Unanswered [1]
  

Posts by Liebe
Joined: Jun 23, 2009
Last Post: Jul 12, 2014
Threads: 1
Posts: 524  
From: United Arab Emirates

Displayed posts: 525 / page 9 of 14
sort: Latest first   Oldest first  | 
Liebe   
Aug 22, 2009
Undergraduate / Signif. Experiences: Bitter and Sweet--UF application-suggestions? [11]

These circumstances involve one life cruelly extinguished, and one life sparked by a flame of hope for the future.

^That is your second sentence. I thought it was a bit of a spoiler for the rest of your essay.

The next week at my own eighth grade awards ceremony, our assistant principal was in the process of announcing the 'T op male student of the year award' . When he began talking, I heard him call my name. My sister, still overwrought with grief, stood up in the crowded cafeteria and began yelling, "Yes! Yes!" to no one in particular. Dumbfounded, I reached the stage wondering why one of the outstanding athletes or gifted students was not in my placeAs I walked to the stage, I was dumbfounded that I was chosen over an outstanding athlete or gifted student in my grade . I gratefully accepted the engraved palque from Assistant Principal Knabe. As I turned to the hundreds of applauding students and parents, I embraced the joyful, proud moment that seemed to be the start of something new, deep within me. Life can surely be bitter, but it can also be sweet.

When these two events occurred within such close proximity to one another, I could not help but have an overall experience that would affect me both emotionally and academically for the rest of my life.

^Well firstly, I am not sure if you can talk about two seperate events, seeing as how the prompt requests 'a' meaningful event.
Secondly, you make no connection with the lessons you have learnt to your

contribution to the UF Campus community

You talk about taking challenging classes, but do not say why, or what is it about these events that influenced you to want to take challenging classes.

The same applies for the rest. You are supposed to tell your readers how you have learnt something from an experience, and how you plan on using that lesson at UF's community
Liebe   
Aug 22, 2009
Undergraduate / Common Application Essay - What lead me to my goal? [24]

Haha Liebe. This person has 3 posts on this forum and he already anticipates your infamous feedback. Impressive.

^It is not 'infamous' as much as it is popular :)
Liebe   
Aug 22, 2009
Undergraduate / The Art Institute of Dallas admission essay [10]

^From the undetailed prompt you gave us, I can already say that none of this is related to the question.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas, Tarzan, etc, and I would love to be able to create that kind of beauty.

^What the Art Institute can offer you requires more depth.

Also, does your essay require a formal approach or not necessarily? If the latter is the case, then ok. If not, then I suggest revising certain parts of your essay.
Liebe   
Aug 22, 2009
Undergraduate / "You must be the change you wish to see in the world"; Community Problem Solving [7]

I mean, who wouldn't be if they knew every dollar was saving lives? But why was I at an art auction and how was I saving lives by auctioning art? The answer, believe it or not, was because along with seven of my other peers, we were the hosts.

^You can cut that out altogether.

something that many high school students cannot say they did

^Yes, many high school students cannot say they did. They could have infact raised more. Altogether, there is no reason to use the pretentious card. Modesty tends to work best in Admission essays.

^All of these qualities you have listed, can be developed to make your essay more effective. You cay how these qualities have improved, and how it will

affect your college experience or your contribution to the UF campus community

Liebe   
Aug 22, 2009
Undergraduate / commonapp #2: political science, discuss issue and importance [4]

-Children are experiments. Compare to science experiment.
-Why this applies to me
-Advocation for education

^Since when did the Common App long essay have to do with discussing your academic plans?

I mean who taught our parents to be parents anyways. Whoever it was obviously didn't do a very good job. Why couldn't my dad be the type that takes the whole family fishing or my mom be the next Sarah Lee cooking us warm, homemade meals everyday? But the reality is that no one taught our parents to be parents.

^A parent's basic job is to provide shelter, food and the means of survival for their children. Parents can learn how to be parents from their friends, culture, religion and /or relatives. Also, parents can rely on their parental instinct on how to raise their children.

If a father taking the family fishing or a mother being a good cook is your definition of 'parenting', and failure to do these activities allows you to say that 'I mean who taught our parents to be parents', then I am sorry. These are just selfish wants that perhaps you longed and never got.

My father may never have taken me fishing. Does that mean that he is not doing a good job, or that he has received poor advice on parenting? Even if my friend's father never took him/her fishing, I would not question his father's parenting skills or how he learned how to become a father.

This whole concept of yours, altogether, shows a very poor understanding of parental relationships.

*I felt quite discouraged to read the rest of your essay, because I have a feeling it is just going to delve into this whole 'parenting' topic and how it is a personal issue and important to you. I do not think you understand, or know enough, to write a decent essay on it, judging from that paragraph I have just commented on.
Liebe   
Aug 21, 2009
Undergraduate / Common App short answer; At age three, violin was an experiment like ballet and basketball [18]

At age three, violin was an experiment like ballet and basketball.

^Violin is not an experiment. Also, I think it is quite a weak analogy; I just do not see how you you can compare playing a violin to playing a physical sport or performing a physical activity, for these physical activities require a different set of skills and personality traits,( although some of these may be mutual ), to playing the violin.

