique aspects of your personality and interests that weren't showcased in the rest of your application. If you have a special talent for, say, sketching woodland creatures in latte art, this essay is the time to share that.

If you've always wanted to write about your love for video games, your Stanford roommate essay is the time and place to do so.

Stanford Roommate Essay Examples, Analyzed

Stanford roommate essays look very different from other types of college application essays. It's not often that you read about a student's aptitude for a frog impression or their addiction to Bubble Trouble in a college essay.

Let's take a look at two different Stanford roommate essay examples (both of which resulted in admission to Stanford) and see what made each of them stand out.

Stanford Roommate Essay Example 1

This Stanford roommate essay example comes to us from Reddit user u/ChunkySpaghettiSauce . ChunkySpaghettiSauce wrote this essay as part of his 2016 Stanford application. He was accepted to Stanford.

Dear Future Roommate,

First things first: my Starburst is our Starburst.

Feel free to grab some (but don't touch the lemon) off my desk whenever. I hope this works the other way around too.

I have my own quirks as do most people. For starters, I can do a hyper-realistic frog impression. (Don't worry, I'll chase out any frogs that happen to hop inside.) Also, I prefer socks and sandals over sneakers because I like having a breeze around my toes.

You'll often find me reading old issues of Model Airplane News or munching on weirdly delicious food combos such as strawberries and black pepper. I hum minor-key Bach fugues while studying but sing Disney songs in the shower. I can probably make you groan with terrible interdisciplinary science jokes. For example, what happens when a mosquito bites a mountain climber? Nothing; vectors cannot cross scalars.

Beethoven is my jam and l often subconsciously start humming along to his symphonies. I may even start trumpeting "BAAA DAA DAA DUMMMM" when the brass comes in. If I start humming or trumpeting while you're studying for your o-chem final, tell me and I'll stop.

If you don't mind biking out on 3AM donut runs (lemon cream filled is my favorite, by the way), we'll get along just fine. Here's to four years of groaning over p-sets and doing everything we can to keep fun alive, even if it appears to be on life support during finals week.

Let's take a look at what makes this essay great.

First of all, the writer includes very specific details that make him easily identifiable and relatable. After reading this essay, you get a great idea of what the student would be like as a roommate. You can picture him having a bowl of Starburst on his desk and storing his bike at the foot of his bed.

Above all, your Stanford roommate essay should paint a full picture of who you are as a person.

This essay does an excellent job of describing the writer holistically. In addition to talking about his academic interests, it shows what he's like after the problem sets are completed and the homework is turned in.

The juxtaposition of the phrase "four years of groaning over p-sets" with "everything we can to keep fun alive" shows that the student will not only work hard but also take part in Stanford's campus life.

The writer peppers in specific examples, such as his favorite flavor of donut, which add realism and personality to the essay. By the time you're finished reading it, you get the feeling that this essay couldn't have been written by anyone else but its original author.

Stanford Roommate Essay Example 2

This Stanford roommate essay example comes to us by way of a HuffPost blog post.

TO MY FUTURE ROOMMATE:

IF YOU HAVE EVER—

l. Kidnapped your best friend at 3:00 a.m. with a bunch of buddies and taken him/her for an emergency milkshake run?

2. Made snow angels in the nude on the school ski trip when it's 0 degrees outside?

3. Told tourists that if they "pee in the ocean," they'll attract great white sharks?

4. Re-enacted Monty Python and the Holy Grail in its entirety before your history class?

5. Taken apart your broken MP3 because you are sure that you can fix it?

6. In the middle of the summer, dressed up in all of your ski clothes, gone to the nearest 7-Eleven to buy ice blocks and joined your friends to slide down the nearest grassy hill, all the while complaining how cold it is?

l. Memorized the first half of Whitman's Song of Myself , because there was nothing better to do?

2. Spent three days arguing with your friends about the socio-political ramifications of the word "Chick?"

3. Stayed up until 5:00 a.m. because the conclusion of your English paper just wasn't right?

4. Received a parking ticket because you had to respond to a piece of racist graffiti in a public bathroom?

5. Spent the entire day at a cafe re-reading a book by your favorite author?

6. When you were a second grader, explained to a classmate's mother why you thought screaming at her kid was inappropriate while she threatened to spank you for being so insolent—

THEN WE'RE GOING TO GET ALONG JUST FINE!

You can tell right away that this essay isn't your normal college application essay. The writer is playing around with structure, tone, and voice.

The Stanford roommate essay is a great place to break from traditional essay rules. You don't need five fleshed-out paragraphs here; you can write in a way that feels authentic to you as an applicant.

Remember, this essay is written to your roommate, not to your parents or your teachers. You talk differently to people your own age than you do to people of other ages. Your writing should reflect that.

Another thing that this essay achieves is specificity. Each of the incidents the writer describes is vivid and real. Instead of saying that he or she "works hard on an English paper," the author describes staying up until 5:00 a.m. to correct the assignment. Instead of saying that he or she loves spending time with friends, the essay describes a specific incident that perfectly illustrates that point.

Being specific adds authenticity to your work and fleshes you out as a person.

Finally, the author does a masterful job of peppering in information about his or her habits as a student in a fun and playful way. For instance, the anecdote about taking apart the MP3 player indicates curiosity, a trait highly prized by the Stanford admissions committee.

Similarly, the anecdote about staying up late to finish an English paper shows that the student works very hard and cares about grades and the quality of submitted assignments.

Potential Topics for Your Stanford Roommate Essay

We know what your Stanford letter to roommate essay shouldn't be: a long-winded, formal recollection of your greatest achievements as a high school student. But what should you write about then? Let's take a look at potential topics for your Stanford roommate essay.

#1: Your Unique Quirks

Your Stanford roommate essay is a great time to show off your unique quirks.

Do you do 30 pull-ups before going to bed each night? Meditate each morning? Always slightly underbake your cookies?

Whatever the quirk, the Stanford roommate essay is a great place to share it. Bonus points if it's funny!

Don't just think about the quirk itself but the motivation behind it: do you do 30 pull-ups because you're looking to increase your strength to try out for college intramural sports? Do you underbake your cookies because your grandma always did it that way?

Adding that extra spin to the description helps to round you out and gives an extra opportunity to share more about your interests and motivations.

#2: Your Relationship With Your Peers

The admissions committee wants to get a sense of how you'll fit in on Stanford's campus—not just in the academic classes but in the overall community as well.

The Stanford roommate essay is a great place to discuss your relationships with people your age.

You can talk about how you interact with your classmates. Maybe you formed a relationship with another student who you always stayed late after band to practice with. Or maybe you formed a homework club with other students who also sucked at Latin.

You can also talk about how you interact with your friends. You can share funny stories about ordering too much food while going out to eat, or how you guys always get front-row seats for the latest Marvel movie.

Remember, the examples you pick should show that you're a well-rounded and fun person. If the rest of your application focuses on your academic achievements, then you'll want to talk about something different in your Stanford roommate essay.

#3: Your Favorite Things to Do Just for You

The rest of your Stanford application will indicate your academic and extracurricular achievements. This essay is a great place to show what you do for you .

Maybe you spend every Friday night building out a new board game or write fanfiction on Tumblr. Maybe you're teaching yourself Photoshop or like watching YouTube videos about photographers. Maybe you read lots of fitness blogs and are chasing a new marathon PR, even if you don't run track on your school's team. Maybe you just watch a lot of Netflix.

Whatever you like to do for fun, the Stanford roommate essay is a great place to share it. Talk about how you spend your down time and what you like to do to relax.

3 Essential Tips for Writing Your Stanford Roommate Essay

While your Stanford letter to roommate essay can and should look different from the responses of your peers, there are certain tips you can keep in mind when completing the assignment to ensure that you produce the highest quality essay possible.

#1: Be Specific

Your Stanford roommate essay should paint a very specific and vivid portrait of who you are as a person.

The point of a college essay is for the admissions committee to have the chance to get to know you beyond your test scores, grades, and honors. Your Stanford roommate essay is your opportunity to make yourself come alive for the essay readers and to present yourself as a fully fleshed-out person.

Don't try to emulate what you think the committee wants to hear or try to act like someone you're not.

Stick to telling real stories about the person you really are, not who you think Stanford wants you to be. The more details you can add, the more real you'll seem.

#2: Be Real

Don't worry about sounding impressive in your Stanford roommate essay. The admissions committee isn't expecting every student to spend their time Googling strategies for world peace or outlining their best-selling novel (unless that's what you're actually doing).

Don't try to make yourself seem more important than you actually are. If you try to make things up to sound better, you'll come across phony and insincere.

The admissions committee would much rather read about the real you—the one who spent 20 hours writing and recording a theme song for your volleyball team—than a made-up person who you think the admissions committee wants to see.

#3: Proofread

It should almost go without saying, but you want to make sure your Stanford roommate essay is the strongest example of your work possible. Before you turn in your Stanford application, take time to edit and proofread all your essays.

Your work should be free of spelling and grammar errors, so don't forget to run your essays through a comprehensive spelling and grammar check.

It's a good idea to have someone else read your Stanford roommate essay, too. You can seek a second opinion on your work from a parent, teacher, or friend. Ask them whether your work represents you as a student and person.

Then, have them check to ensure you haven't missed any small writing errors. Having a second opinion will help your work be the best it can be.

Remember, even though your Stanford roommate essay should be fun, it still needs to be well written!

What's Next?

Wondering what a good SAT score is? Check out our post on how to set your goal score based on the schools you want to get into.

Wondering what you should do to make your application stand out even more? Check out this guide to four amazing extracurricular activities and learn why they're so important to colleges.

Trying to decide between taking community college classes and AP classes? Wondering which one looks better on college applications? Read our guide for a complete overview of both .

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Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

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College essay resources

Stanford university supplemental roommate essay guide and examples, work on school supplements.

Brad Schiller

Stanford admissions officers are always thinking about admitting the most successful class that they can. Even when they ask “fun” questions, such as their classic "Roommate essay." Despite our use of scare quotes, this question actually can be a lot of fun. Our big concern, as college essay coaches , is that you don’t take Stanford seriously when they say they want to “get to know you better.” That’s a trap .

While your essay can indeed be light-hearted and joyful, admissions officers are grading it just like they do any other — for evidence of your potential to succeed. Follow our steps below to make this one count. (And for answers to all your college essay questions, see our College Essay Help Center .)

Here is Stanford University's classic supplemental "Roommate essay" : "Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better. (100-250 words.)" This may seem like a fun and easy essay to write, but it's not as straightforward as it appears.

What not to do: Solely be interesting 

The trap with this essay is to take the question too literally. Come room-assignment time, nobody is going to be reading this essay to help them match you with the perfect BFF. That’s why you should steer clear of solely saying something interesting about yourself . 

Here are some real no-no examples we've seen from the over 35,000+ students we've coached :

• A student's love of bongo-playing and how they look forward to playing bongos with their roommate.
• A student's background in Boy Scouts, backpacking, and bringing interesting artifacts into their room.
• A student's experience in karate and how they hope to spar with their future roommate.

Aren’t these interesting stories from unique students? It might be cool to live with someone who could play a solo music piece for you late at night, right? Or someone to take you exploring the local woods. Or someone who’s ready to spar with you at any moment like Steve Martin's character in the 2006 The Pink Panther.

The problem is that the person reading this essay won’t actually be your future roommate. None of these kinds of topics — unless handled the right way (see below) — is liable to move your application from the “maybe” pile and onto “admit them now!”

Still being graded: Keep the essay basics in mind

Stanford wants to know whether you’ll be successful at their school and within their particular campus community. Every question they ask on their application is about sussing this out — whether it’s your personal statement or a 100-word note to a future roommate. 

Asking a playful question is a way to get to these answers about your potential in a playful way. 

Therefore, you want your answer here to reflect 1 or more of the 5 traits , just like any other essay would. In fact, talking to a future roommate is a great place to showcase 3 of the 5 traits:

• Intellectual curiosity — things you’re interested in and like to explore.
• Contribution — how you give back and create community.
• Diversity of experiences — your unique background and life story that will expand the horizons of those you interact with. 

This essay could probably also reflect Drive (aka grit or perseverance) and Initiative (unwilling to accept the status quo), but the other three are a more natural fit.

Finally, as with everything else college essay-related, make sure the topic you talk about is recent to your experience. If you saved the world while you were in middle school, skip it, and write about something less spectacular that you did more recently. 

Have fun, too: Brainstorm answers that would show yourself off to a future roommate

With those basics in mind, let’s have fun with this, because the Stanford admissions team definitely would like this one to be on the lighter side. 

Begin by brainstorming a whole bunch of outside-of-the-box, off-the-beaten-track, off-the-wall topics about yourself that would answer this prompt. Allow yourself a good 15-20 minutes here. 

Give yourself a little break — creativity flourishes in a little break — and then come back to it again (maybe 5-10 minutes). This time, use the 3 of the 5 traits above (intellectual curiosity, contribution, and diversity of experiences) to expand on your brainstorming (another 10-15 minutes). Do any other interesting facets of your personality or experience spring to mind?

Once you’ve put in about 30 minutes of brainstorming, you should have some great topics that are authentic and fun from which to choose the very best one that will also strengthen your application . 

The whole picture: How will this answer reflect on your entire application? 

As you may know, Prompt recommends working on each application college by college (not essay by essay). Admissions teams read each application as a whole, so that’s how you should write them. With small, creative essays, you want to think about using them smartly as little pieces that bolster your overall application. 

Take a look at what else you’re telling Stanford about yourself. Which of the 5 traits are you really focusing on? Do you have any weaknesses you might want this essay to compensate for? How have you “branded” yourself?

For example, if you’ve written a lot about contribution , perhaps writing a personal statement about your community service work, this essay could be a way to show how deep that trait goes with you. You could talk about informal ways that you bring groups of friends together and help nurture strong friendships, and how you hope to do that at Stanford, too. In this scenario, you’re using this “fun” question to show a more light-hearted, but equally valuable aspect of one of your “serious” traits. This essay will help amplify your brand as a contributor. 

Or, using the same example, perhaps this contribution person might worry that their community service essay leaves out other exciting things about themselves. You want to make sure that you showcase all the impressive, unique things that you might bring to the table (i.e.: Stanford’s campus), and this little essay could be a great way to highlight one of them. So, if you have a deep interest in film, you could use this essay to showcase your intellectual curiosity in a fun way. You could talk about your love of horror movies, how you pursue that interest with friends today, and how you hope to join the Stanford Film Society and plan horror movie marathons for your roommates. In this scenario, you add to a serious trait of yours with a more off-beat interest that nonetheless also showcases intellectual curiosity. 

BTW, hopefully by now you see that the three examples of “what not to do” above all could be great essay topics. But only if they showcase college potential and fit with the rest of the application. 

How to write it: Straight-forward, action-driven, concrete

Now to the writing. Stick to these 3 precepts, and you’ll knock it out of the park: 

• Straight-forward. College essays do not call for “beautiful” writing . They call for simple, clear sentences that an admission officer can understand while reading quickly. 
• Action-driven. Since the point is to show off your college potential, you need to talk about things that you’ve done, whether that’s reading Wes Craven’s autobiography, planning an excursion to a screening of The Exorcist with your friends, or writing up your horror review on LetterBoxd .
• Concrete. Relatedly, point to things you’ve done, and things you’d like to do at Stanford. Philosophical musings are great, but they take up valuable space and don’t contribute much to your application. 

For example:

Our bongo-playing student might write an essay here that stays away from waxing effusively about how “alive” they feel when they play. Instead, they can focus on:

• What they do to keep bongo playing in their life on top of a busy high school schedule — ex: practice 15-minutes every morning, no matter what; and sign themselves up for orchestras and musical groups so they can showcase their talent with like-minded peers;
• What they plan to do to keep bongo playing going in college — ex: planning to bring their bongos to their dorm; will be auditioning for Stanford musical groups; and 
• It will all tend to demonstrate intellectual curiosity and contribution . 

Our backpacking Boy Scout student should stay away from talking about the woods themselves, and instead focus on:

• What it takes to backpack every Tuesday and lead their fellow Boy Scouts on a new hike;
• A note on their engagement on a trails app like AllTrails, ensuring that unsafe trails are noted for other hikers
• What they plan to do to keep backpacking and staying in shape once they get to campus — ex: have a goal of hiking all of the top trails around campus during freshman year or joining the campus outdoor activities group; and 
• It will all tend to demonstrate contribution and intellectual curiosity . 

Our karate student should refrain from writing too much about Japanese culture itself, but instead focus on their particular relationship to it:

• How they practice karate because it gives them a feeling of connection to their culture — and can also be light-hearted and fun, helping them to destress;
• How they convinced others at their school to join in, making stressful days more fun for many of their classmates; 
• How their grandmother loves that they’ve brought this traditional aspect forward in their lives, and it serves as a point of connection between generations; 
• How they plan to continue this tradition at Stanford; and 
• It will all tend to demonstrate diversity of experience as well as contribution . 

Our students successfully transformed their interesting and unique experiences into compelling Stanford roommate essays. Now it's your turn! And, now that you know what really matters, be sure you also have an absolute blast while doing it. 

