buglady
Sep 24, 2009
Undergraduate / "In my hands, I held a jar of flames" (U of I admission essay) [8]
Hi. So I like this essay, but I'm pretty sure I spend too much time talking about where my interests originated and not enough time talking about what I want to do with them at U of I... what do you think? By the way, it is the correct length.
Prompt: Discuss your academic interests and/or professional goals.
Length: Less than 300 words
In my hands, I held a jar of flames; tiny bursts of light that scurried upside down and flew from one side to the other. After watching the captured fireflies bustle around so furiously in their glass prison, it amazed me to watch them unfold their wings so delicately and float away like dandelion seeds seconds after I unscrewed the top to the jar. Lying on my back in the damp grass, I would watch them drift upward until they blended in with the stars, glowing pinpricks in the velvet sky.
Ever since I was a child, I have been awestruck by the beauty of nature. Life, from the tiniest ant crawling on my foot to the elephants I saw at the zoo, captivated me. Spending hours outside, I let nature fill my senses as I explored the world around me. Nothing was safe from my curious fingertips as I dislodged stones and pushed back tall grass finding life in the most surprising places.
Growing older, my depth of understanding has grown through education and my childhood observations have been organized into hypotheses and theories. Over the years, my sense of wonder only became stronger. Although overwhelmed by the complexity of life sciences, I am driven to understanding nature down to the most minute cellular activities. What started as a childhood fascination has grown into a profound passion for the investigation of life, the application of scientific discoveries, and the conservation of Planet Earth.
At the University of Illinois, I will take my passion to new heights by majoring in biology and minoring in environmental studies. After school, I wish to work to conserve the Earth for future generations so no one will be deprived of witnessing the beauty and power of nature.
Hi. So I like this essay, but I'm pretty sure I spend too much time talking about where my interests originated and not enough time talking about what I want to do with them at U of I... what do you think? By the way, it is the correct length.
Prompt: Discuss your academic interests and/or professional goals.
Length: Less than 300 words
In my hands, I held a jar of flames; tiny bursts of light that scurried upside down and flew from one side to the other. After watching the captured fireflies bustle around so furiously in their glass prison, it amazed me to watch them unfold their wings so delicately and float away like dandelion seeds seconds after I unscrewed the top to the jar. Lying on my back in the damp grass, I would watch them drift upward until they blended in with the stars, glowing pinpricks in the velvet sky.
Ever since I was a child, I have been awestruck by the beauty of nature. Life, from the tiniest ant crawling on my foot to the elephants I saw at the zoo, captivated me. Spending hours outside, I let nature fill my senses as I explored the world around me. Nothing was safe from my curious fingertips as I dislodged stones and pushed back tall grass finding life in the most surprising places.
Growing older, my depth of understanding has grown through education and my childhood observations have been organized into hypotheses and theories. Over the years, my sense of wonder only became stronger. Although overwhelmed by the complexity of life sciences, I am driven to understanding nature down to the most minute cellular activities. What started as a childhood fascination has grown into a profound passion for the investigation of life, the application of scientific discoveries, and the conservation of Planet Earth.
At the University of Illinois, I will take my passion to new heights by majoring in biology and minoring in environmental studies. After school, I wish to work to conserve the Earth for future generations so no one will be deprived of witnessing the beauty and power of nature.