50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays

The Importance of Motivation
“I actually had six admissions essays for MIT. Most of them were about sci-
ence since I had to keep in mind the school for which I was applying, which is 
a very science-oriented school. At the same time though, I did include essays 
which had nothing to do with science that I thought were unique. Besides 
talking about what I have accomplished, I also explained why I accomplished 
it—what my motivation was. Anyone can do things, but what really sets you 

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Chapter 21: Advice on Topics from Ivy League Students
apart from the crowd is your journey—the steps and reasons for why you do 
what you do.”
—Ariela Koehler, MIT