Want more help writing your Stanford supplemental essays? Check out our college essay coaching packages .

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6 Stellar Stanford Essay Examples

What’s covered:, essay example #1 – letter to your future roommate, one-second videos, essay example #2 – letter to your future roommate, study and fun, essay example #3 – letter to your future roommate, k-pop and food, essay example #4 – something meaningful, 1984, essay example #5 – something meaningful, ramen, essay example #6 – significant challenge short answer, where to get your stanford essays edited.

Stanford is one of the most selective colleges in the nation, with an acceptance rate typically under 5%. If you want to snag a spot at this renowned university in sunny California, you’ll need to write standout essays.

Stanford is known for it’s short and whimsical prompts that give students a lot of freedom to let their creativity shine through. In this post, we will be going over three essays real students have submitted to Stanford to give you an idea of how to approach your essays. We will also share what each essay did well and where there is room for improvement.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our Stanford essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts. 

Prompt: Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better. (100-250 words)

Hey roomie!

I’m so excited to meet you and share our first year at Stanford, but I should probably warn you. By the end of fall quarter, I guarantee that you will be sick of hearing me ask, “Do you want to be in my one second?”

For the past couple of years, recording a one-second video every day has been my way of finding excitement in even the most boring days. I promise that while we’re roommates, my one-second clips will make every day an adventure.

Some of my personal favorites:

• Ice skating in Millennium Park in Chicago
• Watching Netflix with my 3 sisters (usually Jane the Virgin)
• Baking a cake in physics class
• Petting my 17-pound rabbit, or my 2-pound rabbit
• Family karaoke night featuring the High School Musical soundtrack and my terrible singing 
• Playing in Pep Band at basketball games with my best friends
• Winning Mario Kart (I am a self-proclaimed professional)
• Playing with a friend’s new puppy
• Selfies with my Target coworkers after handling an army of coupon moms

I’m excited to capture our first year together at Stanford, from Big Game to our first ski trip. Even on days where studying in our dorm seems like the highlight, I’ll suggest a spontaneous ice cream run so we’re not THAT lame.

So when I inevitably ask you to be in my one second, I promise that it’ll be worth it (and you can’t say I didn’t warn you).

Sincerely, 

Your soon-to-be bestie/adventure buddy/one-second-a-day-video-taking roommate

What The Essay Did Well

This is such a fun essay to read because it shows us who this student is outside of her academics and extracurriculars. There isn’t a single mention of her academic interests or the clubs and organizations she is in—ironically, that’s the strength of the essay! By focusing her essay around her one second a day video, it allows her to demonstrate to the reader her most natural self. Outside the confines of a classroom or pursuing extracurricular achievement, these are the things that bring her joy and make her interesting; conveying that idea is the exact point of Stanford asking this question.

Bulleting her most memorable one second videos is a great way to share a wide variety of stories without making the essay too dense. They are quick thoughts—not even fully formed sentences—but they all start with a verb to bring a sense of action to the essay. Not to mention, she was able to work in a good amount of humor. Including her “terrible singing ” at karaoke night, being a “ self-proclaimed professional ” at Mario Kart, and the “ army of coupon moms ” at her job isn’t necessary for each story, but adding it in gives admissions officers an extra little chuckle.

No space is wasted in this essay, even down to the sign-off. She could have ended by saying “ Sincerely, Sara “, but instead, she added an extra line to excitedly describe herself as “ Your soon-to-be bestie/adventure buddy/one-second-a-day-video-taking roommate.”  As if we didn’t get enough of a taste of her personality throughout, this student closes with a run-on thought that conveys her child-like enthusiasm at going to Stanford and meeting her roommate. 

What Could Be Improved

Overall, this is a really strong essay. That being said, there are a few sentences that could be reworked to be a bit more fun and align better with the rest of the essay.

For example, the starting off with an admission that her roommate might get sick of hearing about her one second videos is cute, but it could be made stronger by really leaning into it. “ Hi roomie! Here’s to hoping you aren’t ready to throw my phone out the third-floor window of Branner by finals!”  With this opening, we are immediately asking ourselves what could this student possibly be doing with her phone that would cause her roommate to chuck it out a window. It builds suspense and also adds humor. Not to mention, she would be including a dorm on campus to show she has thoroughly research life at Stanford.

Another sentence that could use some extra TLC is “ I promise that while we’re roommates, my one-second clips will make every day an adventure.”  Again, a nice sentiment, but it doesn’t stimulate the reader’s mind in the same way an example would. She goes into some of the one seconds they will capture at Stanford later on, but it wouldn’t hurt to add another example here. She could write something like this: “ With me everyday will be an adventure; I’ll have the clip of you trying scrambled eggs and strawberries at the dining hall for proof (trust me, it’s how they were meant to be eaten). “

Dear stranger (but hopefully future roomie),

Are you looking for someone that:

S ees you only at night when they are going to sleep?

T hrives being taciturn?

U nnerves you on the eve of your exams?

D oesn’t tell Moroccan fairy tales each night?

Y owls while sleeping?

A bhors lending you their clothes?

N ever nibbles on snacks and won’t bring you Moroccan cookies?

D oesn’t ask you to go for a walk on campus?

F idgets when you need help?

U proots a spider they cross without asking you for help?

N ot ready to sing with you if you play Beyonce’s songs?

Don’t fret if you said no to all of the above. That just means we are the perfect match because I am the opposite of everything I described above! It would be my great pleasure to introduce you to the person with whom you will not just share a room, but also have unforgettable moments. Be ready to spend nights laughing–it is not my fault if I keep you up all night with my jokes. Words cannot express how excited I am to find out what makes you, you! I’ve cleverly hidden our theme within my note. In case you didn’t notice, reread the first letter of each line.

P.S: It may be difficult for you to say the “kh” in my name, especially if you don’t speak Arabic or Spanish. So feel free to call me Yara.

This is a charming way to introduce yourself to a future roommate. Not only did they spell out all the ways they will be a loyal and dependable roommate, but they literally spelled out a secret message! Accomplishing this shows this student took extra time and care into crafting statements to add an extra layer of creativity.

This student also imbued aspects of their personality in these statements—once you flip it around. We see how important their Moroccan heritage is, as they look forward to sharing “ Moroccan fairytales each night ” and “ Moroccan cookies ” with their roommate. We see how caring they are when it comes to  “lending you clothes”  and not fidgeting “ when you need help. ” They also include some humor in some lines: “Yowls while sleeping.” Each sentence helps piece together different aspects of this student’s personality to help us put together a full picture.

Although the idea of presenting a bunch of contradictory statements puts a nice spin on the structure, be cautious about going this route if it gets too confusing for your reader. Certain lines create double negatives—” doesn’t tell Moroccan fairytales ,” “ never nibbles on snacks ,” “ not ready to sing with you “—that take the reader an extra second to wrap their head around what the student is actually trying to say. Admissions officers spend a very limited amount of time on each essay, so you don’t want to include any language that requires additional brain power to digest.

This essay is also missing the closing to the letter. The author includes “ Dear stranger ” and “ P.S. “, indicating they are writing the essay in the format of a letter. Their letter requires a closing statement and a sign-off of their name. Without them signing their name at the end of the essay, the P.S. they include doesn’t make as much sense. If the reader doesn’t know what their name is, how would they understand their nickname? 

Hey, future roommate!

As an INFJ personality type, I value my relationships and genuinely want to know you better:

How do you feel about music? I. Love. Music. My favorite genre is kpop, and since I am an avid kpop lover, I follow many groups (TXT and Twice being my favorites). I apologize in advance if you hear me blasting songs. Admittedly, getting lost in my own little world happens a lot. You can just ask me to tone it down. Or join in!

I am also a sucker for dramas. We could watch sweet heart aching love stories or historical ones together! Both are also my cup of tea.

Speaking of tea, what is your favorite drink to order? I tend to prefer sweet, bitter coffee and teas. I also like trying out new foods and making them. You know…you could be my taste tester. I like to consider myself an amateur cook. If we somehow miss the dining hours, no need to worry. With my portable bunsen stove, we can make hot pot in the dorm or quickly whip something up suitable to both our tastes.

As much as I love all food, Burmese food holds a special place in my heart. I would like to share with you my favorite foods: lahpet thoke (tea leaf salad) and ohn no khao swè (coconut noodle soup). Food is my love language, and I hope that we can share that same connection through exchanging and trying out new foods!

This essay packs a ton of information into just a few paragraphs. We learn about the author’s food and drink preferences, music taste, and favorite TV shows. The vivid language about food, drink, and cooking in particular makes the images of this student’s potential life at Stanford that much clearer and more compelling. 

Another especially strong element of this essay is the author’s personality and voice, which come through loud and clear in this essay. Through varied sentence structure and the way they phrase their stories, we get a great sense of this applicant’s friendliness and happy, enthusiastic style of engaging with their peers. 

Finally, college applications are by their nature typically quite dry affairs, and this kind of prompt is one of the few chances you might have to share certain parts of your personality that are truly essential to understanding who you are, but don’t come across in a transcript or activities list. This student does a great job taking advantage of this opportunity to showcase a truly new side of them that wouldn’t come across anywhere else in their application.

You wouldn’t, for example, want to just rehash all the APs you took or talk about being captain of your sports team. Firstly, because those probably aren’t the first things you’d talk about with your new roommate, and secondly, because that information doesn’t tell admissions officers anything they don’t already know. Instead, approach this prompt like this student did, and discuss aspects of who you are that help them understand who you are on a day to day basis—as the prompt itself hints at, the residential college experience is about much more than just class.

This is a great letter to a future roommate, but it’s important to remember that while the prompt is officially for future roommates, the essay is actually going to admissions committees. So, you want to  think carefully about what kinds of practices you mention in your essays. In most college dorms, students aren’t even supposed to light candles because it’s a fire hazard. So, while your dorm cooking skills might be very impressive, it’s probably not a good idea to advertise a plan to bring a portable stove to campus, as these kinds of things are often against dorm rules.

This may seem like nitpicking, but at a school as competitive as Stanford, you want to be extra careful to avoid saying anything that admissions officers might find off-putting, even subconsciously. For a more extreme example, you obviously wouldn’t want to talk about all the parties you plan on hosting. While this slip-up is much more minor, and the student was clearly well-intentioned, the overall genre of disregard for the rules is the same, and obviously not something you want to highlight in any college application.

Prompt: Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why. (100-250 words)

I am an avid anti-annotationist; the mere idea of tainting the crisp white pages of any novel with dark imprints of my own thoughts is simply repulsive. However, I have one exception — my copy of George Orwell’s 1984, weathered and annotated in two languages. While victimized by uneven handwriting eating away at the margins, it is the only novel I still hold beloved despite its flaws. 

Two years before reading 1984, I was indulging in the novels of Dr. Seuss, not because of my preferences, but because my reading level was deemed an “A” — the reading level of a toddler. I was certainly anything but that; I was a fresh-off-the-plane immigrant and rising middle schooler who could barely name colors in English. 

After reading the likes of A Very Hungry Caterpillar like a madman, my next step was purchasing more advanced books in both English and Korean, so I could understand the nuance and missing details of novels after I initially read them in English. This crutch worked perfectly until George Orwell’s 1984 — the first novel I purchased and read without the training wheels of a translated copy. It took me weeks to finish the book; it was painfully slow, like a snail inching toward an arbitrary finish line. 

I read the novel twenty-seven times, each reading becoming faster and revealing more information. When I look at my copy of 1984, I still cringe at its weathered and tainted pages, but I can’t help admiring that initial portal between two literary worlds. 

This is undoubtedly an excellent writer who produced an exceptionally strong essay. Right from describing themself as an “ avid anti-annotationist, ” we can tell this is going to be different than you typical essay. While many students will choose something related to their academic or extracurricular passion, this essay choose a specific book. Although 1984 is so much more to them than simply a novel, as they reveal through the essay, the focus on an individual object as something meaningful is such a powerful image.

This student does a beautiful job conveying their journey through the symbol of 1984. They measure time using the book (“ Two years before reading 1984 “), and use well-known children’s novels like A Very Hungry Caterpillar and Dr. Seuss to convey just how far they came without explicitly needing to describe how behind they were. Describing reading 1984 without a translated copy as ditching “training wheels” further emphasizes their growth.

The meaningfulness of 1984 is reinforced through the focus on its “ weathered and tainted pages .” Admitting to the reader at the beginning that they hate marking up books, yet their favorite book is annotated from cover to cover, highlights how 1984 is so much more than a book to them. It is a symbol of their resilience, of their growth, and of a pivotal turning point in their lives. Although the student doesn’t say any of this in their essay, their skilled writing reveals all of it to the reader.

One of Stanford’s deepest values is intellectual vitality (in fact, there’s a whole separate prompt dedicated to the topic!). This student demonstrates this value through establishing a willingness to learn and a love of cross-cultural literature.  All the while, this student is authentic. There’s little posturing here intended to impress the admissions officers with the student’s resilience and deep love for the written word; instead, he is genuine in sharing a small but authentic part of his life.

This essay has very little that needs to be improved on, but there is one crucial question that would have been nice to have answered: why 1984? Out of all the books in the world, why was this the one this student decided to commit to as the first all-English novel? Was it just by chance, did a teacher encourage them to pick it up, or did the premise of the book speak to them? Whatever the reason, it would have been nice to know to further understand its significance.

While most people argue that the best invention is something mechanical or conceptual, I believe it’s the creation of instant ramen. There’s little time involvement, deliciousness, and convenience all included in one package. What more could one ask for? The nostalgia packed within instant ramen makes it a guilty pleasure I can’t live without. 

During a road trip to Yellowstone, this miracle meal followed my family as we took turns sharing an umbrella under the pouring rain and indulging it in its instant delicacy: we were shivering in the cold, but the heat of the spicy soup and the huge portion of springy noodles warmed our souls instantly. It was an unforgettable experience, and eating ramen has since then followed us to Disneyland, Crater Lake, and Space Needle, being incorporated in our frequent road trips. 

It has also come in handy during our wushu competition trips. Often, competitions ended at midnight, making it inconvenient to eat out. In these situations, the only essentials we needed were hot water and instant ramen packages, enough to satiate our spirits and hunger.

Instant ramen is also a way my mom and grandma express their care for me. On late nights of doing homework after wushu practice, I usually ate something—sometimes instant ramen—to have a smoother recovery. My mom and grandma usually paired instant ramen with extra toppings like homemade wontons or fish balls—their motto being “instant ramen always tastes better when someone makes it for you.

By picking such an unusual topic, this applicant grabs the attention and interest of readers straightaway. Picking something as commonplace and commercial as instant ramen and transforming it into a thoughtful story about family is a testament to this student’s ability to think outside the box and surprise admissions officers. It makes for an essay that’s both meaningful and memorable! 

Another great aspect of this response is how information-dense it is. We learn not just about the writer’s fondness for instant ramen, but about their family road trips, their participation in wushu, their close-knit extended family, and their culture. Even though some of these details come in the form of brief, almost throwaway lines, like briefly mentioning fishballs and wontons, they are clearly thoughtfully placed and designed to add depth and texture to the essay. 

While walking the line between maximizing every word available to you and having your essay be cohesive and easy to follow is tricky, this writer does a fantastic job of it. The details they include are all clearly relevant to their main theme of instant ramen, but also distinct enough that we get a comprehensive sense of who they are in just 250 words. Remember, even quick details can go a long way in enriching your overall description of your topic or theme.

This is a very strong essay, but there’s always room for improvement. The first paragraph of this essay, though a good general introduction that you might find in an academic essay, doesn’t actually say much about this applicant’s potential as a Stanford student. Remember, since your space is so limited in the college essay, you want every sentence, and really every word, to be teaching admissions officers something new about you.

Starting a story in media res, or in the middle of the action, can get the reader immersed in your story more quickly, and save you some words that you can then use to add details later on. Avoiding a broad overview in your first paragraph also allows you to get into the meat of your writing more quickly, which admissions officers will appreciate—remember, they’re reading dozens if not hundreds of applications a day, so the more efficient you can be in getting to your point, the better.

Everybody talks. The Neon Trees were right, everybody does indeed talk but in our society no one listens. Understandably, the inclination to be heard and understood jades our respect for others, resulting in us speaking over people to overpower them with our greatest tools, being our voices.

What The Response Did Well

This prompt is a textbook example of the “Global Issues” essay , but with an obvious catch: you have only 50 words to get your point across. With such limited space, this Stanford short answer supplement demands that applicants get their point across quickly and efficiently. This essay does a great job of grabbing one’s attention with an unusual hook that segues smoothly into the main topic. Along with that, the student demonstrates that they have a great vocabulary and sophisticated writing style in just a few sentences. 

While failing to communicate effectively indeed causes a great many problems, failure to listen is an incredibly broad challenge, and therefore, not the strongest choice for this short response. Remember, like with any other supplement, you want your response to teach Stanford admissions officers something about you. So, you ideally want to choose a specific subject that reflects both your knowledge of the world and your personal passions.

