List I prepared for a college interview back in summer 2011

In the summer of 2011, I visited Mount Holyoke College, a liberal arts women’s college in South Hadley, Massachusetts; Smith College, another liberal arts women’s college in Northampton, Massachusetts; and Simmons College, a liberal arts women’s college in Boston, Massachusetts. I love talking about books, movies and music, and so I ended up gushing to the admissions people who interviewed me about my favorites.

Why I chose Simmons: I was searching through my sister’s college handbook and saw Simmons as one of the colleges listed. The more I read about it, the more I became curious about the college.

Books I’ve Read for Pleasure:

• Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• The Hours by Michael Cunningham
• The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
• Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
• Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
• Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Canter
• Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
• Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
• The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
• Miracle at St. Anna by James McBride
• The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
• The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
• The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
• The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (Books 1-3) by Alexander McCall Smith
• The Last King of Scotland by Giles Foden
• Atonement by Ian McEwan

A challenge I overcame: Not becoming arrogant in my junior year of orchestra and making it to the top orchestra

About me: I am a lifelong vegetarian and have been vegan for three years (since 9th grade). I have played cello since the 6th grade, and my dream is to play my cello at Carnegie Hall (the Carnegie Hall).

Hobbies: reading, writing, watching movies, talking with people/ family/ friends, and listening to music

My Favorite Music: everything (mainly rock and classical)

Favorite Artists: Death Cab for Cutie, Sia, Aretha Franklin, The Beatles, The Kooks, Keane, classical composers, Morcheeba, Madeleine Peyroux, KT Tunstall, Joss Stone, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Earth Wind & Fire, Coldplay, Phil Collins, Genesis, Elton John

My favorite snacks

• Peanut butter and tortilla chips
• carrots, celery, or any vegetable with hummus (I like carrots and celery with peanut butter)
• Fruit

Favorite Movies:

Hmmm…that’s hard

• Big Fish
• Slumdog Millionaire
• August Rush
• Inception
• The Kids Are All Right
• My Cousin Vinny
• The Breakfast Club
• About a Boy
• Avatar
• Julie & Julia
• The Great Debaters
• Despicable Me
• City Island
• The King’s Speech
• The Devil Wears Prada
• Patch Adams
• Temple Grandin
• The Emperor’s New Groove
• Mulan
• The Parent Trap
• Pirates of the Caribbean 1 and 2
• Frost v. Nixon
• Jumanji

Why I chose Mount Holyoke: while studying the 2nd Great Awakening period, our teacher discussed how women were prohibited from learning math and science because they would supposedly “get brain damage” and other health problems. I read about Mary Lyon’s female seminary and thought, “Wow, that’s empowering.” I also chose it for its high level of diversity and its campus dining options.

Why I chose Smith: great music program, studied about women’s education in the late 19th century and how women were denied education. I also chose it because of its strong academic programs.