Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Describe a defining experience from your life.(Major essay, personal statement)
We were flying for nine hours over the invariable blue infinity of the Atlantic Ocean. I already had the impression that we left Sofia Airport a week ago, when, all of a sudden, I saw the brown shape of land under us. I couldn't remove my face from the narrow window, as the big Jumbo 747 passed over Newfoundland and approached the north coast of the U.S.A. That was my first sight of the New World, the event I've been dreaming of since I was eight. At that time I read my first novel written by an American author - The Last of the Mohicans by James Fennimore Cooper. Since then I had the most cherished fantasies of seeing this glorious land where different cultures and civilizations met and clashed for existence. And the moment I first beheld America, I found out that even then, at sixteen, those fantasies from my early childhood were still alive deep inside my heart. Half an hour later, the yellow beaches of Long Island emerged under us and I saw the endless multitude of houses called Suburbia. If I have to be honest, I was a little disillusioned. This picture appeared so ordinary and predictable. I expected a forest of skyscrapers covering all visible land, or at least the Statue of Liberty. But unfortunately, I didn't see anything of the kind. The plane landed at J.F.K. Airport. I was so excited and impatient to see my parents, that I almost forgot my bag on the luggage shelf. I hadn't seen them for nearly three years. They came to the land of unlimited opportunity to begin a new life, away from the rotten society of communism in Bulgaria. My father graduated first in his class from the Polytechnic Institute in Prague and was an engineer on the top of the line in my country. But he wasn't recognized in his field and was submitted to all kinds of outrages because of the fact that he didnt join the communist party in Bulgaria. He came to America at the age of forty and began from the very bottom. For three years he worked as a helper for some construction company in Brooklyn, carrying garbage and mixing concrete. He worked often 16 to 18 hours a day for a minimum salary of $4 an hour. But he endured everything with the only hope to bring his children to America and to provide them with the opportunity of a valuable education and better life than his own. And then, when I stepped on American land, I realized that his dream had come true and his efforts were worth it. But when I first saw my parents in that crowded waiting room at the airport, I felt very strange and uneasy. My mind was put between the memory of them and the actual reality, and the big difference confused me. They had changed so much, that I had a hard time accepting them as the same people I knew three years ago. My father had grown fatter and the number of white hairs on his head had greatly increased. A large percentage of my mom's hair had whitened, too; however, she was prettier, and as it seemed to me, younger. When I got to them, I put the luggage on the floor and hugged them both. Yes, it was different, much different from the last hug between parents and their child. This was a hug between adults, glad to see each other again, after a long time. At least, that's how it felt for me, and I knew that it couldn't go back. Nobody said anything, although there were so many things to say. My father took one of the suitcases, I took the other, and we headed to the parking lot in front of the airport. We got to a purple Oldsmobile station wagon: our car. I had almost forgotten the word 'our'. It just had lost the meaning of something that one shares with people close and dear to him, with his family. During the three years spent in the French boarding school in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, I got used to take care of myself and to depend on my own decisions and judgments. I excelled in school and everything I did, thanks to my own efforts and hard work, and my own enthusiasm to be the best. Then I decided to prove to the world my will and learned four languages in three year. During those hardest years of my life, however, while I was undergoing the complex change from a child to an adult and needed the most the spiritual and moral support of my parents, they were missing and I was left to cope with the biggest cataclysm in my life alone. It is true that my grandparents tried hard to play the invaluable role of parents but the vital influence of my real ones was irreplaceable. On the way home I was looking through the window at the beautiful views outside. It was April and the first signs of spring were embellishing everything. But I was indifferent to the splendor of nature. I was too busy making a summary of my short life and thinking how the enormous change, which I was undergoing, was going to change the course of my future. How would I live with my parents again? What would happen to my education? How would I integrate in this society completely new to me? Would I see my friends and my country again? All these questions were flooding my brain and made me feel dizzy. Suddenly, I felt exhausted of all the dilemmas that confronted me and I wanted to forget everything. Besides the confusion in mind, the jetlag from the ten-hour flight contributed to my complete exhaustion. My eyes closed by themselves and in a moment I fell asleep without even realizing it.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
What personal experience determined your life choices to the greatest extent. (major essay)
My interest in medicine began with the personal and national tragedy of the nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl in the spring of 1986. My little brother Damian was born on Christmas day, 1980, when I was four years old. I still remember how happy I was when the doctor opened the door of the waiting room in the Sofia General Hospital and announced that it was a boy. No one could have predicted what would happen five years later, on a beautiful Saturday morning in the spring of 1986. My family had just arrived at our summerhouse in the Balkan Mountains of Bulgaria for the weekend. As I played outside, my mother struggled to put Damian to sleep. She was worried because the boy had been crying all day long and seemed to be suffering from some kind of allergic reaction. Soon after we got back home that evening, Damian experienced violent seizures and lapsed into a coma. My parents, hysterical, rushed him to the hospital and brought me along. We stayed there late into the night, watching through the windows of the emergency room as doctors tried frantically to save his life. I was terrified, confused, and unable to understand what was causing so much pain to my family. I had lost strength even for prayers. Unlike many other young Bulgarian children at that time, my brother lived, but only to embark on a long and agonizing struggle for survival. Damian's immune system had been severely damaged from the Chernobyl radiation. He would need to take various medications on a regular basis for the rest of his life. My parents were trying to do everything in their power to ensure the best possible life for him and in the summer of 1990 my family left for the United States. I stayed behind since I had just been accepted to the prestigious French Language Boarding School. The thought of Damian, however, never left me. I set a new goal for myself - to become a medical scientist and find a cure that could help my brother and other people with immunodeficiency diseases. In the meantime, I cared for my grandparents and strove to excel at school. I decided to test the strength of my will and for the next two and a half years I learned French, English, Spanish, and Russian at the level of proficiency. I also participated in science and math Olympiads and volunteered