Reddit recently hosted an AMA, or Ask Me Anything, that featured Kwasi Enin answering questions about his incredible feat of being accepted into all eight Ivy League schools.

Enin, now a sophomore at Yale, provided really detailed answers about when to start writing your essay and how to craft a story that will catch the attention of admissions officers.

Somewhat surpisingly, he suggested having an English teacher edit your essay before sending it in.

Below is what he shared.

On when to start writing your essay:

I took my summer, starting in July before senior year, to craft my essay. I wrote mini-essays based on the Common App prompts from previous years. I looked at what was worthwhile out of those essays, and transferred those snippets into the prompt for the 2013-2014 year as soon as possible.

Then I added all the prompts for the colleges I would apply to. I made separate word documents for all of them and started writing an essay a day in August. When the school year came, I had a whole lot of editing to do with my teachers. But it sure made the application process simple!

On what to put in your essay:

Apply EA (early action)! If you can write a compelling essay, I am sure your application will be reviewed in a positive light. I suggest picking an essay topic that takes a small idea or event which occurred in your life, and detailing it's significance in a story that just screams "THIS IS WHO I AM!" Avoid cliches as much as possible, write it this month, and have it reviewed and worked by a close English teacher until you have to send it out! 

I believe your essays (both your Common App one and the one in your choice college's supplement, are the best way to inject your personality into your application. The essay questions are always designed to give you a chance to showcase your writing style and your persona.

Basically, by the end of your essays, your admissions officer reviewer should have a wonderful image of you in their mind. This is really important, because when I visited UPenn, my own admissions officer met me randomly in a bustling crowd of Prefrosh and cited a line out of my own essay to me. Beyond the coolness of the moment, it was that connection that you hope to develop through your essays.

SEE ALSO: A student who got into all 8 Ivy League schools explains a trick for bargaining with colleges

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We’ve chosen the 9 famous people with the coolest signatures throughout history. 

Produced by Alex Kuzoian. Original reporting by Megan Willett and Skye Gould.

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Sometimes you need to program a little extra adventure in your life. At least that’s the premise of a new app, Bar Roulette, which combines Uber and Yelp to whisk you away to a random (highly rated) bar, keeping the destination secret until you arrive.

Why do that? Sure, you could sit at home scrolling through Yelp and endlessly debating which bar seems like it has the right vibe for your taste. But that can get stale. Bar Roulette is about letting go and getting some app-assisted spontaneity.

Here’s how it works.

You open Bar Roulette and sign in with Uber in the same way you would sign in with Facebook or Google in another app. Then you set the mile radius you want to go, and the app picks a top-rated Yelp bar, keeping it a secret from you. It then orders an Uber for you and tells the driver where to go, again without letting you in on the mystery bar's name or location. Lastly, when you arrive at the bar, it reveals the name to you (in case there are a couple on the block).

“It even checks to make sure the bar is open so it works on Saturday morning...I won't judge,” co-creator Tyler Swartz wrote on Product Hunt.

Commenters on Product Hunt have already asked for added functionality like restaurants, or even Airbnb.

Strangely enough, we wrote about the possibility of an app like this back in March, along with seven other avenues opened up by Uber’s ride request API. And now it actually exists.

Bar Roulette isn't an iPhone or Android app, it's a web app that you can visit on your phone or computer by clicking here. If you want to bookmark the web app in your phone's web browser, you can always add it to your homescreen, which will save the link as an app on your homescreen.

SEE ALSO: A Miami Dolphins player who makes $500,000 explains why he started driving an Uber

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The demands of the modern man at the office — as well as after hours — has necessitated a change in the collar he wears.

Collars nowadays are typically narrower, shorter, and have a wider spread to allow for the slimmer fits and lapels that are so in style these days. They also typically are able to work without a tie, if the after hours event demands it.

When it comes to informal business attire, there are generally only six types of collars to consider, and here they are:

1. Spread

One of the most common collars today is the spread collar, which comes in a variety of angles and points. "Spread" refers to the distance between the collar points.

This collar wouldn't look out of place in any type of informal business setting, and indeed most times you need to wear a full suit.