EDIT:

*Also, this essay prompt asks you to expand on your extra curricular activity, not provide a list of accomplishments.
Liebe   
Aug 21, 2009
Undergraduate / "Crossroads" - Common App Personal Essay [10]

On February 10, 2009, as I addressed an audience of over 900 students, I had a sort of epiphany. With months of dedication, I was able to educate and encourage hundreds to take a stand- imagine what could be accomplished in a lifetime.

(I'm thinking of adding "I aim to dedicate my life to activism and community service" and the end. Should I, or is this already implied in the last sentence above?

^No, I can not imagine what can happen in a life time. People respond to things differently. If there is an invariable constant in the world, it is people's responsive nature. Just because a set of people respond one way, does not mean that another set will respond similarly.

And no. It is not implied at all.

I like the airport crossroads intro, but Sean is right that the tie to the rest of the essay is weak.

^I thought that the Crossroads was a separate essay altogether?
Liebe   
Aug 21, 2009
Undergraduate / "my laugh" - UCF application essay - first draft [14]

No matter what mood one is in, the second I give off a chuckle, it always tends to make others giggle in response.

^If it is a case of 'no matter what mood one is in', then it should not be a 'tend'. It either does or does not.

In your second paragraph, your usage of the word 'they' is ambivalent in certain parts. Also certain clauses need to be separated with a comma rather than a full stop.

The ending is alright, but definitely could use some work in order for it to be truly effective. Certain parts could be revised. Certain parts could use some more development.

I gained strength to accomplish any task at hand. I am now able to encourage others through the worst times and understand at least a little bit of what they are going through.

^You did not quite discuss how you accomplished any task at hand, or how you encouraged others. Therefore, just these become bold statements. Unless you can exemplify how you did these, I would not suggest making such statements.
Liebe   
Aug 21, 2009
Undergraduate / Common Application. Help me choose a topic between these two! [10]

I could say that I was never racist ever again, but so what, you're not supposed to be racist in the first place.

^Overcoming racial prejudice is quite a big step in developing intellectual maturity. Having racial prejudice is often due to dogmatic and narrow view points, typically evident in those whose intellectual maturity tends to be quite low. By being able to illustrate how at one point, you had racist tendencies, that now no longer exists, shows your development of character and intellectuality from that point till now.
Liebe   
Aug 21, 2009
Undergraduate / "A mother of thirty-seven" - UC APPLICATION [6]

I did not read the first part and delved right into your essay at first. I was shocked to read at how you were a mother of thirty seven children, at just seventeen years of age. I thought, 'wow'.

Then I read the beginning. I really dont think that you can compare that to a mother's position to be honest. You may have helped kids, but that does not necessarily mean that you undertook any maternal duties or used your maternal instinct, therefore calling yourself a 'mother' is quite bold.
Liebe   
Aug 21, 2009
Undergraduate / Supplement essay.(Language and communication) [7]

Your idea may be good, however the frequent misuse of grammar and frequent use of trite phrases distracted me from the overall theme of the essay. Improve those, because those stand out more than the central idea.

1-Grammar needs work
2-It is good to make a point, and even better to develop it. But developing a point with trite phrases and then just rambling on bores readers, such as myself.
Liebe   
Aug 21, 2009
Undergraduate / Common Application Essay - What lead me to my goal? [24]

I thought this essay was just alright. Perhaps, not as great as the other posters seem to think it is. I think it is because of your occassional grammar mistakes, your introduction, and certain parts of your essay that I thought were ineffective.

. I wanted to be like them, I wanted to help, and people had already told me I was especially smart, so why shouldn't I use this specialness about me to help people?

^Well, this is not quite the effective analogy between yourself and superhoeroes. Superheroes have specialpowers. You were told that you were especiallysmart. Superheroes also use their special powers to combat evil and protect civilians. So if you wanted to be like them, and help just like they did, that would imply that you would be using your 'superpowers', or your 'intelligence', to ward off evil and keep civilians protected. I personally, am not quite feeling this. I would understand if the six year old version of yourself that you describe in this essay said this, but as a matured person? Unless, you want to say that this is how you thought as a six year old. Then again, the 'ive dreamt about doing this since I was a child' card comes into play.

Thanks to my intelligence I already knew that there was no such thing as super powers and power rangers, but I also knew that I could still help people without them, I just had to find out how.

^Thanks to my intelligence? And also 'superpowers'? It may exist in some people and some remote communities in the world, but perhaps not the type of super powers depicted in the media.

My sister would hear out my thoughts and help me sort out what I wanted, even though at that age all I knew was that I wanted to help people and make a difference, like Professor X in X men who took all mutant kids to his place to train them so they can help people.

^Professor X took in mutants and trained them to help people. This type of 'help' is different to 'helping people' by protecting them and saving lives. This type of help is giving shelter and amenities. This is pretty much charitable help.

It seems that your definition of helping people is quite unclear.

My sister told me of careers as a teacher or leader or politician, but none of this fit right to me, so she suggested other professions like lawyer or architect since I liked to draw and was good at arguing, and then doctor

^I do not see why you mention the Professor X thing in that case, because clearly you mention how he helped people because you thought it was a positive example. Despite it being a positive example on helping others, you say that you do not want to be a teacher or a leader, even though you say Professor X trained them, therefore making him a teacher, and everyone knows that he is a leader as well.

Thats not all. But that is it for now :p

I
Liebe   
Aug 19, 2009
Undergraduate / the International Baccalaureate program - UF Application Essay [4]

High school is the pivotal moment in a teenager's life when the most important and meaningful events occur. My high school years can be stated as the most unique; nevertheless, challenging moment I've overcome thus far.