at a homeless shelter and the Bulgarian Red Cross. I became independent, taking care of myself and relying on my own judgment. By the end of my third year I ranked in the top 1% of my class. Then, in the spring of 1993, I received a visa for the United States and finally rejoined my family in New York. The happiness of the reunion, however, was eclipsed by the worsening condition of my brother. He had undergone treatments at some of the leading hospitals in the U.S., with little effect. Damian was extremely depressed and had no motivation. His deterioration threatened to affect his academic career and compromise his future as well as his health. I decided that the best way to help my brother was to inspire him by being a positive role model. This thought gave me tremendous strength. Despite the challenges of a foreign language and new educational environment, I worked hard and excelled academically. I also tutored and volunteered in the homes of elderly people afflicted by stroke. In the summer of 1994 I was accepted on a full scholarship to a science program at Columbia University. It focused on Genetics and Molecular Biology and presented a great opportunity to do research. After I completed the program, I continued working with a Biochemistry professor on a project involving bacterial conjugation for which I wrote an original thesis report. The project was awarded the semifinalist title in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search. The results were gratifying. Damian was moved by my personal example and continuous support. Despite his condition, he became enthusiastic about academic and extracurricular activities. His schoolwork improved substantially and in the spring of his freshman year in high school he joined the soccer team. He regained his confidence and made new friends. At Harvard I concentrated in Biochemical Sciences and took some of the most challenging courses offered. An example is the Introduction to Molecular Immunology I took in my third year. Despite the challenging nature of this medical school-format course, I was fascinated with the subject and intrigued by the experiments in the field. The material was relevant to my brother's struggle with immunodeficiency disease and I saw parallels between his condition and AIDS. For that reason, I decided to join a lab at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute where I had the opportunity to do research in the field of HIV vaccine development and write my senior thesis, which was awarded a summa cum laude. In conclusion, the most valuable asset I can bring to the medical profession is my deep-felt commitment to helping people with serious disease. I will never forget the effects of the Chernobyl disaster, which cost the lives and health of thousands of innocent people, one of which was my brother. As a witness affected personally by that horror, I vowed never to give up my dream of helping people worldwide. I believe the best way to fulfill this promise is through the study and practice of medicine.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Major Essay: What drives you? What are you passionate about?
Early in the summer, my Naniji (meaning 'maternal grandmother') was teaching me about Indian culture, particularly cooking and reading Hindi. Today, in her feisty style, she was showing me how to make paneer, an Indian delicacy. Not letting me touch the pot she was stirring, she impatiently explained the process: 'the milk has to be heated to exactly the right temperature or else the paneer will be loose. After it has heated, add lime juice to the milk.' Paneer is a soft, cheese-like white substance so laborious to make that it is only served on certain Indian holidays or for special company. When Naniji at last consented, I excitedly added a drop of juice to the nascent paneer, carefully observing the tiny havoc it caused. A small, yellowish drop of lime juice tumbled into the milk, causing the milk to part around the juice and become strangely stringy. The word for this process -- coagulation - popped into my mind. I liked the funny-sounding word in chemistry class, and felt a linguistic familiarity with it because I could discern its etymology: 'cogo', from Latin, meaning 'to do or to drive'. 'That makes sense,' I thought, 'because coagulation could be the process of driving solute together.' As I added more juice, I looked carefully at the developing paneer and began to wonder what was driving the milk together. Thinking back to biology and chemistry, I quickly figured it out: protein from the milk emulsion was clumping together because it had been denatured! The lime juice had a low pH, which denatured, or reshaped, the proteins by altering charges on the polypeptide chain, causing the proteins to stick together! That's why I can make paneer! In a flash, I had figured it all out. Why the process worked, where its name came from, and how things would look at the molecular level. I also realized something else entirely: how much I love science, especially when applied. I felt such an inner satisfaction that moment I figured out why my drops of lime juice could so dramatically transform the milk into paneer. I wanted to feel the same thrill again and test whether I really was passionate about science. I enrolled in multiple higher-level classes, and since then, I have felt the same enthusiasm discovering why only half of medicine synthesized is useful, identifying unknown mixtures in lab, and proving Newton's laws of motion. Much of my zeal for science stems from its human aspect, whether that is coagulation from pH change in the context of Indian cooking and culture, or global-level problem solving, like dealing with an epidemic. Science not only excites and satisfies the inquisitive child in me, but it also connects me to environmental problems, people, and even my heritage. Feeling all of my yearnings - curiosity leading to understanding, cultures and people, and the possibility for a positive contribution - is why I see my future in search of the truth that only science provides me.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
What interests you about Brown?
I want my college experience to be about self-discovery, both inside and outside the classroom. I am starting to know myself; I have learned what open-mindedness is, what it is not, and how much I value it. I've searched for a compromise in many situations: how tolerant is one to be of intolerance? I confronted this question when helping a student understand his Asian identity and cope with parental disapproval of his sexuality. I was confused about how much parental intolerance to challenge because of the respect he held for his parents. Would I be challenging that respect as well? As a Multicultural Peer Counselor I have not only had to think abstractly about these questions, but give answers and see consequences. Though in the process I have gained some wisdom, it seems insignificant compared to all of the progress that I must make. The placement of an MPC and WPC on each freshman hall demonstrates the communal respect for issues of personal and group identity and difficulties people face because of them. As all of us uncover who we are, this acceptance is crucial. My determination, curiosity, and intensity would cause me to fit well with the 'similarly passionate, motivated, and accepting' student body as described to me by one Brown student. Brown is my ideal environment because it demands learning with wonder, confronting questions, exploring fundamentals, challenging beliefs, and true tolerance.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
We recognize that all good writers seek feedback, advice, or editing before sending off an essay. When you have completed your essay, please tell us whose advice you sought for help, the advice he/she provided, and whether you incorporated his/her suggestions.
