Sabella Han (12):
I applied early decision to Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) for Statistics and Machine Learning.
I chose CMU because I’m passionate about Computer Science, but since it’s an incredibly competitive major, I looked for similar alternatives. When I came across Statistics and Machine Learning at CMU, I knew it was exactly what I was looking for. The major is essentially Data Science—which CMU excels in. After researching the school and the major a bit more, I realized CMU was the best place for me, so I applied early decision.
During the application process, I didn’t reach out to anyone from Irvington, but I did talk to a Mission alumni who had been admitted into CMU. The best advice I received was to always tie everything in your application back to the school. Whether it be the ‘Why Major?’ or ‘Best EC’ essay, you should always link your experiences and aspirations into what the school offers and how it aligns with your goals.
I began the application process in the middle of summer. I think my essays definitely helped me a lot in separating myself from the rest of their applicants since it’s a really competitive school. My extracurriculars, especially my research, were in line with my major so I stressed that in my essays along with mentioning how resources at CMU will help me continue my work on a bigger scale.
My research experience included working with a professor from UIUC on AI projects and participating in several science fairs over two years. Additionally, I competed in numerous math competitions and held multiple leadership positions, both at Irvington and outside of school.
It was really exciting when I got into CMU, and most of all, super relieving that I was able to be done with the college process early on. Some schools let you know about their results in April, and being able to be done in December was amazing. I can’t wait to meet my roommate and everyone else at CMU this upcoming fall, and experience everything the school has to bring.
Starting early is one of the best things you can do during the college application process. Many people regret not giving themselves enough time to write, edit, and perfect their essays. By starting early, you’ll have the time to create a strong application, refine it, and submit something you’re really content with.