Nicholas Salter

Assistant Director of Admissions and Director of International Admissions
(he/him/his)

Home Admissions & Aid Contact Us Find Your Counselor Nicholas Salter

Email: nsalter@xiaoneizhi.com
Text: 540-254-5812
Regions: International

Short Answer Prompt

To help jumpstart your brainstorming and to demonstrate that we empathize with the challenges you face in applying to college, our staff has published their own responses to our supplemental short-answer prompts. We hope you’ll enjoy learning a bit about us and will feel more comfortable showcasing something new about yourself. Remember, these are optional, and you are asked to submit only one.

Prompt #3 (Max 250 Words or 2-Minute Video)
Reveal to us how your curious mind works by sharing something you spend considerable time thinking or learning about. One topic I spend considerable time thinking about is revisionist history. The way events are interpreted, retold, and reshaped based on the perspectives of those controlling the narrative fascinates me. A deep dive into historical events, examining every perspective and identifying distorted facts, brings us closer to understanding the past. As Winston Churchill said, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” This drives my belief in the importance of uncovering the truth in history rather than accepting convenient narratives. Revisionist history is about stripping away misconceptions and exposing what has been overlooked or skewed to fit social norms. For example, The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, initially portrayed as an unprovoked attack by North Vietnam, was later revealed by historians and journalists to have been exaggerated and mostly fabricated. This discovery shifted public perception of the Vietnam War and fueled skepticism about government motives for escalating the conflict. My study of revisionist history goes beyond understanding the past—it sharpens my critical thinking and reveals how narratives are constructed to serve specific interests. By challenging accepted truths, I not only uncover historical inaccuracies but also become better equipped to question the narratives shaping our present. This commitment to truth-seeking pushes me to approach both academic and personal growth with a mindset of skepticism and inquiry. It fuels my desire to engage with the world more thoughtfully, ensuring that I don’t passively accept the stories I’m told but instead strive to understand the deeper complexities behind them.

Prompt #3 (Max 250 Words or 2-Minute Video)

Reveal to us how your curious mind works by sharing something you spend considerable time thinking or learning about.

One topic I spend considerable time thinking about is revisionist history. The way events are interpreted, retold, and reshaped based on the perspectives of those controlling the narrative fascinates me. A deep dive into historical events, examining every perspective and identifying distorted facts, brings us closer to understanding the past. As Winston Churchill said, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” This drives my belief in the importance of uncovering the truth in history rather than accepting convenient narratives.

Revisionist history is about stripping away misconceptions and exposing what has been overlooked or skewed to fit social norms. For example, The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, initially portrayed as an unprovoked attack by North Vietnam, was later revealed by historians and journalists to have been exaggerated and mostly fabricated. This discovery shifted public perception of the Vietnam War and fueled skepticism about government motives for escalating the conflict.

My study of revisionist history goes beyond understanding the past—it sharpens my critical thinking and reveals how narratives are constructed to serve specific interests. By challenging accepted truths, I not only uncover historical inaccuracies but also become better equipped to question the narratives shaping our present. This commitment to truth-seeking pushes me to approach both academic and personal growth with a mindset of skepticism and inquiry. It fuels my desire to engage with the world more thoughtfully, ensuring that I don’t passively accept the stories I’m told but instead strive to understand the deeper complexities behind them.

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