Can it be worn without a tie? YES

2. Forward Point

The most traditional choice, the forward point collar has fallen out of favor with some for its inability to be worn without a tie. (The flaps will become unruly.) A smaller opening between collar flaps allows for more tie knot variety.

The formality of the forward point necessitates the accompaniment of a full suit. Perfect for bosses and businessmen aiming to make a powerful statement through their choice of collar.

Can it be worn without a tie? NO 

3. Tab

A rare style now, the tab collar's popularity has waxed and waned over the last century. Designer Tom Ford has attempted to bring back the style with James Bond, who he dressed for the latest 007 flick, "Skyfall." Unfortunately, this blip of popularity didn't continue.

The tab collar is a formal option, but still a more adventurous choice. It's mostly reserved for the guy who really knows what he's doing with tie knots and collars, but, as it does have a long history and isn't considered a trendy style, it shouldn't be mocked in a traditional business setting.

Can it be worn without a tie? NO

4. Cutaway

Designed to be worn with a very large tie knot, the cutaway collar takes its name from the fact that it literally looks like someone "cut away" part of the fabric.

Think of the cutaway as an extreme spread collar that's more prevalent on red carpets than in boardrooms. It makes a serious statement, and should be avoided in conservative office environments, but is more than welcome in circumstances that allow for more adventure.

Can it be worn without a tie? NO

5. Button-Down

Another collar that spent its early day in sport, the button-down collar was first attached to Oxford cloth button-down shirts.

Though frequently avoided in more conservative and formal settings, this collar has made its way into moderate acceptance of more casual suiting and more casual offices. It's still more comfortable in a casual setting, however.

Can it be worn without a tie? YES

6. Club

The club collar is a unique style forwarded by an English boarding school that was looking for a way to differentiate its students from the rest. It peaked in the 1930s and has enjoyed a recent revival due to period shows like "Mad Men."

This collar is not frequently seen in the office, and — like its button-down cousin — is much more comfortable at social events and fancy dress parties.

Can it be worn without a tie? YES

SEE ALSO: 7 outdated men's style 'rules' that you don't always have to follow

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Tim Wilson, a psychology professor and the author of "Redirect: The Surprising New Science of Psychological Change," explains his study about people and their cellphones.

Produced by Kevin Reilly and Kamelia Angelova

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Some go to Italy to see its churches, and some go to Indonesia.

There's a giant abandoned church in Mageland, a forested area that's located in the Indonesian province of Central Java, that looks like a giant bird.

Daniel Alamsjah built the quirky-designed place of worship in 1990 after he received a revelation from God.

Keep scrolling to see more pictures of the bizarre construction.

SEE ALSO: This enormous underground salt mine in Romania has been converted into an incredible amusement park

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It was originally intended to look like a dove, but locals thought otherwise and nicknamed it the "Chicken Church" instead.

It has the features of a bird body, tail, and head included in its design.

A crown even rests upon its head.

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In countries around the world, wild and massive parties take place throughout the year to celebrate their history and culture.  

Venue company AmaZing Venues put together a go-to list of the biggest and best parties in the world, from Distortion, a moving music festival in Denmark, to Songkran, a huge water fight held in Thailand. 

You'll get a quick breakdown on what each event is, when and where it takes place, and how many people it attracts every year.

Check out the full infographic below for 21 unforgettable events you'll want to check off your bucket list.

SEE ALSO: 32 massive parties everyone should go to in their lifetime

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It's nice to know which ZIP codes are among America's most expensive, but, for many, Realtor.com's 2015 list of the nation's best ZIP codes for first-time home buyers is infinitely more useful.

The ZIP codes were chosen for their "healthy local economics, job opportunities, and affordability." Homes for sale in these areas sell four to nine times faster than the national average. Plus, unemployment rates in these ZIP codes are falling faster than all other metros in the country, median household incomes rank 23% higher than the US average, and job prospects for millennials age 25 to 34 are extremely favorable.

Other factors like commute times, school systems, public transportation, and proximity to shopping and restaurants also play into the ranking.

Keep scrolling to see which ZIP codes made the list.

