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Personal Statement (856 words)
I come from a close family in Taiwan and have one younger brother. My parents are both business people in the electronics industry and have encouraged me to follow the path that benefits my future. My parents value education very highly as the only key to real success. They have supported my studies both in Taiwan and now at high school in the United States, and I feel that I have achieved what I have in my life due to their solid care and support. I now wish to go further with my studies in the US as an undergraduate in Engineering at your school. I have always been at the very top of my class academically and attended the No.1 ranked junior high school in Taipei where I was involved for one year in the elite Advanced Math Club for the top math students. I received a 3rd level standing in the Tournament of Towns Math Competition in Taiwan and began to participate in the American Math Competition (AMC), a worldwide examination for top achievers in mathematics. I also took this exam in 2002 and 2003 and won the Award of Excellence in 2000 and 2001 on the Olympics Math Competition Exam in Taiwan. I balanced my heavy academic focus in junior high school by participating in the Tae Kwon Do Club and qualified as a second-degree black belt. I also took piano lessons and was the Captain of my Boy Scout troupe, as well as the Vice President and spokesperson for the association of student body. My duties in this position included dealing with student affairs and drawing up school policie43s in concert with the school administration. This experience gave me a chance to begin developing my leadership skills and sense of responsibility. In 2001, I wrote the Taiwan National High School Entrance Examination and scored in the 97th percentile. This made me eligible to enroll in the top high school in Taipei, but I instead chose to study in the United States as an international student to find greater opportunities. I already had some experience abroad as in the summer of 1999, I was chosen to attend a one-month mathematics and English program at the University of Alberta in Canada. This experience changed my life because it gave me the confidence to discuss mathematics in English for the first time. The open learning environment allowed me to quickly expand my understanding of mathematics and apply my knowledge in practical new ways. This summer experience directly led to my decision to study high school in the US as an international student in 2001 and prepare for entry to a US university. In the fall of 2001, I started high school at the Cambridge School of Weston near Boston. I began by taking ESL classes but was transferred quickly to mainstream courses as it became evident that I could handle classes in English. My advisors and counselors pushed me very hard to study at a level beyond which most students would regard as a burdensome task but I am now grateful for this. Inspired by their encouragement, my TOEFL and SAT verbal scores improved dramatically and I am now fully adjusted to studying in an English language environment. I have performed consistently at the top of my math and science classes and have achieved scores in SAT II Math IIC of 790 and SAT Math of 800. I am now well prepared to continue achieving at this level in my senior year and into university. In addition to excelling academically in my high school, I have been active as a leader in the school community and also participated in junior varsity sports. In my sophomore year I was selected by the school to speak at a Chinese New Year school assembly as the student representative for Taiwan. From this experience, I learned to speak in front of a large group of people without feeling awkward. During my junior year summer vacation, I improved on this skill by returning to Taiwan to take a one- month Dale Carnegie program that focused on developing my leadership and communication skills as well as building my self-confidence. I also play on the junior varsity basketball team at school and practice with my teammates for 2 hours everyday./ Through sports, I have learned the value of teamwork and enjoy the diversion from my heavy academic workload and the balance that this brings to my life. Now in my final year of high school, I am focused on choosing a path for university that will ensure that I have access to the best possible education and opportunities for success. As I am intrigued by the increasingly rapid changes in technology, I will definitely choose science courses in physics, electronics, or computer science. My goal is to enter your Engineering program to further my studies in these areas. After undergraduate school, I will pursue a PhD and work to contribute my knowledge back to society. With my past academic achievements and clear focus on future success in mind, I do hope that you will consider my application favorably.
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When asked by Pope Boniface VIII to prove his skill as an artist, Giotto (1267-1337) drew a perfect circle freehand. What seemingly simple action would demonstrate your ability or skill, and how would it represent you? [Major Essay]
I skated down the ice full speed as our team charged the opponents goal. I stopped at the blue line and waited. My teammate saw me wide open and with the quick movement of his arms sent the puck flying towards me. I pulled back my stick and let a one-timer rip towards the net. One-time slap shots in hockey may seem simple - they only take 2 seconds - but several things must be just perfect for a slap shot to be a success. Life for me is a balancing act just like shooting a one-time slap shot; I must concentrate on balancing on two knife-like skates; I must also watch the puck, wait patiently for it to arrive, move my stick with precise timing, study the goalie's movements, and be wary of opponents who would like to plaster me against the boards. Balancing activities on and off the ice is one of my greatest abilities. Sunday nights have been notorious for wrapping up the loose ends of homework, but more recently they have been devoted to hockey games. Each little box that represents Sunday on my calendar has been filled with the scribbled reminder of a sporting event that I must attend to. In addition to Sunday, days such as Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday all have been partially reserved for the Redwing Varsity Hockey Team. Hockey is not an obstacle however; it is a sport that I enjoy for its requirement of teamwork, physical stamina, and most of all coordination. Although it involves a time commitment I can balance it in to my life. I looked ahead to the week ahead just like I look ahead at the puck as it flies towards me. A biology test as well as several small assignments looms overhead like charging defenders. I grabbed my assignment notebook and began to plan my week out. I look at the goalie - there is a large gap high glove side. Planning has become a weekly ritual for me; I strive to finish things ahead of schedule. My job at United Community Bank in Lisle fills my Monday nights and Youth Group occupies Tuesdays. Every week I wonder why I want to do so much. I strive to do as much as I can and to take advantage of all opportunities in life. I pull back my stick to hit the puck, but a defenseman charges at me; I have to plan to avoid hitting his skates with my shot, and I need to maintain my composure about a 200 pound teen charging at me full speed. When Steve, my youth minister, asked me to be a student leader for youth group, I jumped at the opportunity to be able to help others. After attending a Logos retreat at Benet, I immediately signed up to be a leader and to my surprise, I was one of five picked out of a pool of twenty. Both of these leadership opportunities require weekly meetings to plan. I talked to my friends about my commitments and they all had one question for me,'Are you sure you can fit it all in?' I asked myself, 'Can I do this?' The puck nears me and I start the down stroke of my swing. Wait& wait& swing! I shift the weight of my body to my back leg and I hit the puck will all of my might. Every time one of my friends asks this I just laugh nervously and say how I could as long as no time intensive projects popped up in my life. A defenseman slides in front of me to block the shot. I flip my wrists up a little to send the puck over him. The puck collides with my stick and flies over the defenseman towards the net. The alarm blared in my ear as I peered open my eyes. The neon green numbers on my clock let me know that I had to rise and get ready for school. It is another week, another list of things to get done. I look back on what I accomplished last week - I reassure myself how I can excel; I will get everything done. The puck flies through the air; a player screens the goalie as the black puck collies with the netting of the goal. I raise my arms in joy; even though there are still 15 minutes to play in the game, I have succeeded in my job for just a fraction of the game. I go through life just as I play a hockey game - one minute at a time; one shot, one assignment, one body-check, or one meeting - balance and planning is required for any task.
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1. You have the chance to ask one question of the creator of an original work. Who is the creator, what is the work, and what is your question? 2. You have just become the ruler of a country. What is the first law you enact? 3. If you could hold a world record, what would it be and why? 4. In the spirit of Northwestern's tradition of collaborative learning, please provide us with an original essay topic or short statement you'd like to see on next year's application.
1. 'Oh Perfected Being, the original Creator and almighty Sustainer of the magnificent splendor and glorious design of the cosmos; what is thy purpose of my existence?' 2. The first law to be enacted is that all other laws have to be based on ensuring the perfection and progress of humanity in accordance with the 'grand cosmic plan'. This comes from my observation of the physical existence that there is a progression of matter towards perfection. Human beings, having free-will, has to ensure that progression (the 'grand cosmic plan') continues towards perfection. 3. I would like to be the first person to unify all bodies of knowledge into a holistic yet simple whole. This unification would form an accurate worldview where we would find answers to deep philosophical questions such as the purpose of existence, the nature of good and bad and whether we have free-will. Based on the progress I've made so far, I am confident that this new worldview can solve all the world's social ills. 4. The French philosopher Rene Descartes once made this famous argument: 'Cogito, ergo sum' which means 'I think, therefore I am' as the first thing that one can be certain of in a world full of illusion, confusion and myth. In relation to your observations on life, what have you understood about this world?