The final authority for my writing is an experienced teacher whom students fondly refer to as 'our resident essay expert'. Before, however, using the time of such a sought-after and presumably busy man, I asked my college-going peers to edit my work. Some of my peers gave me purely grammar and syntactical corrections, which I executed before delving further. Others gave me suggestions for voice and sentence structure. Teachers were final judges of my essays, because they focused on them from a holistic point of view. I sat across from Dr. Miller, an almost elderly gentleman, as he perused my essay. I nervously awaited feedback. Older friends had told me, 'he tore apart my essays, but in the end they turned out well. So it was worth it.' Although my essays had been reviewed by parents, peers, and another teacher, I still waited for my essay to be torn apart. When he finished, he looked up and began to speak: 'Reading this essay, I get the impression that you are a meticulous, observant, formal, driven and philosophical person. Is this true?' Other feedback that I remember included 'in the 7,428 college essays I have read during my career, this is perhaps the most impersonal one I have ever read. Tell me, do you have a sense of humor? Perhaps you should insert a humorous comment here. It is awfully nerdy that you explain a chemical process in your college essay.' Allowing this advice to percolate for some time, I edited the essay. And edited. And edited. I edited it so much that the essay was left pathetically shorn of its former passion and enthusiasm! I showed the over-edited version to peers and it turned out that my fear had come true: I edited the essay to the point of blandness. My once vivacious essay was now, many hours later, a boring, textbook description of protein behavior. In despair, I went for a walk, contemplating other ideas - I waited a week, reread a preliminary draft of the essay, put it away, and then quickly rewrote the essay, trying to sincerely feel the essence of the experience, not grammar. I made minor revisions to this draft, and then e-mailed the essay back to parents and Dr. Miller. After incorporating their suggestions a second time, that is the essay I present.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Minor: If you are applying to Trinity College, please discuss why you consider Duke a good match for you. Is there something in particular at Duke that attracts you? If you are applying to the Pratt School of Engineering, please discuss why you want to study engineering.
As a college student, I want to take challenging classes from interesting professors, and work hard, learning as much as I possibly can. But, there are many things I anticipate doing in addition to classes. I want to attend lectures on interesting topics by notable speakers, participate in scientific research as an undergraduate, and be involved in orchestrating large student-run events. In college, I am searching for self-discovery, learning, and balance among academic, social and extracurricular spheres of interest. Attending Duke would make all of these things possible. As a student at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, I have attended several lectures at Duke. One of my favorites was listening to Dr. Craig Venter, founder of the Institute for Genomic Research, speak on the recent advances in the Human Genome project. Currently, I am involved in a program through the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics which pairs chosen students with a mentor in their chosen field of interest. At Duke's Gross Chemistry Laboratory, I work with Dr. Stephen Craig each Tuesday afternoon, conducting research on protein dimerization involving a chemical ligand. Until this point, I have created mathematical models of the proteins predicted behavior and am beginning a simulation involving DNA fragments. Attending Duke would allow me to continue working with Dr. Craig, as well as gaining towards a major in biochemistry. My experiences with Duke University have been positive thus far, and I believe that as a student, I would enjoy attending Duke University while taking advantage of all it has to offer.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about an activity you pursued for the pleasure of it.
Before me were five wise men. They were leaders and professors representing the five major world religions: an energetic pastor who loved to tell stories, a Jewish professor who used humor to convey ideas; a patient 'I am a layman' practitioner of Buddhism; a wildly gesticulating Hindu professor; and finally, a calm Muslim Imam who raised his hand when the pastor asked 'who of you were raised in Christian households?' These men comprised a panel of speakers for the 'World Religions Conference,' an event organized by the Multicultural Peer Counselors, (ten students, of which I am one) as an opportunity for students and staff to learn and inquire. As an organizer, I nervously awaited a dispute or insensitive comment, but instead I saw careful listening, respect and acceptance. Before me was something much greater than five men: open-mindedness with living hope for religious harmony. To share this feeling of oneness with the rest of my community is the reason I pursued becoming a Multicultural Peer Counselor.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
What personal characteristics do you most value in yourself? What characteristics do others most value in you?
To myself, I'm a strong-willed person who thinks she can achieve anything with discipline and hard work. Otherwise, I'm pretty zany. I'm the girl who replaced lemons in water with cucumber slices, patiently arranged sand making a mandala, and created parrots from Styrofoam. My creativity can be artistic, but also handy for problem solving. Creativity gives me direction. When I asked friends what they most value in me, they replied: 'compassion towards friends, your morals, your humor and occasional bouts of silliness!' though they sometimes wonder how I can enjoy science even as I surrender my sanity to classes. Maybe my humor and silliness are why I can survive sometimes energy-sapping Physics and Chemistry.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Tell us about an activity you pursued seriously.
