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Sarah Yu

5,645

Bold Points

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Nominee

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

Bio

Hi, thanks for stopping by! I am Sarah, a first-generation student studying Biology at Carnegie Mellon University. My greatest passions include art, science, and people. I have been an artist all my life, and I enjoy using my hands to compose intricate work. My favorite media to express myself in are ink and watercolor paint. I discovered my love for science in high school while participating in Science Olympiad tournaments. With a desire to give back to the organization that sparked my interest in STEM, I founded a chapter at Carnegie Mellon University to host competitions. This work was especially important to me because it fulfilled a need in Southwestern Pennsylvania for a local tournament; before our establishment, schools in the area had to travel at least four hours to participate. Through Science Olympiad, my goal is to improve the quality of K-12 STEM education and to foster youth (especially minority and female youth) interest in STEM. Last but not least, I am passionate about people, particularly in forging meaningful bonds with others. I am the textbook definition of an extrovert, as it brings me joy to be around others. :) In search of a career that is the perfect blend of my interests, I have chosen dentistry. As a dentist, I will use my knowledge and craft to improve the health and wellbeing of my patients. I intend to open practices in under-resourced communities and serve people who would otherwise lack access to oral healthcare. I am proud to say that I will be matriculating at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine this fall!

Education

University at Buffalo

Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
2021 - 2025
  • Majors:
    • Dentistry

Carnegie Mellon University

Bachelor's degree program
2017 - 2021
  • Majors:
    • Biology/Biological Sciences, General

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Dentistry
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Test scores:

    • 32
      ACT

    Career

    • Dream career field:

      Hospital & Health Care

    • Dream career goals:

      Dentist

    • Camp Counselor

      Samuel Field Y: Beacon Summer Camp
      2013 – 2013
    • Camp Counselor

      Magic Carpet Day Camp
      2014 – 2014
    • Clerical Assistant

      Queens Hospital Center
      2015 – 20161 year
    • Clerical Assistant

      NYC Department of Environmental Protection
      2017 – 2017
    • Manager and SHSAT Tutor

      Townsend Tutors
      2017 – 2017
    • SAT Tutor

      Independent
      2019 – 20201 year

    Sports

    Fencing

    Varsity
    2014 – 20173 years

    Awards

    • Coach's Award
    • 2016 Girls Novice Medalist
    • 2017 Playoffs Medalist

    Research

    • Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics

      Carnegie Mellon University's Oppenheimer Lab — Research Assistant
      2017 – 2019

    Arts

    • Independent

      Calligraphy
      None
      2020 – Present
    • Independent

      Drawing
      None
      2004 – Present
    • Independent

      Graphic Art
      None
      2010 – Present

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Queens Hospital Center — Clerical Assistant
      2014 – 2016
    • Volunteering

      Front Lines Tutoring — Tutor
      2020 – 2021
    • Volunteering

      Carnegie Mellon University Turn Tartan Overnight — Admission Overnight Ambassador
      2018 – 2018
    • Volunteering

      The Midnight Mission — Volunteer
      2018 – 2018
    • Volunteering

      Carnegie Mellon University Office of Disability Resources — Peer Notetaker
      2018 – 2020
    • Volunteering

      Alliance for Refugee Youth Support and Education (ARYSE) — Mentor
      2020 – 2020
    • Volunteering

      Carnegie Mellon University Global Medical Brigades — Secretary and Participant
      2019 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Carnegie Mellon University Science Olympiad — Founder and President
      2017 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    SkipSchool Scholarship
    My favorite scientist is Rachel Carson, who was a marine biologist, environmental scientist, and author. Her book Silent Spring (1962) highlighted the dangers of environmental pollution and warned against the use of chemical pesticides. It had far-reaching consequences, which include the nationwide ban on dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and other pesticides. The book even led to the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and sparked the global environmental movement.
    Brady Cobin Law Group "Expect the Unexpected" Scholarship
    To understand what it means to leave a legacy, it is helpful to observe how we remember people who have passed. For example, we remember Mother Theresa for her dedication to the poor, Albert Einstein for his contributions to science, and Martin Luther King Jr. for his pacifism and leadership in the Civil Rights Movement. On a smaller, more personal scale, I remember my grandmother for her humor and contagious smile and my neighbor for her kindness in allowing me to play in her sprinklers every summer. Although all of the aforementioned individuals are remembered differently, they all share the common attribute of leaving a lasting impact on other people’s lives. Thus, to leave a legacy is to change someone’s, anyone’s, life in a meaningful way that is remembered even after one’s death. We can think of a legacy as an intangible manifestation of your being that carries on your memory and how you made others feel. However, legacies cannot be ranked against one another in terms of worth. While it is true that one legacy, like Mother Theresa’s, may affect more people than another, for example, my grandmother’s, it does not mean that the former is more valuable. Instead, it simply means that Mother Theresa’s legacy has the quality of being bigger and reaching more people. I will form my legacy through my commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of my community as a dentist. I will work to remove pain, improve my patients’ confidence and quality of life, alleviate oral health disparities in underserviced communities, and more. Although small, my legacy will certainly leave a positive impact on other people’s lives.
    Pettable Pet Lovers Scholarship
    This photo was taken on the day we brought Max home. He trotted up to a stuffed bear over twice his size and started rubbing his nose against it affectionately. It completely melted all of our hearts, and I'm sure it will melt yours as well!
    Bold Moments No-Essay Scholarship
    Hello, I'm Sarah! My bold moment isn't as grand as the others submitted, but I've been practicing splits every day for a year now, and I finally nailed it! I'm proud of my achievement, which has taught me to not be afraid of trying something new; you can achieve anything you put your mind to. Next up: doing a cartwheel. 🤸🏻😬
    Cynthia Lennon Scholarship for Girls