Undergraduate / "Success doesn't come to you" - UCF Essay [4]

The question was why did you choose to apply to UCF?

"Success doesn't come to you ... you go to it." That is exactly what UCF is, success. Ever since I was in ninth grade, UCF has been my dream school. The first aspect that drew me into UCF was its breathtaking campus, the hospitality of its staff and its students. Every time I open up the UCF webpage, I can envision myself during Spirit Splash, during football games cheering on the Knights, or even in my dorm studying with fellow classmates. As one of the most distinguished universities that offers Forensic Science, I know that at UCF I will become successful at everything I wish to pursue. It would be a great honor for me to wear the UCF colors, but it would be an even greater honor to be called a UCF Knight. Just like the UCF Creed states, "I will strive toward the highest standards of performance in any endeavor I undertake." To be perfect is to be a Knight.

Undergraduate / "to be a Seminole" - FSU ESSAY [15]

For almost one hundred years, the Latin words, "Vires, Artes, Mores" have been the guiding philosophy behind Florida State University. Vires signifies strength of all kinds - moral, physical, and intellectual; Artes alludes to the beauty of intellectual pursuits as exemplified in skill, craft, or art; and Mores refers to character, custom, or tradition. Describe how one or more of the values embodied in these concepts are reflected in your life.

Og Mandino once quoted that "Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough." Throughout high school, many of us try to discover ones true self. Though many of us have failed, strength and perseverance, has molded me into the person I am now. "Vires" defines my academic achievements and my personal life. Through my years of high school, I excelled in vigorous courses to strengthen my intellectuality. I have been faced with many academic obstacles, but I kept pushing myself to succeed. I have come to realize, that eventhough school holds many challanges; using optimism, courage, and persistence, I can overcome the difficulties school has to offer.

During my academic years, I have encountered personal hardships. My grandfather died during the end of my junior and that impacted me emotionally. I was very close to my grandfather, and his death affected my grades. Although my grades had slipped, I remembered something that he would always tell me; " nunca renunciar a lo que haces, siempre mira hacia delante, incluso si los tiempos son difíciles," which means to never give up on what you do, and always look forward even if times are hard. His words always run through my mind whenever I feel like giving up. I encountered another personal hardship when my father lost his job after thirteen years with the same company last year. He assured me that everything would be okay, and that our family would would get out of this. "Vires" is something that signifies these struggles that have arised. I have the strength to move forward in everything that comes my way.

The first time I realized that FSU was the perfect college for me was when I first visited the campus. The large population, breathtaking campus, and outstanding amount of opportunities available at FSU made my visit worthwhile. As a future Seminole, I believe that I can make a great addition to the student body. I know that by attending FSU, my cultural knowledge will expand and my social and communicational experiences will broaden. To be perfect is to be a Seminole.