^The first sentence can be removed.
The second sentence: 'most unique'. Sounds really arrogant. After the semi colon, your grammar is pretty poor.

This program has indeed affected me in a number of indescribable ways.

^Indescribable? Yet, here you are, going to tell your readers in some description, about these ways. Do you not know, what indescribable means? Or did you think that a hyperbole would make your essay interesting?

It has allowed me to emotionally grow, improve my communication skills, and view society from a different, more personal perspective.

^Wow. Can you at least tell your readers, how? Producing bold statements rarely does any good.

I now view education as a source of aiding and helping others.

^That is your final line, even though you have not said anything earlier in your essay to suggest this sentiment of yours. Not good.

*You produce no link between

a meaningful event, experience or accomplishment in your life and how it will affect your college experience or your contribution to the UF campus community

and your second paragraph.
Also, there is nothing 'unique' about your high school experience as you said in your first paragraph. Other IB students probably dealt with what you just did. Others may have dealt with more.
Liebe   
Aug 19, 2009
Undergraduate / Compare yourself now to when you were younger.. [12]

I just re-read my post on this thread. I wanted to apologize now if I came across as a little harsh.

^I am surprised. I didnt think it was harsh feedback. Just good ol useful feedback.

It's ok.. I've heard worse ;)

^ ;)

Providing the purpose of the essay helps responders tailor their response. I would love it if all essays were prefaced with the purpose and prompt.

Yup. I was just about to comment when I read that, and do not know what the essay is being written for?
So, I do not really know what type of suggestions I should make. Unless
the essay is 'Compare yourself now to when you were younger'?

Either way, your essay is in need of some revision. Also, as wonderful as it was to read that you visit Dubai, seeing as how I live there, that sentence really was quite ineffective. Noto and Llama have pretty much said why.
Liebe   
Aug 19, 2009
Undergraduate / 'Materials Science and Engineering' - MIT Short Answer: Which Department? [10]

Maybe you are.
I always thought that with these type of questions, I should say why I would want to study at that specific department. I am sure that other departments in the USA do nanotechnology based research. I would have just wanted to know why Pikachu wants to study specifically at MIT's.

Then again, perhaps I am overcomplicating things.
Liebe   
Aug 19, 2009
Undergraduate / 'Materials Science and Engineering' - MIT Short Answer: Which Department? [10]

Hmm yes.
Well, I am not going to go down that easily!

Pikafu does not say what it is about the department that is appealing.
He implies that he is interested in nanotechnology, and then just says how it will be an honor to study there. Perhaps a stronger link between the department and nanotechnology should be made. It wasnt clear to me the first time that there even was a link.

How can that department help someone with an interest in nanotechnology?
^^
Liebe   
Aug 19, 2009
Undergraduate / 'Materials Science and Engineering' - MIT Short Answer: Which Department? [10]

Well Simone, I think our contrasting answers will confuse Pikafu over here.
I am going to disagree with Simone, and explain why, so that Pikafu over here can understand my point of view.

I think you've got it right: You identify the general area -- engineering -- as well as the specific field of interest -- nanotechnology. You do so in a manner that is lively and engaging.

Although you may not yet know what you want to major in, which department or program at MIT appeals to you and why?

^The essay prompt is the reason why. Pikafu may have the general idea, engineering, and the field of interest, but neither of these are departments or programs at MIT. There is no explanation on why either of these is appealing and the reason why also
Liebe   
Aug 19, 2009
Undergraduate / 'Materials Science and Engineering' - MIT Short Answer: Which Department? [10]

Without engineering, we would not be able to stroll the Great Wall, watch television, or drink filtered water. Engineers are the worker bees of the world, always accomplishing something vital.

^None of this is relevant to yourself, yet alone the essay prompt.

You do not discuss MIT's departments or programs at all. You just talk about your interests.[

quote=Pikafu]I worked hard to get this to no more than 100 words...haha.[/quote]
^This is no laughing matter. Perhaps the amount of effort you put in, yes.
Liebe   
Aug 18, 2009
Undergraduate / "Soccer is my inspiration" - Common Application 150 word essay [5]

A goal would result in a Championship win and a wayward shot would result in the door being blow open for the opponents.
^As a reader, I understood that there would be consequences if you missed the penalty seeing as how your previous sentence implied this. (Btw, Arsenal vs Celtic and Chelsea vs Sunderland on tonight)

I lined up for the shot and say to myself "this is everything you've trained for". Momentarily I lose myself to a world of trance and when I'm back in the present I am mobbed by team mates backed up with huge cheers. All at once I feel like I am exactly where I want to be. Twelve years, a hundred matches, one Trophy. Soccer is my inspiration. I wouldn't have it any other way.

^Well, I am not too sure if such a moment fits in with the 150 word Common App essay question. That essay question asks you to expand on an activity, if I am not mistaken. Here, you delve into a moment of victory, an accomplishment, something that could make a strong Common App long essay instead.
Liebe   
Aug 18, 2009
Undergraduate / UT topic B (freshman) - Costa Rica, issue of importance. [5]

Have you ever thought about global warming and its effects on the earth? What have you done to reduce greenhouse gases? Global warming has been becoming a problem throughout the years. Global warming can affect habitats, ecosystems, and communities. Most national governments have been working on ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but what about civilians? We may have some opportunities to help reduce gas emissions such as using hybrid cars, but what about the cost? The solution to solving global warming is by working together as a society.