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What are your reasons for wanting to attend Northwestern?
It was the officer in charge of the American Degree Foundation Program who first suggested me this university based on my suitability, chances of being admitted and the quality of the course. After further fact-finding, I felt thankful to him for suggesting me this university. Being located close to Chicago, a cosmopolitan and vibrant city, Northwestern University has many advantages suited to my liking. I like to meet and get to know people of various backgrounds which give me a lot of insight about human beings in general. This stems from my desire to be of good service to humanity. Plus, access to many cultural and religious places are abundant. I can pray at mosques, visit various museums, and eat different kinds of food. Having a nearby melting-pot city like Chicago is a must for me. Furthermore, as a major research institution, it can put me in an environment full of discovery. I am sure I will be able to get involved in various high-level research and studies, be it related to my major or not. I relish the chance of learning first-hand from renowned professors and become their protigi. Although there are many technology institutions, I prefer the diversity of Northwestern, which, despite its multiplicity, is among the best in almost all fields be it economics, biology, physics, linguistics or music. I believe Northwestern can provide me with an idyllic environment well-suited for me where it can bring out the best in me to benefit from and contribute to.
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(Original question not archived; this is a fair approximation.) Many famous historical artists experienced little or no recognition for their work during their lifetimes. Discuss someone alive today who, in your opinion, does not or will not receive the renown they deserve during their lifetime.
Arthur Krystal, literary critic, essayist, editor and screenwriter, is virtually unknown to the general public despite having produced a significant body of work. His writings have consistently appeared in many of our country's more literate popular publications, such as The New Yorker, The American Scholar, Harper's, The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post and The Village Voice. 'Agitations: Essays of Life and Literature' is a collection of some of his essays which was recently published by Yale University Press, and was runner up for the PEN/Spielvogel-Diamonstein Award which honors an outstanding collection of essays by an American writer. He is the editor of 'A Company of Readers: Uncollected Writings of W. H. Auden, Jacques Barzun and Lionel Trilling' and Jacques Barzun's 'The Culture We Deserve'. He also has to his credit the screenplay for the 1999 crime thriller, Thick as Thieves, starring Alec Baldwin and Rebecca De Mornay. Mr. Krystal writes in a clear, sophisticated style, and his essays are often personal, and consistently reflective, iconoclastic and extremely witty. His subjects include imagination, taste, temperament, religion, death, melancholy, the Holocaust, laziness, three-cushion billiards and the typewriter. He eschews intellectual and artistic fads, and refuses to lower his standards to what may be currently acceptable. Indeed, there are many reasons why a person who should be well known is not. He may intentionally, or by circumstance, be isolated from society, his ideas may be ahead of his time, or his personality may alienate critics and others who might popularize his work. Krystal lives in Manhattan and does not seem to isolate himself from the literary community, and while his writing is often pungent, incisive and, at times, profound, it does not seem to be ahead of its time. However, his unwillingness to compromise his standards and bend with the political winds may be a contributing factor to his not being appreciated as much as he should be. Another factor may be that he is a freelance essayist unassociated with any university at a time when essayists, to be taken seriously, are expected to be members of academia. Perhaps Krystal has simply been too lazy to promote himself. In his 'Who Speaks for the Lazy?' (The New Yorker, April 26, 1999), a brilliant and admittedly autobiographical piece, he writes, 'Let's face it, some boys and girls become writers because the only workplace they're willing to visit is the one inside their heads. And even then it's a tough commute.' Or perhaps he has alienated his would-be promoters by a certain stubbornness and pugnacity. After all, in 'Death, It's What Ails You' (Harpers, February 2001; Agitations) his final pronouncement is, 'One day the bully will find me, and when that day comes... I shall meet death clear-eyed and pissed off and I'll put up such a struggle that next time he'll think twice about taking me." Krystal's writing is too good, his ideas too cogent and his unique voice too rich for him to continue to be ignored by the public.
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Personal Statement (500 words) When asked by Pope Boniface VIII to prove his skill as an artist, Giotto (1267-1337) drew a perfect circle freehand. What seemingly simple action would demonstrate your ability or skill, and how would it represent you?
To sigh, according to the World Book Dictionary, is to let out a very long deep breath. But the symbolic act within sighing carries much more significance than does the literal meaning, for a sigh signifies the end of an adversity through acceptance and often forgiveness. Therefore, my sighs illustrate an innate ability to accept and overcome life's obstacles with grace. When faced with adversity, my first reaction is to find a solution; sometimes this involves a mode of progress, while other times, simply a period for the heart to heal. Although my life has always demanded that I be level-headed when laden with problems, the ultimate test of my composure came this past September when my grandmother in Korea suddenly fell fatally sick. With my family falling apart, the nation traumatized by the terrorist attacks, SAT testing around the corner, and the demands of my schoolwork, which include being the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, I simply could not break down. I did not allow myself the luxury of giving up; it just is not my style. Finally, after much urging from me, my parents decided to fly to Korea to make their last good-byes, but then, life hit me with another unexpected curve ball: my parents decided to leave me behind for the sake of my 'studies.' It was hard enough to accept the reality that my grandmother, who once would sing to me as she bathed me and whom I wanted to witness me succeed more than my own parents, was dying. But not being able to see her for the last time was getting to be too overwhelming, even for me. Enraged and frustrated, I thought it was futile to argue with my parents any more, so instead, I turned to the Internet to buy my own e-ticket to Korea. My grandmother passed away the next morning, leaving me in a state of helpless fury. Yet through the tears, I realized that I had one last option. Pulling out a sheet of white paper, I began to write her my last letter. Hours rolled by as seventeen years of memories flashed through my head. As I sealed the envelope, the tears ceased and a heavy sigh escaped from the depths of my chest. This sigh is no stranger to me, for much like the sighs after my mom's stroke and my sister's long recovery from anorexia, this sigh embodies my ability to calmly pull through such difficulties and leave them in the past, where they belong. For agonizing over uncontrollable misfortunes only plagues the brain, keeping the heart from enjoying the pleasures of life. Therefore, rather than obsessing over the hurdles I encounter, I have learned to accept them as opportunities to grow stronger and to use this newfound strength to lay down a brighter, smoother future.
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Why do you want to attend Northwestern University?
Darling Northwestern, I have fallen helplessly in love with you; after our last rendezvous in November, every thought, every dream, and every conversation revolves around you. Darling, on our last day together, I couldn't help tearing up in the airport shuttle, but the prospect of our reunion and temporary nature of our separation gave me the strength to leave you. My desire to be with you is ineffable, for every fiber of my being yearns to live and to grow together with you. My dear, you are everything that I have ever wanted in a university: the freedom to explore my options, a developed Journalism program, a quaint campus neighboring a city overflowing with opportunity, and an intelligent yet soulful student populace. My search for a soul mate is finally over, for I know in my heart that we are meant to be together. My love, I believe that a successful relationship is one that allows for flexibility. And you support my belief by giving me the freedom to shape my intellect through Medill's liberal arts education. By erasing confining rules and boundaries, you liberate me, giving me the opportunity to quench my thirst for the arts and sciences as well as for my greatest passion, journalism. Your ability to fulfill my need for intellectual and social liberty in order to grow and to be myself affirms my belief that we are compatible. Medill's quarter long internship during the junior year leaves me in awe of you. Your class on Newspaper Editing and Writing intrigued me, as it has left me longing for more. Darling, not only is your campus ideally located next to a city bustling with internship opportunities where I can hone the skills that you teach me, but it is located in Evanston, rich in culture and diversity, to inspire my creativity. My dear, that's just it; you inspire me, making me feel so alive. I already miss the walks we had along your mystical lake, and after experiencing your extensive library, I can't bear to look at my high school's paltry collection of books. I even love your small quirks, such as 'The Rock' and mysterious river below the tech building. Your students are the most humble and generous people I have ever met, not at all haughty or cutthroat, as I would have expected from a superior university as yourself. I am aware of what I'm getting myself into and I welcome it. Darling, I already feel so connected to you, so much a part of you that when I'm with you, I'm at home. I know what you can offer me; just give me a chance to show you what I can offer you. I am a good journalist with the talent, and the passionate drive to become the finest. And when I do, I will forever live my life in your name. Give our romance a chance to blossom into the mutually beneficial affinity that we are destined to become. Darling, I will earnestly await your invitation to join you in the fall.
