Undergraduate / Poker game - common App essay--risky topic! [7]

DEADLINE IN AN HOUR. HELP!
I nervously tapped my foot against the table leg. My heart thrashed against my chest, pumping adrenaline through my every vein. My hands were moistening rapidly. As I looked up at him, premature cocoons were shattering open at the pit of my stomach and my insides were squirming in nail-biting anticipation. He was looking right at me, his stare piercing through me. I dared to meet his unwavering gaze with equal intensity, and I knew he too was wondering if he was doing the right thing. Our hearts racing against each other throughout our unyielding stare-contest and barely audible heavy breathing, we were silently willing each other to make the first move.

Our rapt concentration was interrupted by a faint shuffling of cards on the table and a very loud snort; we were suddenly aware of the third person in the room-the dealer.

"Why do you guys care so much anyway? It's not like you ever play for real money!" demanded my friend, the dealer.

My opponent made a face at her, while I shrugged and responded, "I play to win."

She rolled her eyes and said, "Just finish it up quickly, so I can go eat."

Whenever I sat down for a round of poker with my friends, I did not think of it as a mere pass-time; I contemplated and marveled at the mechanics, brilliance and beauty of the game that are often overlooked. Poker is an ideal amalgamation of all my academic interests: it calls for the concepts of opportunity cost, game theory and comparative advantage of economics, the formulas for probability and logic of statistical mathematics, and the application of psychology [physics??]. It is a complex, intellectually stimulating process that cannot be over-simplified by clear-cut, set-in-stone strategies but requires recollection of all branches of knowledge, close evaluation of a situation and adjusting accordingly. Unlike sterile black and white pieces attacking each other, the implicit war between betting tactics and "pokerfaces" is as unpredictable as a battle of minds should be; and this is why I have taken a relative liking to this strategy game, like no other.

Although it is a game that is often frowned upon as a social nuisance, I believe that its many useful tactics apply to virtually every aspect of life. Poker is my Scarlet Letter. It has opened my mind to my innermost flaws, enabling me to identify, inspect and renovate myself. And for those that have shown poker to be a nuisance, I dare say that they probably have yet to master the principal skill of the game: self-control. Though there have been many instances of open disapproval and downright castigation of the "gambling" aspect of the game, there has also been firm advocacy of its intellectual value. I am certainly no expert, but participating in this game has enlightened me with the life lessons earned.

It has evolved my outlook and my ability to understand and cope with the real competitive world. This game rewards logical thinking and perception of others, and penalizes ignoring the odds and acting impulsively. By emphasizing on the need for good decision-making, it has reinforced my motto to always look before I leap. The importance of considering all odds, probabilities and risk-reward evaluations has contributed in sharpening my analytical mind and providing a framework for making practical decisions under pressure; and thus it has ameliorated my indecisiveness.

Poker has taught me not to gamble. (And I am definitely not willing to gamble away my weekly allowances.) In every aspect of our lives, whenever faced with a curveball, we must choose to take a risk or fold out of the competition. Participating in this game has trained me to not rely on my luck like a weak passive player would, but to write my own fate, to have faith in my own judgments. I strive to implement the devotion and concentration I experience during a game to my everyday life, in order to be similarly aware of myself and my surroundings at all times.

I learnt my most important poker lesson that day during the game my friend, the dealer was so impatient to end. After the short interruption, my opponent and I quickly regained our resolute commitment to the cards at play. The final card was down on the table and staring up at us. I fought hard to suppress the grin itching at the corners of my mouth. Returning his furtive glances, I wondered if he had noticed my relief at the Jack of Diamonds. He suddenly surprised me: "I raise 300", he announced. I sighed lightly and closed my eyes momentarily, in an attempt to organize my colliding thoughts:

Is he bluffing? I should meet his call. After all I have a full house of sevens over jacks. A full house! That would be hard to beat. He can't possibly win. No way!

Clearing my throat, I declared confidently, "I'm going all in," neatly stacking my chips on top of each other. He considered me in one calculative moment and slid all his chips across the table, "Okay then, all in."

This was always my favorite part in the game-the bittersweet stage when all would be revealed, there would be no more secrets and everyone would know his worth. He started to bang on the table eagerly, as I bit my lip and help my breath. The dealer rolled her eyes again and barked, "Show your cards, already!"

It was like watching a car crash in slow motion. I knew something terrible was about to take place. I knew it when I saw that repugnant smirk slowly spread across his face, as he upturned his two cards-the Jack of spades and the Jack of hearts! He defeated my sevens over jacks with his jacks over sevens!

"What a cruel twist of fate," my friend, the dealer remarked sardonically, as my former adversary laughed uproariously over his glorious victory.

"It was not fate. It was my mistake. I just did not consider the possibility-" I mumbled, sulking.

"At least you finished the game. I am starving," she attempted to console me, "and nice hand by the way!"

As she hurried out of the room to grab a snack, I pondered over her words and grasped their profound meaning, which she had probably not in fact intended. Perhaps, it is not important that I win every time, but important that I always finish the game. Obsessing about winning and grieving over losses will only keep me stuck in yesterdays. I must gather myself, accept my failures and continue on, risking more bets, discovering new strategies and picking up little lessons along the way.

