Students at Yale have plenty of time to explore their academic interests before committing to one or more major fields of study. Many students either modify their original academic direction or change their minds entirely. As of this moment, what academic areas seem to fit your interests or goals most comfortably? Please indicate up to three from the list provided.
Why do these areas appeal to you? (100 words or fewer)
At an arts school worth the two-hour bus rides, we discuss everything, from the taste of moon-milk to the specifics of mastering color. I am no stranger to summoning writers like Haruki Murakami and Amy Tan, and at Yale nothing will change. I can’t wait to indulge in different mediums—film, to discuss the persistence of gothic tropes in pop culture, and theater, to examine where children’s stories fit into the narrative. I want to give back because literature has emboldened me to tell the tough stories, fight for Asian American representation and stand up for those without a voice. (99)
Why does Yale appeal to you? (100 words or fewer)
After hearing firsthand Yale tales about a book binding basement, students working tirelessly on the oldest college newspaper, field trips to Broadway, and the excitement and agony of Blue Book parties, I knew I wanted to spend my next four years colliding into strangers in Old Campus. I pictured joining the vibrant art scene and collaborating with Yalies, many of whom I’ve met through theater and poetry competitions across the nation. These students build a community of excellence through supporting each other on a campus created to be a home, an inspiration, a workshop and a showcase for emerging artists. (100)
Who or what is a source of inspiration for you? (35 words or fewer)
Magical realism: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The House of The Spirits, Kafka on the Shore, One Hundred Years of Solitude. A belief in hidden whimsies—I am inspired by enchanting worlds. (34)
If you could live for a day as another person, past or present, who would it be? Why? (35 words or fewer)
Lin-Manuel Miranda, to experience 6 years of creation spring to life on opening night on Broadway. To feel pride and responsibility of equalizing the playing field and paying homage to history. (34)
You are teaching a Yale course. What is it called? (35 words or fewer)
“The Art of Marvel”: an examination of superhero popularity, a juxtaposition of film portrayals with comic book counterparts, an exploration of how the Marvel Universe reflects the post-9/11 world. (35)
Most Yale freshmen live in suites of four to six students. What would you contribute to the dynamic of your suite? (35 words or fewer)
Care packages filled with stationery and candy. The aroma of freshly baked cookies. Heart-to-hearts, and advice. Sharing passions and worldviews. Fangirl sessions. Fanart on the walls. Laughter, lots of it, at criminally late hours. (34)
Please choose two of the following topics and respond to each in 200 words or fewer.
2 Reflect on a time in the last few years when you felt genuine excitement learning about something. (200)
“What scares you?” my playwriting teacher asks on the first day. “If it doesn’t scare you, it’s not worth writing.”
So, as a freshman, I confront my fears through theater. Lights up on news articles and personal histories. Words fill the page in a frenzy as I feast on plays, teaching myself structure and pacing.
I summon the courage to send my plays into the world. The countdown to opening night begins. Professional directors, actors, producers, stage managers breathe in the worlds I built. When an actor shares his experience about losing a parent, I am moved to tears and reaffirmed--the production process validates my reason for writing: that my stories may resonate with even just one person.
Cue gasps, wet cheeks, and laughter from the united audience. Whether my plays are performed in school, a white box in New York, the Stella Adler in Hollywood, or the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, we clap because we believe. After house lights go up, audience members approach me with their life stories. I am in awe of the power of storytelling, a universal act of imagination stretching back to the beginning of the human race. (199)
3 Write about something that you love to do. (200)
If I describe to you my life, you’d assume I’m a spy.
After all, I was recruited when I was 11. I receive assignments via email, text, or phone. My assignments are to infiltrate red carpets and Beverly Hills hotels, liaise with PR’s to determine time and location, and relay intel to bosses who sit atop 20-story buildings.
Instead of X-Ray sunglasses, I’m equipped with only a mic and a notepad. I pore over my feature stories and rewrite movie reviews in the dead of night. Like a secret agent studying files, I spend hours researching assets and brainstorming unique questions.
Though I’m not setting traps for villains, I do talk with green monsters like the Hulk, Kermit, and Mike Wazowski. I undergo intense training to enter the Scorch Trials, study How to Train Your Dragon, and venture Into The Woods. I conduct intelligence operations with other Divergents and sail across Sea of Monsters and Stranger Tides to accomplish my missions. It all pays off when I acquire exclusive insight into artists’ lives, revealing another facet of depth. I connect with another human and gain invaluable perspective.
Real spy or not--I’m happy with this job. It’s just as cool. (199)