University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign Undergraduate College Application Essays

I was shocked by the sound of my own voice.

Having recorded myself, I excitedly pressed play, expecting to validate an acoustic theory I had just read about in physics textbook. As sound travels faster through bone than air, I expected a...

“Sit still!” my mom shouted at me in Igbo, as she continued to press the scalding flat iron to my scalp. I hung my head, watching as the puddle of tears in my lap grew larger, each additional tear rolling off my chubby ten-year-old cheek,...

I don’t like hospitals. Sharp needles, surgeon’s scalpels and other tools aren’t really my forte. Add to that the freezing air, devoid of any impurities, the impersonal white from ceiling to floor, and the moans and groans of patients in pain; a...

Tilt of the head, toes on the tips and fingers striving to get hold of one of the dusty tomes which no one reached for, to hands confidently binding around a volume with admiration for the work in my eyes is my life in a nutshell.

“ They had...

Light, clear and ephemeral. A bubble is easy to pop. An onion on the other hand, has layers of tough, pungent membranes - breaking them brings tears to your eyes.

When asked where I was from, I would unthinkingly say ‘Karachi’. As I grew older, I...

The purr of the engine dulls the voices of the other passengers. The cabin is fiercely pressurized, and the economy seating is cocooned in the back. After we visited the fresh farmland and enjoyed accustomed smoked foods, the only taste that both...

It was pouring rain as night crept in. Hauling heavy packs and tools, we trekked down the 19-kilometer unmaintained Galene Lakes Route, on our way back from constructing a campsite for BC Parks. Upon reaching a ravine, we ground to a halt - the...

My program was successful, but the determination to continue competing further eluded me. I longed for the hackathon to finish, staring at the minute hand on the clock as it inched closer to the hour. As soon as the buzzer sounded, I felt I had to...

While waiting at the Dunkin’ near Bardeen Quad, I noticed students took out caffeinated coffees, whereas visitors bought sugary ones. It was interesting correlating those two. Until my cousin bought Ice Tea. Finding such correlations – and...

I’ve never been able to buy my Halloween costumes from a store. While my friends dressed up as ballerinas and princesses, I was Molly Pitcher and Clara Barton - not exactly costumes you can find at PartyCity. Instead, my mom made my costumes,...