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Short answer questions - 1. If you could write one message to go inside a fortune cookie, what would it be? 2. If you could create a dual degree program at Northwestern, what two disciplines would you combine? Include a short explanation.
1. "Just handle it." This simple phrase has the power to put life's unexpected events into perspective, turning something that was once intimidating, into just another task to accomplish. Through the years, it has helped me overcome adversities by giving me the clear and level head in order to supersede the feeling of defeat and refocus on pulling though. 2. I would combine Journalism and Asian American Studies.
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Short answer question - The US postal service is issuing a new stamp. Whom or what do you think deserves to be represented?
The Superman "S" symbolizes superhuman strength, honor, and immortality: the same ideals that Americans pride themselves in. In light of 9-11, this bold red, white, and blue "S" is the key to restoring American morale.
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"Minor essay" - We can be defined not only by what we choose to keep but what we choose to discard. Write about something you reluctantly chose to discard and why this was a difficult choice.
Letting go of an important part of oneself is a trying task for anyone, but no man experienced more grief or uncertainty over discarding a keepsake than I did when I abandoned my masculinity. At the 2003 Relay for Life, a 24-hour fundraising function for the American Cancer Society at our school's football stadium, I willingly - after much consideration - opted to dress as a woman and sacrifice every thread of manliness my body possessed. As part of the festivities, one man from each team had to dress as a woman and participate in a beauty pageant that was to take place around midnight. Being one of only two males on our team, the group of girls immediately flocked to me and asked me to throw away my pride, dignity, and most importantly my manhood by replacing my backwards baseball cap with an auburn bouffant wig and my baggy navy blue shorts with a skimpy royal blue sequin dress. Looking around at the smiling faces of twelve gorgeous teenage girls, my heart began to melt into a puddle of raging hormones, and I started to picture myself in lipstick and high heels. But then my masculinity flexed its muscles as I gazed around at the football goal posts nearby, and I remembered that I am a manly man, that I love sports, belching, and crushing soda cans with my head, and, most importantly that I am not a transvestite; slipping on a skirt would strip me of my masculinity. I immediately declined the girls' offer and walked away to escape their guilt-ridden comments. My mind remained unwavering for a few hours until the daylight waned and the contest drew nearer. The ladies continued to beg and I realized how desperate they were. I looked intently at two of them I had known for years. I looked into their eyes and past their familiar facades and remembered why they were in charge of my team: both of their mothers died after losing their battles with cancer. After realizing the periods of internal torment and emotional pain they must have experienced, my predicament seemed trivial; my manly hubris was a barrier to be removed easily and without any long-lasting, detrimental repercussions. I reluctantly told the girls that I would discard my masculinity and dress up like a woman in front of a crowd of neighbors, teachers, and friends. That night I proudly represented my team in the beauty contest and won first place. I regretted my decision at times: in the bathroom when I stared in the mirror at my hairy armpits protruding from the low-cut blue dress, when I noticed my South Park boxers peeping through the holes of the black fishnets, and when my family doctor glanced awkwardly at me while I stood in front of her looking like a tramp, but I know I made the right decision by abandoning my manhood at the 2003 Relay for Life.
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Why choose northwestern? -minor essay.
The question posed asks, 'Why Northwestern?' However, anyone who knows of the school's history, its academic standards, and the character behind the name possesses the necessary facts to launch a powerful pro-Northwestern argument. Frankly, the question 'Why not Northwestern?' presents much more of a challenge. The prestigious academic reputation and the diversity encouraging environment lead me to conclude that selecting Northwestern for undergraduate studies is in fact one of the easier decisions during the college application process. Regarding academic standards, Northwestern compares with the best. Currently ranked 11th overall for college experience by US News, Northwestern boasts a 7 to 1 student-faculty ratio to stress attention to detail-a characteristic highly coveted in the working world. Personal attention to students extends outside the classroom. The university provides academic advising and personal counseling. To exemplify an 'anything is possible' attitude, the university offers a variety of undergraduate studies each of which are taught by well-versed professors. To dismiss an opportunity to attend a university that values scholarship, such as Northwestern, verges on the fringe of educational insanity. Why not learn from the best? The second key in selecting Northwestern lies in its diversity. A diverse school population offers different perspectives on life, relations, and education. Northwestern enrolls a variety of ethnicities from across the nation. Beyond the statistics, personal testimonies offer even more compelling evidence of the actual experience. Recently, I met a graduate from Northwestern. Upon hearing of my interest, she avidly discussed everything about the university! Such enthusiasm from a student speaks volumes about the university experience. I want that experience. Many find an enjoyable education more enlightening. While Northwestern offers a challenging curriculum, the overall student experience appears fantastic. With substantial resources and an involved staff, I find it baffling for anyone to pass an opportunity such as this.
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Personal Statement
I have always had a great talent for mathematics and sciences and my parents have provided me with the best education and opportunities possible in order to fully explore my academic interests. My family lives in Taiwan; and as an only-child, I was provided all the support I have needed to succeed. I am grateful to them and have made my parents very proud by consistently placing myself among the very top-achieving students in my classes. I now wish to further my studies and opportunities by entering the Engineering program at your prestigious university. I moved to the United States in 2000 as an international student to complete high school and prepare myself to enter a top US college. I felt very limited in the Taiwan school system and could not find classes that stimulated me or challenged my natural talent in Mathematics and Sciences. While the transition to US high school life and the English language was difficult at first, by the end of my freshman year, I received an award from the school for my persistence and dedication to academic success. My chemistry teacher rewarded my academic achievements by encouraging me to take AP Chemistry in my sophomore year. I readily accepted this challenge and scored the highest score of 5 on the AP final exam. I also challenged myself with a BC Calculus class by jumping the previous AB level and received top results. Considering that English is not my mother tongue and that I was in ESL classes when I first arrived in the US, I am especially proud of getting an 'A' for Honors English in 11th grade and is taking AP English in my senior year. Throughout high school I have been on the highest honor roll consistently. In grades 10 and 11 I was among the 'Who's Who Among America's High School 'Students' and will strive to remain on this list in my senior year. I was also a member of the National Youth Leadership Council for grade 11 and hope to achieve the same in grade 12. I have taken a leadership role among our student body through my work on our school's Red Shield Society. The Society is comprised of the top students in our school and represents the school to our alumni and community at large. In the school community I have acted in a few school productions. This has really built my self-confidence and developed my teamwork experience through working with others on the stage. I have also taken leadership roles in the school as a Peer Leader working with freshmen that are newcomers to the US adapt to the school. My personal experience allows me to understand how hard it is for international students to make the adjustment and I am pleased to help make it easier for others to get settled and begin achieving their goals. In the broader community I have volunteered to take care of children with disabilities. Having no experience in looking after disabled children, this has been a tremendous opportunity for personal growth and reflection on how fortunate I am in life. Other services includes working for UNICEF collecting money for the benefit of young children as well as working in an animal shelter on a special project for several weeks. My dream is to become a great scientist. I feel that I have a natural talent for mathematics and science and wished from a young age that I would do something great one day. I am also one who is very thorough in my research, always preferring to find out the 'why' behind the answer rather than just the answer itself. This depth has often resulted in my spending more time to complete my work, but I feel a personal benefit in such personal discovery as it helps to increase my knowledge and skills as a scientist. I love to discuss the things that I find out through my research and have been told that I can explain my findings in a very exact and clear way that makes it easy for others to understand. As I now look forward to college, I see another opportunity to reach for the top. By applying to the Engineering program at your school I believe I will find the opportunity to challenge myself and achieve at the top levels that I am used to. I am very attracted to your Engineering program because of the well-equipped research environment and highly qualified professors that will ensure I am on the leading edge of science. I also would relish a chance to remain engaged in the school community and am looking for a campus with a very active and lively student body. Most of all, I wish to focus on my talent for mathematics and science as I have faith in myself that I will move the human race at least one step forward through my work. I thank you kindly for considering my application.
