50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays

Writing about a Picture
“I answered the question, ‘A picture is worth a thousand words, as the 
adage goes. Include a photograph or picture that represents something impor-
tant to you, and explain its significance.’”
“I thought this essay question was unique in the sense that the admissions 
committee wanted to see more than just text. Stanford was the only university 
that I applied to that asked for something other than an essay.”

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50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays
“I ended up choosing a picture of myself standing in front of a castle in 
Segovia, Spain, named El Alcazar. I was fortunate enough to win a scholar-
ship trip to Spain through the Spanish Honor Society. My essay topic resulted 
in a description of how my life changed after the trip, realizing I was a more 
independent individual. The picture represented my personal exploration of 
my individuality and how my personality evolves through important events in 
life. The essay topic essentially chose itself; I found it easy to write about such 
a huge event in my life.”
—Brian Aguado, Stanford University