I sat on a frayed brown chair in the dilapidated but cozy old room at school called the assembly hall. Before me was a semicircle of five sage men; I listened to them, fully engrossed and enraptured by the wisdom their wisdom. They were professors and religious leaders from the community who represented the five major world religions. This was a yearly event known as the 'World Religions Conference', in which a representative from each of the five major world religions comes to speak, answer questions and engage in discussion. The Christian pastor on the far right of the crescent loved to stand up and tell stories to illustrate points. It was as though he were in church, speaking from a pulpit. His opposite, a calm Buddhist practitioner, sat to the left. The practitioner explained the concepts of Buddhism patiently, and gently, having kindly introduced himself with a delicate humility characteristic of Buddhism: 'I am a layman.' In the center of the semicircle sat the Judaism representative. He was a professor, so he taught. He stood up, paced, gave anecdotes, and even-role played. Similarly, the Hindu representative was also a professor. Trying to relate Hinduism to the audience, he used examples from current events and even showed newspapers with recent headlines to explain concepts and draw comparisons. Gesticulating wildly, he deftly quoted from many different religious texts and drew upon what the other speakers had said, especially the Muslim Imam. He perhaps possessed the most holy aura of them all. When the pastor asked the audience 'who of you were raised in Christian households?', the Imam raised his hand! An audience consisted of students, staff members and even teachers surrounded me as the World Religions Conference took place. The Multicultural Peer Counselors organize this event annually, and, in 2002, I was an organizer. I nervously clutched the edge of my chair waiting for tension to arise. Much to my relief, and slight surprise, this didn't happen. Instead, I sensed a powerful, pervasive feeling of acceptance. Manifested was the true spirit of inquiry, far beyond that of mere tolerance, but actual consideration, evaluation, and imbibing of new ideasreal open-mindedness. That realization struck me with such impact: an open dialogue without conflict! Furthermore, this audience proved to be curious about human thought, belief and religion! What was so powerful and amazing about the conference is that not only does one learn about individual religions, but comes away with more than simply facts: a bigger, perhaps a broader search for truth. From comparing, contrasting and seeing each religion in context and relation to the others, understanding and continuity emerge. The overwhelming quality permeating the room stemmed from the almost perfect atmosphere of understanding, reviving my hope in a true universal harmony. I shall always hold an image of the bright crescent and strive to carry that mindset with me. I felt so uplifted by the conference that I wanted to share this spirit of acceptance and true open-mindedness with the rest of society. Perhaps it could be a starting place to mend some of the rifts between groups today. Presently, as a Multicultural Peer Counselor, I hope to continue sharing this spirit. As I grapple with different issues in the future, I hope to find this true spirit of inquiry in my future college community.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Tell us about an opinion that you have had to defend or an incident in you life which placed you in conflict with the beliefs of a majority of people and explain how this affected your value system.
One of the characteristics about myself that I am proud of is that I am vegetarian. My parents raised me as a vegetarian and I have chosen to remain vegetarian because I believe that it is both a healthy and environmentally friendly decision. However, while growing up, most of the people that I dealt with were not vegetarians. Sometimes, this set up a conflict between my peers and I. During these times, my classmates questioned my beliefs, putting me in the position of defending and explaining my reasons for being vegetarian. Through this experience, I have strengthened my own beliefs and I have become more tolerant of the beliefs of others. As a teenager, I occasionally find time to go out for dinner or to a party with my friends. It was through these types of social engagements that my friends learned that I am vegetarian. Several times I have been in situations where as result of a misunderstanding or miscommunication, there are not any vegetarian accommodations for me. After incidents like that, food usually becomes the topic of the conversation. There are hosts of typical statements that I have heard said about being vegetarian such as, 'What do you eat?' or 'I would starve on vegetables!' or 'Where would I get my protein?' My all-time favorite is 'I tried a veggie-burger and almost died!' I have found that a good response to these questions is a small joke or an example of how simple vegetarian lifestyle can be satisfies everyone's general curiosity. The scope of my interactions concerning vegetarianism is not limited to simple meal discussions. Conversations on the pros and cons of not eating meat and eating meat made me cringe when I was a freshman and sophomore in high school, because I did not know where to begin defending my belief. At this point in my life I began to seek out other vegetarians my age in order to answer some of my questions and find support. For a year, I joined a controversial animal-rights club at my school. Through this experience I discovered a number of other organizations that supported my cause, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Northwest Animal Rights Network (NARA.) Through my research, I found an abundance of literature that answered my questions about why being vegetarian is significant. Prepared with the certainty of my research, I have the facts to hold up my side of debate over vegetarianism. After resolving the insecurity of my beliefs on vegetarianism, I did not go out and attack other's beliefs. Instead, I have chosen to be more accommodating. After having gone through the intimidation of facing a majority that opposed my beliefs, I do not want to put someone else through the same uncomfortable position. I have taken it to heart to be more flexible in understanding people or groups that don't share my beliefs without compromising my own.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Tell us something about yourself...
From across the biology room, a small but confident voice asked Mr. Jordan whether certain genes were hereditary. The inquisitive student was a junior named Shayma and I noticed that she had a trace of a strange accent in her voice. After chatting with her, she told me that she moved to Boise from Egypt last year. She didn't seem to know many other students, so I introduced her to some of my friends. Although initially intimidated with hanging around a bunch of seniors, pretty soon she was packed in the Pontiac with us on the way to lunch. I asked her about the many differences she had observed while living in the United States. We connected because I, too, am originally from a different country: Panama. Because I have more international experience than other American teenagers from my class, I felt like I could appreciate her unique situation. I laughed with her about certain situations that we both could understand. For example, we giggled at the similar memories of our moms getting frustrated trying to order a Happy Meal. It was an almost impossible task at a drive-through intercom because their strong accents prevented any communication. There was one point, especially, on which my new friend and I strongly related. That common principle was that we knew our families are always number one. If my four-year-old sister is sad because another girl in her preschool class has the same t-shirt, my dad will be at Kmart the next day. When my ten-year-old sister wants to learn to dance, my mom and I blast Ricky Martin. My dad suffers countless hours trying to produce a single assignment, such as a 'Difference in Learning Styles' paper, for his MBA classes. My mom and I chuckle to ourselves as we edit one of his masterpieces. Even though my older sister, Lourdes, is living in Phoenix now, she does not escape from the warm grasp of the family. Lourdes haplessly bought an ill-fated piece of junk for her first car and my dad was the one to come to the rescue. After a few costly repairs, he now drives the wretched car and she drives his. From their actions, my family has demonstrated to me the value of supporting each other. Encouraged by our shared experiences, Shayma and I became closer friends. We discussed the many benefits of sharing two cultures, including the option of celebrating numerous holidays. During the early years of my family's life in the United States, we celebrated all the Panamanian holidays. We celebrated Children's Day on November 1st, the Day of the Dead on November 2nd, Panama Independence Day on November 3rd, Mother's Day on December 8th, and the customary Christmas and Easter. When Lourdes and I entered grade school, however, we started bringing home gooey painted pasta for Mother's Day gifts in May and dressed up like goblins for trick-or-treating in October. So, eventually, as a family we decided which holidays were most meaningful to us. I won't forget, however, the gratifying transitional period when every couple of weeks was a fiesta in the Arjona household. Shayma let me enjoy the similar memories of her family, though they were more recent since she had only been in the states only a few years. Shayma misses her previous home in Egypt, but we agree that there are numerous opportunities in the United States that are not found elsewhere. Being a foreign-born American has helped me to appreciate those distinct opportunities. My family never talks about it, but we moved to this country to establish a more secure life. At the same time, we strive to keep our culture. I discuss with my family my future career plans to become a bioengineer. The enthusiasm of our conversation is proof enough of the contentment and balance we have created in our life in Boise, Idaho. In college next year, I will meet amazing people from a variety of different backgrounds. Because of my own Panamanian and American background, I feel easily connect with persons of many cultures and want to appreciate them. I hope to continue to share that spirit of amiability and provide leadership through example towards my roommates, class peers, and swim team members in college next year.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
This was the essay for the Common Application - one of the suggested topics was to write about a challenge you faced, which is roughly what this is about, though of course I took a creative angle to it.