10. 92010 | Carlsbad, California

Click here for more information on Carlsbad, California

9. 58103 | Fargo, North Dakota

Click here for more information on Fargo, North Dakota

8. 78729 | Austin, Texas

Click here for more information on Austin, Texas

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Taking their talents from the silver screen to the service industry, many actors have been investing their fame and fortune into hotels.

And why not? As frequent travelers, they know just what makes a good hotel.

Here are 13 of the most stylish celebrity-owned hotels around the world.

SEE ALSO: 20 stunning tennis courts to play in your lifetime

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Andy Murray's Cromlix Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland

It comes as no surprise that a hotel owned by a professional tennis player is home to one of the world's most scenic tennis courts. But on top of that personal touch, the 19th-century brick mansion is also a stone's throw from where the tennis great grew up: In fact, his family used to go there for special occasions when he was younger, and both Andy and his brother got married on its grounds.

Its 34 acres, in stereotypical Scottish fashion, include a loch, as well as an herb and vegetable garden and a croquet lawn, and the hotel offers classes in falconry and archery.

Rooms from $250 per night »

Robert De Niro’s The Greenwich Hotel in New York City, New York

Robert De Niro is credited with turning TriBeCa from run-down to upscale. His super stylish, 88-room The Greenwich Hotel, which is designed with hand-made bricks, reclaimed wood, and custom mirrors, helped with the speedy gentrification. The luxe hotel has an indoor pool, a Japanese-inspired spa, and one of the city's best Italian restaurants, Locanda Verde.

Hugh Jackman's Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat in Tallebudgera Valley, Australia

Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, which translates to "lookout," has a focus on health and wellness, and features a spa, two infinity pools, a yoga deck and a state of the art gym, as well as gym classes, private trainers, nutritionists and holistic counseling.

All meals are organic, many ingredients even picked from the resort's very own garden, and Hugh Jackman is a common sight.

Rooms from $721 for two nights (two night minimum) »

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We all make the same mistakes when it comes to money, thinking the more we earn, the happier we'll be.

If you really want to buy yourself a more fulfilling life, it's not how much money you earn that matters, but how you spend it.

That's the idea explored in a fascinating new book, "Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending," written by a pair of renown behavioral scientists, Dr. Elizabeth Dunn and Dr. Michael Norton.

"When it comes to increasing the amount of money they have, most people recognize that relying on their own intuition is insufficient, spawning an entire industry of financial advisors," they write. "But when it comes to spending that money, people are often content to rely on their hunches about what will make them happy." 

We've combed through and highlighted five ways to change the way you think about money that will make you happier in the long-run.

You're buying too many things and not enough experiences.

In a world where anything and everything can be yours with a credit card and access to the Internet, it's easy to get swept up by material things. 

But if you recognized the fact that you could get more satisfaction out of a $50 dinner with friends than that big screen TV or new iPhone, it might change the way you shop. 

"Research shows experiences provide more happiness than material goods in part because experiences are more likely to make us feel connected to others," Dunn and Norton write. "Understanding why experiences provide more happiness than material goods can also help us to choose the most satisfying kinds of experiences."

To help, here are four questions they suggest asking before you spend money on an experience that may not be as happiness-inducing as others: 

1. Does this bring me together with other people?
2. Will this make a memorable story that I will tell for years to come?
3. Is this experience in line with who I am or who I'd like to become?
4. Is this a unique opportunity and something I can't compare to things I've done before? 

You're more focused on getting more money than buying more time.

Sometimes, we get too caught up in either working hard to save a buck or working hard to earn a buck to realize what really matters – our time.

"Research suggests that people with more money do not spend their time in more enjoyable ways on a day-to-day basis," the authors write."Wealthier individuals tend to spend more of their time on activities associated with relatively high levels of tension and stress, such as shopping, working, and commuting."

On the flip side, penny-pinchers sometimes take saving too far. When you trade your time for some kind of monetary payoff (saving $20 on a flight by staying up all night on Kayak.com or using your vacation to earn over-time pay), you could be sacrificing your overall happiness in the process.

Now, if you get a high from saving five cents on a gallon of gas by driving 10 miles out of your way, then fine. But most people would be happier spending a little extra money to get home 20 minutes earlier for dinner.

You think a McMansion will make you happy.

