SACHIN KARUPATI
University of Michigan Ross School of Business
Driven by a desire to explore the intersection of technology and finance, Sachin applied and received admission to several schools of business. Sachin holds a strong passion for learning, and desires to enter into a career of private equity and possibly investment banking. Sachin’s expertise includes helping students showcase their voice and creativity naturally through writing.
ADVICE FROM THE EDITOR
Be genuine! At its core, it is so important to showcase your true voice, passion, and experience through your writing. Admission officers can easily distinguish between an authentic piece of writing and an empty essay composed of elevated vocabulary. Through staying true to yourself in the writing process, your essays will be so much stronger!
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Sachin's Common Application Essay
Salivating over gleaming platters of manjal sambar and coconut curry, all I could hear
was the roaring crackle of the dishes. Although temple service constituted a time for holy
devotion, the supper that followed was always the main attraction. As my eyes glazed over rows
of vibrant South Indian cuisine, what I craved more than anything was just one bite: a bite of
connection, of culture. Finally, breaking from my trance, I reluctantly returned to my seat,
greeted by my signature Panera bowl of white mac and cheese alongside a loaf of bread:
disparate. To me, my food allergies were heavy shackles, barring me from forming meaningful
connections to my culture. Oddly enough, these supposed restrictions would provide me with a
greater sense of freedom than I had ever perceived possible.
As far back as my memory reaches, I can discern the distinctive sense of frustration that
hounded me nearly everywhere I traveled. It started as a choking heat unfurled up my neck as I
recognized the mattar paneer at a wedding teemed with lethal green peas; it ended wi​th the
realization that once more I would be excluded from many of the deep dals, vibrant subzis, and
spicy shawarmas that temple and family gatherings always extended. My allergies were cruel
thieves, looting me of a connection to my heritage, and pilfering me of my sense of belonging.
Often, the sense of seclusion gave way to a stifling uneasiness and a haunting question: Why was
I precluded from relishing the dishes of my own culture?
Regardless, perception was not reality. Estranged to staple foods of my culture, I was
determined to probe the unknown, to instill change; warily, I plunged into the daunting realm of
cooking with the help of my loving mother, of course. Grater and spatula in hand, I eagerly
explored a previously unknown cosmos steeping with flavors of salt, spice, and possibility.
Time after time, I found myself opting for the unfamiliar - for an opportunity.
Substituting fatal gram flour with rice flour, I experienced the fiery crunch and delectable
crispiness of malai kofta for the first time. As my teeth chomped down on the brittle crust, I
sensed the cracking of my own timid shell. Next, swapping deadly urad dal for wheat flour, I
discovered the nuanced flavor of dosa, capturing a momentary taste of burgeoning confidence. A
crazed scientist on the brink of a breakthrough, concocting new dishes fueled my appetite to
learn, birthing a sense of wonder and cultivating a desire for adventure. Galvanizing me to cook,
my allergies had served to enable and empower me. Recipes, like perspective, were distinctly
malleable ... For the entire essay, please email us. A copy of the entire essay will be provided upon purchase.