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Personal Statement (Major) : What is a clever mistake? Describe an experience in which you made a clever mistake.
People make many mistakes throughout their lifetimes; some mistakes are clever ones and some are not so clever. When a person thinks that something he does is a mistake, but it actually turns out to be the proper thing to do because of the valuable learning experience, the person has made a clever mistake, as opposed to a stupid one. One clever mistake that I have made during high school was my 9th grade science project on the study of milk protein. Even though I like science, I was very reluctant to participate in the science fair because my eighth grade science fair project had been a disaster; however, my parents persuaded me to try again. My project involved an experiment to discover whether bacteria could cause a decrease in the protein content of milk. I measured the casein (major milk protein) content in milk at regular intervals, while storing the milk to increase bacterial content for each interval. Nevertheless, I ran into many unanticipated problems. My initial procedure turned out to be impractical. I wanted to quit right there, but I did not want to fail again; therefore I pressed on. To extract the casein, I needed to use a centrifuge; I looked into the catalogs and searched online and found out that centrifuges were extremely expensive. I did not know what to do, but one day I found that I could make the centrifuge at home by using a motor from an old fan. My model did not work properly at first because it was unbalanced. By placing the test tubes equidistant from the center, however, I fixed the problem. Unfortunately, my problems did not end there. Even though my homemade centrifuge worked, I still could not extract the protein. I spent countless hours in the Monroeville Public Library and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh but found no solution. This was so frustrating, and the pressure to finish in time was increasing. I had only two months left, and the project itself would take at least two weeks to complete once my procedure was established. With the deadline approaching, the prospect of failure lingered through my mind causing some sleepless nights. Then one night, it hit me; I should contact a nutritionist. When I did, she suggested contacting Fike's dairy. Although I was now closer to the solution, still, time was running out. With only a month left, the dairy instructed me to speak to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Based on their guidance, I tried to resolve the problem. The centrifuge was not needed now. I tried out the new procedure, yet it still did not work. Afterwards, through systematic investigation, I found that moisture had to be removed from the product. Finally, I was able to extract the protein. My procedure was working successfully, and now I just had enough time to perform the experiment. Though the process was frustrating at times, I learned many valuable skills. This process gave me a firsthand experience of the real process of discovering and solving challenging problems. I actually created and tested a hypothesis, just like real scientists. By designing and working on my own science experiment, I have learned both patience and discipline. As a result of this experience, I wanted to gain experience in a research lab; I found an opportunity last summer to voluntarily conduct research at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Biomedical Science Department. This time, I was not aggravated when things went wrong. Instead, I welcomed the problems as a challenge and solved them step by step. This experience convinced me that the two attributes I learned, patience and discipline, through my clever mistake will be useful for future studies.
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What are your reasons for wanting to attend Northwestern University?
Among the several campuses I visited, I was impressed by Northwestern the most. After my visit, I decided northwestern is my first choice. Many factors have convinced me to apply to Northwestern. First of all, I am attracted to the quarter system of Northwestern. This way I would be able to fit in more classes in one year, with the breaks falling perfectly in-between. Second, Northwestern offers me many extracurricular activities. Particularly, I am fascinated of the idea of intramural sports and club sports. I love to play basketball, volleyball, and tennis, but I am not as good as varsity players. With intramural and club sports, I can continue playing these sports with people in the same skill level. Moreover, I have heard about many Indian cultural activities from friends attending Northwestern. I am interested in holding on to my culture, and I am also eager to participate in these events. Third, I am fond of the liberal course selection offered at Northwestern. I can take courses which may not be related to my major. I especially want to continue Latin. Fourth, many colleges do not offer small class sizes like Northwestern does for many courses. Currently, between two classes, one with a small class and the other with a fairly large one, I have seen that class is more productive with a small class. Fifth, Northwestern offers me a separate biomedical engineering degree unlike some other colleges which offer traditional engineering courses plus a few other ones to get a joint degree for biomedical engineering. Most importantly, I am fascinated by the Engineering First Curriculum developed at Northwestern. Since my forte is in mathematics and science, I am fond of focusing on engineering concepts from the start. Overall, I believe these factors make Northwestern an ideal match for me.
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Essay Question:
Create an acronym that represents you life. What is it, and what does it stand for?
FATE is an acronym that represents my life. It stands for a Fulfilling, Abstract, and Thrilling Experience. The first three words describe my life 'experience'. First, my life is fulfilling since I try to make the most of my life. Next, I represent my life as abstract because it is difficult for many people to understand it as I come from a different cultural background. Last, my life is thrilling; through the ups and downs of my life, the ride through life is a pleasurable experience overall for me. Thus, FATE determines my life.
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Essay Question:
Imagine you are the offspring of any two famous people. Who are your parents, and what qualities have they passes on to you?
I imagine being the son of Sir Isaac Newton and Mother Theresa. Newton has passed down to me some of his intelligence. Though I may not be as intelligent as him, I have a good grasping of new knowledge. In addition, I am talented in mathematics and science. Mother Theresa has passed her kind heart and good nature to me. I am an active volunteer in the community. I volunteer at Carnegie Science Center and volunteered at Forbes Regional Hospital. Furthermore, I am part of Interact, a club that is devoted to helping people. Through this club, I participate and enjoy providing food to the poor.
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Essay Question:
Driving into downtown Chicago, there is a building visible from the Kennedy Expressway adorned with a mural of well-known Chicago personalities. If you could paint anything (other than your own likeness) on the building, what would it be, and why?
In searching for ideas for the painting on the building, I thought about my recent visit to Chicago last summer. My visit reminds me of the diversity at the Taste of Chicago. I would paint a picture of this annual event, which brings many diverse people and their culture together celebrating Independence Day. In my picture, I would paint a group of people from different backgrounds enjoying the Taste of Chicago. These people will be eating the various foods available at the event during the night watching fireworks.
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Essay Question:
We are often misled by the appearance of things, of people, even of ourselves. Write about an appearance that deceived you and analyze its significance to you.
