The World of Science: College Admission Essay Sample

What started as a simple chemistry project turned into a huge part of my life for two and a half months. Amanjeet, my partner, and I spent at least two hours each day in our school laboratory measuring acids and bases, calculating pH levels, and reading burettes. Each day, we lost ourselves more and more in the world of science. For those two hours, nothing mattered except our science project.

Finally, the day came when we would challenge numerous projects created by other students in the county science fair. We had no chance at winning - our competition was fierce - and yet Amanjeet and I refused to give up without a fight. We presented ourselves as professionally as we could. By the end of the day, I felt that we had tried our best, but I believed we still wouldn’t win.

Weeks passed, and Amanjeet and I waited nervously for the results. On announcement day, I was so anxious that my hands shook as I clicked onto the science fair website. And then, something miraculous: I saw our names on the screen!

“We won?” I exclaimed in utter joy. “But...but we kind of messed up on our interview with the judges...and our board didn’t look that good.” I quickly picked up the phone and called Amanjeet, who was equally shocked. Our victory felt unreal! The only troubling part of the whole ordeal was that we had to wait to see what we had won until the award ceremonies.

Another week passed. This week felt different from the previous, as excitement and suspense hung in the air. At long last, the award ceremony came and my nerves once again took over. I couldn’t wait to hear how we had placed. When our names were called, we went up on stage. One by one, the announcer called out the honorable mention science projects. I zoned out. All my thoughts were concentrated on the mistakes we made during the process. Winning just didn’t seem possible. “I hope we at least get third place,” I thought to myself. I looked around the stage and noticed that all the other participants had been called. My eyes widened. Did they call us up at the wrong time?

At this point, I was thrown back into reality, and I could once more hear the announcer’s voice. “…and the two people left on stage, our first places winners, Neelam Grewal and Amanjeet Kaur!” What he said after that didn’t matter. First place? How was it possible? I looked at Amanjeet, confused, but she just smirked at me. “I told you so,” she grinned. Through this whole experience, Amanjeet never doubted that we would succeed, and now I realized that she was right. Victory had never tasted as sweet as it did at that moment.

This science project taught me just how far determination and perseverance can get a person. If you think you can achieve something, then nothing can get in your way. Passion and devotion is all that you need to succeed. My success with the science project taught me to walk with a certain confidence that I did not have before. I now look at each opportunity that comes my way as a chance to better myself. However, I’ve also realized that self-doubt isn't always a negative quality, as it makes me more meticulous, and pushes me to give each and every endeavor my all.