^I am sure that whichever Universities you are applying to, have people on the Admissions Board that are educated enough to know what global warming is. I also think that most people know the effects of global warming, and that there have been attempts to reduce it. Your ending line is ineffective as your first. It is always easy to come with some grand solution, however implementing it is always the difficulty. I also doubt that a teenager such as yourself, can possibly implement that solution.

Your first line challenges your readers, and not necessarily in a positive way. It makes it seem as if you assume your readers are ignorant.

Quite frankly, you can remove the whole paragraph.

Although, Costa Rica is hardly industrialized and lives mostly in poverty, in each cabin or hotel we stayed at all encouraged us to reuse our towels, turn off our lights, and recycle.

^-The country does not live in poverty. It's people do.
-I do not get the second part of your sentence. It is not expressed clearly. It is in need of some revision in order for the message to be communicated effectively.

The light bulbs, if any were nearly always fluorescent no matter where we were. As we adventured into every shop and small restaurants, whether we were in San Jose or Puerto Limon, we were always given three options: Paper, plastic, and glass. I was so confused as to how a third world country seemed to be doing more for theirit's environment then the United States. Weren't we supposed to be a world power, a country people look to?

^We, as in your mother and yourself? Or USA? Revise
Also, people do not 'look to' the USA.
I think I know what you mean^, but you need to revise the sentence.. Look to the US in terms of what? Economic power?
If it is because USA is such an economic powerhouse, USA may not be too concerned with the environment because it reduces it's efficiency and thus income and revenues. Rather the US may want to cut costs as much as possible, even if it is at the expense of the environment. So that may be a possible answer as to 'why'?

It is just 'possible'

I was equallytransformed by the local recycling center a few miles from my backyard. It was a simple trailer with several bins for the few contributors. There were only three volunteers, one being myself, and I was the only high school student. Martha was one of the volunteers I worked with; together we assembled bins and placed adhesive stickers on them. The adhesive stickers had information on what can be recycled, when, and where. Together we expanded the recycling community by offering to put out the bins to anyone interested. I placed the several bins at the city pool I worked at next to the Coca Cola vending machines, and to several of my friends.

^Just for clarification, was the city pool next to several of your friends?

Although the position isoften tricky, the personal rewards are beyond articulation.
^Poor sentence. What position? The position of the bin next to the city pool?
Do you know what articulation means?

In the time I have lived in Alpine the Recycling center has expanded increasingly,; it has moved from a trailer to a permanent site.

There are many ways to reduce the effects of global warming, from using hybrid cars to using less electricity; we only need to make it available to everyone.

^Make what available? Also, next year when I get my driving license, I will probably be getting some sports car or a G55, and I will sacrifice neither of these fuel guzzling options for a hybrid car. You make it sound as if reducing effects of global warming is possible, which it is, but worryingly, you make it sound as if it can be done easily. Realize, that people may not be willing to cooperate. And that is what makes it difficult. Availability may not necessarily be the issue here. Choice plays an important role. Availability may also be extremely expensive, and I doubt that any organization, when they realize the cost, will even want to consider such a plan.

-These are just my opinions. Take them or disregard them. However, I personally feel that those sentences show a lack of intellectual maturity since you fail to realize the bigger picture even though you seem to want to try and paint one.

National governments can only do so much to help reduce greenhouse gasses.
^Yes.

It is up to everyone as a whole to do their part.
^Yes, nearly everyone knows this. But then again, how many of these 'everyone' is willing to change their lifestyle. I have not read your final sentence, but are you going to do something about this then? If not, then remove this sentence.

*Getting sidetracked here.
Also, hybrid cars are known not to be very powerful. Supposed everyone used hybrid cars. Can you imagine how much that would suck? Wake up earlier to get to school/work. Ambulances and police cars will be slower. If a faster hybrid car was to be developed, can you imagine the cost of this? Dayum. I doubt the poverty situation will benefit much then.

People have not been changing when faced with the hard evidence of global warming; we are going to have to change before we are in the midst of a crisis, before it is simply too late.

^Yes, this is what environmentalists have been preaching for years now.

I think that this issue should be under the 'Topic of your choice' by the way.
Liebe   
Aug 18, 2009
Undergraduate / Common Application. Personal Statement. ''Dragon boat race"' [17]

I had not even paddled a boat before. But when I heard this event from school notice, I just put my name on it.I had never paddled a boat before. However, when I saw this event on a school noticeboard, I inexplicably felt compelled to register.

I told my self, this might be fun. So I wasn't surprised when I told Mom about the dragon boat race which was going to be held in the city in 1 months and she asked without much attention.

This sentence is confusing.

^True.

The second day I went to the selective trials.
^What second day? Do you mean, the 'next day'?

Most prospective girl members were just like me, not strong enough, inexperienced.The other female members were just like me. They were not strong enough and inexperienced. The coach asked all of us do 20 push-ups to see our strengthas a test of our strength . I thought that perhaps, in my whole life that on aggregate, I have probably only done 20 pushups. 20 push-ups could be the sum of push-ups I had ever done! I bent over on the ground, supported my body bywith my arms,and breathed deeply. One, two, three...