Again, your space is limited, but if this student had been even slightly more specific, we would have learned much more about their personality. For example, the sentence that starts with “understandably” could have instead read:

““Understandably, the inclination to be heard and understood jades our respect for others, which causes shortsightedness that, if nothing changes, will soon enough leave our air unbreathable and our water undrinkable.”

This version goes a step further, by not just speaking vaguely about nobody listening, but also pointing out a tangible consequence of this problem, which in turn demonstrates the student’s passion for environmentalism.

Do you want feedback on your Stanford essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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How to write Stanford's Roommate Letter

Of all the creative college application supplements out there, perhaps the most deceptively simple is this infamous prompt from Stanford University:

“Letter to your Roommate -- Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better. (100–250 words)”

Many students interpret this as a straightforward assignment and write something generic, missing the larger opportunity to strengthen their application. To help you brainstorm for this essay, let’s break down the prompt into what it's not vs. what it is .

What the Roommate Essay is NOT:

It's not a roommate preference survey.

Many colleges and universities will send their matriculating students a roommate preference survey to help Student Services make more optimal roommate pairings. This survey includes questions like, “What time do you like to wake up and go to sleep?,” “What is your preferred studying environment in your room?,” and “How often will you be in your room during the day?” Using the Roommate Essay to share your cohabitation ground rules and preferences is probably the most common way students misinterpret this question! In general , the responses to these questions will be generic and non-specific - we want to make sure that the Roommate Essay highlights your unique personality and interests. 

it's not An actual note to your future roommate

To dispel a common misconception, your future roommate will never see this essay (unless you show it to them!) if you end up matriculating at Stanford. Your audience for this essay is the admissions committee, not a fellow high school senior.

What the Roommate Essay IS:

This essay is a chance to share something new about yourself..

College essays are like mini-interview questions, and you only get so many chances to showcase what makes you special. Though academic rigor is obviously important for Stanford admissions, almost equal importance is placed on selecting students who will thrive in and enhance Stanford’s unique campus culture. Many students have unique interests, hobbies, and experiences that don’t fit elsewhere in their college applications, but are still important for the admissions committee to get a holistic picture of that student. The Roommate Essay provides a rare chance to show the committee who you are (beyond your grades and test scores) and how you’ll be a valuable contributor to the Stanford community.

But how do you fit all of that into just 100-250 words? First, you want to pick out which of your awesome traits you want to highlight. Think about the following questions to kick start your brainstorming:

• What would your friends and family say makes you special?
• If you had a completely free day, how would you spend it?
• What habits, rituals, or quirks do you have?
• Do you have a “life motto” or words you live by?
• What kind of things do you have on your walls/your desk at home?
• What could you give a talk about for 20 minutes, without any preparation?

The framing of your unique trait/experience/habit is the crucial difference between a generic essay and one that helps your application come alive, even with the exact same initial topic. For example, if the only thing Student A can say about their habit of waking up early is that they have to do it to be on time for school, the most we can say about them is that they are punctual for their commitments. On the other hand, if Student B writes about how they leap out of bed every day at 5:30am to catch a glimpse of the rare owl species that lives in the tree behind their apartment complex, we suddenly have a vibrant picture of a bird-loving individual who is so motivated by their passions that they are willing to wake up at odd hours. Think back to your personal statement - how did you use storytelling to convey the message you were trying to communicate?

Next, think about why it’s important for someone to know this fact about you. Do you enjoy sharing your early morning adventures with others? Does this example represent a larger joy of exploring your surroundings that you look forward to continuing at Stanford? The key is to relate this trait to how you will engage with your fellow students and the Stanford community.

Finally, it’s time to structure this unique part of your personality in the form of a letter. Common ways to start and end this essay include “Dear Roommate,” and “Sincerely, (your name),” but don’t be afraid to show off some personality in the salutations! Keep the body of the letter concise (remember your word limit), and don’t forget to address your roommate from time to time using the second person point of view (at least one of the pronouns “you,” “we,” or “us” should appear in your essay). 

Done correctly, the Roommate Essay is a unique opportunity to show the Stanford admissions committee who you are at heart - don’t be afraid to share your true self!

Samantha H.

Samantha attended Stanford University, where she explored the role of synaptic proteins in visual system development for her honors thesis research. She graduated with a BS in Biology conferred with honors and with distinction. She is currently pursuing a combined MD/PhD at Harvard Medical School and MIT in the Health Sciences and Technology program.

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The Admissions Strategist

How to write the stanford roommate question & other supplemental essays 2020-2021 (examples included).

Stanford University is notoriously difficult to get into. In fact, it is one of the most selective schools in the country, accepting just under 5% of applicants .

Does that mean you have no chance of acceptance?

Of course not!

But what it does mean is that every piece of your application matters , including how you answer questions on Stanford’s supplement. This year, Stanford has five short answer questions, each with a word limit of 50 words, and three short essays which need to be between 100-250 words.

This supplement is found in Stanford’s Questions section of the Common Application and the Stanford Application Questions section of the Coalition Application.

In this article, we’ll guide you through each of the supplement’s questions and essays to help boost your chances of success !

Tips From Stanford University

Before we get into the individual questions, let’s take a look at the advice from Stanford University itself.

Click above to watch a video on Stanford Essays.

When it comes to writing essays , the university’s website recommends:

• Writing in a natural style
• Writing essays that reflect who you are
• Beginning to work on the essays early
• Asking parents, teachers, and friends for constructive feedback (including if the essay sounds like your voice)

Stanford emphasizes that these questions and essays are an opportunity to get to know you, saying, “We want to hear your individual voice in your writing.”

The tips below will give you inspiration and guidance as you complete the Stanford Supplement, but the most important thing is for you to write about topics that are meaningful to you in your own unique voice.

Now, we’ll take a look at Stanford’s questions one by one, starting with the short questions, which all have a 50 word limit.

Stanford Supplement Short Answer #1: Society’s Most Significant Challenge Essay

This is the first short answer question that appears in the Common Application. It reads,

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today?

This question gives you a chance to let admissions officers know what you’re passionate about. The possibilities abound, but consider the following questions to help you get started:

• When you listen to the news, what issue makes you want to take action?
• What issues have you protested in the past?
• When you’re in conversations with friends, what are your most heated discussions about?
• If a genie appeared and offered to fix one problem in the world, which one would you solve? How would you fix it?
• How controversial is the subject you’re thinking of? Try to avoid anything too contentious, as you never know who will be reading your application.

The goal is to think of an issue that genuinely bothers you and that you would like to change.

• You can talk about an issue that relates to something else in your application. This could be an activity or even a future career.
• Consider presenting a solution or discussing how you’ve explored this issue on your own time. This could have taken the form of watching documentaries, reading books, or viewing TED Talks on the subject.

To give you an idea, the two short bullet points above total 62 words. So 50 words is really not much. The nice thing is, this means you don’t have to worry about writing a formal introduction or doing anything fancy. 

Start by introducing the challenge and why it’s so important to you. If you have words left, briefly offer a solution too! Regardless, get to the point quickly and succinctly. 

Society’s Most Significant Challenge Essay Example

Here is a example of what this essay could look like: 

Many citizens resort to stereotypes and generalizations when speaking about others. The Internet, and especially social media, makes it easier than ever to absorb a set of beliefs without encountering criticism. If citizens left their bubbles more often, eliminating discrimination and prejudice would be a much easier proposition.

Stanford Supplement Short Answer #2:Your Last Two Summers Essay

As the second question on the Common Application, this question asks,

“How did you spend your last two summers?”

As one of the short questions, it retains the tight 50-word limit, so you won’t be able to talk about everything that happened during both summers. Try to focus on information that doesn’t appear anywhere else in the application.

Rather than selecting an answer that you think would impress admissions officers, think about what stands out to you the most. The following questions may help you get started:

• How did you spend both of your summers? Was there anything in common between the two?  This could be something as concrete as the same job or as abstract as studying.
• Does your family have a vacation that they take every summer?
• What did you do to relax over the summers? Did you read, spend time outdoors, play games, create artwork, or play an instrument?

Again, skip the introduction and focus on the most important details. If you have a particular difficulty or hardship, this is also a good chance to mention it. You shouldn’t explicitly say that you are disadvantaged, but if you have circumstances that are a significant time commitment during your summers, this is a chance to explain it. This can include:

• Taking care of a sick or disabled relative
• Working to support your single-parent household
• Moving from one home to another due to parental separation

With only 50 words, you’ll also want to edit your grammar and spelling to perfection.

Your Last Two Summers Essay Example

For an idea of what this essay could look like, see the following example:

I served free, healthy lunches to kids at the library and saved their parents a little money. Additionally, I helped mom with a business law class for a job she’s pursuing. I was fascinated with the intricacy of laws that must be enforced to maintain a fair market.

Get personalized advice!

Stanford supplement short answer #3: witnessing a historical moment essay.

This is the third question of the short questions on the Stanford application, and the one that allows for the most imagination and creativity. It reads,

“What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?”

For this question, try to avoid topics that you think many other students will address. Popular events include Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Unless you have a short personal story or detail that relates to the topic, try to pick something unique. Given the number of words allowed, you’ll have just enough time to briefly summarize the historical moment and explain why it’s so significant to you. With the space you have available, try to provide personal details and insights into who you are. The following questions may help you:

• Is there a specific story or event that occurred in your city?
• Does your family have a tale they tell about a relative or ancestor?
• Was there a defining event or events related to the significant challenge you mentioned above? 

As you write the question, ask yourself why you chose the specific historical event and what significance it has to you. 

Witnessing a Historical Moment Essay Example

To help get you started, here is an example:

My life needs historical context. Aunts, uncles, second-cousins, and the seamstress down the street fled to escape the war. Both grandpas fought in it. One died in it. When they wave their South Vietnam flags alongside the American one, I wonder what they endured during the communist takeover of Vietnam.

Stanford Supplement Short Answer #4: Extracurricular Activities Essay

The prompt from Stanford reads,

“Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family.”

Before you get started, glance over the rest of your application, and take a look at the other questions included in the supplement. While you can, and should, be working to create a cohesive story, you don’t want to repeat anything. Keeping that in mind, what’s an activity or work experience that won’t be featured anywhere else?

Another goal for this question is to personalize your application as much as possible. Thus, try to think of an activity or work experience you have that is unique to you. Talk about something meaningful that other students might not be able to write about.

If you do decide to write about a more common experience or organization, brainstorm some personal details that make it unique to you. You should always strive to write something that only you could write.

Lastly, you want to be analytical and reflective about the experience. Consider:

• Why is this activity or experience so meaningful to you? 
• How has it impacted or shaped you as a person?
• What have you learned from this experience?
• How did you contribute to this activity, and what does it tell admissions officers about how you will contribute at Stanford?

Whatever you decide to write about, it should be an activity that you’ve spent considerable time and energy on. If your chosen topic didn’t impact your growth or personal development, then you should choose another. If possible, select an activity that resonates with the narrative of your application:

• If you’re someone who wants to study engineering, perhaps you could talk about your time serving as design head of your FRC team.
• If you love politics and want to major in political science, consider discussing the time you canvassed for a local politician or solicited signatures for a petition.

As always with these short questions, you only have 50 words, so focus on the most meaningful and memorable details. 

Extracurricular Activities Essay Example

Here is an example of what an essay might look like for an applicant interested in one day becoming a doctor:

While I run to get the door for a visitor, a nurse hurriedly hands me a lab sample to deliver. Smiling, I walk down the hall, plastic bag in hand. I like stressful days when I’m working as a family birth center volunteer at the local Methodist Hospital.

Stanford Supplement Short Answer #5: One Thing at Stanford Essay

The last of the short questions asks,

“Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford.”

Hopefully, as someone who has already decided to apply to Stanford, you already have a basis for this question. However, much like the last topic, it’s important to not pick an obvious answer.  While valid reasons for attending Stanford, this is not the place to gush over how good a school it is or the fact that your family lives down the road. The admissions committee is already aware that Stanford is an exclusive school or that you come from California. You should dig deeper.

The good news is that this doesn’t need to be complicated. Here are some questions to help you think about this question:

• What makes Stanford special, especially compared to other top schools?
• Is there a community, event, or club that you’re especially looking forward to experiencing?
• Is there something academic you’re particularly interested in, such as a research project or class?

This is the last question with a limit of 50 words, but all the previous advice still holds. Be judicious with your word choice, don’t bother with an introduction, and focus on one idea.

One Thing at Stanford Essay Example

An excellent answer to this short question could look like this:

As someone who loves a variety of topics, I cannot wait to take advantage of Stanford’s quarter system. Whether taking beginner ceramics or computational biology, having the opportunity to explore all of my passions would be invigorating.

Stanford Supplemental Essay #1: Driven to Learn

This is the first of Stanford’s three short essays. All of them have a word count of 100-250 words. This one reads:

The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.

As this is the first of the short essays, you have a few more words, but not enough to craft an entire formal essay, complete with an introduction and conclusion. You’ll still need to get to the point quickly

As you can tell from the prompt, Stanford is looking for students who are hungry for knowledge, self-motivated, and eager to actively participate in classroom and campus life, so choose a topic or experience that makes you feel enthusiastic.

• Is there a type of homework assignment you actually love to do?
• Is there an idea you’re constantly reading articles or watching videos about?
• Have you encountered a problem or concept that you just can’t stop thinking about?

The first step of the essay should be describing the experience, then explaining why this idea is so exciting to you.

Because of the prompt, it is important that the topic you choose is something you have spent your own time exploring, as this is one of the things that demonstrates a genuine desire to learn. The tone of this essay should also be enthusiastic, as you want to clearly demonstrate your inquisitive nature and passion for your education.

Driven to Learn Essay Example

As the first of the short essay questions, take a look at this example:

At the end of freshman year, I enrolled in AP Chemistry. I didn’t think much of it; I was used to picking the hardest classes offered. Over the next few weeks, I was bombarded with warnings from wary upperclassmen about what was supposedly the hardest class in school. The teacher even had a meeting to scare the freshmen away. Refusing to let up, I planned on teaching myself some of the content before the next year started. I was mesmerized from the first chapter. As the author explained VSEPR theory, I was amazed at how the simple geometric shapes I’d been learning since elementary school could explain the repulsion between electron clouds. That summer, I read two chapters a day in pure awe. Chemistry was the first science class that challenged me to visualize abstract concepts on a completely new scale while incorporating the problem solving and logical deduction that I loved from math. During labs, I felt a genuine sense of purpose. Rather than following a list of directions, I brought theory to life by testing the properties of chemical reactions. Science was no longer about memorizing facts; it became discovery and application. Chemistry was my first experience blending math with science. Now that I’ve been introduced to physics, biology, and calculus, the interconnectedness of these subjects inspires higher pursuits within me. There’s so much more to learn in the world, and I want to use chemistry as my window to see it.

Stanford Supplemental Essay #2: Stanford Roommate Essay

Everyone is nervous about sharing a room with a stranger, but don’t think about this question that way. Instead, take this as an opportunity for you to influence who you spend the first year of college with. As such, the tone of this should definitely be more casual. Here is the question:

Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate – and us – get to know you better. 

While you definitely want to maintain perfect grammar and spelling, this is a great place to inject humor, personality, and fun information about your living habits. Remember, you’re supposed to be addressing a fellow student, not an admissions officer. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• What should your roommate know about you?
• What are your hobbies? Do you like to cook? Play a sport? Build robots ?
• Are you a lover of the outdoors, but will always be careful not to track in dirt?

Whatever it is, this is an opportunity to reveal an aspect of your personality that really wouldn’t fit anywhere else in the application.

Make it unique, interesting, and memorable, while keeping it within the 100-250 word limit. Try to go offbeat here – this is the perfect chance to add to your application without worrying about narrative. 

Stanford Roommate Essay Example

This is a great, quirky example written by a student:

Hi roomie! If there’s anything you should know about me, it’s that I’m kind of like a dog. Hold on, let me explain: I love going on walks, frolicking in the water, and needlessly exploring. Feel free to join me in finding the best study spots or taking a few laps in the rec pool. Chicken wings and getting in the car make me happy. I’m always up for late-night drives and boba runs. I love kids. I’m always in a good mood after facetiming my little cousins or volunteering in an elementary school or library. If you listen to music, I’ll start humming (or howling) along. I’m a sucker for piano, and I can have High School Musical or Gustav Holst’s Planets Symphony stuck in my head at any given moment. I exude positivity. If you need a pep talk before a big test or a confidence boost when taking a fashion risk, I won’t hesitate to cheer you on. We’ll experience a lot together, so I hope you do the same. I just want to make people happy. I’ll always be your friend. We’ll have our disagreements, but I can’t hold grudges. I’m a first-generation American and college student, so a lot of things will be new to me. But like a wolf, my life has always been about adapting to my surroundings. Being here is already a symbol of leading my “pack” of younger cousins to higher education. Puns aside, I can’t wait to meet you!

Stanford Supplemental Essay #3: What’s Meaningful to You

This is the last of the short essay questions, so congratulations!  You’re almost done. This reads,

“Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why.”