June 28, 2003 - Bienvenidos a Guatemala For the past year, I dreamt of volunteering overseas. I was involved with service work in my community, first working in Good Samaritan Hospital and later founding the first child-based service club at my school. However, I wanted an experience beyond what I was familiar with, and helping overseas was an opportunity for me to experience something new as well as further my commitment to public service. Though I knew my reasons for volunteering abroad, I had qualms. I pictured nursing ill infants and being taught Spanish vocabulary by mischievous teenagers, but in truth, I had no idea what to expect. Only 17 and born to protective Asian parents, I was unsure if I could handle what I saw or if I could even help. July 1, 2003 - Hogar de Marina Guirola Leal It was my first day of work. I was assigned to Hogar de Marina Guirola Leal - an orphanage for abandoned children. As I walked through the heavy wooden doors, I saw the children, most in wheelchairs. The nuns gave me a tour, and all I could see were the twisted limbs, drooling mouths, and empty eyes. I was shocked, uncomfortable, but most of all, scared. Numb from what I saw, my mind was blank. July 5, 2003 - Arriba, abajo I went through the first days in a trance. Still uneasy, I worked tentatively. While changing the urine-soaked sheets, I held the corners. When diapering the children, I winced at their emaciated forms. After mealtime one day, I sat, exhausted and emotionally spent. As I lowered my head, Sindy, a curly-haired girl with a distended cheek deformity, sat and began scratching me. Continuing her game, she lifted my hand and said 'Arriba,' lowered it and said, 'Abajo.' As I repeated the words after her, she beamed and snuggled in the crook of my arm. I had made her happy. July 19, 2003 - Adios Today I said my good-byes. Despite my shaky start, I grew to understand and love every child. I knew who would be difficult to feed and who loved the mango puree. I knew who wanted the rubber ball and who loved back rubs. Santiago cried when he suffered from headaches but grinned when I pushed his wheelchair in circles. Julio ran to me when I walked through the door and loved using my lap as a pillow. Raul was distant and aloof, but bobbed happily whenever I fell on the ground, spilling chicken soup over myself. Despite my initial doubt in my abilities, I felt that I had made a contribution. I felt as if I made their lives a little bit happier by helping them smile. *** Throughout high school, I have been dedicated to helping my community. This short but meaningful experience forced me to test that commitment and has shown me that community service is challenging but rewarding. Though I expected volunteering abroad to be a much different experience, I learned to overcome my initial discomfort, and my work with the children helped me develop emotionally and allowed me to gain confidence in my capabilities. I now know that in the future, no matter where I am or what I do, I will be able to make a contribution in some form to my community and incorporate service into my life.
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Essay Question:
Name a favorite book or movie that you are reluctant to admit you like. Briefly explain why.
I love A Walk to Remember. You might recognize the name from the posters of the teenage movie adaptation or know it as the tearjerker that romantics love. I am sometimes reluctant to admit that it is one of my favorite books because it is a silly romance novel that touches me with its story of 'fated love' between Jamie, a terminally ill idealist, and Landon, the bad-boy in town. Yet, I feel my appreciation for this book reveals other aspects of me. Am I diehard romantic? - Oh yes. Am I looking for love? - Isn't any girl? However, more significantly, I think my love for this book, specifically my admiration of Jamie's positive character, reveals that I am an optimist who gives everything her best shot no matter how bleak the situation. Some call this 'idealism,' believing I foolishly cling to my aspirations. (As a child, I believed that with effort, I could surpass my natural affinity for catastrophe and rise to become a prima ballerina. I'm still working on it - almost got the splits.) I agree that idealism should be accompanied by realism. I agree that A Walk to Remember is not great American literature. However, I love this book because I see a regular teenage girl thrive through her endurance and idealism, and it is my optimism and persistence that allow me to do the same.
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Essay Question:
What are your reasons for wanting to attend Northwestern?
Ever since I was a small child, political affairs have fascinated me. By the second grade, I had already identified myself with a political party, and today, I am very active in school and local politics. Northwestern is one of my top choices for college because the school offers a strong Political Science Department. Northwestern is unique in that it breaks the study of Political Science into subgroups: Comparative Politics, International Relations, American Politics, Political Theory, and Methodology. Unlike many universities which treat Political Science as one unit, Northwestern recognizes the many different fields that comprise a study of politics. Furthermore, the university has an Honors Program which will give me the opportunity to do a Senior Thesis project. This project will offer me the chance to do independent research under the supervision of a professor. The school also allows students the opportunity to mesh their study of Political Science with their study of a foreign language. I hope to continue studying Spanish in college, and I believe that incorporating Spanish into my intended major will help me apply my foreign language skills to a career in the future. Northwestern will also allow me to apply my mathematical and quantitative skills to Political Science through the Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences Program. I look forward to building models and using my analytical skills to apply these models to politics. Lastly, Northwestern has a vibrant residential college scene. Unlike other colleges which randomly place undergraduates into housing, Northwestern has theme based colleges that will allow me to interact with others that share my interests. For example, the Public Affairs Residential College will encourage me to further my passion for learning about current events and public issues. I am excited to join the Northwestern community.
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Essay Question:
What is the most important phrase to learn in a foreign language and why?
Two years ago, when I traveled to Germany for a month, I thought knowing simple phrases such as 'Thank you' or 'Where is the bathroom?' would be suffice. However, I soon realized that it did not. While walking in a department store, I accidentally bumped into a little girl, causing her to fall to the ground. The mother gave me a dirty look as she scooped up her crying daughter. I knew how to say excuse me, but I did not know 'I'm sorry.' It is important for everyone to know how to apologize in any language because there are times when we make mistakes, and we must be able to express our regret for those errors. Knowing how to apologize for ones mistakes in any language is an important part of communication that expresses ones remorse for an action. I wish I had known how to apologize to the little girl.
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Essay Question:
Name a favorite book or movie that you are reluctant to admit you like. Briefly explain why.
I am hesitant to admit that I really enjoyed the movie Legally Blond. The comedy, which is what our chauvinistic society defines as a 'chick flick,' portrays the life of Elle, a ditsy California party girl turned Harvard Law School student. I enjoyed the movie because I found Elle's transformation to be an interesting and fresh perspective on a well established and conservative American institution. Some people chose to concentrate on the superficial aspect of the movie and characterize it as just another blond comedy, but I, however, think the story goes a little deeper than most realize.
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Essay Question:
What are your reasons for wanting to attend Northwestern?
Since making the connection between what I learn in science class and natural phenomena, I have been a self-confessed science geek. I can't help but observe the parabolic path of a Frisbee as I see people playing, or notice that people falling in movies don't often observe that g = 9.81 m/s2 or even the existence of terminal velocity. I look at the stars and imagine the reactions that must be taking place, or into the pot of food I am cooking and imagine proteins coagulating. When people ask me what I want to study in college, I emphatically answer, 'I want to study science!' and they inevitably ask, 'which part of science?' at which point my certainty disintegrates. I learned about the Integrated Science Program at Northwestern through an older friend and have since developed a keen interest in attending. I think it would be perfect for a student, like me, who is certain about their interest in science, but not within the sciences. I currently attend the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, which has allowed me not only to take higher-level, more specific and fast-paced science classes, but also to conduct research with a mentor at nearby Duke University. I am taking two sciences classes and spend one afternoon at the lab each week. I would like to continue the focus in science and conducting research as early as freshman year in college; few places, other than Northwestern, offer such an opportunity. I hope that college will be a time of self-discovery not only within sciences, but also in a broader sense. I hope to be part of a community that nurtures and accepts me, but also challenges and changes me.
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Essay Question:
Minor essay: Tell us about your career objectives and how attending the IMC program fits into your objectives.
Recently, Philips has started to rethink its brand proposition as 'One Philips' and restructure the internal organization and adjust the product lines under the same concept. Although the idea sounds very positive, there are still many conflicts between the global headquarters and the countries. Aiming to improve the situation and to view regionally, I believe the courses provided at the IMC program such as 'Product and Brand Management' and 'Advanced Consumer Behavior' would help me to see and analyze things from different perspectives. The trainings in Medill can improve my strategy making ability and lead me a step closer to my goal of becoming a regional marketing manager in charge of consumer electronics products after graduation. Therefore, based on my existing working experience and the comprehension toward different cultures foraged at Medill, I possess a good understanding of not only different product needs and marketing strategies from different countries, but also how to offer solutions to each of them and find out the balance between the global and the country sides. In the long term, equipped with advanced marketing skills and business foresight acquired from my study at the Northwestern University, plus years of my practical working experiences, I will definitely be capable of achieving my target to be a global marketing director boosting the success of both product and brand. That is to say, besides utilizing marketing strategies intelligently and elastically, I will be able to accurately foresee the consumer trends and demand, take advantage of them, lead my organization in the right course, and realize my dream to supply products or services that people really need.
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Essay Question:
What are your reasons for attending Northwestern?