What could possibly be more satisfying than ditching that old starter home you and your spouse moved into during your broke newlywed years? 

Two studies cited in "Happy Money" prove otherwise.

When researchers followed groups of German homeowners five years after they moved into new homes, they all wound up saying they were happier with their newer house. But there was one problem: They weren't any happier with their lives. The same was true in a study of Ohio homeowners in which it turned out they weren't any happier with their lives than renters.

"Even in the heart of middle America, housing seems to play a surprisingly small role in the successful pursuit of happiness," Dunn and Norton write. "If the largest material purchase most of us will ever make provides no detectable benefit for our overall happiness, then it may be time to rethink our fundamental assumptions about how we use money." 

The modern gentleman has a varied degree of interests, but no free time to explore them all. The solution? Subscription boxes. Whether it's clothes or coffee, you're only a short questionnaire away from sampling what could become new favorites. 

Keep scrolling to see some of the subscription services every man should know about. 

SEE ALSO: These 12 online services can help you dress like a modern gentleman

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Birchbox Man delivers a box of grooming goodies every month.

Price: $20 per month

Primarily a grooming subscription, the Birchbox always comes with at least one accessory or gadget. Members also receive access and discounts at the Birchbox shop, so you can buy more of what you know you already like.

Sprezzabox is a bit like Birchbox, but with the quantity of grooming versus fashion items reversed.

Price: $28 per month

Sprezzabox delivers a box filled mainly with fashion accessories, and only one grooming product. Items are chosen based on the season and current trends. 

Scentbird sends its subscribers a new designer cologne every month.

Price: $15 per month

The first delivery includes a case with a cologne sample to last an entire month (or 120 sprays). The subscriber selects the fragrance that will be sent — meaning you can opt for something new every month, or stick to what you like. 

Launched August 10th, Scentbird for men is brand new.

Shaving isn't something most men think about much. You've been doing it for years, just like your father probably taught you.

But have you been doing it correctly?

Probably not, according to an interview by Men's Health with barber Diane Wood.

Wood says there's one thing men consistently get wrong: They shave against the grain of their beard.

Men should really be shaving with the grain. Doing so will drastically reduce both irritation and the prevalence of ingrown hairs. And it'll generally result in a much closer, more thorough shave.

For most of the face, this is pretty straightforward. On most men, cheek hair grows downward and neck hair grows upward, so you're likely already shaving against the grain in those areas. Near the Adam's apple, however, it gets trickier. Much of the hair down there grows sideways or other ways, says Wood. 

These patterns don't apply to everyone. Every guy has a different pattern of growth for his beard hair, but don't worry — there's an easy way to tell what yours is. When you have a couple of days' growth, use your fingers to feel the direction of growth. Wherever you feel resistance, shave in the opposite direction. 

Happy shaving.

SEE ALSO: Follow these simple steps to get the perfect shave at home

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In this video we discuss some of the video "rules" vertical video is said to break and why it’s nonsense. Claims that video must be horizontal are tied to how we have consumed video in the past. But people are shooting and consuming more video on their phones every day. Which means we are creating and comfortably watching more and more vertical video.

Apps like Snapchat and Periscope are made for vertical video. Facebook and YouTube have recently updated their mobile apps to play vertical.

Vertical video is here to stay, so you better get used to it. 

Produced by Joe Avella

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You can't expect negotiations with the French to be like negotiations with Americans, and the same holds true for every culture around the world.

British linguist Richard D. Lewis charted communication patterns as well as leadership styles and cultural identities in his book, "When Cultures Collide," which is now in a 2005 third edition. His organization offers classes in cross-cultural communication for clients like Unilever and BMW.

Although cultural generalizations can be overly reductive, Lewis, who speaks 10 languages, insists it can be done fairly, writing: "Determining national characteristics is treading a minefield of inaccurate assessment and surprising exception. There is, however, such a thing as a national norm."

Scroll down to see Lewis' insights on negotiating with people around the world.

SEE ALSO: These fascinating diagrams reveal how to manage people in different countries

Americans lay their cards on the table and resolve disagreements quickly with one or both sides making concessions.

Canadians are inclined to seek harmony but are similar to Americans in their directness.