This is a very broad question, and you only have 100-250 words to answer it. However, since it comes at the end of your application, there are definitely a few different ways to approach it. Ask yourself:

• Is there an activity you care about that you haven’t mentioned yet?
• Did you really like one of the topics you brainstormed for a previous question, but it didn’t seem to fit quite right there?
• Is there a person, object, tradition, religious ceremony, experience, concept, or memory that really explains who you are?

The goal is to tell admissions officers something they don’t already know about you, so be sure to clearly explain why this is meaningful. How has it impacted your life and shaped you as an individual?

Don’t feel pressured to choose something grand or esoteric. The best responses to these questions are personal, speaking to your character, struggles, challenges, or ambitions.

What’s Meaningful to You Essay Example

This response is about seizing an opportunity to give back to a community, successfully highlighting several attributes that were meaningful to the writer.

When I learned my Boy Scout Troop would officially disband within the year, I knew I had to do something. Unflinchingly, I decided to run for the position of Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) on the platform of returning my troop to its former glory.  The biggest issue was diminishing scout attendance, so I collaborated with my Patrol Leader Council to create weekly meetings filled with activities such as water balloon fights, 3-on-3 soccer tournaments, and model rocket launches. Next, to build interest in troop events, I organized a two-night campout at Six Flags. Finally, to ensure troop involvement, I employed email marketing, encouraging members to rekindle their interest in Boy Scouts. Finally, after a six-month term as SPL, I increased Scout participation sixfold, successfully postponing the troop shutdown for a minimum of two academic years and allowing nine additional scouts to earn Eagle, with six more to graduate in 2019.  As an Eagle Scout, I found a community that has guided me toward becoming a better citizen. Boy Scouts has shaped me into the young adult I am today. In becoming a SPL, I reinforced the primary principles of the scout law within me: being trustworthy, loyal, and helpful.

Conclusion: Writing the Stanford Supplemental Essays

As you complete your Stanford Supplement, keep a few key things in mind:

• Don’t be repetitive
• Write in your own unique voice
• Be specific, and try to provide answers that are unique to you
• Polish your spelling and grammar to perfection
• Ask other people you trust to read your essays and give you feedback

If you follow the tips here and do your best to showcase your unique personality and writing style, you’ll increase your chances of being accepted to Stanford!

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• Ryan Murphy
• Oct 29, 2019

How to Write the Stanford Roommate Essay

Halloween is this week. And do you know what that means? The Early Action deadline is upon us!

With all the Early Action colleges out there, you probably feel the weight of the various short essay responses. Thankfully, many of these prompts follow the standard fare of college admissions essays, but one topic seems to always throw students for a loop: Stanford’s “roommate letter” short essay.

Stanford’s roommate essay is one of the few times that admissions officers ask you to write directly about how you see yourself fitting in with your prospective roommate and, to some extent, the university’s social climate as a whole. Because of this focus on the interpersonal, students struggle to balance a casual tone with a formal style.

So let’s talk about how best to approach this short response !

Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better.

Structure & Content

You should include a greeting, approximately three or four paragraphs, and a closing. The middle paragraphs should build on a theme, revealing something about yourself that would otherwise be left out of the application, something that the admissions officers would only know if they lived with you. Perhaps that is an eating habit, such as a favorite food, or maybe a workout routine. Or maybe it is something even more interesting, like singing to yourself.

Whatever you decide to write about should highlight how you connect with others. And it wouldn’t hurt if your plans with your roommate included elements of Stanford that you like but don’t really fit in any other essays, such as those omni-present fountains, or maybe the tree mascot.

What to Avoid

It isn’t a bad idea to address a few ways that you hope to bond with your roommate (all the while, revealing more about yourself), but don’t just list a bunch of activities. Like for any other essay topic, the best responses are focused, not those that cram in several ideas. Go for depth, not breadth!

Also, since this response lends itself to more casual tones, students often attempt to inject the letter with humor--to varying results. My general recommendation is that you should completely avoid adding jokes to your essays unless the joke is very obvious or clearly appeals to everyone. But even then, humor can turn off whoever is reading the essay, so it is better to keep the essay lighthearted without being outright comedic. Similarly, don’t get too gimmicky. Poems, creative writing, imagined dialogues--these are all interesting but often not really informative, so you could be taking a major risk and offering nothing useful to your application.

Final Thoughts

Generally, try to present yourself as a likable, HUMAN applicant. This is true for all essays, but here you should be more willing to “let loose” and “reveal personality” because that is the point of the question. Just do so in an appropriate, friendly manner, and you should be fine! Don’t overthink yourself!

Need last-minute help on your Stanford short essays before the Early Action deadline on November 1st? No worries! Check out B2A’s College Admissions Services (CAS)! Our professional, qualified admissions counselors and essay specialists can help you refine and focus your responses, giving you a better chance at meeting your new roommate at Stanford!

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How to Write the Stanford Roommate Note “Essay”

Who should read this post: anybody applying to Stanford in 2019-2020. I will look at the writing situation of this oddly tricky prompt and summarize the approaches taken by three successful applicants as I wrap up this post. Read on for more.

Ah, the Stanford Roommate letter, excuse me, note , back for another year. It’s one of the three Stanford prompts, and it’s framed as an informal self-introduction to your roommate. But it’s still a supplemental “essay.” Go figure.

When you compare all of the other things Stanford wants you to explain, introducing yourself to your future roommate seems kind of lightweight, particularly given that it is one of three key supplemental essays Stanford requires. So why is this roommate prompt back for yet another year? Because somehow it works. For Stanford.

As the most difficult college application in the country, with an acceptance rate that will drop below 4% within three years, based on current trends, Stanford, has a big problem: tens of thousands of applications with grades in the solidly 3.9 and 4.0 range, unweighted, most with stellar test scores and a thicket of activities. The Letter to Your Roommate clearly helps them separate applicants, from one simple fact–this prompt has been on the docket at Stanford for over a decade. And it is a particularly tricky kind of “essay.”

It’s so good in fact that they have barely even changed the wording on this prompt since it launched, way before Barack Obama started a run for President. Here it is:

2. Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—know you better.

Your Audience and Writing Situation for the Stanford Roommate Essay

Let’s get one thing out of the way now: While Stanford does suggest that you can swap letters to your roommate when you first show up at your dorm to see who you will be sharing your living space with, your real audience is obviously not your roommate. It’s your application readers.

So a big challenge is how “formal” to be. Trying to write as if this really were just to a fellow student who by happenstance becomes your roommate is a mistake. But so is writing as if you are practicing a speech in front of a middle-aged judge.

To clarify your audience, most of my clients who have gotten into Stanford have had the opportunity to read their roommate’s letter, and they have also universally treated this as a bit of a joke, a slightly embarrassing moment that they quickly leave behind. For the obvious reason that one of the first things your roomie sees is part of your ploy to get Stanford admissions. It’s a “So that’s how you pulled it off” moment. They, like you, were casting about for some kind of “humanizing” details and some humor that would help them pick the lock to Stanford admissions. And then you maybe have to laugh off some personal quirk you decided to put upfront in your letter.

The best essays have some serious ideas in them, but framed and carried by some level of humor. A recent winner ended with a promise to have a My Little Pony decorative party. No doubt this was laughed off when the letter was read. And of course you can be too informal. For example, the language itself is not really the place to put to much informality, Dude. You get my drift, Bro?

So instead of thinking about this as really being to your roommate, think about it being to a hipster landlord who perhaps middle-aged but still sort of with it, and this landlord tis trying to find the smartest and most interesting people to pair up as roommates. In addition to offering some sense that you have an interesting personality and are maybe going places in a hurry, you also need to remember that part of this is what you want to share about yourself as a (prospective) roommate. If you want to discuss your frequent bouts of inspiration and in the process explain that these times tend to come late at night and that they simply must be accompanied by blasting music to drive your manic creativity, you may come across more as a self-absorbed jerk with no respect for your roommate’s peace, quiet or sleep than as a quirky and interesting artistic savant.

Seriously. I get this look at how enthusiastic/quirky stuff all the time in Stanford Roommate Letters, then have to ask the young author, Hey, how would you feel if your roommate blasted, say, some Bach organ music at 110 decibels at any hour of the day or night? Of course, I also see these very serious letters. Some are good, but few are great. After all, the performance here is about writing to somebody your age (with a chaperone) and that really, really serious take may not work out. You don’t want to come across as Stuart Smalley, for reals, folks . So if you are not someone like Greta Thunberg, with street cred like hers, try at least a bit of humor.

Feeling stumped? Let’s look at some successful examples, summarized.

Essay Ideas that Worked

So what kind of Roommate Letter does get one into Stanford? These three worked:

Essay Number One: Breakfast Cereal

I am not posting these essays in full, but here is a summary of each– please keep in mind that copying these ideas is a bad idea. These are just a representative examples of the range of ideas that I have seen be successful . Your own ideas need to be germane to you, but these may give you permission to write about things you had not considered . . . You can and should share these essays with a range of people, and dial it back, or pump it up, as necessary.

Stanford Roommate Essay 1 –This successful applicant decided to write on his approach to breakfast, specifically, his experimental approach to breakfast cereal, for which he uses two bowls. He alluded to his friends’ view that his cereal obsession is truly eccentric by offering a somewhat tongue-in-cheek explanation of his drive to constantly experiment. Why should be accept cereal that is too mushy or too crunchy, and what happens if you combine a constantly evolving range of cereals? Into this approach, he was also able to drop references to digitizing information for a student-run organization at school to improve it, and doing lab experiments on polymers . . . which were successful. His refusal to accept mediocre cereal became a platform to suggest he experiments to improve everything. Obviously, this could become just a little too cute, but the applicant had a sense of seriousness as well as a sense of humor in this only slightly tongue-in-cheek essay.

Stanford Roommate Essay 2 –This essay started with a homage to the refresh button on a web browser; by the end of the opening paragraph, this opening discussion of the refresh button had expanded to a kind of philosophy for life itself–his motto: refresh, renew and start over with a new perspective whenever you face a roadblock or feel a lack of inspiration in life. In paragraph two, he segued to his passion for scheduling and calendaring software. By now you are perhaps thinking, as you read this, that this is too mundane and, indeed, lame for a Roommate essay, but this applicant went on to explain how he runs a calendar for real events that are fixed to specific dates, which allows him to get tasks done on time, but that he also has an aspirational calendar, in which he imagines things he will do, and by doing so, and putting them on the calendar, makes them happen. That he in fact has several hundred calendars devoted to dreams and aspirations.

And some of these had already become successful at the time he wrote his Stanford essays, and he was able to name-drop things, like the a nonprofit he launched, bringing sports to underprivileged youth, and the trip he pulled off, solo, to Peru and the internship he landed at a financial advising firm for which he continued to work for years. And all of these activities were the subjects of other essays, so he was able to reinforce some of his activities and parts of the Common App main essay he wrote . . . gentle reminders for the reader are always a good thing. Imagine your poor college application reader in, say, hour 8 of reading data, activities, essays . . . and assigning a ranking, all in about 15 minutes. Or ten. You never want to repeat activities verbatim on your essays, but a bit of a reminder never hurts.

Stanford Roommate Essay 3 –This applicant wrote about . . .rapping. And this for a prospective business major and entrepreneur who has no plans to go into the music industry. At this point.

Interestingly, rapping is very much a minor activity for this applicant, who has not really composed all that many raps. But the essay had authenticity, because this applicant had done some rapping, genuinely loves the genre, and got together with a friend to write a rap aimed at deflating tension between the applicant’s school and a cross-town rival, then made a video in which the applicant and friend visited the cross-town rival “sharing the love” as they rapped about making peace. They posted it and got some support online.

This is the background of the essay, which talks more about liking to rap and the process of creativity. This applies to the roommate essay because of rap as a private-hours activity, engaged with at home, and the activity in this case was altered on my advice from blasting rap at all hours to having a set of Beats headphones constantly on the applicant’s ears or around the applicant’s neck, ready to use at any time. . . in the dorm room. It also quoted from that peace rap in a couple of places, and the focus overall was on an interest in creative engagement with social justice topics, which allowed the applicant to bring in a mixed-race background.

You don’t have to be constantly engaged with an activity for it to work in an essay; you just need some level of authenticity, which this had. And as a person whose identity is not totally tied up in Rap or Hip-Hop, this essay also skirted the kind of insider-war about who’s the best, what is legit and what is not in the realm of Hip Hop and Rap. . .Passion is welcome, but avoid editorial content that is not lightened with humor and a sense of perspective.

And don’t forget, for high octane and battle–tested essay development and editing, Contact Me.

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Tips for Writing Your Stanford Roommate Essay

Kate Sliunkova

AdmitYogi, Stanford MBA & MA in Education

What Is Stanford's Roommate Essay?

Eight essays are part of the Stanford University college application, one of which is the roommate essay. Let's analyze the text for this question:

"Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better."

The length requirement for the Stanford letter to roommate prompt is a minimum of 100 words and maximum of 250 . Given that, feel free to answer the question however you deem fit.

Why Does Stanford Make You Write the Roommate Essay?

If you're unsure about what to write for the Stanford roommate essay prompt, don't worry—you can definitely find some great topics to discuss. The best part about this question is that it allows you to get creative and really think outside the box.

Stanford includes this prompt to better understand what you're like with others, as well as how you'll fit in with Stanford's student body. This question is your chance to reveal a different side of yourself than what you focus on in the rest of your application. The admissions committee isn't interested in your numerous extracurricular accomplishments or perfect academic record; they want to know about what you do for fun. What are some things you like to do when you're relaxing? How do you spend your free time? Who are some of your friends, and how do you interact with them? What makes you unique?

Topics to Write About in Your Stanford Roommate Essay

What should you write about in your Stanford roommate essay? Let's take a look at some potential topics:

#1: Unique Quirks and Habits

Assuming your quirks are entertaining, the Stanford roommate essay is a great place to share them. For example, do you always put in milk before your cereal? If so, this may be a great opportunity to mention it. Keep in mind that humorous stories often make the best impressions!

When you're thinking about your quirks, don't just focus on the quirk itself but also the motivation behind it. For example, why do you go to the gym everyday? Is it because you deeply value self-care? Or is it because you hold a deep love for sports? Adding that extra spin to the description helps round you out and gives an opportunity to share more about your interests and motivations.

#2: Your Relationship With Your Friends

The admissions committee not only wants to know how you'll do in academic classes, but they want to get a sense of whether or not you would fit into the campus community as a whole. The Stanford roommate essay is therefore the perfect place to discuss your relationships with people your age.

You can discuss how you interact with your classmates. For example, maybe you formed a close bond with another student who you always stayed late after choir to practice with. You can also talk about how you interact with your friends. You could share funny stories about your collective devotion to Taco Bell, or describe how you guys frequently attend local concerts.

Keep in mind, the examples you select should highlight that you're an amicable and exciting person . If the rest of your materials for Stanford emphasize your academic accomplishments, then use this essay to discuss something different about yourself.

#3: Your Favorite Things to Do

The remainder of your Stanford application will reveal your academic and extracurricular accomplishments. This essay is therefore an excellent opportunity to demonstrate what you do for fun in your spare time.

Maybe you enjoy constructing model planes, writing fanfiction, or teaching yourself new skills like breakdancing or audio mixing. Maybe you're constantly listening to podcasts about baking and are hoping to learn a challah recipe. Or maybe you just really love watching Disney movies!

3 Key Tips for Writing Your Stanford Roommate Essay

• Be specific

Your Stanford roommate essay should give a clear and detailed picture of who you are as a person. College essays allow the admissions committee to get to know applicants beyond their test scores, grades, and honors. The Stanford roommate essay is your opportunity to make yourself come alive for the reader and show them that you are more than just a list of accomplishments.

Don't pretend to be someone you're not or tell made-up stories in order to appeal to the committee. It's better if you show them who you really are through honest experiences and personal anecdotes. The more concrete details you can provide, the easier it will be for the adcom to visualize and connect with you.

The admissions committee for Stanford isn't looking for grandiose statements or stories in your roommate essay--they want to get to know the real you. Don't try to fabricate aspects of your life just to make yourself sound more impressive; if you do, it will come across as insincere and inaccurate.

The admissions committee would rather hear about the authentic you —the person who spent 15 hours down a Wikipedia rabbit hole about Paris syndrome—instead of some persona that you believe they want to see.

You want to make sure your Stanford roommate essay is the best example of your work possible. Before turning in your application, edit and proofread all essays thoroughly. Check for spelling and grammar errors, and run your essays through a comprehensive spell checker and grammar checker.

Consider asking someone else to read your Stanford roommate essay. A parent, teacher, or friend can provide a helpful second opinion on your work. Make sure that the finished product represents you as a student and person. In addition, ask them to check for any small writing errors. Having a second set of eyes on your work can help make it the best it can be!

Although your Stanford roommate essay should be enjoyable, don't forget that good writing is still key!

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How To Write Stanford Room Essay With An Example

Introduction

If you are applying to Stanford, you must have probably heard about Stanford’s popular roommate essay, one of three supplemental essays required to use. The roommate essay is infamous for its unique premise—write a letter to your future roommate—that many applicants find challenging to tackle. 