Poker, to me, is a game of skill and a teacher of life lessons, although often stigmatized as being useless and immoral. My involvement in this activity has taught me the patience and perseverance to recover from a losing streak. I have developed perceptive insight that is crucial to recognize a bluff and discern the behavior of others around me. While attaining the wisdom to know when to fold, I have also unearthed the confidence to take risks by betting large; because the realization, that I can only gain as much as I risk, has fuelled my dedication. Most importantly, I have discovered the resilience to stay strong and graceful even after I go all in and lose to a better hand. At the end of a game, it should be good enough just to get a pat on the back and a "Nice hand!" even though another player had a nicer hand. Because even if someone else has won the race, it is important that I still cross the finish line in style.

Suggest a title for my essay and tell me what I should remove or emphasize on. THANK YOU. DEADLINE IN AN HOUR

Undergraduate / Brown supplement--best advice [4]

NEED TO SUBMIT IN 24 HRS. HELP!
What is the best piece of advice you've ever been given, and why? [500 words]

"Learn something of everything," my father said, "and everything of something." If I had a penny for every time I have heard my father say that, I probably could have paid my way through college! For most of my life, I had reacted to this advice like I do to any ambiguous proverb: I contemplated it momentarily, utterly confused, and pushed it to the back of my mind ultimately defeated, and it was never to be rescued from the deep caverns of my subconscious. But I have realized, as of late, the meaning behind my father's wise words and the effect they have had on me.

Subconsciously following my father's advice, I have always strived to expand my breadth of knowledge, to "learn something of everything". At school, I have enrolled for the most number of varied subject courses, while others in my year chose only a few subjects in a specific concentration. I enjoy challenging myself academically to broaden my horizons and quench my thirst for knowledge. This thrill of learning new things has motivated my interest in a liberal education, where I could freely gather some knowledge about every area of my interest before choosing a concentration. As my mind grows more inquisitive and analytical, I may someday be able to learn "everything of something."

Although this piece of advice may at first seem entirely focused on academics, it has extensively influenced me in ways other than my educational aspirations. My father's words have shaped my personality in ways I had not realized before. Upon close inspection, even minor traits such as my taste in music seem diverse and flexible. I appreciate almost all genres of music and could tap my feet to any song. My media library contains a little of everything. However, my daily playlist, which I ritually turn on when I wake up every morning and listen to tirelessly, like a devoted lover, until sleep overcomes me at night, is not so miscellaneous. It contains no hip-hop, no heavy metal, but something mellower-alternative, indie or electronica, perhaps-with a hypnotic rhythm, an exciting beat and meaningful lyrics.

My versatility of spirit is also apparent in my relationships with peers. The group of friends I mingle with consists of distinctly unique individuals and I value different qualities in them. I can tolerate and laugh along with the class clown as he pulls pranks on unsuspecting victims, just as well as I can comfort and stand up for the most sensitive and naïve girl in class. Though I enjoy the company of most people I meet, there are only a few friends whom I hold exceptionally close to my heart and share my most precious experiences with.

Evidently, my father's advice has had an undeniable influence on my life, by defining my choices, tastes and habits that I had taken for granted. This is due to the possibility that I have subconsciously allowed his relentless instructions to penetrate my psyche and discreetly govern my behavior and direct my ambitions. Like the multiplier effect in economics, my father's advice has had rippled effects on my outlook of the world, and thus it is undoubtedly the best advice I have ever received. Perhaps, the hunger for knowledge and the propensity for open-mindedness instilled in me by my father's words are the dominant forces that have driven me to seek an undergraduate education at Brown. At Brown, I can truly experience something of everything and everything of something.

Help me cut down words. ANY suggestions/criticisms/grammar corrections will be much appreciated. THANKS

Undergraduate / 'intellectual freedom' - ''interdepartmental concentration' Brown + academic interest [4]

NEED TO SUBMIT IN 24 HRS. HELP!

Why does Brown appeal to you as a college option? Who or what has influenced your
decision to apply? [1000 characters]
From an early age, I have harbored an inexplicable fascination towards Brownïwhether it was my starry-eyed lust for a prestigious "unreachable" Ivy League institution, or Brown's distinctive undergraduate academic program and world-class faculty. As I come from a small school, I prefer small classes and a modest-sized student body population, which will ensure better classroom relationships and a close-knit campus community. Brown's commitment to diversity will expose me to new ideas, and create the ideal environment for me, in which I can share my culture openly. By exploring the open curriculum I can develop my inherent strengths and discover new passions. I crave the intellectual freedom to assume responsibility for the direction of my educationïto not go where the path may lead, but to create my own path and leave a trail. If I am found to be the missing piece of the class of 2014, this opportunity will not only allow me to achieve academic excellence and a collaborative style of learning, but I will also attain my childhood fantasy of reaching the "unreachable" Brown.

Why are you drawn to the academic fields you indicated in Question #6?[1000 charactrs][physics and economics]
My curiosity about how the world goes around and how we make the world go around led to an interest in physics and economics. I want to further my study of the laws that mysteriously govern the natural universe and speculations by which we govern the material world. Because I enjoy math and logic problems, I have always been comfortable with these two challenging academic areas. Physics and economics are ubiquitous and can explain and be applied to every day-to-day occurrences. Both subjects essentially deal with abstract theories, assumptions and models. However, they are very practical and leave room for exciting research and analysis. It amazes me how physics explains that all cosmic bodies exist relative to one another due to the simple gravitational force between them; and economics explains that the basic act of buying and selling is really complicated by income, opportunity costs, inflation and taxes. An interdepartmental concentration in these two academic fields would give me a clear perspective and complete knowledge of the natural and the man-influenced worldïI would get the best of both worlds.

Please help me cut down some characters. ANY suggestion/criticism/grammar correction will be MUCH appreciated. THANKS