Undergraduate / ECONOMICS, CHINA & ASIA PACIFIC STUDIES; Cornell college of arts and sciences [7]

Prompt: Describe your intellectual interests, their evolution, and what makes them exciting to you. Tell us how you will utilize the academic programs in the College of Arts and Sciences to further explore your interests, intended major, or field of study.

I want to study economics, but frankly, it is not my favourite subject. I have always appreciated geography much better because I like learning about nature. I take pleasure in gazing at the geographical features around me, and indulging in these peaceful moments that others normally neglect due to their hectic lifestyles. On the other hand, economics boils everything down to logic and numbers, devoid of life and emotions.

Yet, no matter how cold the subject sounds, I cannot deny its importance in today's world. Having witnessed the mess the global economy is currently in, we have to acknowledge that the impact of a deteriorating economy is more problematic and immediate than that of climate change. If people have to be concerned with their day-to-day survival, hardly anyone would bother about saving the earth nor would they have the resources to do so.

Economics may not be interesting, but its application in the future is. When the dust of this crisis settles, economists worldwide will be playing a whole new ball game. Then, it is up to these new-age economists to inject vibrancy into the world's economy. I like challenges, which is why I would like to major in economics at Cornell. I believe that the rigor of the courses offered, and the critical thinking infused in lessons would shape me to become an economist who can truly paint a picture of the future for people. Economics can be studied anywhere, but it is the way that it is taught by the professors at Cornell that differentiates an average economist from an exceptional one who can potentially work along Wall Street.

Besides, I intend to pursue another major in China and Asia-Pacific studies, or minor in earth and atmospheric sciences. I am glad that Cornell encourages this because that will allow me to study what I am most interested in and what is most relevant in future. Only then can I have a clearer understanding of how different fields link with one another. I am also keen on Cornell's programs to study abroad because I want to experience the lifestyle and education system of various parts of the world. The idea of developing each individual in terms of breadth appeals to me as I feel the need to explore the wealth of knowledge in world as much as we can.

I treat the various academic programs offered by Cornell as opportunities for me not to only grow in terms of expertise, but also as a person. That is because I feel that when we grow as an individual, we are able to put more things into perspective, better understand how the world works, and appreciate more of what we learn. The programs are the keys for me to unlock doors that will lead me to uncover more doors and secret passageways in life, as well as in my field of study.

All I need now is access to these keys.

Comments please :)

Undergraduate / "I am not a "nobody" - UC Prompt 2 [3]

I wrote a similar essay for common apps so I'm wondering if it fits this prompt. Any comments?

Thanks for looking at it! :)

Prompt: Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud, and how does it relate to the person you are?

I am not a "nobody".

That was what I told myself when I decided to run for a position in the executive committee of Recreational Badminton club.

A lack of confidence was one of my most alarming weaknesses. Perhaps humility is another. Whenever I came close to being offered a leadership position previously, I used to think of and justify how someone else was more deserving of it than me. Hence, true enough, I was never given a position.

I eventually realized that there is merely a fine line distinguishing humbleness and apprehension about a person's abilities: I was trapped in the latter. There will always be people who are better than I am, but it is the attitude that I possess with regard to this fact that matters most. If I did not even believe in myself, how was I to convince my peers that they can believe in me?

For circumstances to change, I knew I could not remain resigned to fate that I will never be able to lead. I understood that the only way for me to prove my worth was to believe that I could be as good as the student leaders that I admire.

Thus, after doubting myself for sixteen years of my life, I decided that it was time for me to break out of my shell. Indeed, the conviction I had while presenting my first election speech was crucial in instilling faith in my peers, allowing me to assume the role as the secretary of the club.

I was proud that I had broken out of my shell because that marked the beginning of my being a leader. I knew I was still a novice in leadership, but I believed that with time, I would learn the necessary skills to better myself as a leader and as a person.

Serving as a secretary in recreational badminton has paved a way into the unchartered territory of leadership for me. Without this position, it would not have occurred to me that there is a wealth of knowledge on leading to be tapped into. The most fundamental of them all - courage - was what egged me on my subsequent leadership endeavors in high school.

I may be less of a "nobody" now and I will continue working on it. Nevertheless, my next step would be to convince others that they can be like me too. I may have been a late bloomer, but that would not deter me from believing that I can unleash my true potential as a leader.

Undergraduate / Misreading the topic? - UC prompt 1 [4]

Prompt: Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

I'm having a bit of difficulty writing this essay perhaps because I'm kinda misreading it. Do they want us to focus on our current dreams and aspirations only? Cuz what I have done so far is to reflect on how my dreams and aspirations have changed over time since I was a child, a pre-teen and now as a teen as my 'world' changes. eg. different schools, different approach that my family takes. Am I moving off topic or something?

Undergraduate / What is your favourite word and why? - Uni of Virginia [15]

Can I put the word as "haha". According to wikipedia, it's an onamatopaeic way of expressing laughter. But I'm not sure if it actually is an accepted word in the dictionary. My reason would be something relating to optimism in life and laughing things away. So a more accepted word would probably be "laughter" but then "haha"'s is my favourite word.

Undergraduate / The courses of study and the unique characteristics - Upenn essay [4]

It's kinda lengthy as usual ><. Please help me see if it's answering the prompt too cuz I feel it's a little straying away from it.

I'm quite doubtful of the benchmark of 'good match'. Does it mean how I can contribute to Penn or how I can align my interests to what Penn can offer (ie. how Penn can contribute to me).

Prompt: Describe the courses of study and the unique characteristics of the University of Pennsylvania that most interest you. Why do these interests make you a good match for Penn? [max one page]

The wide range of subjects that Wharton offers intrigues me, as there are several concentrations that appeal to me. I am most interested in business and public policy as it has the greatest relevance to the management of a nation. Singapore is known for its very open economy. In the face of globalization, much more policy planning is needed as markets get increasingly integrated. Hence, as a Singaporean, I would like to take up a concentration in relation to public policy so that I can contribute significantly to my nation.