In elementary school, I started a newsletter, which earned the staff and myself commendations from the Principal. I remember typing up each issue feverishly and thinking up interesting columns to include such as a teacher of the month Q&A or a 'happy birthday' section. I lost that desire over the years, but these past few years in high school, I have rediscovered it. During high school, I have been writing for Prep for Prep's newsletter publication, The Brownstone, and have improved my writing skills. I do a lot of interviewing and this has taught me to be quick on my feet and attentive. I love that I can relay pertinent information to others and also write about things that no one knew of before. In college, I hope to use what I have learned to better approach other kinds of writing. This year I serve as co-editor-in-chief of the newsletter and am able to expand my role on the staff, practice editing, and teach the new writers the skills that I have already learned. I am really interested in one day writing about those public policy issues that I have studied during my summer internships and while I have been apart of my student advocacy group.
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Essay Question:
Who is the voice of your generation, and what message does he or she express? Do you agree with this message, and why?
While I first contemplated this question, the first person that came to my mind was Teen Pop Star, Britney Spears. Then, I read the question to a peer of mine to see, who she would think would be the voice of our generation and she stated Spears as well. I was content. I decided that I would write about her and her impact on the lives of young people. She's independent, daring, and not afraid to do what many others would call taboo. However, when I asked another friend, she said that the voice of our generation is Eminem, the white rap star, who many claim to be the best rapper of this day. He's a trendsetter. He too is an individual and is not afraid to re-write the script that is hip-hop. Just as they both have these positive qualities, many people would too be able to point out negative ones as well. Eminem and Britney Spears. Two totally different people. Eminem, a hardcore rapper, and Britney Spears, one that is admired by many young bubblegum teens around the country and beyond. Acknowledging this fact made me realize that I cannot consider one person the voice of my generation. I consider my generation as one that has broken the mold. Sharing the same sentiment, as many past generations, we are different from those that have came before us and will be different from the ones yet to come. My generation is full of thinkers, conversationalists, adventurers, and altogether determined, passionate people. Most of us have different desires and goals in life and live our lives differently. What shapes us and becomes our voice are not single idols that one can hear on the radio or see on television, but it is our friends, our families, and our everyday experiences. The representation of me would be a lot different if I grew up in a small town in the South, than what it would be if I were raised in the Middle East. I am who I am, because I am a teenager in New York City and what I would consider my voice varies greatly from the next. One person alone cannot represent my generation. Not having one voice for my generation sends the message that we all can be individuals and pave our own paths. To other generations, there is no exact image of my generation and one cannot blatantly stereotype us. For, we are all not slackers and we are all not the most studious, most of us are probably somewhere in between. However, that should never be a general perception, because my generation will continue to surprise many.
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Essay Question:
Some say that leaders are defined by the particulars of their time. Others say that leaders are defined by their individual characteristics. State which definition you agree with and why.
She was happy. She had just made her nice, new black and white dress. The night before, she stayed up late in order to press it to a crisp and put it on as she pulled up her bobby socks and slipped into her penny loafers. She then threw on some sunglasses, grabbed her notebook and proceeded to Little Rock Central High School. The closer she got to the school, the more her spirits fell. She saw young white boys screaming racial epithets and heard young white girls screaming chants such as '2,4,6,8, we don't want to integrate.' She became scared and afraid to enter the school doors. As she approached the school and saw young white girls easily enter, men from the National Guard told her to leave the premises. Screaming white men, women, and children began to curse and throw rocks at her. 'Lynch her! Lynch her!' The racist crowd spat at her and clawed at her skin. She was alone without any help or comfort. This was Elizabeth Eckford's first day of school. During the summer of 2001, as a participant in 'Sojourn to the Past,' a ten-day excursion throughout the South in which students experienced the living history of the Civil Rights Movement, I traveled from Alabama to Arkansas, Mississippi to Tennessee and met with a variety of foot soldiers of the movement - from Congressman John Lewis, who was a member and leader of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee to people such as Elizabeth Eckford who were not always at the head of the movement, but whose impact will be forever noticed. After hearing people speak about their experiences during the movement, I've learned that great leaders are not only produced by the particulars of their time, but also by their individual qualities. Elizabeth had the courage and conviction to be one of the nine students who integrated Little Rock Central High School. She walked through the halls and sat in class with National Guard officers by her side, yet she pressed onward. Elizabeth dealt with the excessive staring and name-calling and had to place pins in her notebook just to stop students from knocking her books out of her hands. She sacrificed and persevered all for a better education. The pain was worth it for the greater gain. Children of many races are now able to attend predominately white schools without the threat of being ridiculed or attacked at any time. I am grateful for her leadership and commitment to affecting change. At the same time, her actions were induced by circumstance as well. Teenagers today are not faced with a movement of that magnitude to become involved in. It is difficult enough for me, as Co-Chair of a student advocacy group, to get students to want to participate and take an initiative when dealing with the problems of young children. During that time the huge national movement of Civil Rights forced young people to take a stance and get involved. Ms. Eckford expressed that she did not know if she could have ever done something so brave if it wasn't during that time of national crisis. Yet, she knew it was her civic duty and that it was of her own capacity. She proves that leadership comes in all shapes and sizes with many factors as well.
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Essay Question:
What acronym represents you and why?
STEP represents Sincerity, Tolerance, Excellence, and Peace. These establish who I am or at least who I wish to be. If I can express Sincerity then I have purveyed a truth about me. One has to be a Tolerant and forgiving person in order to achieve Peace and to live a harmonious life. On a more motivational note, Excellence is what I want people to see. Whether it is a relationship, a paper, or life in general, I see no point in giving anything less than my best. Spiritual Peace is not something I have obtained; however, it defines the goal of my existence. Why I have done all of these things comepltely 100% of the time, then I will have obtained a true existence of which I can be proud.
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Essay Question:
If you could have any two famous personalities as your parents who would they be and why?
After much deliberation, I decided that Tina Fey and Gautama Siddhartha possess qualities I would most like to emulate. Imagine crossing the great Buddha with the famed SNL actress. I would inherit Tina Fey's witty rhetoric, coyness, and down-to-earth attitude. At the same time I would possess qualities from the eightfold path: right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right efford, right mindfulness, and right concentration. Fey's satirical attitude gets her point across quickly and without challenge while Buddha's presence would arouse compassion. These two seemingly bi-polar personalities would form a great person in everything I strive and believe in.
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Essay Question:
You are to paint a scene that will be seen by everyone. What do you unveil?
I would be proud to reveal a painting of a scene from Lois Lowry-s The Giver. This particular scene happens when Jonas and Asher are throwing an apple back and forth during recreation. For the first time, Jonas sees the apple obtain a new quality - color. The work would be in all black and white except for the apple, which would be a vivid red. The edges of the painting would be blurred to establish a surreal quality. The symbolism in this scene is tremendous. It represents the dichotomy between the real and the unreal. Jonas' world contained no color, but he was one of the people with super vision which allowed him to understand the world for what it truly is.
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Essay Question:
Describe a time when your way of thinking drastically changed and describe how it affected you.
In the fall of my freshman year, I remember watching the football pom and cheer squad as they yelled out their cheers. While I sat in the band section of the stands with my clarinet, some of the other band members began to make fun of the cheerleaders. I admit that I was guilty of joining them in their taunts, as I also contributed comments on how intellectually deficient and conceited the cheerleaders must be and on how cheerleading can never be considered a qualified athletic sport. I regret that I was so critical during my first year of high school and that I was so quick to judge the cheerleaders of my school before getting to know them better and finding out exactly why cheerleading is so important to them. In fact, due to my experience from past dance classes and my love for dance, I decided to try out at the end of my freshman year for the football pom and cheer squad of the subsequent year. When I made it on the squad, little did I know how much this experience would change my perspective on the way I view people. Most of the girls on the squad were the ones that I had made fun of before, which made me feel incredibly ashamed of myself when I found out how wrong I was in my previous impressions of these girls. They were very friendly to me and treated me warmly, contrary to the stereotypical portrayals of cheerleaders in movies. As I became close friends with my fellow cheerleaders, I learned to be wary of stereotypes. Never again did I want to make the same mistake of judging people before meeting them. After joining the squad, it became my turn to be judged by others. I am sure when some people see that I am Asian American, they automatically assume that all I do is study hard and do homework or that I practice and play a multitude of instruments. Granted, I do try my best academically and play instruments, but when people confine me to these narrow and specific categories, it always makes me feel so extremely frustrated. Every time I inform people that I am the captain of the varsity football pom and cheer squad, they always seem so shocked and surprised. Because I do not fit most stereotypes, I always try to eliminate in the minds of others the stereotypical ideas that I once had. This way, I feel somewhat more empowered to teach others that people cannot be constrained by the barriers that are put up by stereotypes. With this new power, I always say with great pride that I am a cheerleader. The experience of joining the football pom and cheer squad taught me that stereotypes should not be taken lightly. Because everybody is unique and has his or her own individual interests, I have learned not to label and place people into small and confined categories. Instead I should always get to know the person first.