^Is the count, a psychological countdown to start doing pushups, or that how many pushups you did?
*Man, I am 100 kilos plus and I can do 20 plus pushups. It must be because OF THESE PYTHONS ---FLEXES ARM
*Returns to essay at hand.

My arms were shaking, and I knew I mustthat I had to do every push-up as perfect as possible instead of casting myself on the ground.perfectly. "You're good. Get up." I jumped up and laughed. I'm in.I was in.

*Who told you that you were good? Yourself, friends, or the coach?

Though the dragon boat race tradition came from an ancient story in China, bearing the great poet Qu Yuan in mind, this was still the first time I had a connection with it.

The training started in an early Sunday morning. I took a heavy, wooden quant with one hand holding tight on the upper side of it and the other hand grabbing its tail part. One hand held the upper side tightly, whilst my other hand grabbed it's tail part.

Everybody sit in sequenced 2-row chairs ashore, 6 people in one row.
^Should be in past tense.

We practiced basic movement along with cadent drumbeat again, and again. Up the blisteringsunshine, we kept practicing for an hour with wet shirts, ache waist and arms. When it came toAt the hottest time inof that day, actual combat started.

^Not a big fan of the blistering simile
Also, it should be 'aching'. How do waists ache by the way? Unless, you were referring to your obliques or side laterals?

I remember how different it was between rolling my quant ashore in air and in water. Everybody's action must be synchronous so that the boat would progress fast. Everybody had to cling to the gunwale so the boat wouldn't upside down. We paddled hard, put forth on sticking the quant in water, and pulled back with all the power we have quickly.

I sit in the very first of our team and every action of me decided our speed.
^That should be in the past tense.

I concentrated myself to the drumbeat.
^Drumbeat?

Umm, I am reading your next paragraph. Is this competition day?

The quant pierced into the peaceful lake in the flash I heard the start signal. I cannot slow down to damage the tempo already established. I need to stay energetic to encourage each exhausted member. "Common, this is fun!" We stick the quant face to the two sides of boat, then turn back to smile to our neighbor members. Yes, this was how we cheered on.

^Past tense.

All the teams, coaches, media and audience gathered on the game day. After wearing life jackets, we board on the dragon boat. Every drop of sweat would be paid off this day. The starting gun shot. Drumstick started to beat. Hostess was reporting the latest on a yacht following our boats. We have to tell our own drumbeat from all the noises on the lake.

^Past tense.

That was a windy day, with 300-meter lake surface waiting to be disturbed. We kept our eye on the goal. 100 meters, 200 meters... We got exceed by the other team. Last 50 meters! Everybody seemed to be exhausted. Cadent quant turned to be messed up. Cheering voice no longer worked. We just rushed to the goal with closed eye splashed by water.

^Everything that I highlighted in bold needs a revision and some work.

We stepped ashore without disappointment. Because we all knew that, we enjoyed the process. Every early morning we spent on the boat and exhausted training we had been through is what I got from the game. T

^This needs grammar revision.

hough we were not strong as the other team consisted of athletes, we did our best and had fun. Never beat a retreat for anything unfamiliar. Stay curious and join in. Lots of treasures are way to be found.

^In the first sentence, it is as if you believe that you only lost because your opponents had an athletic advantage. It is fine to believe this, but mentioning this shows that whilst you may not be affected by the loss, a part of you still feels that you had an unforgivable disadvantage...

-In your second sentence, I think you mean 'defeat'?
Also, I do not get your final three sentences.
Liebe   
Aug 17, 2009
Undergraduate / Prepare to serve - a medical practice in an underserved area [5]

^Not really relevant to the essay prompt in my opinion.

I did not anticipate that the Emergency Department has become the all-too-frequent source of basic care for poor patients. My previous interpreting experience became very helpful when it comes to connecting with the underprivileged families at the hospital who needed assistance in dealing with system complexities, such as insurance or language barrier. Emergency medicine prepared me for the fast paced yet highly rewarding profession where I get to see the results of interventions almost immediately. I learn to be spontaneous and possess the physical stamina to multitask. I learn good bedside manner and communication by emulating compassionate physicians.

My desire to interact with people and understand their background stemmed from my exposures to poverty and violence during my childhood. The years of struggle have left me with an inner strength I can rely on. The opportunity to serve the vulnerable is not only a gratifying way for me to give back, but also a chance to encourage those who identify with me. This special connection is vital towards inspiring motivation and possibility. Listening to their stories grant me the empathy and inspiration to step out of my comfort zone.


How have your experiences prepared you for the challenges of a medical practice in an underserved area

^How has any of the above prepared you for the challenges? You ramble on what you have learnt, which is not what the essay prompt is asking for.

I suggest you revise your essay. A lot of it is already questionable.
Liebe   
Aug 17, 2009
Undergraduate / "A well informed family" - MSU personal statement [9]

As a little child, I envied neighbor's kids a lot simply because they havehad the chance to follow the long-established Chinese tradition;and receive money from seniors during the Chinese lunar New Yearthey would receive money from seniors during the Chinese lunar New Year. I was the only one who receive books year overafter year.

^***Before, you said your family is traditional. Here you are saying that they do not do the traditional thing of giving you money...

It was difficult for me to see all my friends wereextremely excitingwith looks of extreme excitementwithfrom the money they got. But I was expected to read and collect something from the books. With the in born sense of responsibility warned me not to disappoint my family,and I built my habit of reading at a very young age.