'Kelly, why do we do this?' Val's question jolts into my rain-numbed reverie. 'D-d-do this?' I chatter. Water lifts the fragrance of shampoo from my braids and smudges mascara beneath my friends eyes. 'This... this sport.' Val spits the word as though it tastes bad. 'This torture. This hell. This exercise in misery.' 'Oh,' I reply, comprehension forcing itself across my icy face. 'Cross-country.' It's 4:21 on an October afternoon, and the rain is coming down like artillery fire. A whistle's lament cuts through the syncopated patter of the rain and chatter of my teeth as I take my place on the starting line. Crack! The report of the gun gives way to a thunderous rumble as fifty lightweights with whipping ponytails jostle for the lead. I hang back; years of racing have taught me to choose my battles carefully. Now is not the time. This is not the place. These girls are not the enemy. Thudding down the field, across the bridge, the clackety-clack-clack of one hundred and two feet rasps on weathered wood and wet gravel. Wood chips slither beneath my spikes as we scramble up monsters affectionately dubbed 'Freshman Hill' and 'Snake.' Val's question buzzes around my thoughts, unanswered, as the miles trickle by. Permeating the scene like the scent of wet leaves, apprehension weaves my stomach into knots. There is one hill yet to come. Cardiac. It is a name to strike fear into the most intrepid runners heart, a catchword in elite cross-country circles, the highest point in Sunken Meadow State Park. Deceiving us with twists and false summits, ridden with jutting roots and rain-gouged rivulets, nearly perpendicular at its apex - this hill is the defining feature of our course. Salty rain trickles between my lips as I approach its base. This is the time, the place, the enemy. I am ready. Pumping my arms in rigid arcs, I seem to bounce in place as other girls stagger past, hands on their knees. Trees and pebbles, rain and runners, all melt away until I am conscious only of this: that there is the hill, and there is me; and one of us will have to give up first. One of us... it won't be me... getting there I'm almost there n o w ! even breathing artificial regulation gives way to gasps of painful triumph as the victory burns in my calves my heart thumps in my ears like a war drum and my legs unwilling children must be forced to continue its not over yet knees still trembling the conquered hill pulls me toward its base with a force stronger than gravity feet skim the ground and then I am at the bottom and the colors cease to blur and again I find my rhythm wet braids beating a tattoo across my shoulders as they move like pistons or like dancers to a rhythm like the heartbeat of the pulsing earth. I have won. In the serenity of the final mile, epiphanies shoot like stars across my vision, startling me with sudden answers. A philosophy forms, unanticipated, as old questions are cast aside. Life is about the little things, the rain, and the leaves, and the easy rhythm of breathing. It's about running up hills, even though walking is faster. It's about spending hours on a poem for sheer love of language, not for a grade; it's about learning because I want to understand, not to outdo the person next to me. It's about running. I do not run to beat the clock, or my teammates, or the time my coach expects of me. I run because in the spaces between the footsteps and the heartbeats, I can feel the fiery green echoes of my soul. As I sail across the finish line, rain now warm against my skin, there is not a doubt left in my mind. I know why I do this.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
No. You don't know him. No, you have never heard his name. No, you don't even know he exists, yet once you read this, you will want to meet him. He was born in 1923 in the midst of Nazi Germany, where he grew up facing feelings of hatred towards him, all because he was an innocent Jewish boy. With black hair and dark eyes, he was different than his siblings (for they had blonde hair and blue eyes), and thus was called a 'dirty Jew' by the other Aryan youngsters. At age twelve, his parents decided to escape Europe before falling to Hitler and his Nazism. For the first time, he left his home on a boat and headed to Cuba, where he was denied access. More feelings of hatred and prejudice was what he encountered. Then, by pure chance, he anchored in the remote port of Buenaventura, in Colombia. He had never heard the Spanish language, but due to economic necessities, he had to start working in the Spanish speaking wilderness as a golf caddie. He was only twelve, and the hope for receiving a formal education had banished. He soon moved from the coastal town to Bogota, which was still only a big town and not a city. Life was hard and money was scarce. His father was a seamstress while his mother juggled the job of raising five kids and attending a bakery. He worked hard: he was a newspaper delivery boy, a caddie, and a messenger at a factory. His twenty cents a week salary taught him the value of each cent. With all these jobs, he never again entered a classroom. Today, he is fluent in five languages, learned how to read and write, knows math, science, history, literature, and geography, just to name a few. He has his own factory where thousands of panty hose and socks are produced and sold each day. He never attended college, yet he has become a successful businessman. He has three kids, who all hold a college-degree. He has established and supported a family, all from scratch. He supports all four of his siblings, who have not been as successful as he has. Also, he now takes care of his wife, who suffers from Alzheimer's. He is always there to help his family, no matter what the problem is. He has taught me numerable lessons and values. Clearly, he is a self made man. He has taught me, and most important, has showed me that hard work and determination can take a person anywhere. One's dreams are the limit to what one can achieve. He often tells me: 'Value your education because it is the only thing that you can hold forever.' He encourages me to pursue my dreams, and pushes my intellectual abilities to the limit. He inspired me to strive to reach my goals. He epitomizes the idea of a self made, Renaissance man, for he is wise, loving, caring, and determined. I am proud to say, this man is my grandfather. I hope everyone gets to have one as great as mine, but I find it hard to believe that there are that many great people in this world.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, or risk that you have taken and its impact on you.