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Essay Question:
Why would you want to attend Northwestern University?
In my previous years of high school, I asked my friends where they were applying and the most coveted answer seemed to be Northwestern University. This sparked my curiosity because I wanted to know why so many intelligent students chose Northwestern. Finally, last summer, I received my chance to see for myself what the hype is about. My first opportunity to visit Northwestern was when it sent me an invitation to its open house, which I readily accepted as an opportunity to explore the campus. When I arrived, I immediately felt at home, due to the suburban atmosphere of Northwestern. Evanston mirrors the suburb where I grew up because it is also just minutes away from a major city. Northwestern exuded a friendly ambiance that allowed me to immediately establish a high level of comfort. The diversity of the students also amazed me. My high school does possess some diversity, but there are not many Asian Americans that I can relate to. Northwestern would be my chance to meet people who have more in common with me, including culture and other interests. My second encounter with Northwestern occurred when I visited its medical school with the National Youth Leadership Forum, and learned of its remarkable programs. Inspired by my experience as a lupus patient, I have always known that I wanted to be involved in the medical field with a possible focus on pharmacy. Especially after seeing its creatively designed hospital, I knew that I wanted to have my future at Northwestern because this showed me how innovative its medical and science programs must be. With amazing undergraduate programs that are emphasized in the medical and science areas, such as the Honors Program in Medical Education and the Integrated Science Program, I believe studying in Northwestern would help me immensely.
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Essay Question:
We can be defined not only by what we choose to keep but what we choose not to keep. Write about something you reluctantly chose to discard and why this was a difficult choice.
Me and Mugs While cleaning my room one day, I came upon an insidious presence lurking beneath my bed. Unknown to its chief inhabitant, this dastardly company had infiltrated the security of my room, artfully concealing itself under the center of my bed at shifty angles imperceptible to the naked eye. It was neither apparent how long ago this perpetrator had first set up camp nor how it had even gotten there in the first place. It was obvious, however, that the offender's residence had been lengthy and comfortable, as was evidenced by the wealth of biological decay surrounding it. What I found under my bed was actually a mug -- a solitary mug growing orange mold that had mysteriously gravitated under my bed over the course of several inconceivable months. How such an atrocity had gotten under my bed is still unknown. No worries though. I picked up my moldy mug and proceeded to remove its offensive presence. For a moment, I contemplated attempting to resuscitate the putrefying specimen. I mean, I guess I could try to scrub out the mold. However, one look down at the fuzzy, orange-speckled ceramic in my hand convinced me otherwise. Into the trashcan it went. Although I kept rationalizing to myself that this was just a mug -- just one measly, magnificently moldy old mug, I realized that this piece of ceramic could represent something bigger, some larger aspect of my character that may not be construed as positive. My mother, an outstandingly frugal and conservative woman, would no doubt have berated me for throwing away a perfectly well formed mug, regardless of its fungi-infested status. She is always scolding me for being extravagant and careless. After all, who used to leave food on her plate when "children in Africa were starving," or whose earrings tended to mysteriously disappear upon arriving home, or who has lost TI-83 graphing calculators in three different cities on two different continents? Hold out your hand, Kai Ning. See that space between your middle and fourth finger when you squeeze your fingers together? That means money is going to slip through your fingers. That's like having a house full of money and leaving the door wide open on a breezy day. It is not a great experience growing up with such a prophecy on your ears and with such crookedness of your fingers. However, I reject the negativity of the term, extravagance. Extravagance breeds generosity. It breeds innovation and great ideas. It even breeds a certain type of recklessness. I embrace this recklessness because to me, it represents the ability for release and for expression. Perhaps at school, underneath my quiet demeanor, my meticulous handwriting, and my carefully organized notes, my peers are not aware of my inner prodigality. In the privacy of my own home, however, I can give expression to this less inhibited side of my personality by throwing frugality to the wind and embracing my extravagant, mug-throwing-away nature.
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Essay Question:
What is an action or skill that can define you as a person?
Reality to Imagination My approach to artistically editing a photograph parallels my approach to life. When I want to edit an image or accomplish a task, I develop a vision of what I want to do, focus my energies to effect change, and persist in my efforts to see it to completion. Combining my visual imagination, a learned proficiency with traditional art materials, and computer technology, I am able to discover hidden relationships as well as create new images that have never been seen before. While this attribute is present in others, what sets me apart is my unique imagination and creativity with respect to the image being manipulated. To give one an idea of what I mean regarding photo manipulation as an art form, I have enclosed scanned pictures that illustrate my thoughts. The first two are original photos of my friends and myself that I felt were taken awkwardly. Under careful scrutiny, I discovered that they were shot from similar angles and could be combined and altered into a composite image showing the three of us sitting above and below the bench, the third photograph. This task was easy to complete since I knew what I wanted to achieve and followed through with my idea. The outcome was both interesting and humorous, surprising to everyone that saw it. At first glance, it appeared to be a photograph of six people. As one looked closer, everyone realizes that the photo is of three people, appearing twice. In manipulating a photograph, I take every detail into account to accomplish the final product. Almost automatically I look at everything, shadows, placement of people, background, and lighting before retouching it on Adobe Photoshop. For people who know me, they think that this task is simple, combining elements from separate pictures in order to make a convincing artistic image that changes what the eye perceives. However, this process requires patience, effort, and is the result of many hours of practice and instruction. I enjoy the challenge of trying to improve or enhance an image, and it is my own interest in this field of photography and computer art that drives me to perfect a project, adding new and different dimensions to it. The end result of my efforts is usually a final product that is aesthetically satisfying, visually convincing, and occasionally thought-provoking. This pseudo-metaphor paralleling photo manipulation to my approach to other interests in my life represents at least a part of what defines me.
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Essay Question:
Carl Sagan once said, "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." If you could make one discovery in your lifetime, what would it be?
My life has been one drenched in everything woman. Growing up in a house with five females, five tough and diverse and intelligent females, I have come to appreciate all that is sheer femininity-- the good, the bad, and undoubtedly the ugly. I have had my share of catfights and my share of compassion; I have witnessed vulnerability, but I have also seen unwavering strength; I have known a mother's tough love and a sister's indestructible bond. It is these five women who are my best friends, because they still talked to me during my awkward phase, because they rubbed my back when I cried even if they were mad at me, because they painted the car black with a Sharpie pen when I nicked the paint the week after I got my drivers license. It is these five women who are my best friends, because I know they will always be there for me, no matter how hard and horrible and just plain bad things get, simply because they are connected to me by something even deeper than experience or familiarity or love. Perhaps my response is clichi and perhaps it doesn't truly answer the question and perhaps it seems too simple and yet too complex all at the same time, but if Carl Sagan is right then somewhere out there in that vast ocean of knowledge just waiting to be tapped, someone or something holds the key, the answer, that just may save those women who mean most to me in the world. Thirty years ago my mother watched her own mother, my grandmother, with a strength of will exceeded by few, beat the monster that is breast cancer. She has since devoted the entirety of her life and work to serving those suffering from the disease. By sheer probability and genetics, at least one of my sisters or my mother will most likely develop breast cancer sometime in her life. But if Carl Sagan is right, and I truly believe with full faith that he is, then someone possesses the capabilities to reverse their-- or perhaps my-- fate. And so I don't care if it's not creative enough and I don't care if it seems too easy an answer, if I could see one thing and only one thing revealed in my lifetime, I would wish every time to discover a cure for breast cancer. The sisters and daughters and mothers and aunts and nieces and grandmothers and granddaughters of the world are far too important, far too loved, far too many a girls best friends to wish for anything else.