The roommate essay causes uncertainty among Stanford students because it is entirely unlike most essays that college applicants are generally asked to write, including the Common App Essay . Rather than presenting the typical challenge or extracurricular activities, the roommate essay allows applicants to talk about more daily or “normal” aspects of their lives.

You get a valuable opportunity to reveal something about your personality and interests beyond the usual resume-building fare.

This chapter will look at what qualities make a Stanford roommate essay stand out and discuss what students will want to avoid. We will also go through a successful essay from one of our students, break down exactly why it works, and help you understand what lessons you can take from this example.

Check out: How To Get Into Stanford 

What can you write in the roommate essay?

With an acceptance rate under 5 percent , it is easy to say that Stanford has their pick of astonishingly qualified applicants. By adding the roommate essay prompt, Stanford is looking to see what qualities besides outstanding academics and extracurriculars you will bring to campus: in other words, how students will contribute and fit into student life. 

In drafting the essay as a note between roommates, Stanford asks you when they are relaxing by themselves or hanging out with friends at the end of the day.

Because it’s directed towards a peer, it is more than fine to use an informal, fun tone in writing this essay. This is a great space to include offbeat elements of humor—but only if they represent your personality. You should sound like yourself. Stanford even states on their website, “ We want to hear your voice in your writing. Write essays that reflect who you are and write in a natural style. ” 

We want to caution you against writing only about what kind of roommate they would be. I know it seems easy to spend 250 words describing your sleep schedule or management habits, but we ensure that this kind of essay is a sign that they have taken the prompt too literally.

Remember that Stanford indicates something about itself as an establishment, even as it asks you to do the same. It’s saying: community matters here, and people matter. Social skills matter. Who are you, and why should we let you into the school and the club?

Similarly, writing about how your child can’t wait to share typical Stanford experiences like lazing about beneath the California sunshine with their roommate doesn’t reveal much about your child other than…well, that they want to go to Stanford or getaway their Midwestern winter. As such, we recommend staying away from platitudes like “I can’t wait to sit together at football games” or “I look forward to studying for finals together.” 

Instead, you must focus on personal, intimate details about yourself to write a standout roommate essay. Think: what would your close friends know about them that others wouldn’t? You can also use help from an English essay writer to help you draft content for the essay.

For instance, maybe you are a gaming nerd and always talk about video games. Perhaps you like to sit under the stars late at night when your parents are sleeping, and sometimes you tinker with an electronic skateboard in the garage. Or maybe you cannot go to bed without laying out your clothes and essentials for the next day—and perhaps you have some unique kind of well-known costume among your friends. These are the kind of minute details that are less likely to make it into the usual personal statement but reveal glimpses into your personality.

• Here are some questions to help you brainstorm what those details might look like:
• What about you would surprise other people? This could be an interest, a habit, or a goal.
• What’s in your room that no one knows about? (And is it something appropriate to share on a college application?!)
• What daily routines do you have? Is there something you can’t go without in the morning or evening?
• What do you like to do for entertainment or to relax (other than extracurricular activities)?
• Do you have a code or unique way of talking to your friends?
• What is your favorite inside jokes?
• Where do you and your friends go to blow off steam?
• What are you most excited about sharing with a new friend or roommate?
• How do you know when you’ve clicked with someone? What’s the sign that you two are now true friends?

Once you have brainstormed some exquisite personal details, you should write out the motives or reasons behind these habits. In other words, your roommate essay should not only give Stanford a sense of what you are like in your day-to-day life but also provide a larger structure or context explaining what those details say about them.

Also, parents should always give their children some distance when letting them prepare their college essays, especially here. This is a common social topic. A parent standing on top of their child will result in a challenging, awkward, and uncool essay. 

Tell your child to get feedback by encouraging them to read the essay with older friends, admission advisors, counselors, or favorite teachers. But this might be one where you need to step away to let their personality shine.

Stanford Roommate Essay, Example

Let’s have a look at a real-life example of an excellent roommate essay, and observe how an idea of how these concepts can be applied.

The actual Stanford roommate essay prompt:

Essentially all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—know you better. (100–250 words)

Here’s what our student, Angelica, wrote:

Dear Future Roommate,

When first meeting me, most people describe me as “quiet.” I’m glad I have this chance to tell you that this isn’t the case. Don’t get me wrong: I know how to relax with a good book and a cup of tea, and—don’t worry—I always wear headphones when I study. My family and close friends will tell you that once you get to know me, I have plenty to say.

As an aspiring psychology and philosophy double major, long analytical conversations are my jam. People fascinate me, so I love to talk with my friends about what everything from our favorite cereals to our phobias says about us (by the way, that would be Rice Krispies and spiders—any interpretations?). If you don’t feel like sharing, though, it’s fantastic. I make sure to journal every night before bed and write down my dreams when I wake up.

You could say I’m a sucker for human expression. I would be delighted if you ever want to go to a museum or take a poetry class together. I’m looking to try new things in college, though, so if you’d instead bond by going rock climbing or to a comedy night (or whatever you’re into), I’m game.

I look forward to learning about what makes you you

What's great about Angelica’s essay? Let’s cut it down: 

Paragraph 1: Angelica’s essay starts by immediately laying down a hook: outsiders think she is quiet, but that isn’t the case. Not only does this grab the reader’s attention and lure them to keep reading, but it also sets up the rest of the essay by creating a structure for Angelica to explain how she is not what she seems. See how she also manages to hide in a few specific details of things she enjoys. 

Paragraph 2: Now, we start to get an idea of who Angelica is. Though she does choose to write about how she enjoys something fairly common—long conversations with friends—she makes it unique to her by grounding the activity in her interests in psychology and philosophy. By writing about her daily habits of journaling and recording her dreams, we get a picture of her as someone who naturally loves analysis and interpretation, even outside the scope of academic work.

Note: though we have demonstrated why the roommate essay is a valuable space to discuss interests other than academic or extracurricular ones, if your child can tie such interests or activities to their personality in a completely natural way, as Angelica did, it’s outstanding. It’s proof that their intellectual passions are organically related to their personal and private lives.

Paragraph 3: In this paragraph, Angelica does a great job of moving seamlessly through a sequence of ideas. First, she further explains why she loves long analytical conversations: she is interested in human expression. Not only does this first sentence help explain the previous paragraph, but it also sets up space for her to discuss other subjects and activities she enjoys, like art and creative writing. In turn, by framing these interests as possible activities with her future roommate, Angelica can naturally write about how she hopes the college will be a place to try new things. 

Paragraph 4: A standard one-line to demonstrate that she is keenly interested in learning about other people. This sentence seems completely honest and in line with what she’s already shown us about herself.

Why it works

Angelica’s essay works because she uses intimate personal details to create a larger story about who she is. She gives the reader a sense of what she likes to do and why these things matter to her. Through this, we come to understand her personal qualities. In reading Angelica’s essay, we get a sense of her as initially reserved but ultimately chatty, interested in other people, analytical, creative, and open-minded.

Angelica uses an easy, conversational tone with the occasional dash of light humor. As such, her essay doesn’t read like it’s trying too hard to be something it’s not and instead just sounds genuine.

She also takes advantage of the prompt to show humility and friendliness. Her parentheticals show a sweet but not put-on awareness that it won’t just be her interests and biases that drive the new roommate relationship.

As with other successful college essay examples, Angelica’s essay also shows us that writing a compelling roommate essay doesn’t have to involve detailing a super obscure or quirky interest or activity (though that’s lovely too). Instead, it demonstrates that something ordinary can be interesting so long as your child can show why that topic reveals something important about who they are. 

Final Thoughts

The roommate essay gives a unique opportunity for you to demonstrate that they will bring more than just a fabulous resume to Stanford. Though many applicants initially find the roommate essay challenging, many students often report that it is among their favorite college essays once they have completed writing it. With lots of brainstorming, attention to detail, and self-reflection, you can find something unique to say.

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How To Top in a Stanford Roommate Essay (With Example)

The Stanford letter to roommate is one of three supplemental essays required to apply. It allows you to write a note to your future roommate. We can all attest to how difficult such a task may seem. Imagine writing to someone you have never met – where do you even start?

Unlike other college essays, which require you to discuss contemporary issues, this one presents to you a chance to describe yourself to your future college roommate. Well, I know some can fill booklets when asked to write about themselves while others can only go as far as writing their name and stopping there.

Either case, this Stanford letter to roommate essay writing guide is for you.

Key Points on a Roommate Essay Stanford

Besides excellent academics and performance in extracurricular activities, a letter to roommate brings out the personal qualities that the student is bringing to school. It shows their contribution to student life and how they will fit in.

There are vital considerations that will get your Stanford roommate essay accepted. These include:

• Tone and language

For Pete’s sake, this is a letter to a roommate, not a university vice-chancellor! Therefore, you should use fun and casual tone in writing this essay. Don’t scare your future roommate away with an official, stern, and unwelcoming tone.

• Be yourself

When you want to write a note to your future roommate, do not force or make up any character that is not yours. Ensure that you use your voice in your writing and let the result reflect who you are, and write in a natural style.

• Do not be ‘selfish’ in your letter .

By this, I mean that you should not only write about what kind of roommate you are going to be. Describing everything about you may stir up some sense of egoism. Ensure that your letter shows your contribution to the community or social life in general.

Stanford essays that worked followed the guidelines stated above. You can look up Stanford roommate essay examples available online to familiarize yourself with these three concepts better. If that’s not enough, you can seek professional writing help and get your paper done in a split of a second.

Stanford Letter to Roommate Example

Dear Future Roommate, I am excited to tell you about myself already. I have a high affinity for friends, and that’s why I can’t wait to see you so that I can also know you in person. My friends here call me ‘skinny,’ not because I am skinny – I am huge! An elephant is my sister for that case. Don’t mind my body size; we can comfortably share a bed for your information. They call me skinny because I love using the word skinny in almost every sentence that I make – you’d have noticed that already. There’s more behind ‘Skinny’ that I am sure you’ll be thrilled to know. My passion for journalism has aroused a curious person in me. I will inquire almost about everything – even why you are reading this letter in the first place, yet you do not know me. I am kidding. I am an outgoing person with a great love for friends. I feel like greeting everyone I meet along the streets. And just before I forget, my greetings are endless. I can say hi to you as many times as possible. But don’t worry, I am not that noisy as a parrot. Talk about food, and you’ve touched the nerve-center of my heart. The kitchen is one place I hold so dear to my heart. I am carrying along my kitchen apron and cap. If you want to know about any recipe, ‘Skinny’ has got you covered! I may not know about all the cuisines but trust me, I can juggle my way around them all and present some mouthwatering meal to anyone. My fingers are itching to tell you about my appetite for sushi but let me hold that for now. I look forward to learning about you, too, roommate! Sincerely, Magdalene.

From the sample above, we can deduce how to structure a Stanford roommate essay and get it accepted.

How To Write Stanford Roommate Essay

• Paragraph 1

Magdalene begins her letter with a bait that will hook the roommate to her as soon as possible. By introducing herself as ‘Skinny,’ she is already creating a rapport with the roommate. It’s not difficult for one to miss out that she is an amusing person with a deep sense of humor – the elephant is my sister. The last line of the first paragraph excites the person reading it to find out more about this ‘Skinny’ who is the opposite of her nickname.

• Paragraph 2

Here, Magdalene sneaks into what she loves doing and her character. She merges her academic field (journalism in this case) with her general nature. One can deduce that her passion for journalism and her everyday life are related. Instead of sounding too official, she brings it out in a light and humorous way.

• Paragraph 3

She now talks about her hobbies in this paragraph. Her roommate will know from this that Magdalene is a foodie and a master chef in the kitchen. From this, the roommate can be able to relate her hobbies to those of Magdalene.

• Paragraph 4

She closes her letter by showing interest in getting to know her roommate too. You can see that she is calling her ‘roommate’ already.

Looking at the many ‘dear future roommate’ college essay examples gives you a more in-depth insight into what is expected of you. Nonetheless, you can use an essay writing service with the best essay writers and get a top-notch letter ASAP!

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5 Successful Stanford Roommate Essay Intros

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On top of the personal statement, Stanford also asks for 3 additional supplemental essays. One of them, and probably the most well-known Stanford essay prompt that appears year after year, is the letter to your future Stanford roommate:

Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—know you better. (100 to 250 words)

What is an admissions officer looking for in this essay? What can you talk about or what  should  you talk about as a roommate? How personal should you get? Here we have 5 essay intro examples from the most recent application cycles to help you grapple with your writing:

To my future roommate,

I hope this reaches you in good condition and not found underneath a mound of boxes or pinned underneath heavy furniture; in which case, my deepest apologies (and no need to thank me for the exercise). Keep reading .

2020foshofro

Dear Roommate,

Have you ever tried archery? There’s this feeling of complete silence in the mind and body, of harmony between finger and eye and feet, of unity and peace and focus. When I stand in front of my straw-bale range, watching the trees for wind, I’ve learned that the isolation is, truly, the most beautiful gift I can give myself. View full profile .

My name is Tannar, and I cannot touch my tongue to my nose.

I’ll start out by giving you the candid details about my eighteen years upon this wonderful spaceship called Earth. Most notably, I’m known to be a ruthless player of board games (Settlers of Catan in particular), I enjoy exploring the great outdoors, I love Christopher Nolan films (Interstellar, Inception, etc), and one of my most exciting adventures took place on a fog cloaked Mount Thielsen. Continue reading .

I love rainbow sherbet. Why? Because it’s made out of so many different colors! Though this cold sweet refreshment is perfect on a sweltering day, its assorted colors are what truly make it special. Read on .

Aloha future roommate,

I hope you are a rather humorous individual yourself, because you’re in for a pile of pun… sorry, that was weak. On a more serious note, though, I’ve lived a pretty peculiar life, resulting in quite a few rather quirky habits: Read full essay . 

———

Interested in reading these students’ full personal statements in addition to their full responses to the Stanford Roommate supplemental prompt? Unlock all of them in one go with our  Stanford Roommate package ! 

Our  premium plans  offer different levels of profile access and data insights that can help you get into your dream school. Unlock any of our  packages  or search our  undergraduate profile database  to find specific profiles that can help you make an informed choice about where to apply! We have 60,000+ successful college application files uploaded by college students. See how they got in, and how you can too!

About The Author

Frances was born in Hong Kong and received her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. She loves super sad drama television, cooking, and reading. Her favorite person on Earth isn’t actually a member of the AdmitSee team - it’s her dog Cooper.

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Special tips for writing the best stanford roommate essay.

November 29, 2019

Do you intend to apply for an opportunity to learn at the prestigious Stanford University? If your answer is “yes,” it is important to know one thing; your success is based on how well you write the Stanford roommate essay. But writing this essay is considered by students to be one of the most challenging things.

In this post, we are going to explore the mechanics of crafting a great letter to roommate and get your application accepted on the first attempt. We will also analyze a Stanford letter to roommate example and list great writing tips that will make your Stanford roommate essay sparkle.

What is Stanford Letter to Roommate?

When making an application to join Stanford University, you are required to write four essays. While the three of them often vary, the letter to roommate will always be there. So let us take a closer look at this essay to understand what it requires and how to craft a winning piece. Here is how you might get the question framed:

“ Because most Stanford students live on campus, write a note to your future roommate telling him/her something about yourself to help him/her and us to know you better.”

The Stanford roommate essay should be done in 100-250 words. Note that apart from this information, there are no other requirements. This means you are left to select the style you prefer to express yourself to the admissions committee and get that coveted opportunity in the university.

Dissecting the Stanford Letter to Roommate

Before you can start writing the letter to roommate, it is important to ask some questions; “What is the Stanford letter to roommate asking?” and “What are the responses expected from you?”

Because the roommate essay is open, you should take the opportunity to write on a great topic that you would shy away from in other cases.

The main reason why the Stanford admissions committee asks you to write a letter to the roommate is to understand what type of person you are, especially when with peers. The letter is also used to gauge how well or otherwise you would fit in Stanford’s community. Therefore, use the letter to the roommate to showcase the fun side of you.

Notably, Stanford letter to roommate is not geared towards showcasing your thrill in extracurricular activities. Instead, it seeks to establish what you do after studies. When you are not studying and just relaxing, what do you do? How do you use your free time? What is that unique you that your roommate should understand?

Although many students consider the Stanford letter to roommate a hard nut to crack, you should look at it as a stepping stone. This is a perfect channel to demonstrate your personality in writing. Tell the admissions board, in a captivating way, about the interests that you never captured in the rest of the application. For example, if you are talented in Super Smash Bros video games, this is the best point to talk about it.

Analyzing Stanford Roommate Essay Examples

When you look at the best Stanford roommate essays, you will easily note they are very different from other school term papers. For example, it is not common to read essays where students talk about waking up at midnight to play Metal Gear video games or watching a movie that had been banned. But all of these peculiar notions feature prominently in admission essays.