Bang! The gunshot exploded as I ate dinner with my parents at a local restaurant in Colombia. As we saw the gunman shoot, my family and I hid under the table while I continued to clutch the hamburger I was eating. I was only ten years old, and violence was already part of my everyday life. This was not a foreign fear but a living reality. Two days later, while in XXX school, a bomb threat reached the classrooms, causing all the students to evacuate to the dense forest surrounding the institution. Fear for my life are the only words that explain my terror. On the other hand, life in our South American nation was also the paradise anyone could dream of. Warm hospitality, strong traditions, and a nurturing community were the customs I grew up with. Weekly family gatherings to celebrate Jewish festivities and eat traditional Spanish foods composed my life. In addition, I had my entire family as well as my childhood friends, all living within close proximity. In this homogeneous society, I felt a strong sense of security in my roots, for the combination of my Jewish roots and the Colombian traditions made me feel extremely comfortable. Then one day my parents sat me down for a serious conversation. My greatest fear now became a reality: 'We are moving to Miami in six months.' I stared at my parents in disbelief. How could I leave my comfort zone? How would I establish my life in another country, with different traditions and customs? But I did not have enough time to answer these questions, for before I knew it, I was on American Airlines flight 241 to Miami. I started seventh grade in a new school where I did not find anyone like myself. The first year was a miserable and lonely one, for I had no friends to call on the weekends and no family members whom I could visit. Slowly, I started to accept the harsh reality: my life would never be like the one I had in Colombia. Family dinners with ajiaco, a traditional Colombian soup, and gefilte fish were now a thing of the past. On the other hand, I no longer had to worry about my safety: now I could wear my gold earrings to the mall, and I did not fear someone pulling them. My new worry was getting accustomed to my life in a society with different values. I also had to find happiness in this new country. Slowly but surely, I discovered the differences between the third world country and Miami and learned to make the most out of them. Instead of longing to interact with people of my culture and background, I learned to appreciate the new cultures which I encountered in my new home. I discovered that other people were interested in the diversity which I brought, for a Jewish Colombian young girl was not the typical combination found in my new environment. Perhaps the most strategic change I faced, and appreciated the most, was going to school with African American kids and those of other nationalities. I soon joined Multicultural Club, and through the organization I attended various events that celebrated cultural diversity. This exposure to other cultures helped shape my character by making me more culturally aware. After living in the United Stated for five years, I now look back on the tragic day I moved to Miami and smile about that moment. Although I took the risk of leaving my comfort zone, I know that it has planted the seeds for my intellectual growth and development. Knowing the future lies ahead I have to strive to preserve my own culture and individuality, and in doing so I contribute to the appreciation of all cultures.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Describe a moment that has had an impact on your goals.
I looked at the score board: 14-13. It was the match point of the district volleyball game, and I was at the service line with the ball in my hands. This would be the last time I would ever play for my high school team. The whistle blew. The pressure was all on me. I started to think about my life, my education, and my goals in search of inspiration. I was only nine years old when I joined XXX Clubs girls volleyball team in XXX city. I had never played the sport, and naturally, as any amateur, I was not good at it. When it was time to play, I was so nervous that I could not even bump the ball over the net. I would turn to look at my mom in the stands, clapping and giving me a sense of security, but then I would just miss the underhand serve. It was a harsh reality, but I was not good at all. My determination and my love for the game kept me from quitting, until I had to move to Miami, where there was no XXX Club volleyball team. I was fourteen years old when I decided to try out for Junior Varsity volleyball team at school. Tryouts were intimidating, for the other girls were much better than me, but the coach saw my passion for the game and decided to give me a chance. For the entire season, a warmed the bench for my teammates. Nevertheless, I was determined to improve. The following season, I migrated from the bench to the starting line up. It was a great feeling now that I could get an overhand serve over the net and in the court. Still, that season I could not spike a ball to the floor. Eleventh grade soon arrived, and I was moved to the varsity team, where I was also a starter. I worked on my weaknesses, and strived to improve. The season was great, for I learned a lot from it. The team's record was 16-3 (the best it had been in a long time). Now, as a senior, I had passed the hardest obstacle: spiking. As I thought about my life, I realized how much I had improved on the court. My passion for the game drove my determination. More important, my determination was not limited to the court, but was evident in all my activities, both extracurricular and school related. I had reached my goals in life, and was now ready to set new ones. BEEP! The whistle blew and I contacted the ball for the serve.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Why are you interested in studying engineering?
The field of engineering is appealing to me because it deals with problem solving, which offers a practical application of ones knowledge. The field allows one to use the rigorous powers of analysis, which prepares students for future careers in science, industry, research, business, law, or medicine. Engineering requires an individual to use the tools learned in mathematics and science and apply them to real problems. The field trains an individual to understand a concept thoroughly in order to make use of it in a practical manner. I find it particularly attractive that one uses advanced math to solve complex problems, for math is my strongest and favorite subject. Furthermore, engineering allows me to experience hands on learning by conducting experiments in a lab to further develop my skills. I like the fact that engineering combines math and science in a field that allows one to use analytical skills and creativity to come up with the most practical solution to dilemmas. These aspects are appealing to me because I see engineering as a practical science that helps society solve crucial problems in a mathematical and analytical way by developing new processes and methods.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Briefly describe any experiences that you have had that are related to engineering or that led you to have an interest in one or another field of engineering.
