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As he applied for colleges before his senior year at Lakeside, Gates tried to redefine himself beyond his reputation as a “nerdy” computer whiz. He spent the summer working as a congressional page in Washington, DC, and became fascinated with the drama of politics. He also auditioned for the school play and earned the lead role. Rehearsing with his castmates gave Gates the same thrill as exploring in the computer lab. He also had the opportunity to flirt with his female costar, Vicki.

Gates decided not to apply to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) because he didn’t want to be surrounded by people with similar interests. He crafted different identities for each of his applications: emphasizing his software experience with Princeton, his interest in drama with Yale, and his interest in law and politics with Harvard.

In December of his senior year, Gates was approached by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), the federal utility responsible for generating and distributing electricity across the West Coast. The BPA asked Gates and Paul Allen to help develop a computerized system that balanced fluctuations in power supply with demand. With the support of the Lakeside headmaster, Gates’s parents agreed to let him skip the winter trimester in order to take the job.