Application and Essays

If you would like to apply to become a Lu Scholar, please do so online by submitting the Lu Scholar Application.

When you apply to the Lu Memorial Scholarship, you are applying with other high school and undergraduate students, so it's okay if you do not have any future ideas yet. We encourage you to indicate prospective majors and career interests in the application, but please know you are not bound by these selections in any way.

The Lu Scholar Application includes essay prompts for your personal essay. You may notice below that they look similar to Common Application's essay prompts. In addition to the personal essay, we also require the Lu Scholar Questions, which you can access and submit through the Lu Scholar Application once you complete the personal essay.

Personal Essay

Your essay gives the Selection Committee a window into who you are and what matters to you. The strongest essays are not necessarily those with the most impressive achievements, they are the ones that show authenticity, self-awareness, and thoughtful reflection.

As you write, focus on specific moments and concrete details that reveal something meaningful about your experiences and perspective. Choose the prompt that resonates most with you, and do not be afraid to share both the strengths and challenges that have shaped your journey.

Choose ONE of the following prompts:

1. Some aspects of our identity or background are so fundamental to who we are that our story feels incomplete without them. Reflect on an element of your identity, experience, or talent that has significantly shaped your values and aspirations. How has this influenced your perspective and goals?
2. Describe a time when you faced a significant obstacle, setback, or failure. How did you respond to this adversity? What specific lessons emerged from this experience, and how have these insights influenced your approach to subsequent challenges?
3. Discuss a topic, idea, or concept that captivates you so completely you lose track of time when exploring it. What sparked this passion? How do you pursue this interest, and what does your engagement with this subject reveal about who you are and how you think?
4. Identify a pressing challenge in your community or the world that you feel called to address. What personal experiences connect you to this issue? Share your innovative approach to making a meaningful difference, including specific steps you've taken or would implement.
5. Share an essay on any subject that illuminates an important aspect of yourself not covered elsewhere in your application. This may be a previously written piece or an entirely new composition.

Length: Maximum 650 words. In your work, indicate which prompt you are responding to.

Lu Scholar Questions (Only for High School)

The prompts below are designed to help you share how you learn, how you lead, and how you hope to create positive change. Please choose your words thoughtfully, and answer each question based on your own lived experience.

We understand that seeking feedback, whether from a friend, parent/guardian, teacher, mentor, generative AI, or another resource, can be part of drafting and revising your writing. You may use feedback to improve clarity and strengthen your ideas. However, all responses submitted in this application must ultimately be your own, original work, written in your own voice.

Our review process is holistic, and these short answers matter. They help the Selection Committee understand how you think, what you value, and how you approach learning and responsibility beyond grades, activities, and awards. The Lu Memorial Scholarship honors Tingyu Lu (2006-2025), and we invite you to respond in a way that reflects both your individuality and your sense of purpose.

The strongest responses are not necessarily those that describe the most impressive accomplishments. They are the ones that show authenticity, self-awareness, and thoughtful reflection. As you write, focus on specific moments and concrete details that reveal something meaningful about your experiences and perspective.

Lu Scholar Question 1 (250 words or fewer)

The Lu Memorial Scholarship was established in remembrance of Tingyu Lu and the values he represented-curiosity, care for others, and a commitment to making the world better. Describe one specific moment when you noticed a need or problem affecting others and chose to act. What did you do, what motivated you, and what impact did it have on others or on the community you belong to (even if the impact was small or still ongoing)?

Lu Scholar Question 2 (250 words or fewer)

In the spirit of Tingyu Lu's curiosity and purpose, tell us about a time you pursued a question, project, or challenge in an original way. What were you trying to understand or improve, what approach did you take, and what did you learn from the outcome, including any setbacks or surprises? Conclude by sharing one issue you hope to work on through your education and why it matters to you.

Updated on February 7, 2026