I became interested in engineering as a result of my A.P calculus and chemistry classes last year, where I saw the practical applications of the materials learned. While finding the derivative of the cost function to find its minimal cost to examining an unknown substance to discover its components, I grew interested in a field that combines both subjects. Furthermore, I attended the Introduction to Engineering Program at Notre Dame last summer, where I reconfirmed my previous interest. At the program, I explored various fields of engineering as well as the curriculum in each of these. I also learned about the work of an engineer today, which was appealing to me.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
How do you think the programs in engineering offered at Princeton might suit your particular interest?
Unlike many universities, Princeton University offers a wide variety of programs from which to choose. Although I am sure that I want to pursue the field of engineering, I have not yet decided what type of engineering I want to study. Since Princeton offers various types of engineering, I have many options to choose from once I decide what field I want. In addition, I am attracted to the engineering curriculum at Princeton, for students study mathematics, physics, chemistry, and computing during the first two years in addition to seven courses in humanities and social sciences. In this manner, the University shapes its engineering students into well-rounded students that are knowledgeable in an array of areas. Furthermore, the program provides engineers with language and communication skills that are crucial for today's world, which are often areas that other engineering programs neglect. The freshmen seminars offered at Princeton include topics such as the Engineering of Ice Cream or How Cities Work, which are programs that are unique to the University. The program at Princeton is appealing because it is a flexible program where the student can choose from many courses.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Think about all the things you hope or expect to gain from your college experiences, and then tell us which two or three you would place at the top of your list.
College is a once in a lifetime opportunity where an individual learns and experiences new things everyday. During the next four years, I am eager to become intellectually mature not only in my field of expertise but in other areas as well. The foundations that I will build in my undergraduate years will mold me into a well-prepared woman for the career world. In addition to engineering, I want to become a well-rounded person who can hold intellectual conversations about a wide variety of topics. In addition to expanding my intellectual limits, I hope to become a mature and independent person. The college experience will be an exciting one for me because I will be living in a college dorm as opposed to my home. This encompasses various new responsibilities, for I will have to be independent. Consequently, I will have to learn to manage my life and my money in a responsible manner. Independence and maturity are crucial tools to achieving future.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Discuss something you just wish you understodd better than you now do.
Very often, bad things happen to good people. It seems indeed cruel that honest and caring people have to suffer the consequences of hardships. For this reason, I wish I understood why events such as these occur. For example, I do not understand why innocent children are born with birth defects or cancer. It is also a mystery to me why people are starving throughout the world and why women are being suppressed in Afghanistan. When someone has not done any harm to other humans, why do they have to suffer dire consequences? In instances like these, I wish I understood the role of God and religion. I may never be able to understand this concept, for it is an abstract concept that involves a thorough understanding of religion. Nevertheless, I wish I could comprehend why bad things happen to good people.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Chances are that you are going to have one or more roommates at some point in your college years. What sort of person would you consider the ideal roommate? Explain why.
The ideal roommate needs to be a person who has an array of ideas and interests, like myself. The person should want a quiet study time during the weekdays and a social time in the evenings. She should be understanding and compassionate, so that I can share my feelings with her. In addition, she should value her education as highly as I do. Just like myself, she should be a caring, friendly, energetic, and outgoing person who is always eager to explore new ideas. Furthermore, she should be an honest and open-minded person whom I can live with in a harmonious manner. From rapelling to snowboarding to art and to studying, the roommate should be a well rounder person. The ideal roommate should be a respectful person who shares some similarities with me, yet celebrates our cultural and religious differences. My ideal roommate should be an organized, clean person, but not a neat freak. The roommate should be responsible for her personal belongings and have respect for my property as well. Hopefully, my roommate likes a variety of music, ranging from Latin to pop to classical music. My roommate should be a person whom I can trust. I hope my roommate is a person whom I can grow and mature with.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
What one person, class, book, or experience would you point to as having had a significant effect on the way you think about something? Explain.