As I groe w older, I become to appreciate more and more the unique tradition of our familybegan to appreciate the unique traditions of my family . My Parents do not push me to have a good grade in school but they do request me to read as much as I candid not push me to have good grades in school, but rather to read as much as I can.It's not a paradox, which I only realized a few years ago.

We attend school primarily to take up what the nation and society request and basically for a secular goal of getting a good job.
^No. People do not attend school in hopes of only getting 'good jobs'.

But reading is for an entirely different reason that to construct the opinion of world. We read not only to receive the knowledge or have a promising future, but for the fundamental motive-to know the right and wrong. Chinese philosopher used to say "A grasp of mundane affairs is genuine knowledge

^Are you trying to reason why people read?

Understanding of worldly wisdom is true learning." The words were appropriate in the past, are suitable in present, and will be connected in the future. the "worldly wisdom" is not what we considered as flattery, instead, it refers to someone who has great skills in dealing with others, who consider themselves in a lower position in any occasions, pay respect to other's opinion and comprehend other's points precisely, in order to response in the most felicitous way. For most of modern people who are not aiming for Nobel Prize, reading is of great importance in the aspect of gaining knowledge, but the more significant and particle reason is to be aware the right and wrong

^None of this is relevant to yourself, yet alone the essay prompt/

During the past 18 years, I have received numerous books from family members. The book is always packed with a brief note which tells me about what the sender feels about the book and why he recommends this.

^Excuse my ignorance, but do only male relatives give gifts?

Last year, I send my booksent a book to my nephew for the first time. A wonderful thrill came to me while I was passing the book to my little nephew; I felt that I was not only passing a dozens of printed paper to the child, but the spirit of longing for knowledge, the courage of facing reality, the attitude of having a peaceful life, which are, family traditions.

^Longing for knowledge...is not necessarily the attitude of having a peaceful life. Also, these are your family traditions, not family traditions in general.
Liebe   
Aug 16, 2009
Undergraduate / During my life I learnt a wealthy amount of things, things that have come to define me. [6]

Quite frankly, I found your essay boring. When I finished reading it, I found it unimpressive. You use too many words to describe things that do not need to much detail, such as, how you perceive yourself.

For example;

Knowing myself as someone who is repelled by people that admit defeat without even showing any effort at all, I decided it was time to step out of my shell. I simply couldn't stand playing the ball game with my team mates showing no sign of aggression and passion to win the game that we always wanted to win.

Like..um
Before reading this, I was like this: -.-
After reading this, I was like this: -.- (with face resting on hand)

And that is not the only example, for it applies to a vast percentage of your essay.

I suggest you revise your essay.
By revising, check your grammar obviously and remove the lameness.
Liebe   
Aug 16, 2009
Undergraduate / I can't really think of any ideas on how to end this - FSU Addmissions essay. [5]

These three latin words paint us a picture of what it means to be a human being of great asperation. Vires signifies strength of all kinds; Artes alludes to the beauty of intellectual pursuits; and Mores refers to character, custom, and tradition. If you look at anyone who has made a lasting impact on our society then you will notice they prominently express one or more of these traits.

^I read that part of your essay. I do not want to read any more. And I will not either.
It is bad enough that you have mispelt 'aspiration', it is worse that you could not think of a better way to start your second sentence (Seeing as how your first sentence just read the names Vires Mores and Artes) and it is even worse, when you decide to pretty much repeat the definition in the essay prompt in your essay response.

Please.
Liebe   
Aug 16, 2009
Undergraduate / Fireflies - "Significant experience" essay [14]

I think you misunderstand me liebe. I simply did not think that the lesson learned by the author

applies to her

^Yes I may have misunderstood. Hopefully, rossetta did not?
Actually, I have to disagree. The lesson does apply specifically to her. Only she talks about the incident and how she was 'affected' by it since she provides self commentary and self analysis on the whole thing.

Their light actually glows after they're dead but I supposed that she wants it to mean that the effects that others have on you last even after they have gone

God knows. That is why the general sentiment on this thread is that she expands and develops her conclusion.

think you also misunderstand the lesson of my essay because it's lesson was that we should have our own goals and do things for ourselves. I think that this lesson is very real life and I have shown that it is through my example. If you thought that this was unclear then I will gladly go back and change it. I feel that my experience with my piano teacher taught me this lesson.

^Alright. I never quite got understood that and I remember your final paragraph had something to do with that. But then again, that is based on my understanding and you do not need to change just...TO PLEASE ME ;)

Yes, we should have our own goals. Since when do people have other people's goals? In turn, that is an own goal to do something similar or exactly as someone else.

Doing things for ourselves? If the world was full of people doing things for themselves, I think the world would be a very different place.

I will say it again. I thought that this meant that the first time she saw death was when she saw this dead firefly. I am sorry if I've interpreted this sentence wrong.

No reason to be sorry. You are allowed to interpret readings however you wish to.
Liebe   
Aug 16, 2009
Undergraduate / Fireflies - "Significant experience" essay [14]

How old were you? I would think that you have seen dead insects before this occasion so I'm not sure if it's the first time you were acquainted with death.