People in the UK tend to avoid confrontation in an understated, mannered, and humorous style that can be either powerful or inefficient.

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Now's the time to start mixing your beer and liquor.

Pinterest recently tweeted that "beertails" (aka beer cocktails) are hotter than ever. 

The image-based social platform, which acts as a sort of digital inspiration board, notes that beertail pins have doubled in popularity since the beginning of 2015.

And in case you're gagging at the thought of mixing beer and spirits, a lot of beertails are just classic cocktails with beer subbed for liquor (think: Corona margarita). 

One of our favorites is the brunchtastic ichelada — a beertail riff on the classic bloody mary. Here's how to make it. 

Michelada

Serves 4 

1 six oz, can tomato juice
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 tsp. celery salt
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. hot sauce
2 12 oz. bottles Mexican beer (Modelo is ideal)
Lime wedges, for garnish
Celery salt or plain salt, for garnish

1. Start by prepping the glasses: Rub the rims of four tall glasses with the lime wedges and coat the rims with either celery or plain salt.

2. In a bowl or measuring cup, mix the tomato juice, lime juice, celery salt, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Adjust seasoning to taste 

3. Add a handful of ice to each of the prepared glasses and divide the tomato juice mixture between them — about a quarter cup per glass. Top each glass with a half bottle of beer. Garnish with a lime wedge. 

SEE ALSO: 5 rum-based summer cocktails everyone should know how to make

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Forget exorbitant roaming charges, overpriced international data packages, or spotty internet coverage.

FireChat is the perfect travel app, allowing users to send and receive text messages entirely without data or internet thanks to something called mesh networking.

Basically, mesh networking allows you to communicate wirelessly by bouncing your message from one phone equipped with FireChat (within 210 feet of you) to another via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth antennas.

If there aren't any connections nearby, messages are stored until they can be sent. And don't worry: Messages will be encrypted, so only the intended recipient will be able to read them. The message then keeps bouncing from phone to phone until it reaches said recipient — and to cross oceans, for example, it'll hop from phone to phone until it reaches one with internet, then making its way to its final destination like any other message.

Sure, this can take a few minutes — 10 to 20 across a dense metro area, according to Skift— but you'll be able to send texts from abroad without incurring roaming charges or even from remote or blackout areas that have little to no coverage, including planes and subways.

Of course, this means that the more people download the app the better: According to Skift, only about 5 million mobile users worldwide have downloaded the app, but the app's creators estimate that as long as 5% of a city's population has it, messages can be delivered in around 10 minutes.

Originally designed for people to get in touch with each other at crowded events, FireChat became hugely popular in Iraq last year after the country faced restrictions on internet use, and it was an integral part of the 2014 Hong Kong protests and 2015 Ecuadorian protests.

While you may continue to use Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp when connected to the internet, what makes FireChat so great is that it doesn't rely on any carrier and will work anywhere.

Available on: Android and iOS.
Cost: Free

SEE ALSO: This is the one app you should use to make phone calls when you're traveling abroad

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Sebastian Errazuriz is represented by Cristina Grajales Gallery and Salon94 Gallery in New York. You check out more of his work on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and on his website.

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A desert in southern Africa is probably the last place you would expect to find a little slice of German life.

But knee-deep in the shifting sands of the Namib Desert in Namibia, the abandoned village of Kolmanskop stands as a testament to German colonization of the early 20th century.

The town sprung up around a diamond-mining operation and quickly became known as one of the richest towns in southern Namibia, a German colony until World War I.

The diamond fields were so bountiful that some say the precious stones could be scooped right out of the sand.

The town had numerous amenities including a hospital, casino, ice factory, and electrical plant, and even its own swimming pool. Kolmanskop's German heritage is unmistakable in the style of the once pristine villas and shops, and many signs about the town are in German.

But with Germany losing World War I and diamond production moving elsewhere, the town soon lost its prosperity and was entirely abandoned by 1954. Now it survives as an attraction with guided tours bringing tourists through the empty houses filling with sand as the desert slowly retakes the town.