To demonstrate how the essays are done, we will take a closer look at one of the top Stanford roommate essays and evaluate its components:

The letter we are going to analyze is borrowed from a Reddit user who goes by the name ChunkySpaghettiSauce . His application was successful. So here it is:

Dear Future Roommate, First things first: my Starburst is our Starburst. Feel free to grab some (but don’t touch the lemon) off my desk whenever. I hope this works the other way around too. I have my own quirks, as do most people. For starters, I can make a hyper-realistic frog impression. (Don’t worry, I’ll chase out any frogs that happen to hop inside.) Also, I prefer socks and sandals over sneakers because I like having a breeze around my toes. You’ll often find me reading old issues of Model Airplane News or munching on weirdly delicious food combos such as strawberries and black pepper. I hum minor-key Bach fugues while studying but sing Disney songs in the shower. I can probably make you groan with terrible interdisciplinary science jokes. For example, what happens when a mosquito bites a mountain climber? Nothing, vectors cannot cross scalars. Beethoven is my jam, and l often subconsciously start humming along to his symphonies. I may even start trumpeting “BAAA DAA DUMMMM” when the brass comes in. If I start humming or trumpeting while you’re studying for your o-chem final, tell me, and I’ll stop. If you don’t mind biking out on 3 AM donut runs (lemon cream-filled is my favorite, by the way), we’ll get along just fine. Here’s to four years of groaning over p-sets and doing everything we can to keep fun alive, even if it appears to be on life support during finals week. Your roommate, ChunkySpaghettiSauce

What makes this Stanford letter to roommate essay great? Let us break it down.

First, the writer gives his personal information well to make it easy for the admissions committee to identify him. He articulately captures himself so that his future roommate can easily figure the picture of a bike resting in the room next to the bed.

Another thing that must come out vividly when you write a Stanford essay is your personality. So how does the writer bring it out in the essay?

This note to roommate articulately describes the writer from a holistic viewpoint. Apart from highlighting interest in academics, the essay demonstrates what the writer is, after dealing with problems such as homework.

In the essay, the student places side by side the academic life and keeping fun alive. This demonstrates that the student will be out to become part of the greater Stanford community.

This writer must have left the Stanford admissions board wanting to get him into campus because of the articulate flow of the ideas from the beginning to the end. In the end, you feel that the letter has all that you would need to know the student, what he likes, and how he would fit into the university. That is why it was stamped accepted!

And one more thing; writing a Stanford letter is not about trying to copy other people’s ideas. As demonstrated in the above essay, that unique you, the special things you do and how you do them, is what the admissions committee wants to know. Simply give your story with precision and enthusiasm to get your Stanford roommate essay accepted.

Topics to Get Your Stanford Roommate Essay Accepted

Notably, the Stanford admissions committee does not expect a lengthy and formal piece outlining all the achievements you have hit so far as a student. Therefore, what does it want? To help you know what to write about, here are some great topics to focus on and raise the chances of getting your Stanford roommate essay accepted.

• Your unique traits

When writing a Stanford roommate essay, go ahead, and show your personal traits. Think of it this way: do you do yoga every day before going to bed? Do you do 20 pull-ups every morning?

Once you have noted your traits, go ahead and hit the nail on the head, explaining why you are so motivated. For example, do you do yoga because you read a book by a great author about how it helps the heart and mind? Or is it because of your faith?

Go ahead and include some unique spin to your story to make it a thriller. Well, you might want to learn a few literary tactics to thrill readers.

• Personal relationship with other students

Notably, Stanford management is very keen on getting students who are capable of fitting in within the larger university community. This means that you have to explain your personality to capture who you are beyond attending classes. Therefore, use the letter to roommate to show how adaptable you are with people. Tell the admissions board how effectively you interact with others. Think broadly and share the funny stories about waking up at midnight to remind your colleague it is his birthday, or wittingly pushing your way to get the first raw in movie theaters. Tell it in a unique way.

Remember that when you select a topic, the benchmark should be showcasing how well rounded you are to live with others at Stanford. Demonstrate you are a fun person to live with in every situation.

• What favorite things do you do just for yourself?

After demonstrating how good you are able to relate with others, the rest of the application should highlight personal achievements and extracurricular activities. This is the best point to demonstrate what you do just for yourself. Here are some highlights:

• Perhaps all your Saturday nights are used trying a new game online. Describe the game and which level you have gone to.
• Perhaps when you have free time, probably before sleeping, you always learn new photography tips. This will match with your course in graphics design.
• Or maybe you are a fitness fanatic and always looking for the best ways to cut weight. Highlight something like how the focus is driven by the undying desire to address the current problem of obesity and overweight in the globe.

No matter what fun things you cherish, go ahead and write a note to your future roommate in a fun way.

Essential Tips to Use when Writing Your Dear Future Roommate Letter

To increase the chances of getting your Stanford roommate essay accepted, we will list some useful tips that you should use.

• Go for a unique structure

Although there are no requirements on the structure that you should use when writing the Stanford letter to roommate, it is important to be extra careful. If you do not have a clear structure, the essay will look disorganized. The goal should be making your essay flow well to impress the readers. A great structure would be a captivating introduction, several paragraphs in the body, and short closing remarks.

• Be as specific as possible

When you write your Stanford roommate essay, the primary aim should be giving the admissions committee a vivid picture of who you are. Therefore, be as specific as possible to demonstrate who you are on top of your academic achievements.

NOTE: Do not try thinking of what the admissions board wants to hear. Rather, tell your story with specificity. Let your character be seen and understood beyond any reasonable doubt.

When you read other top Stanford essays that worked, it is easy to be tempted to pick a false story to appear more captivating. But that is wrong. What the admissions committee wants to hear is a real voice from deep within you saying, “this is the true me, this is what I like, and I can become big with this opportunity.” Be honest and real!

• It pays to read other Stanford roommate essay examples

Well, many students are nervous when writing the Stanford admission essays. It is understood because you are crafting a letter that could determine your future. So do not spare any effort to make it the best. Start by reading a great Stanford letter to roommate example to get a grip on how to do it.

• Focus on the bigger picture when writing your Stanford letter to roommate

Although the main focus of the Stanford letter to roommate is telling the admissions committee about yourself, it is important not to lose sight of the bigger picture. When explaining that special thing that makes you unique, try to see it from the lens of the opportunity at hand. This is crucial because the admissions committee members will always peruse your profile to see, which is the course of interest.

• Proofread the letter well

No matter how well you write your dear future roommate letter, it can be watered down if you fail to proofread well. Once you are through writing the essay, make sure to carefully proofread it to ensure there are no grammar errors, and the flow is impressive. And that is not all. Go ahead and get a trusted and unbiased friend to proofread the essay further. If he/she suggests some changes, factor them to improve the essay.

Stanford Roommate Essay – Nail It!

As we mentioned at the beginning of this post, how well you craft your Stanford roommate essay is a great determinant of whether you will get a chance at the university. Besides, since the essay is short, every word, every sentence counts. With this guide, you can now craft a great piece and smile all the way to Stanford University, right?

If you still feel inadequate, you cannot let the chance to get into Stanford University slip away. Writing and getting your Stanford roommate essay accepted requires good skills that you might not have. In other cases, the time to write the essay might be short, or you have other engagements. No matter the reason making you feel inadequate, the best option is seeking writing help to craft a winning essay.

We have top professionals who can craft an amazing Stanford roommate essay for you. They have crafted other top letters to roommates and helped students get admitted to the prestigious university. Therefore, they can also assist you. And you know what? They are also cheap and eagerly waiting to help you. Do not take a chance with an essay that will define your future; get a professional helping hand .

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Some advice and a rant about the stanford roommate essay

I hate the Stanford roommate essay because it ruins whole application cycles.

Everyone wants to get into Stanford. BAD. I've worked with four people this year who have told me "I literally know I'm not going to get in but I'm still REA."

And the essay they spend the most time and anxiety on, without fail, is always the roommate essay.

Like the Uchicago essays, the Stanford roommate essay is what I call a "black hole essay" because it can swallow up a seemingly infinite quantity of time, mass, and energy.

It's open-ended enough to feel like an opportunity to stand out... and because Stanford is such a hyper-selective school, everyone knows just how IMPORTANT it is to stand out. Ergo, the roommate essay is do-or-die, because it feels like the crucial spot where an application either passes or fails the uniqueness test.

BUT no one wants to actually take a risk in writing it, so everyone ends up spending a huge amount of time trying to produce an essay that both stands out and is risk free .

This impossibility of this task irradiates the essay with a field of cognitive dissonance that can drive even the most stalwart applicant to the precipice of madness.

I've read probably, at this point, 300 roommate essays. One of the most common attempts to resolve the paradox above (has to stand out but zero risk allowed) involves trying to list off your most impressive credentials in a quirky, chill way.

So, for example, cutting to somewhere in the middle of an essay after the obligatory "Hey Roomie!":

Honestly, I'm a bit of a debate nerd — placing third in state this year is one of my proudest achievements. I can be stubborn, but don't be fooled: I'm really just curious about the issues that matter most to you. I can't wait to stay up late into the night talking about the tics of AI, whether two wrongs really do make a right, or how any war could be considered "just." I'll keep you honest if you do the same for me!

Now, because I am friends with a former Stanford AO, I can tell you that this calculated-yet-quirky approach is not the right way to play this essay. It will blend in with 10k other essays of a similar style, written about similar activities.

But I can't tell you what the right way to approach the essay is, either, because I believe that a "good approach" to the stanford roommate essay will look different for every applicant.

If I were writing this essay for myself, I would go all in. I would risk it all on the essay and not try to play it safe. Because logically, statistically, stanford is not a school where anyone can get in by playing it safe. So if you don't have god tier activities and a perfect gpa, and you're applying to stanford REA, my advice to you is to take your shot and go crazy with this essay.

At least, try not to let this essay get to your head. Focus on getting all of your applications done before you come back for second, third, fourth passes on this one.

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Search the site, search suggestions, random roommates to chosen friends.

When I discovered you couldn’t choose your own roommates the first year at Harvard, my stomach churned.

I received the extensive Housing Assignment Form over the summer and was equally frightened and impressed by its comprehensiveness. They asked every question under the sun: 

On a scale of 1-10, how messy do you consider yourself?: I would guess a 6.

Do you like to study with or without music?: I like music, but I can use headphones..?

Do you prefer to sleep with the lights on or off?: Off. Do people sleep with the lights on?

They asked me to write an essay that described my ideal roommate. This was my chance. I wrote at length about the types of people I get along with, my biggest hobbies, interests, passions, and even threw my Meyers-Briggs personality type in there to round it off. I was not messing around.

And then the most important question of all:

What is your ideal number of roommates? (0 - 5): I would prefer 1 roommate.

There was, of course, a clause that stated they could not guarantee your preference. I had never lived with a roommate before, not to mention five of them! Nonetheless, I decided to be reasonable, and figured college would be the time to take risks, so I listed I could handle a roommate.  

I got four. 

I was placed in a quintuplet on the top floor of Canaday Hall in Harvard Yard. The room had four bedrooms for five guys, a pretty big common room, and a hallway bathroom. After some Facebook stalking, I prepared to meet my roommates with loose information I could gather on them: A rugby player from California, a politician from Massachusetts, a presidential scholar from Wisconsin, and an actor from Berlin. Between the four of them, I could not think of a stranger combination of roommates. I had heard the Deans do their best to make smart, informed choices. My guess was maybe this room was for the leftovers.

The Boys of Canaday G Entryway

On move-in day, in addition to the 300,000 other thoughts racing through my mind about starting college, I was hoping I would make a good first impression. The Californian rugby player, Daniel, was not enthused when he was chosen for the double, so I took the hint and steered clear. The presidential scholar from Wisconsin, Colin, also turned out to be 6’4” and seemingly unamused by my bad jokes. Life in college was moving fast in and out of class, so I figured I could get along fine with microwaving my leftovers in silence and taking them to my single. 

Our interests and hobbies are so disparate, yet there's something underlying that makes us more similar than we might think.

It wasn’t until a month or two in, that a passing hello slowly turned into catching up. Catching up soon turned into an hour-long conversation in the common room and accidentally missing lunch. We told stories that had us laughing hysterically at 3 am and debated topics that revealed perspectives I hadn’t even thought about. I learned more about their personalities and them as people.

I made friends with people that were similar to me outside of Canaday G41, but I had come to find friends that were perfectly opposite right in my own common room. 

A Random Night In Kirkland

Sophomore year and junior year, I chose to live with Daniel the Californian rugby player and Colin, the Wisconsin presidential scholar. Of course, by then, they were just Dan and Colin to me. We had established traditions of going to the top of the Science Center the night before each finals period, throwing extravagant parties for each other's birthdays, and grabbing lunch whenever we could to fill each other in on the extremely different lives we conducted outside of our awesome new room, Kirkland I-33. 

I now study a joint concentration in Film and Neuroscience , while Dan studies Computer Science , and Colin delves deeper and deeper into Government . Our interests and hobbies are so disparate, yet there's something underlying that makes us more similar than we might think. I have come to realize that with a lot of students at Harvard, when I give them the chance I had with my roommates. 

As we approach senior year, I’m happy I couldn’t choose my own roommates my first year, because I might have never met my best friends. 

The Trio, Junior Year!

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The Personal Statement Topics Ivy League Hopefuls Should Avoid

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A compelling personal statement is a critical component of an Ivy League application, as it offers students the unique opportunity to showcase their personality, experiences, and aspirations. Kickstarting the writing process in the summer can give students a critical advantage in the admissions process, allowing them more time to brainstorm, edit, and polish standout essays. However, as students begin drafting their essays this summer, they should bear in mind that selecting the right topic is crucial to writing a successful essay. Particularly for students with Ivy League aspirations, submitting an essay that is cliche, unoriginal, or inauthentic can make the difference between standing out to admissions officers or blending into the sea of other applicants.

As ambitious students embark on the college application process, here are the personal statement topics they should avoid:

1. The Trauma Dump

Many students overcome significant hurdles by the time they begin the college application process, and some assume that the grisliest and most traumatic stories will attract attention and sympathy from admissions committees. While vulnerability can be powerful, sharing overly personal or sensitive information can make readers uncomfortable and shift focus away from a student’s unique strengths. Students should embrace authenticity and be honest about the struggles they have faced on their path to college, while still recognizing that the personal statement is a professional piece of writing, not a diary entry. Students should first consider why they want to share a particular tragic or traumatic experience and how that story might lend insight into the kind of student and community member they will be on campus. As a general rule, if the story will truly enrich the admissions committee’s understanding of their candidacy, students should thoughtfully include it; if it is a means of proving that they are more deserving or seeking to engender pity, students should consider selecting a different topic. Students should adopt a similar, critical approach as they write about difficult or sensitive topics in their supplemental essays, excluding unnecessary detail and focusing on how the experience shaped who they are today.

2. The Travelogue

Travel experiences can be enriching, but essays that merely recount a trip to a foreign country without deeper reflection often fall flat. Additionally, travel stories can often unintentionally convey white saviorism , particularly if students are recounting experiences from their charity work or mission trips in a foreign place. If a student does wish to write about an experience from their travels, they should prioritize depth not breadth—the personal statement is not the place to detail an entire itinerary or document every aspect of a trip. Instead, students should focus on one specific and meaningful experience from their travels with vivid detail and creative storytelling, expounding on how the event changed their worldview, instilled new values, or inspired their future goals.

3. The Superhero Narrative

Ivy League and other top colleges are looking for students who are introspective and teachable—no applicant is perfect (admissions officers know this!). Therefore, it’s crucial that students be aware of their strengths and weaknesses, and open about the areas in which they hope to grow. They should avoid grandiose narratives in which they cast themselves as flawless heroes. While students should seek to put their best foot forward, depicting themselves as protagonists who single-handedly resolve complex issues can make them appear exaggerated and lacking in humility. For instance, rather than telling the story about being the sole onlooker to stand up for a peer being bullied at the lunch table, perhaps a student could share about an experience that emboldened them to advocate for themselves and others. Doing so will add dimension and dynamism to their essay, rather than convey a static story of heroism.

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Similarly, many students feel compelled to declare their intention to solve global issues like world hunger or climate change. While noble, these proclamations can come across as unrealistic and insincere, and they can distract from the tangible achievements and experiences that a student brings to the table. Instead, applicants should focus on demonstrable steps they’ve taken or plan to take within their local community to enact positive change, demonstrating their commitment and practical approach to making a difference. For instance, instead of stating a desire to eradicate poverty, students could describe their extended involvement in a local charity and how it has helped them to discover their values and actualize their passions.

5. The Sports Story

While sports can teach valuable lessons, essays that focus solely on athletic achievements or the importance of a particular game can be overdone and lack depth. Admissions officers have read countless essays about students scoring the winning goal, dealing with the hardship of an injury, or learning teamwork from sports. Students should keep in mind that the personal essay should relay a story that only they can tell—perhaps a student has a particularly unique story about bringing competitive pickleball to their high school and uniting unlikely friend groups or starting a community initiative to repair and donate golf gear for students who couldn’t otherwise afford to play. However, if their sports-related essay could have been written by any high school point guard or soccer team captain, it’s time to brainstorm new ideas.