^His age does not matter to be honest. Even if he has seen dead insects before, the writer has used the giant simile in the earlier paragraph, and readers understand that that the writer actually understands death with lifelessness, because the writer was responsible for it and can see it. Even if it was not the first time, readers can easily understand how this death actually means something. For example lamapoop, you may have been four and seen loads of insects that you did not care for, dead. If however, your favorite pet died when you were the same age, that death would be a lot more impactful.

I cannot identify this event's impact on you. Sure you were acquainted with death and I do see that you've realized a principle here but the lesson seems insignificant to me because the principle doesn't apply to your life. Unless you have had loved ones die, you have not witnessed the "light" that glows after something is dead making it an empty statement without anything literal to back this piece of figurative language up.

^Lamapoop, I am not sure what is your approach to reading these essays, but not every essay has to be with a principle you can identify with and you believe can be applied to life. People learn and understand life lessons differently. I do agree that the writer here has not addressed how she has been impacted by this event.

I do not mean to be rude here, but llamapoop, I remember your UMich essay and even I thought that I could not identify the impact on you, or how that principle applied to your life, yet alone anyone else's. In your setback essay, I remember you talking about the impact. Even though I could not relate to it, I understood it. However, if you do believe that application essays should feature a principle that can be applied to life, then I suggest you revise your essays because I think you did not include this in the ones that I have read.

Anyways, remember that the Admissions Commitee do have emotions. When they read essays, they do not read only the lines as if it is a Critical Reading passage. They will allow their senses of understanding and emotion to play a role when they read these essays.

The lesson may seem insignificant to you. However, it is not insignificant to the writer, seeing as how she has actually used it for a CommonApp essay. Also, we get the impression that the writer was fascinated with the fire fly, so it is not an empty statement as you have suggested.

Talk more about the events impact on you

^Yep.

because that is a weak statement with which to begin a very strong conclusion.

^I personally thought that the conclusion could be stronger.

. You would normally want to write this essay about an experience that cultivated in you a quality or a set of qualities that would make you a good candidate for admission to the university. On the other hand, its originality might balance out the lack of explicit relevance. Either way, it is something you might want to think about carefully before sending it off.

^YES. However, I do not agree with the origninality balancing the lack of explicit relevance. As the writer has been able to interest her readers, readers would want to understand it's influence. If this key piece of information is missing, it is just a well written essay, but not an effective one.

**Also, for the first many paragraphs, each sentence is too short and abrupt for my liking. I would have liked it if I was being 'transported' somewhere when I read the essay, however the continuous use of the full stop after, literally, ever five words, was a harsh reminder of reality. (If you know what I am saying) Anways that is my opinion. I would have preferred some length so as to beautify certain parts of the experience.
Liebe   
Aug 16, 2009
Undergraduate / UT austin personal essay A, but to write about family is little cliche.. [8]

Also remember that cliche topics tend to be written in cliche manners. Even if you decide to go with what many consider a cliche topic, such as writing about your mother or father, if you can express this influence in engaging writing, this should detract from the cliche concept and should in fact make your essay interesting. If however you believe that your level of writing can not accomplish this, then revise the reasons as to why that person has been so influential on you. Consider UNIQUE reasons, rather than the common ones that are likely to be found in similar essays answering the exact same prompt. It becomes a cliche when it is overused to the point it just becomes lame.
Liebe   
Aug 16, 2009
Undergraduate / Purdue personal statement - interest in science [15]

"A college degree will open many new doors for me, allowing me to have many choices in life. It will also help me participate in medicinal research to save lives, and get into graduate school to attain a Ph.D. "
^You have already chosen chemistry though so why do you care if you have other choices. Ph.D? That's like..I want to turn 18 so that I can turn 19 to attain 20 years of age.

^I do not quite understand your analogy Lamapoop.
Kaleb, getting a college degree can open doors. However, the extent to which it will help you participate in medicinal research to 'save lives' is debatable. Also, you are implying that having a college degree can certainly get you into graduate school and also attain a PHD degree. Realize that getting into graduate school requires more than just a college degree, and so does earning a PHD degree. Failure to acknowledge this simply shows a lack of mature understanding in regards to your future.
Liebe   
Aug 16, 2009
Undergraduate / Diabetes in my family - Common Application Essay [11]

^I think there is something already wrong with this. The fact that you know a lot about diabetes is not going to get you into college.

^She never said it would. It is a topic that she will be discussing in her CommonApp essay.

before getting to your conclusion, i personally think you spend way too much time talking about what you do as far as giving the shot and explaining what diabetes is. its good b.c. im sure the admissons ple will DEF. know someone with it and can relate but you really have NOT said AT ALL how it has broadened tyour knowledge much. like two paragraphs ago you just explained what you had to do. a suggestion: tell how you gain more knowledge of diabetes, more responsibility through caring for your brother. do u raise money for it or something? do u raise awareness? do u teach ur friends about it? because as of now, i dont really see much of the prompt answered. GOOD OPENING THOUGH! :D

^I do not think it is 'good', regardless if the Admissions people can relate to it or not. I think it is not good, because quite frankly, it is boring and ineffective. Gabrielle assumes that we as readers know nothing about diabetes and decides to lecture us on it. The other suggestions are applicable, but talia, there is no prompt therefore it can not really be answered :)

I assume you wouldn't be happy with a comment similar to the one you posted in other student's thread:

"This is a great job!"

would you?

^Yes, even I was quite disappointed when I looked at 'My Threads section' and saw that that was the type of comment Gabriele posted.