My exploratory trip to Israel two summers ago clearly shaped the way I view my own heritage and ancestry. Before the trip, I valued my Jewish roots and history, but I was unaware of the struggles my people have undertaken in order to have a Jewish nation. Furthermore, I did not know the hardships of everyday life faced by Israeli people. During my summer trip, I visited the Holy Land with a group of teenagers. During the six-week trip, I toured Israel from North to South and East to West. While staying in Jerusalem, I learned about the conflicts between Muslim, Jews, and Christians over the sacred city. I also experienced the coexistence of different people within one city. In addition, I learned the history of the Jewish people in the place where it happened. I toured the museums, national cemeteries, mountains, and beaches of my native land. Furthermore, I compared the way of life in Israel with that of XXX, learning the pros and cons of each. The most impacting moment was my weeklong stay at the Israeli army base where I was a soldier. I woke up at 5:30 AM to exercise and then proceeded to courses on military tactics and skills. By shooting an M-16 rifle or having to work in the kitchen that served the five hundred soldiers, I experienced the life of every eighteen year old in the land. I learned how to be thankful for the system in the United States where enlistment is voluntary. Not only did I mature during my trip, but I also learned to appreciate my Jewish culture. By facing the barriers that are present in Israel, I further appreciate my way of life in XXX. The trip changed the way I view life and my culture.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Common Application Personal Statement
(Kimchi: a representative Korean food that is made of pickled vegetables, typically with red pepper seasoning. Koreans can never live without Kimchi, let alone eat anything without it). Maybe I was Korean, but not Korean enough. After spending five of the most influential years of my childhood in Hawaii, I was back in Korea. With the characteristic 'know-it-all' attitude of a typical twelve-year-old, I thought that the Korean brotherhood would embrace me with open arms, and that I would feel blissfully content within the majesty of my ancestors. (Right.) Never had I imagined that I would feel alienated instead. In the Korean middle schools, there were tons to study, tons to memorize. 'A bye bye to all the carefree days of swimming at the beach and climbing coconut trees,' I thought. What struck me even harder was the different way of thinking. 'What makes you different is what's important,' Mrs. Sumida, my 4th grade teacher in Hawaii, used to say. 'Don't you give me a hard time by trying to stick out from the rest of the class' was what Mrs. Kim, my 7th grade teacher in Korea, used to say. It's not that I deliberately troubled Mrs. Kim by skipping classes or anything like that. What troubled her were the critical remarks I made in class, the imaginary stories I turned in for the essay assignments, and the abstract pictures I drew in the Art periods when I was told that I was free to draw anything. Mrs. Sumida said I was unique in expressing my thoughts. Mrs. Kim believed that I was being rebellious. These big differences were all too much for a kid who was having enough trouble with her 'inventive' Korean. My English wasn't fully 'English' either; with all the 'Wazzap brah?' and 'Aloha sis, so whacha doin' on Kalikimaka' talk in Hawaii, I had polished my 'kool' Hawaiianish English skills to the highest level. In Korea, I became more linguistically sophisticated by speaking 'Kornhawaiiglish' (Korean+Hawaiian+English) which no one, not even my family, really understood. I recall lecturing my dad about why we had to go back to the islands. 'I could grow into the best swimmer in Hawaii! Korea's devouring all my potential,' I would say. 'The beach is calling me. It's my mission to go back. My DESTINY!' I tried to be creative. But dad shook his head and left me with no more to say, replying with a frown that said I really, really disappointed him. I vividly remember the Saturday I changed my attitude towards Korea. Grandma had invited my family to her special meal of ginseng chicken soup, with her homemade Kimchi. I used to consider these foods 'yucky', but that day I was determined to try them. I bravely dived into the soup with my spoon, and with an awkward grip of my chopsticks, took big bites of the crunchy Kimchi. At home, with the pungent taste still lingering on my tongue, I opened up the pages of the dusty school textbooks that had been left untouched for some time. I began to study them, with my Korean-English dictionary right beside me. I noticed my dad, peeking into my room, smiling. Before I knew it, Korea began to feel like home. Not to mention that my grandma's special meals became my mana (Hawaiian word meaning 'source of energy'). Slowly and quickly, I learned to be more deeply reflective, humble, and patient, just like my grandma and many others in Korea. I still have the Hawaiian spirit in me, and I long to visit the Waikiki beach, the place I have so many memories about. But the Han River is also perfectly fine to my taste; I enjoy the cool breeze as I hear the distant cries of the Changku (Korea's traditional drum). I miss my wild adventures in the Hawaiian tropical forests, but I am content with Mt. Sorak and all the excitement hidden behind the beautifully twisted branches of the Sonamu (Korean pine tree). I can truly savor the coolness in the hot and spicy Korean foods. They reflect exactly how the Korean people are- introspective yet lively and exuberant. Now they are also a reflection of myself. I can proudly say that I am now the 'special' red Kimchi that is so very Korean yet fuses wonderfully with Hawaiian pineapples. (Well, at least to me it's a great match.) Now I seek to enrich my Kimchi flavor by adding more 'spice' in to my life. Experiencing more, and tasting more people of different flavor, I want to stick out from the other Kimchis. I want to become the global Kimchi that everybody will need on their dinner plate.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Personal statement
In every cubic centimeter above, on, and below the earth exist millions of living cells. Each cell struggles to reproduce and survive, along the way incurring mutations. Every mutation is a step in the surreal and unseen dance of evolution - a dance the Digital Life Laboratory's Avida project attempts to recreate artificially. Evolutionary programs and transcendent algorithms are what I hope to study in Caltech. Doing research there or in SURF would be a tremendous outgrowth of what I am working on now: my own genetic algorithm project for Intel Science Talent Search in Sumter High School. I am fascinated by emergent behavior in general, such as Stephen Wolfram's cellular automata. But I am interested not in solving problems but creating independent intelligence, which coincides with the Digital Life Laboratory's purpose. (It would also be a continuation of my own research under the guidance of Dr. Michaelis of in the Greenwood Genetics Center.) Mathematics is my passion, a passion embedded in a world of imagination and creativity. The endless patterns of numbers are dilemmas to solve; nothing is as captivating as an unsolved problem. My curiosity for mathematics leads me to new insights and projects everyday. But mathematics is little without creativity, and I think that I create that interesting medley of ideas. Niels Bohr said "We all know your idea is crazy, the question is whether it is crazy enough." Picasso encapsulated three dimensions in two; so in art I envision my own shapes that twist and turn impossibly, but contain elements of my beloved mathematical underpinnings. I have created art that spanned subjects ranging from quantum mechanics' Calabi-Yau shapes to the fractal-like art of Jackson Pollock. I have even played the humorous role of an eccentric 'Mathman' in a short theatrical monologue. This is the spirit I think Caltech encapsulates: a playground where my imagination and thought can be happily united. I think this is why I am enchanted with Caltech, because of its math and science-infused life; when I hear the tales of Senior Ditch Day and impromptu acts of benign pranking, all I can think of is, "I do that!" But perhaps most importantly, I want to be challenged. I want to stretch my mind to the limit, to maximize my ability, to work so hard towards a purpose that I will cry tears of frustration alongside those of success. Caltech is the only place for me to research my passions, to excite my creativity and to simultaneously become a stronger individual.