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Essay Question:
Choose a character in a short story, play, or other work of literature that best represents yourself.
A Man For All Seasons by Robert Bolt-- My ethos reflects that of Sir Thomas More. Although I am not a Catholic nor a religious zealot, and fundamental values are very similar to his disposition, character, mine.
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Essay Question:
MAJOR: When asked by Pope Boniface VIII to prove his skill as an artist, Giotto (1267-1337) drew a perfect circle freehand. What seemingly simple action would demonstrate your ability or skill, and how would it represent you?
I naturally perform this action, providing others a sense of acceptance
and happiness while giving myself wrinkles. But this action ripples outward
like
sunlight on water to make a brighter day for everyone who experiences it. For
this
reason, I try to approach people with a smile.
My smile signifies my ability to help others. I have always found
special joy in participating in activities that require interaction with others
and help
make a difference. In fifth grade, I was part of the Buddy Program in which
selected classmates and I tutored special needs students. One particular time,
I
was helping a student with Down syndrome to read. While others grew frustrated
at his slow, painstaking attempts to sound out words, I controlled my
frustration
and helped him sound out the words with a gentle smile on my face. The special
education teacher observed that the boy made more progress in his reading when
he
worked with me. She later told me that he felt better reading with me because I
smiled.
My desire to help people has continued through high school. Many of the
clubs I participate in, such as Rotary Interact, Freshmen Mentoring Program, and
For
the Children, a club that I co-founded, require a "service above self" attitude.
In these activities, either my peers or school administrators have selected me
to
leadership positions because of my kindness and sincerity. I believe my smile
is a
contributing factor to my selection. Recently, I became more aware of the
impression a
smile makes during one of my Freshmen Mentoring experiences last year. I had
only
mentored a class for one week, and I had to change to another one because of a
scheduling conflict. In such a limited time, I had not become acquainted with
the freshmen in my class. I assumed that they did not know me either. I was
surprised to see a girl from the previous class ask me to be her mentor again
because I seemed nicer. I asked her why she thought I was nicer. She gave me a
simple but powerful answer, "You smiled more."
Although previously I smiled to establish connections with people, I did
not comprehend the effect of the smile on others. Long after I leave my smile
with people, they might even find themselves smiling. I consider a smile like
pollen: one can produce a garden of smiles by spreading his or her pollen from
person
to person. As for the wrinkles smiles produce, I hope to be one of those older
people with defined wrinkles around their eyes and mouth. Each wrinkle has a
different path, telling an exciting story from their lives and giving proof
they have contended life with a smile.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
MINOR: Creat an acronym that describes you.
My acronym would be S.T.R.O.N.G. It stands for, Striving To Reach Optimum Noble Goals. The words from the acronym describe what I try to do everyday of my life. The word formed by the acronym is an adjective that explains my attitude while trying to achieve my goals, despite adversities.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
MINOR: Why do you want to attend Northwestern University?
I knew I wanted to go to Northwestern University since my father started
telling me about the quality of education offered there, this was at the age of
ten.
After discovering what is important to me, I now have more reasons than ever to
want to go to Northwestern.
I recognize that Northwestern University can provide me with a superb
education. I learn more in small classroom settings where there is interaction
with the
professor. Almost 70% of Northwestern's classes have fewer than 20 students. I
know
that by attending this university, I will have highly qualified professors who
are
committed to my education and success.
Beyond fulfilling my wish for a great education, Northwestern will
satisfy my passion to be involved in the school and community. I will have over
160
organizations and activities from which to choose. I could write for such
publications as
Daily Northwestern or TriQuarterly. Northwestern also has a women's cross
country
team I could participate in. I could serve my community through such
organizations
as Hands and Idele. I believe that community service is a significant part of a
good
education.
Northwestern University can also provide me with a quality education in
engineering, the major I plan to pursue. I like knowing that I can start
taking engineering courses as a freshman. It is also good to know that I am
required to take seven courses in humanities in order to get my degree, ensuring
that I will get a total
education. Furthermore, I will have numerous research opportunities and have the
best
facilities and resources at Northwestern.
With the education I expect to receive at Northwestern, I know I will be
prepared for the future. Above all, I would enjoy going through life knowing
that I
had the honor of attending Northwestern University.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
What would you say if given 5 minutes of National airtime?
Think about where we stand today as far as medical advances and the ability to treat peoples various diseases through the use of genetic and stem cell research. If I were given five minutes of national airtime I would do my best to convince the nation to support federal funding for such stem cell and genetic research to facilitate the advancement of medicine. Of all the possible topics to discuss considering the ongoing circumstances in the world, as we know it today I feel stem cell and genetic research need public support if they are to prosper and contribute to helping society. The government provides little if any funding for such research and most colleges and institutions feed off of government for research grants. Todays limited research has been used to cure people with sickle cell disease and other gene related diseases, which is an amazing accomplishment by itself. If research institutes had the funding to further their research at a higher level and at a faster pace the possibilities to help people with diseases could be limitless. In my own personal life many of the women in my family have suffered from breast cancer, which is typically dealt with by removing the cancerous tissue and the breast. Additionally, my Uncle Kambiz Dowlatshahi is a surgeon in Chicago and took part in developing a new way to treat breast cancer through laser surgery, which eliminates the need to remove the entire breast of a patient. Many people could consider laser surgery to be dangerous, yet the government funding put into research facilities allowed my uncle and others to develop new ways to treat a disease which plagues society. If I could persuade citizens and residents alike to support genetic and stem cell research, then maybe we, as a nation, could treat many more diseases that threaten the world. Being that I will soon be in college I would speak on this matter so that I would have more opportunities to make a difference while in college. If I could get the support needed to gain more government funding then I would have the opportunity to do my best to make a significant contribution to society. I am aware that many people simply do not support genetic research because they are afraid of what they do not know, but I would want to be able to explain to the nation that we didnt know what awaited us on the Moon, yet we landed on it. We once identified a criminal through finger print evidence, but today DNA is the strongest evidence used in most criminal cases, and the nation accepts such use of genetic technology. I would take this chance to discuss the reality that risks are taken in life, which hopefully bring high returns. Most people in the nation invest in the stock market, a significant risk. Stem cell research would be a well-informed risk that would be taken with extreme caution, which will have a positive effect on society.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
What attracts you to attend Northwestern Univerity?
I wish to learn and explore science and medicine through research. Northwestern University will not only provide me with a first-rate education in such fields, but also place me in an environment where such medical and scientific advances are taking place as they pertain to the world. I would have the opening to see how science and medicine are applied, which is an opportunity that not many areas have. I currently wish to pursue a career in chemical engineering or genetic engineering, and Northwestern can help me in these pursuits. The availability of such research in the Chicago area alone is very appealing, but my own personal knowledge of the quality of the faculty and students at Northwestern makes my desire and interests grow. Most of all I want to contribute to the scientific and/or medical community in the future to which an education at Northwestern would only boost the odds of such a dream. I hope to maximize my potential as a person and member of society, which will be less likely without the learning experience I could gain from Northwestern. Additionally, Northwestern satisfies a chief love in my lifemusic. I play the Double Bass, and I hope to further my studies and become more proficient as a musician to enrich my own life, as well as others. I have had the opportunity to work with various musicians, conductors, and teachers who have helped contribute to the quality of my life. Northwestern is sure to be full of such people and experiences that will only improve my character, abilities, and college experience that will make my future more promising. Northwestern has an intellectual and musical ambiance that will advance my abilities to a degree that I can only dream of at this point in my life.