And I left that comment because I didn't know I had to comment other essays before being able to post my own.

^Well, perhaps now that you do know, you can demonstrate that you do know this by posting either, detailed, useful, or informative feedback, on somebody else's essay?
Liebe   
Aug 15, 2009
Undergraduate / Purdue personal statement - interest in science [15]

A college degree will aid in my unending search for knowledge.

^Actually, a college degree does not aid in an unending search for knowledge, seeing as how college degrees are typically limited to four years of undergraduate study...

The first year that I took chemistry, I had little interest in it. Then the following year I took chemistry II along with AP biology. These 2 classes combined sparked my interest in chemistry. I began to enjoy larning how things work at the molecular level. I later realized that chemistry is everywhere and having a degree in it would help me get a job practically anywhere.

^Well, this begins to get off point. This does not answer the essay question at hand.

You really need to cover a lot more depth in this essay. It is very basic and I presume you understand this as well.
Liebe   
Aug 15, 2009
Undergraduate / Common App - Topic of Your Choice (Willie Jack) [4]

Well if this is a topic of your choice, and the essay is titled after your dog, you do not go into any depth about Wille Jack. You discuss him in the first eight lines but he is then forgotten about it.

Also, the purpose of the common app is so that the reader on the admissions board will be able to get an idea of who you are as a student and how your personality and characteristics will add to the school community.

^Well this is a topic of your choice. The Admissions Board also seek originality and creativity, both of which are applied in this essay but the latter has not demonstrated effectively enough in my opinion.

Also, this essay can show the Admissions Committee about the author's personality, but I think that this essay digresses from topic to do this effectively.
Liebe   
Aug 15, 2009
Undergraduate / Musical audition - common app 1 [4]

When I got to this point:
'"What's the worst that could happen?" I thought as images of the judges wincing in pain or bursting out with laughter darted through my mind.'

^I already knew where the essay was heading.
Basically, in the earlier and later portions of your essay, I already had a sense of what you were going to discuss. Therefore, you can remove sentences that endorse that you are good in academics and that you were nervous about theater. The point was made the first time, and a further expansion on it is unnecessary.

An example

I had no background in singing or theater

^You already told us this before.

Your essay is also in need of some tweaking in terms of grammar.
Liebe   
Aug 14, 2009
Undergraduate / "It's not who I am underneath, it's what I do that defines me"--common app essay [16]

Also, go back through and edit ruthlessly, cutting out any excess words and phrases so that your sentences are as direct and powerful as possible.

Yes. It needs a fair bit of editing in your part. Make sure that the tenses are parallel and remove words that do neither good nor bad to your essay.

"Part of me felt burdened by the heart-wrenching sight of seeing a child unable to open his lunchbox or tie his shoes, yet the other part of me just felt a true compassion towards that child, and instead of continuing my work setting the chairs up or helping clean, I stopped what I was doing and followed my immediate impulse to help that child."

Well,

for starters

Part of me felt burdened by the heart-wrenching sight of seeing a child unable to open his lunchbox or tie his shoes, yet the other part of me just felt a true compassion towards that child,and. instead of continuing my work of setting the chairs up orand helping clean, I stopped what I was doing and followed my immediate impulse to help that child.

^You need to break your sentences down a tad bit.
Liebe   
Aug 12, 2009
Undergraduate / University of Texas - Austin, Transfer Applicant (Important issue - My Mother) [8]

My mother has always been the most influential and important person in my life. There are not many things I have not learned solely from her wise words while growing up. I grew up without a father, but I can say that whenever I felt a father's absence, my mother was there every time to take his place. Her efforts on giving me the best she could are something I never in my life have taken for granted, but they are also something I don't think I have duly valued as much as I do today.

^I removed trite phrases.

As a kid, my mother let me sleep or linger against her chest. She would always tell me the same exact phrase whenever I asked why she couldn't, "Because that's my boo-boo Kevin!"

^Couldnt what?? Given the context, I assume it is something to do with her breasts?

There were times when it would hurt my feelings becausethat the only parent I had could not hold me in her arms, and then , . as I grew older I realized that it really was her surgery that kept her from holding me all those years.

^There is no time frame here, so how old were you when you realized this?

It was the small things like this which my mother would take the time to explain to me that eventually led me toadmire the mother-father status I would see her as.

My experiences with my mother while growing up, learning to appreciate her contributions to my quality of life and her ensuring my success,as well as living closely with her through cancer over the past year have led me to assess my mother's health an important issue in my life. She has taught, or given me the opportunity to learn, every moral and a common sense I know about life as I see it today.

^Every moral? Morals are questionable and subjective to beliefs, so I do not suggest including this in.

**This is a personal essay which is great. You tend to repeat your points, in slightly different expressions. Do not do this, because we as readers can get the point the first time.

Also, what is the essay prompt, an influential person or an important issue?
If it is the latter, Id assume that the important issue is the loss of your mother and her battle with cancer, therefore you can afford to lose out all of the details of your relationship with her and have more space to discuss your mother and her cancer and make the essay more powerful...

ⓘ Need Writing or Editing Help?
Fill out one of these forms for professional help:

Best Writing Service:
CustomPapers form ◳

Graduate Writing / Editing:
GraduateWriter form ◳

Excellence in Editing:
Rose Editing ◳

AI-Paper Rewriting:
Robot Rewrite ◳