50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays

Conveying Intellectual Curiosities
“The process of selecting an appropriate admissions essay topic was a chal-
lenging task and not one that I took lightly. I had to sort through a variety of 
considerations before deciding on a specific idea or experience. How can I 
convey my passions, abilities, and reflections in a genuine and humble fash-
ion? How can I possibly weave all of my divergent interests into a smooth, 
cogent essay? Finding that common thread was the challenge, for I needed an 
effective vehicle for expressing a complex amalgam of thoughts in less than 
750 words.
“Eventually, I settled on the experience that I thought best captured my 
essential characteristics, my intellectual curiosities, and my fundamental 
passions. I chose an experience that truly illustrated the ideas I wanted to 
convey—instead of just telling the reader about the event, I showed them what 

---

188
50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays
had happened and drew them into the story. By establishing a relationship 
with the audience I could make my message more potent and much more 
compelling.”
—Jonathan Cross, Duke University