In the spirit of New Year’s reminiscence, I found my old college applications from exactly 30 years ago while cleaning out our storage. A typewriter-form filled Northwestern application and a handwritten Duke application, and in the box was a floppy disk labeled “college admission essays.” I found an old floppy drive, popped it in and miraculously the data were in perfect condition after the disk had been moved and stored for 30 years! Reading my essays (after downloading a converter for MS-DOS WordPerfect files) really gave me some perspective on my S24’s application process. It was unlikely he would have been admitted to Duke or NU like I was, although his wGPA is higher, more APs etc. (will never know as he was admitted ED to his first choice, with merit).
My essays just talking about reading up on scientific advances in bioengineering showed enough interest and initiative to be admitted. Now I would need to have published research, been a national science award winner or finalist, taken college classes etc. and started some sort of nonprofit to be admitted to these programs.