Finance, particularly portfolio management, is another of my interests. With the ageing population crisis that Singapore is facing, it is ever more important for people to manage their finances well so that they may enjoy retirement or support their elder dependants. Having worked at a private investment firm as a personal assistant, the importance of fund management has become more striking to me. Currently, most people who engage personal financial advisors are those who have sufficient money for retirement and simply want to accumulate more wealth through investments. Yet, the people who need the most help are those who are vaguely trying to get by. I believe that by working with finance professors at Wharton, I would be able to gain insights on the feasibility and implementation of strategies to help the truly needy in the future.

Besides, I am interested in environmental policy and management. Global warming has become a pertinent problem plaguing the world nowadays. Thus, I feel that we must be accountable to the environment while sustaining businesses. As a Geography student, I feel very strongly for environmental conservation and hope to be in a better position to advocate for it. I believe that Wharton would be able to provide me with the knowledge and training to meet this aim.

I am eager to be engaged in the research programs that Wharton takes much pride in. I feel that research is a challenging way for students to wholly grasp a topic and encourage independent learning. This will serve as good practice for the intense report writing we will probably encounter in our future careers. Being part of the Raffles Integrated Program has allowed me to constantly be involved in research. Producing small-scale reports formed part of my grades especially in my junior high school years. With project work and research studies forming a core part of my curriculum, I have also been trained in generating in-depth reports. As I intend to embark on an independent study at Wharton, my past experiences coupled with the research resources that Wharton offers will enable me to produce much more insightful work than before. This will greatly enrich my time at Wharton.

I like the fact that Wharton gives its students opportunities to learn abroad. I believe that experiential learning is far more effective than learning within the classroom. I am especially keen on the Wharton International Program, mainly due to the understanding of culture and communication involved. Wharton precisely aims to develop these skills which will help students succeed in the real world. Part of understanding culture lies in the understanding of its language. Thus, being effectively bilingual in English and Chinese, as well as having adequate mastery of French, allows me to have the linguistic capability to reap the most benefits out of these programs.

Among Wharton's wide array of extra-curricular activities, I am particularly interested in those related to serving the community. These include Alpha Kappa Psi, Penn International Business Volunteers and Social Impact Consulting Group. I feel that in life, no matter what role we play, we should always try to contribute to society. This is even more important in business - enterprises should practice social corporate responsibility and give back to society what they have earned from it. In my senior high school years, I have constantly engaged in service to the school, community and co-curricular activity. Serving has morphed into a mission in my life simply because I find meaning in doing so. With my passion in service, I would be able to contribute much to Wharton's non-academic life and uphold the spirit of volunteering that Wharton has established.

To conclude, I feel that Wharton is able to provide me with a conducive learning environment to pursue my interests. I am also able to contribute to Wharton through its non-academic activities. This interdependent relationship definitely allows for a holistic education experience that I hope to be given an opportunity to embark on.

Undergraduate / Upenn short question - "explain why"? [2]

Could you help me check if I'm answering the prompt and edit any grammatical errors? Thanks!

When the prompt says 'explain why', I don't know if they want me to explain why I chose that research topic, or why I chose the professor, or both. So I lumped it all together. ><

It seems like their should be more focus on the professor part, but I was thinking if I don't give a background on what I want to do, how am I supposed to justify why I want to work with the professor?

Prompt:
Penn offers its undergraduates an eminent faculty and a wealth of research opportunities. Use the space below to name a Penn professor with whom you would like to study or conduct research and explain why. (It is not our expectation that you contact faculty directly to answer this question.) [limit of 1000 characters]

I would like to conduct a research with Professor Howard Pack on the prerequisites of privatization with specific reference to African and Asian economies. While nations like Singapore are able to thrive on privatization for economic progress, others like Zambia have seen otherwise. This could the result of coerced privatization under the Structural Adjustment Programme, or of premature economic decisions. Hence, if a set of prerequisites can be defined, African nations might be able to firmly break into the international market and escape from poverty.

With the knowledge that Professor Pack has about African and especially Asian economies, I believe he would be able to provide valuable insights to approach this topic. Besides, interesting factors like political systems and stability can be explored as he lately commented on the article 'Political Tensions are Creating New Rules for International Business'. This would give the research greater scope and relevance to the modern world.

[998 characters]

Undergraduate / Ethical dilemma, risk, achievement - common apps personal essay [7]

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. (250 words minimum)

I've chosen to do this question. I've written 400 odd words already but am only halfway through. I think I might be writing sort of a mini autobiography heh. >< Any ideas on what would be a good word count range? And what kind of essays do ivy league schools prefer? We don't have a crash course on writing essays here unfortunately.

Undergraduate / "Project Big Dipper changed my mindset" - Common apps short question [3]

Hi! I'll really appreciate it if you could help me proofread this. The question is 'In the space provided below, please elaborate on one of your activities (extracurricular, personal activities, or work experience)(150 words or fewer).' Thanks!

I used to dread community service, but Project Big Dipper changed my mindset. Project Big Dipper is a mentoring programme for primary school students from dysfunctional families. I was in charge of planning and aiding the implementation of the students' curriculum. For once, I gained so much satisfaction from the students' happiness that I never failed to return each week till the project concluded. I realised true community service is never limited by its objectives - we may have come with the intention to tutor these students, but what we really want to give them is contentment and love, which they have been deprived of due to their family background. True community service stems from the heart to serve and can be 'addictive'. I finally understood how a small change (in my perception of service) could lead to a much greater one (in the children).

[144 words currently]