ANNIKA AGARWAL
8 Year Medical Program (BS/MD) at George Washington University
Dedicated to the field of medicine, Annika applied and received admission to several BS and BA/MD programs. Her passion for public health and advocacy led her to commit to the George Washington program. Annika's expertise include grammar, diction, and incorporating one's personal voice.
ADVICE FROM THE EDITOR
Don't be afraid to use an informal tone! College admissions want to get to know YOU, a teenager, so don't use an extremely formal writing style that they can't connect with. Emphasize your personal voice, by including satire, humor, and personal anecdotes.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Annika's Common Application Essay
For years, I have had two dear friends that never got along. One was ancient, disciplined, and powerful. The other was modern, free-form, and graceful. Polar opposites, indeed.
The ancient, disciplined, and powerful friend would connect me back to my roots. Her slick, black braid and familiar cumin smell brought me to my nani’s (grandmother’s) mahogany kitchen in Mumbai, India. My nani loved this friend for she “carried on centuries of tradition.” This friend also introduced me to the tabla, beautiful hand drums native to my motherland. Next came the alta, red paint that came from betel leaves. My friend would decorate the soles of her hands and feet with alta before every performance. She would also put on exaggerated and colorful makeup, with thick eyeliner, extremely pink cheeks, and layers of foundation that was much lighter than her skin tone. Before I knew it, I was putting on ghungroos, musical anklets tied to each foot, for this friend.
The modern, free-form, and graceful friend would connect me to the society I live in. I realized that my peers found beauty in her low bun and tight leotard. They would approach her, laugh with her, and admire her. This friend would take me to the mirrors lined with barres, wooden rods used to build flexibility, which I would soon grow to love. I learned to sew silk ribbons on pretty pink shoes and to put shellac on them, a varnish with a glossy resin. In moments of happiness, I would chassé, or skip, to class, just as she had taught me. As I continued to stretch with her, I became accustomed to the melodious sounds of my knees cracking every time I bent down. With her, everything just felt so right, so en pointe ... For the entire essay, please email us. A copy of the entire essay will be provided upon purchase.