6. The Pick-Me Monologue

Students may feel the need to list their accomplishments and standout qualities in an effort to appear impressive to Ivy League admissions officers. This removes any depth, introspection, and creativity from a student’s essay and flattens their experiences to line items on a resume. Admissions officers already have students’ Activities Lists and resumes; the personal statement should add texture and dimension to their applications, revealing aspects of their character, values and voice not otherwise obvious through the quantitative aspects of their applications. Instead of listing all of their extracurricular involvements, students should identify a particularly meaningful encounter or event they experienced through one of the activities that matters most to them, and reflect on the ways in which their participation impacted their development as a student and person.

7. The Pandemic Sob Story

The Covid-19 pandemic was a traumatic and formative experience for many students, and it is therefore understandable that applicants draw inspiration from these transformative years as they choose their essay topics. However, while the pandemic affected individuals differently, an essay about the difficulties faced during this time will likely come across as unoriginal and generic. Admissions officers have likely read hundreds of essays about remote learning challenges, social isolation, and the general disruptions caused by Covid-19. These narratives can start to blend together, making it difficult for any single essay to stand out. Instead of centering the essay on the pandemic's challenges, students should consider how they adapted, grew, or made a positive impact during this time. For example, rather than writing about the difficulties of remote learning, a student could describe how they created a virtual study group to support classmates struggling with online classes. Similarly, an applicant might write about developing a new skill such as coding or painting during lockdown and how this pursuit has influenced their academic or career goals. Focusing on resilience, innovation, and personal development can make for a more compelling narrative.

Crafting a standout personal statement requires dedicated time, careful thought, and honest reflection. The most impactful essays are those that toe the lines between vulnerability and professionalism, introspection and action, championing one’s strengths and acknowledging weaknesses. Starting early and striving to avoid overused and unoriginal topics will level up a student’s essay and increase their chances of standing out.

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My Doctors Told Me I'd Never Run Again. Then I Finished the Boston Marathon.

One of my fiercest rivals growing up was running. I was the antithesis of athletic and nothing distressed me more than mandatory miles at school.

But just over a decade ago, a friend convinced me to sign up for a race, and I caught the running bug . Soon I found myself casually running 5Ks and the occasional 10K. In 2016, I threw my name into the TCS New York City Marathon lottery, half-hoping I wouldn't score a spot. But I did, and before I knew it, I was a three-time NYC marathoner, having not only crossed the finish line in 2016, but also in 2017 and 2020 (although the finish line that year was symbolic, since the pandemic meant the race was held virtually).

Even so, my relationship to running was complex, both emotionally and physically. I never exactly liked the actual act of running. And it was never easy for me, since knee, foot, and leg issues of every kind plagued me throughout every training. Yet there was something about the thrill of racing — or maybe it was crossing finish lines — that kept me going.

While training for the United NYC Half in 2021, however, a different level of pain set in: a nagging ache on my inner left ankle, heated and sharp at times. With COVID-19 still very much present in our lives, the race was virtual that year. By the time I'd crossed the 13.1-mile marker on my self-created race route, I could barely walk.

I went to my physician, then physical therapists, podiatrists, and orthopedic surgeons (yes, multiples of each!). After a series of X-rays and an MRI, they all concurred: pounding the pavement with my extreme flatfootedness had caused posterior tibial tendonitis, a breakdown of the tendon stretching from below the foot and up the inner ankle — and I was lucky that the condition had just stopped short of my tendon snapping.

They said that it was a matter of time before an intensive surgery was required, so the only solution was to slow the progression. One podiatrist told me to throw away all the shoes in my closet; I needed aggressive arch support and would be confined to sneakers wide enough to fit custom orthotics from then on. She added that l had basically had a set number of steps left in my feet and to plan my bucket list trips right away, even with the pain, since after surgery I wouldn't be the same. Not an easy prognosis to hear for a travel journalist.

And the one thing every single doctor emphasized the loudest: no more running.

Defeated, I accepted my fate, adjusting to life in sneakers and arch-boosting orthotics. I dabbled in fitness alternatives, like spinning and swimming. Now and then, I'd cheat and run a short race. But for the greater part of 2.5 years, every step I took hurt. I learned to live with the pain, which remained a daily reminder of the doctors' warnings.

Yet somewhere in the back of my mind, I hadn't quite given up on running.

Then, at the beginning of this year, I received an invite through Westin Hotels & Resorts to run the 2024 Boston Marathon .

I chuckled. Boston is famously the ultimate runner's marathon, the world's oldest annual marathon and the most well-known of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors . In real life, even without this injury, I'd never qualify. Even if I somehow got in, surely I couldn't run alongside those high-level marathoners on the notoriously hilly course.

But here I was, with the opportunity thousands of runners would clamor for in my hands. And suddenly, I knew I'd sign up. While my perspective wasn't necessarily the healthiest, I reasoned to myself that I'd need foot surgery at some point in my life anyway. So worst case, after attempting to run Boston, I'd need it sooner — but at least I'd know I'd tried. Still, I kept my entry quiet, in case I had to drop out.

Westin set me up with a run coach, the brand's Global Run Concierge Chris Heuisler . With a bit of apprehension, I told him about my prognosis. But instead of seeing it as a roadblock, he told me to think about the marathon journey like I would a travel adventure. He reminded me that you just don't know what you'll face until you get to each point, so the only thing to do is to take it moment by moment. Throughout the weeks, I articulated every concern, from frustration with gear to lackluster runs, and of course, every bout of pain. But he had this magically emphatic way of shifting my mindset every time.

Heuisler also introduced me to the Jeff Galloway run-walk method . I'd always been a run-walker, but I'd always gone off feel rather than stick to a formal plan. Under the Galloway method, I ran for one minute, then walked for 30 seconds. This gave my foot the relief it needed from the sustained concrete pounding, but provided a steady pace.

During the early weeks of training, I put off finding a physical therapist, for fear of hearing — yet again — that I shouldn't run. But after hitting double-digit mileage, the dull pains were starting to get sharper at times, and I knew my self-curated massage sessions weren't working as proper recovery anymore.

I specifically looked for a physical therapist that was sports-focused and landed upon Pursue Physical Therapy & Performance Training in my hometown of Hoboken. I shared my entire medical history with Michael De La Cruz , PT, DPT, CNMT, COMT, CSCS, slightly embarrassed I was even considering a marathon in my condition and worried about what his reaction would be. But from the first visit, there was never any doubt in his mind that I was going to finish that race. With every progressing biweekly visit, I started to believe I could too.

By asking me to tune more deeply into how my body felt, he and his team helped uncover something that completely changed my training journey. During one visit, I made an off-the-cuff comment that sometimes my big toe feels like dead weight. From that one little clue, he began to suspect that my foot had grown accustomed to my orthotics and the muscles in the toe and my foot arch had atrophied, causing them to become limp.

After a few weeks of physical therapy aimed at restrengthening these muscles, my previously constant tendon pain was barely there. Unbelievably, as race day approached, the tendonitis was hardly a thought. Now, I had one goal: cross the finish line, even if it was dark and everyone had gone home. Realistically, based on my training times, I wouldn't make it within the six-hour time limit — if I made it at all. But I wanted to finish for myself.

On race morning, I soaked in every moment of the adventure. Marathoners often say the accomplishment is making it through training to the start line, so I tried to embody that spirit.

I was toward the back of the final wave. As I inched toward the start, things started to go awry. My Strava tracking app I relied on wouldn't start, so I stepped aside before the start line to try to fix it. When I looked up again, it looked like every other person had started the marathon.

In a panic, I sprinted across the start line. My running tights started to slip off since I had loaded the back pocket with extra energy gel packets last minute. With one hand holding my pants up and the other fussing with my phone, I was one of the last people to cross the start line of the 2024 Boston Marathon. (Ironically, start times had quite an impact on others, as the six-hour time limit begins when the last runner starts, a point of controversy this year .)

Flustered beyond belief, I troubleshooted on the go, tying up the elastic band on my pants and ditching the tracking and run-walk cues, and just ran.

I quickly learned that there's a special brand of spectator fervor along the 26.2 miles of the marathon route from Hopkinton, Massachusetts, back to Boston. Despite being in the last group, there wasn't a single patch throughout all the small towns that was silent.

Sticking to my run-walking as much as I could, the miles flew by. Then out of nowhere, muscles I hadn't thought about — above the insides of my knees — locked up. Every movement hurt. I made my way to the next medical tent. There was a wait, so I kept going, in agony with each step.

By the time I ran into Heuisler and the Westin crew waiting for me past Mile 21, I had chipmunk cheeks filled with ice I had taken from strangers to try to numb everything. I found myself screaming that the pain was "debilitating."

While there's nothing wrong with dropping out of a race for any reason, and people should prioritize their health over a need to finish at any cost, Coach Chris had guided me through 18 weeks of training; he knew me and my abilities, and in this situation, he knew exactly what to say.

He reminded me that everyone was in pain on these intense hills on this hotter-than-expected day. And most importantly, he reassured me, "You are going to finish."

With those words, something clicked. I realized how much of a group project this was. Marathoning might feel like a solo endeavor, since it was my number on the bib. But so many people had poured so much of their heart into supporting me, knowing I could get this done. Powering through wasn't just for me, it was for all of my friends and support team, and all of our impossible dreams too. Plus it didn't hurt that I had snagged an impossible reservation at my favorite Boston restaurant, the rooftop Contessa in The Newbury — just a few hours from now I could be enjoying my beloved squash carpaccio.

So I forged ahead. My head was in a different place, knowing that if I just held steady, I would become a Boston Marathon finisher.

Barely holding on, I made the famous last turns — right on Hereford and left on Boylston — saw the finish line, and burst into a sprint. Chills ran through my spine as I took that finish step across the finish, a defiant act of rebellion, especially against that throw-your-shoes-away podiatrist. I had completed the Boston Marathon fair and square, and with nearly a half hour to spare, in 5 hours, 30 minutes and 27 seconds — and never once did that left foot bother me.

Now, several months later, I'm still relatively pain-free. I'm continuing PT and gaining a better understanding of my body and how pain manifests, and I grow stronger with every appointment.

Instead of accelerating my progression toward surgery, running a full marathon led me on a journey to find both a physical therapist and run coach who I credit with curing me of what had been a lifetime sentence of pain.

Of course, I know I took a huge risk. I went into my training understanding that I was potentially prioritizing my desire to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience over my long-term well-being. I absolutely believe that everyone should listen to medical expertise and advice.

But at the same time, if something feels off, we're the only ones who can keep advocating for ourselves until we find the right team of people who will work with us and find a solution-oriented treatment, one that takes into account quality of life.

The funny thing is, I still don't exactly "like" to run. But now that a marathon helped me live life pain-free again, sometimes I find myself dreaming of more marathon medals in my future.

Rachel Chang is a travel and pop culture journalist and a magazine editor (Us Weekly senior editor, J-14 editor in chief, CosmoGIRL! entertainment editor) turned freelance writer. She's a regular contributor to Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure, and has written for PS, New York Times for Kids, Wall Street Journal, Lonely Planet, and United's Hemispheres, among others.

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George Clooney Urges His Friend Joe Biden to ‘Save Democracy’ by Exiting 2024 Race: ‘One Battle He Cannot Win’

The two-time Oscar winner, who headlined a lucrative Biden fundraiser in June, writes in an essay that a new Democratic ticket could "enliven" the party at a critical moment

Neil P. Mockford/Getty, Andrew Harnik/Getty

George Clooney publicly pulled his support for Joe Biden ’s 2024 presidential campaign on Wednesday, July 10, urging the White House to consider the impact of keeping him on the ballot.

The liberal actor, 63, penned a passionate essay for The New York Times , in which he argues that Biden should quickly exit the 2024 race for the good of his own party. Clooney cites troublesome poll numbers suggesting that Americans lack confidence in Biden following his frail performance in the June 27 presidential debate against Donald Trump .

In the article, Clooney calls himself a "lifelong Democrat" and reminds readers that he co-hosted the Biden campaign's star-studded Hollywood fundraiser only a few weeks ago, which he noted was the "single largest fund-raiser supporting any Democratic candidate ever."

"It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe “big F-ing deal” Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020," Clooney said, "He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate."

Clooney expressed his personal fondness for the current president, writing, "I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him. Believe in his character. Believe in his morals. In the last four years, he’s won many of the battles he’s faced.”

However, the two-time Oscar winner said that "the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time,” referencing the 81-year-old's age, which remains a top concern to voters.

Addressing Biden's weak debate performance specifically, the actor said, "Our party leaders need to stop telling us that 51 million people didn’t see what we just saw. We’re all so terrified by the prospect of a second Trump term that we’ve opted to ignore every warning sign."

He added that Biden’s primetime interview with George Stephanopoulos on July 5 — which the White House hoped would revive his candidacy — "only reinforced what we saw the week before."

Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty

Clooney called upon leading Democrats — specifically naming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer , House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — to put pressure on Biden to "voluntarily step aside." (Within hours of the essay's publication, Politico reported that Jeffries told House Democrats he would relay their concerns to Biden.)

According to Clooney, "every single" lawmaker he's spoken with has said that they worry Biden will not only lose in November, but that he will hurt Democratic candidates down the ballot and potentially give Republicans full control of Congress. Clooney suggested that some of the skeptical Democrats he's spoken with are still publicly backing Biden.

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Later in his essay, Clooney expressed optimism for the future of the political party if Biden steps aside, writing, "We can easily foresee a group of several strong Democrats stepping forward to stand and tell us why they’re best qualified to lead this country and take on some of the deeply concerning trends we’re seeing from the revenge tour that Donald Trump calls a presidential campaign."

The clock is ticking with the Democratic National Convention beginning on Aug. 19 — during which time the party will formally nominate its candidate — but Clooney insists that there’s still time to "hear from Wes Moore and Kamala Harris and Gretchen Whitmer and Gavin Newsom and Andy Beshear and J.B. Pritzker and others" who have been named as possible replacements.

Clooney also requested that Democrats stay united if the ticket sees a switch-up, writing, "Let’s agree that the candidates not attack one another but, in the short time we have, focus on what will make this country soar. Then we could go into the Democratic convention next month and figure it out."

The actor suggested that Biden stepping aside could "enliven our party" and "wake up voters" who have "checked out."

Clooney concluded the essay by expressing gratitude for the president — and a plea: "Joe Biden is a hero; he saved democracy in 2020. We need him to do it again in 2024."

Clooney’s essay comes as a slow trickle of liberal lawmakers break from the president. As of Wednesday afternoon, eight Democratic members of Congress have publicly called for Biden to drop out of the race, and many more have expressed doubts — including Pelosi, who has cautiously suggested that there's reason to be skeptical of Biden's candidacy.

Several celebrities seem to share Clooney's fears, with author Stephen King writing on social media earlier this week, “Joe Biden has been a fine president, but it’s time for him—in the interests of the America he so clearly loves—to announce he will not run for re-election.”

Emmy winner Rob Reiner praised Clooney for his essay, writing on social media, “My friend George Clooney has clearly expressed what many of us have been saying. We love and respect Joe Biden. We acknowledge all he has done for our country. But Democracy is facing an existential threat. We need someone younger to fight back. Joe Biden must step aside.”

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, stanford roommate essays: tips and tricks.

Yo, guys! So I'm starting to think about my Stanford application and struggling a bit with the infamous roommate essay. Any tips on what kind of tone to strike or how I should approach it? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Hey! Glad you're tackling the Stanford roommate essay! It's definitely a unique prompt, and approaching it the right way can make your application stand out. Here's some advice to help you get started:

1. Be Conversational: The roommate essay is meant to give admissions officers insight into your personality, so treat it like you're writing a letter to a future roommate rather than a formal essay. Keep the tone casual and friendly, which will help the reader feel like they're getting to know the real you.

2. Showcase Your Genuine Interests: Use this essay as an opportunity to showcase your passions and hobbies, especially those that don't already come across elsewhere in your application. Whether you're into cooking, playing an instrument, or exploring nature, let your future roommate (and the admissions officers) get a glimpse of what makes you tick.

3. Don't Brag: While it's essential to showcase your interests and accomplishments, avoid bragging or being overly self-promotional. Your future roommate will likely be more interested in your quirks, habits, and personality traits than in hearing about your achievements. Remember, this essay is just one piece of your overall application - your transcript and activities list will already showcase your more quantifiable strengths.

4. Share Your Quirks: Be open and genuine about your quirks and habits. Whether it's your love for a specific type of music or your tendency to leave your shoes scattered around the room, sharing your quirks can make your essay more personable and relatable.

5. Reflect on Your Background: Your background and upbringing can provide context for your interests and how you approach different situations. Feel free to share anecdotes or reflections about your family, community, or cultural traditions.

6. Be Positive: Remember that you're essentially inviting someone to live with you, so keep the tone positive and focused on the aspects of your personality that would make you a good roommate. Highlight your flexibility, adaptability, and willingness to contribute to a harmonious living situation.

7. Revise and Edit: Just like any other essay, your Stanford roommate essay should be well-written and free of errors. Make sure to proofread thoroughly and get feedback from others to ensure that your essay is clear, thoughtful, and well-constructed.

In summary, focus on being personable, honest, and positive while also giving admissions officers a glimpse of your personality, interests, and quirks. With a little refinement and creativity, your Stanford roommate essay can be a great way to show who you are beyond your academic achievements and help you stand out in the application process.