SEE ALSO: Inside the abandoned Chinese village that nature is taking back one house at a time

The town of Kolmanskop lies about 8 miles in from the Atlantic coast and is accessible with tours from the nearby port of Lüderitz.

As a large swath of the area is still an active diamond field, entrance to the "Sperrgebiet" — "Prohibited Area" in German — is restricted to only those with permits.

Allegedly, a railroad worker found a huge diamond in the sand while shoveling next to the tracks in 1908. Word spread quickly, and soon a diamond rush began.

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It's time to start lickin' your way through the last weeks of summer. 

TripAdvisor recently released its "Inside Scoop on the Top Ice Cream Shops in the U.S.," ranking the top 10 best ice cream shops in the country. 

From gourmet flavors in Santa Barbara, California to a Scottish-owned shop with an Italian secret in Maryland, here are best places to order a scoop in America.

SEE ALSO: America's 25 best barbecue restaurants, ranked

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10. Brown Dog Ice Cream | Cape Charles, VA

Brown Dog Ice Cream is named after a playful chocolate lab, named Foster, who loves children and ice cream. Staff members brainstorm new flavor ideas and test each one before serving to ensure perfect. Flavors can include blueberry lavender, mocha Scotch chip, and an avocado-based ice cream with strawberries, lime, and jalapeños known as Poncho Verde. 

Click here to learn more about Brown Dog Ice Cream »

9. Woodside Farm Creamery | Hockessin, DE

Woodside Farm makes premium ice cream using fresh milk from its own cows. While the farm dates back to 1796, the creamery didn't open until 1998. The thing to try here is the bacon-flavored ice cream, which was once featured on Food Network's "Unwrapped."

Click here to learn more about Woodside Farm Creamery »

8. Brickley's Ice Cream | Narragansett, RI

A true family business, Brickley's is the brainchild of owner Chris and his wife. Their children often work behind the counter, as do Chris' siblings. Even the nephews help out when their careers permit. 

The shop offers over 45 different flavors of ice cream, frozen yogurt, no-sugar added ice cream, sherbets, and sorbet — all made on site at the Narragansett location.

Click here to learn more about Brickley's Ice Cream »

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Your 20s are a time for figuring out who you are and what you want from life.

While the only way to learn is to survive the inevitable cycle of successes and failures, it is always useful to have some guidance along the way.

To help you out, we've selected some of our favorite books that likely never made your high school or college reading lists.

It's an eclectic selection that focuses on topics like identity, how you see the world, and laying the foundation for a fulfilling career.

Here's what we think you should read before you turn 30.

'Meditations' by Marcus Aurelius

As you become an adult, you realize that there will never be a time in your life where everything is just as you hoped it would be.

"Meditations" is a collection of personal writings on maintaining mental toughness from the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who ruled from 161 to 180 AD and became remembered as one of the great "philosopher kings."

As Gregory Hays notes in the introduction to his excellent translation, Marcus wrote his musings on resilience and leadership in a "dark and stressful period" in the last decade of his life.

The emperor's version of Stoic philosophy has remained relevant for 1,800 years because it offers timeless advice for gaining control of one's emotions and progressing past all obstacles in one's path.

Buy it here >>

'The Myth of Sisyphus: And Other Essays' by Albert Camus

We all have a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and we start to question that reason after entering the real world.

As "The Stranger" author Albert Camus sees it, all people find themselves in an irrational world struggling to find meaning for their lives where there is none.

His main message, however, is that just as the legend of Sisyphus tells of a god who was eternally punished by having to push a rock up a hill only to have it fall down each time he reached the peak, we should embrace the drive for meaning and lead happy, fulfilling lives with a clear-eyed view of the world.

Buy it here >>

'Crime and Punishment' by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Regardless of your personal philosophy, there will be times when the world pushes against you and you wonder why it's worth trying to better yourself and help others.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novel is not only a gripping story, it's an argument against the nihilism that was popular among Russian intellectual circles in his time.

"Crime and Punishment" is the tale of a 23-year-old man named Raskolnikov who, acting on a nagging urge, murders two old women and then struggles with processing the act.

Dostoyevsky argues that rationalism taken to its extreme ignores the powerful bonds that connect humanity and give us responsibility over each other.

Buy it here >>