For more detailed guidance on how to tackle not only the roommate essay, but all of Stanford's supplemental prompts, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-stanford-university-essays/. Do keep in mind that the exact prompts can change from year to year, but the roommate essay in particular has been a staple recently, and at such a selective school, it's definitely not a bad idea to get started early.

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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• Hay Comida en la Casa

A Breakfast Ritual in My Blood

How we eat is usually influenced by family. With my bicultural upbringing, inspiration lands on the plate in sometimes unexpected — and comforting — ways.

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On a good morning, my routine looks like this. I rise at about 6 a.m. to feed Ramona and Chiquis, my beagle mix and trash kitty. Once my kitchen is clean, I pull out my electric kettle, grind a scoopful of single-source, locally roasted coffee beans, and then grab the carton of free-range eggs from the refrigerator. I crack one into a bowl, add a little milk, and mix the ingredients together before tossing it on a frying pan. This is my daily ritual: attempting to make the perfect breakfast egg. Sometimes, it’s an omelet with a splash of Tapatío or Valentina, or some crumbles of queso fresco or leftover chorizo. Sometimes it’s scrambled in a breakfast burrito consisting of just a warmed flour tortilla and a strip of thick-cut bacon.

How I prepare my breakfast is very much influenced by my bicultural upbringing in the 1980s and ’90s in the Pacific Northwest and Southern California. My mom was born in 1956 to a Mexican American household and came up in the San Fernando Valley. By all accounts, her parents were very much concerned with fitting in with the Joneses, pressured to raise the all-American family and downplay their Mexican roots. From what I understand, my dad had a somewhat rural upbringing in western Washington and Hood River, Oregon, by way of Oakdale, California — about a 30-minute drive northeast of Modesto and deep in the heart of the state’s San Joaquin Valley. Just recently, as I’ve begun to unpack my family history, I learned that his birthplace goes by the moniker “ Cowboy Capital of the World .” When I was little, dad told me that his family was a part of the massive wave of poverty-stricken Southwest Americans known as Okies who traversed to California for a better life.

My parents split up when I was four years old, and my dad remained in our lives off and on; his side of the family helped to raise my sister and me over the next 10 years. Shortly after my mom, sister, and I relocated to the San Fernando Valley, we got word that he died from a drug overdose. Now in majority-Latino Southern California, with what felt like severed ties from my paternal family and the typical teen pressures associated with the desire to fit in, much of my young adulthood was spent largely ignoring my white side and looking to my Chicana half to inform how I would move about in the world.

The thing is, there’s no escaping those data points that both of my parents passed along to me and my sister. Regardless of how I arrived at my tendency to “pick a side,” I am the sum of them both. In my house, although we primarily spoke English, hay comida en la casa was a familiar refrain, one that was thrown about in response to our cries for Happy Meals, or that signaled that payday was a long ways away and that we would have to make due with what was already in our cupboards. What’s in my house and pantry now, as an adult? It’s those collective memories that signaled to me what food I should eat and why.

Sometimes, I’ll give my egg a nice fluffy scramble that I can use to fill a warm tortilla for breakfast tacos or burritos. I love the complexity of homemade tortillas de nixtamal — nutty and formidable, flexible yet sturdy with an intoxicatingly sweet aroma — and recently started making them myself at home. Otherwise, I’ll pick up a package of freshly made flour tortillas from La Gloria Bakery in Detroit’s Mexicantown district, which are bubbly and covered in toasty little brown spots and pack a punch of flavor.

I haven’t always paid such close attention to the quality of a tortilla: Only recently did I begin to appreciate the ancestral wisdom that is passed down when we take the time that our abuelas (and their abuelas before them) did to preserve culture, one masa ball at a time.

We grew up with Mission or Guerrero packaged tortillas, only occasionally treated to the pillowy flour tortillas my mom would pick up from Carrillo’s Tortilleria in San Fernando. My mom went from daughter to teen wife to young single mom all before the age of 30 — a trajectory that I think about often as I’ve reached milestones in my own life that would have never been possible with two kids. A few weeks before my sister was born, my mom’s mother, my Granny Mary, died at 59 from a stroke. My grandmother wasn’t the type to invite others into her kitchen to cook, but my mom did observe. Even though my sister and I never had a chance to enjoy our grandmother’s cooking, we recognized our mom’s approach as nothing other than authentically Mexican.

My mom held all household roles: breadwinner, caretaker, mother, and father, all on top of completing undergraduate and graduate school. As such, Mom’s Mexican and Tex-Mex cooking was made with convenience in mind. My mom was an expert at producing an assembly line of ingredients, easy enough for two small girls to hop on by themselves to build our own meals. Tostadas were a constant, just a corn tortilla fried up until it’s stiff, that we’d slather with refried beans, a scoop of pico or diced tomatoes, shredded cheddar, maybe a little lettuce or olives. A dollop of Daisy? Sure, why not. For a sweet snack, we could similarly crisp up a flour tortilla and spread melted butter across it before dusting it with a sparkly finish of cinnamon and sugar. She also filled our cupboards with the organic ingredients she’d pick up at the local food co-op. Chocolate treats made with carob beans, flavored honey sticks, fruit leather. Never grapes (she tells me that while an undergrad at Evergreen State College, when I was in preschool and kindergarten, she tabled for the United Farm Workers to raise awareness about the working conditions of farmworkers.) Subtle, unspoken ways to model healthful, socially conscious eating choices.

Mom’s store-bought tortillas illustrated to me the power of resourcefulness and resilience, and that you don’t need a great deal of money or a shoe box filled with recipe cards passed down through the generations to whip up something that’s nourishing and comforting. I’m reminded of this every time I’m throwing down in the kitchen, exhausted from a long day of deadlines.

Sometimes it’s a single-egg omelet sprinkled with mozzarella and some chile crunch. This omelet is paired with a perfectly seared fatty ribeye, cooked on a hot, seasoned skillet, brushed with melted butter and rosemary and fish sauce to achieve a charred outer crust, locking in a pink juicy interior. It’s the perfect cowgirl meal for one, and I definitely picked up on this from my dad.

My dad was involved in our lives as much as he could be, but he struggled with alcohol and drug addiction; sometimes months would go by without knowing where he was or if he was okay. He had long, wavy hair, a bushy strawberry blond Yosemite Sam-looking mustache, smoked Camel straights and had crooked teeth, and wore collared shirts with the sleeves rolled up; had he lived past his 40s, I imagine he’d be rocking a bushy white Sam Elliot ’stache by now. When I was in fifth or sixth grade, he lived in a school bus on a sprawling organic farm in Clackamas County owned by an old friend of his from the Vietnam War, where my sister once chopped off a chicken’s head, leaving it to flap about wildly until it eventually fell to the ground. The household’s matriarch cooked it for dinner.

My dad’s cooking reminds me of something a cowboy might make on the open trail. My dad was a meat-and-potatoes guy, but his defined palate understood how to put together a chophouse-worthy meal, even on a church food pantry budget. Bacon fat-cooked green beans were a regular side dish. He loved experimenting with fresh ingredients. One time, he got his hands on some rhubarb and made it into syrup. I’m not sure I fully appreciated it at the time, but as an adult, I know what to do with raspberries if they’re on the verge of going bad: Make a compote topping, a sweet variation of my dad’s syrup.

Coffee was non-negotiable. He worked the second or third shift off and on for years and as a result, he trained me to make a fresh pot of coffee for him just before he woke up in the afternoon. He had a particular process, using a plastic pour-over maker placed on top of a mug. Too many grounds and it came out bitter, too little and it may as well be water. Always whole beans that you grind at home. Never instant. Always black, unless we had an espresso machine; then steamed milk for a latte, which he taught me how to make. He made sure I understood the assignment; it became a skill that would reap rewards into adulthood.

I’m pretty sure that he picked up a taste for Vietnamese food from his Air Force days during the war, and it showed up every now and then when we ate: When my sister and I wanted McDonald’s or some other fast food, he’d try to persuade us to try Vietnamese instead. He usually had a bottle or two of some fiery hot sauce in the refrigerator door, the rarer or harder to procure, the better. Often, a meal with my dad wasn’t really about the food at all, but rather a chance for him to share war stories: At times they came off as a retelling of an adventure, afforded to him because he raised his hand and volunteered to serve. Other times, they’d be horrific, violent scenes that could have come out of Apocalypse Now . He loved cuisines of the world and technique and transforming the mundane into complex dishes that I still think about. I just wished he’d come up with some better dinner table conversation.

Sometimes my breakfast ritual might involve picking up fresh produce from Detroit’s Eastern Market, bright and early on Saturday morning. I load my granny cart with bags of locally grown salad mix, or this time of year, a bunch of asparagus and whatever fruit is in season (hello peaches, hi blueberries). I reach for a carton of colorful eggs, a container of microgreens, along with a crusty loaf of sourdough from a booth set up by a farm from Ann Arbor. Afterward, I may stop by my favorite bougie neighborhood shoppy shop for a jar of chile crisp; a bag of ethically sourced, locally roasted whole coffee beans; and an oat milk latte; followed by one last stop at the Mexican grocery store for queso, cactus water, epazote, cilantro, limes, and dried hibiscus flowers. If I’m in Dearborn or Hamtramck, two predominantly Arab communities in metro Detroit, I might grab a bag of pita bread instead of tortillas and maybe some olives and hummus from the olive bar.

My shopping routine reflects my own personal patchwork of Oregon and LA, Mexican and hippie granola, childhoods out west and adulthood in the Midwest. It’s summers picking blackberries while building forts in the woods with my sister and the neighbor kids. The hum of ThunderCats dubbed in Spanish on the television at my grandparents’ house in Mission Hills with the subtle scent of citrus wafting through the back patio. Camping on the Oregon Coast in my dad’s old-school Volkswagen bus. The paletero’s cart parked outside of my high school on a hot September afternoon. Shopping at Saturday Market in Portland. Ending a night of clubbing with bacon-wrapped hot dogs. Skipping middle school while sipping short mochas at the oldest Starbucks in Oregon .

When I get home, I heat up a kettle, pull out my Chemex glass pour-over coffee maker, and brew myself a pot as I unpack my bounty. While the coffee’s brewing, I fill a mason jar with some hibiscus flowers and water to steep on my porch in the Detroit sun for a few hours for a batch of agua fresca. I crack open the light brown shell of an egg on a small ceramic bowl. I allow the butter to sizzle on the warm frying pan, but try not to let it brown. My nostrils flare open from the scent of the chile oil as I sprinkle it across my eggy canvas, which sizzles alongside a market discovery of bright green breakfast sausage flavored with chile verde. I open up my cupboard and scoop some nixtamalized masa harina into a mixing bowl, a splash of warm water, and begin kneading the mixture until it forms into a ball. I return to the stovetop and add some grated sharp cheddar to my omelet and a handful of microgreens, along with some crumbles of that sausage. I turn on another burner to warm the comal that I’ll use to make a quick dozen tortillas. I ladle the glistening, perfectly folded omelet into a warm blue corn tortilla, take a sip of coffee.

My pantry is informed by my Pacific Northwest and Southern California upbringing, seasoned with the knowledge imparted by my Chicana mom and white daddy. And now with a full belly and a little kick of caffeine, I’m ready to tackle the day.

Victor Bizar Gómez is Mexican-American illustrator currently vibing in Portland, Oregon.

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Monica Lewinsky: In Praise of Alternate Endings, 10 Years After My First VF Essay

Never lose hope.

“I love you. Bye, Felicia !” I texted my friend Katerina on October 27, 2016. The sassy send-off had been in the culture for two decades (a reference from the film Friday ), but it had only crossed our transom that year. We used it affectionately and, therefore, ironically. Unbeknownst to me, it would be our last text exchange. She died unexpectedly on November 1.

Our friendship had been a salvation in the latter half of what I now call my Dark Decade, roughly 2004 to 2014. Though that stretch of time included some moments of joy, they were few and far between. For the most part, I was in a sea of pain, coming to grips with what it meant to have been standing at the center of a political sex scandal in which I was opposing the most powerful man in the world. Coming to grips with the trauma that grew around me, like weeds, as a result of the public revelations of my private life, the ensuing media circus, an impeachment trial. Coming to grips with what my future might look like. Answer: It looked fucking bleak. I was unemployable. And I was Angry.

Katerina, an entrepreneur and activist, was whip-smart about current events, world history, and spiritual matters. She had a roaring, infectious laugh. She was also kind. You would hardly know that less than a decade earlier, in a freak accident, she had broken her back in five places. After being reassembled with metal rods, she was told she’d likely never walk again. “Screw that,” she would say, “pun intended.” She didn’t lose hope and instead insisted on an alternate ending, prognosis be damned. With grit (and some luck), she recovered and did indeed walk again. And she walked tall.

Our conversations spanned the personal and the political. In 2013, as Edward Snowden leaked classified NSA documents, exposing an array of methods the government and European allies used to spy on private citizens, Kat posited that 15 years earlier, the Starr Report had catapulted us all into what she termed the Age of Transparency. We’d had explosive disclosures in politics before: the Pentagon Papers, Watergate , Iran-Contra. But at their core, these were military, political, professional; 1998 was personal. A boss having an extramarital affair with a young subordinate. A politician abusing power. People, under oath, lying about sex. Rumors titillating the Beltway and beyond. All ordinaire. Almost quotidian. But this time was different. As the truth was made public, published in full on the internet, the personal behavior of a private citizen (me)—along with the actions of others, which had typically been obfuscated by power, gender, status, and wealth—was laid bare. And this transparency led to historical and cultural shifts.

Kat made the point that after 1998, for better or for worse, becoming transparent meant becoming Seen—in new and sometimes disturbing ways. And year upon year, we began to peek behind the veil in all facets of life and culture, thanks to the Patriot Act, reality television, the truth about weapons of mass destruction, the advent of social media, Wikileaks, 23andMe, the UK tabloid phone hacking scandal, and on and on.

Kat’s argument was compelling. And a year after Snowden’s data dump, 2014, I would find myself impacted by this Age of Transparency yet again, this time gratefully.

Ten years ago, after a decade of self-imposed silence in which I had retreated from a world that still shamed me, after a decade of involution and integration (and a fuckton of healing), I jumped back into the public conversation. With no safety net. And I found my voice…by writing for this magazine.

In many ways, my 2014 essay, “ Shame and Survival ,” was a social experiment. Vanity Fair and its then editor, Graydon Carter, could have been lambasted for giving someone from a 15-year-old news story, well, 15 more minutes. And not just in a splashy interview, but in a first-person essay in which I allowed myself to be transparent—and unblinking. (The first line was “How does it feel to be America’s blow job queen?”) I was no longer mediated through another’s gaze but stepping forward unabashedly.

And something surprising happened. A generation that hadn’t lived through the Brainwashing of 1998 insisted on reevaluating this story, one that, given government and judicial overreach, given the technological and tabloid explosion, had always been bigger than me and any one of the other players in it. It had always been a story about the culture at large, and why in my original piece I had referred to myself as a social canvas.

What followed was a Big Fat Fucking Miracle™. My life changed, and I’ll be forever thankful.

That doesn’t mean it has been all smooth sailing. Hardly. Over the years, I’ve spoken confidentially to many people who have been publicly shamed and have explained that taking back one’s narrative doesn’t happen overnight and is (annoyingly) replete with plenty of setbacks. While the essay went on to be nominated for a National Magazine Award (I’m not kidding, alongside pieces by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Roger Angell—Angell won), the following month I attended a party in LA and a famous diva asked me, point-blank, if I was someone’s plus-one. When I replied I had been invited, she snarked, “They just let everyone in tonight, didn’t they?” (Yes, really.)

It went on like this. I gave my first major public speeches: at the Forbes 30 Under 30 conference and, several months later, in 2015, at TED in Vancouver. But mere minutes after my TED Talk, “The Price of Shame ,” went online, the level of vitriol, misogyny, and hatred spewed at me in the comments section was worse than anything the TED team had experienced before. (Who knew there were so many ways to say whore ?) Soon I began working with anti-bullying organizations globally. And yet, when one of the groups was being honored at an event, I was asked not to walk the red carpet.

In 2018, I was asked by Vanity Fair ’s newly appointed editor, Radhika Jones, to address the #MeToo moment in an essay in which I unpacked my own thoughts about what constituted consent in a workplace relationship with a quintessential power differential. Shortly thereafter I was disinvited to a philanthropy summit because former president Bill Clinton was a last-minute addition to the roster.

I could go on for hours. If this last decade has shown me anything, it’s that we never know what lurks or enlivens around the next corner. That one essay, where someone took a chance on me, helped set my life on a different course.

My friend Katerina, who is intensely missed, was not as fortunate. One night she had dined out with her husband and developed what became a fatal case of food poisoning. She was hospitalized, sepsis set in, and she quickly passed. But to this day she remains Seen, in all her common majesty, by everyone who encountered her in life.

After all, in the end what matters more than how it all began is how we have been Seen . And as Rumi wrote:

Never lose hope, dear heart. Miracles swell in the invisible.

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