Undergraduate / "What don't you know?" - Brown Essay [4]

French novelist Anatole France wrote: "An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't." What don't you know?

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As a teenager, my answers to my parents often end up being "I don't know". What did you learn in school today? I don't know. What do you want to be when you grow up? I don't know. After a certain amount of this, my mother gets frustrated and sarcastically asks me, "Well, what DO you know?" The truth is, not much.

There have been tons of mistakes made in history which can be attributed to one thing: Hubris. There are countless examples of arrogant people through history who thought that they knew everything, yet made mistakes of drastic consequences. Did Napoleon know that his dominance would end if he invaded Russia? Did George W. Bush know that dismantling the Iraqi government would lead to endless years of unwinnable wars and conflict?

It is always important to keep in mind what you don't know. As a student and a scholar, the most important quality is a thirst for knowledge and betterment; having this thirst indicates that there are things yet unlearned. I want to make the list of things I don't know smaller every day. At the same time, I want to avoid falling in the traps of arrogance by believing I know everything. For example, I still do not know what it takes to be a scientist. My knowledge of complex compounds or molecular structures is still not at an acceptable level to become a researcher. I do not know exactly how hard I will have to work to reach my goal of achieving an Ivy League education. I do know that the only way to rectify the holes in my knowledge is to keep asking questions, and keep spending time to change those "I don't knows" into "Now I know".

My thirst for knowledge will be everlasting, and my entire life spent to learning something new every day. But for the time being, I believe that I should direct my learning toward something substantial, something of significance to me. At the prestigious Brown University, I believe that I can pursue this avenue of interest in chemistry towards a constructive career, where I can hopefully leave a meaningful impact through my work.

The essay is only about 250 words.. Do colleges care if you don't use all 500 words? I tried to add fillers, but they all sound dumb, and i figured that a college would rather a concise essay that cuts to the point, rather than one that drags on.

Thank you, Sean

Undergraduate / Williams Essay (any environment that is particularly significant to you) [7]

Imagine looking through a window at any environment that is particularly significant to you. Reflect on the scene, paying close attention to the relation between what you are seeing and why it is meaningful to you. Please limit your statement to 300 words.

I can't spot a cloud in the sky, but it still isn't clear. The skies are always hazy, a constant grey. My eyes cross the horizon, but I cannot make out anything in the distance; the massive skyscrapers dot blot out my vision. I know I'm home.

No matter where I go, this vision stays with me. Living in America is a completely different experience; not just the buildings, but the entire lifestyle. As a first-generation immigrant, I was old enough to remember South Korea...

after edits:

For almost my entire life, my vision of home was the city life in South Korea. In Seoul, the skies are always hazy, a constant grey. My eyes cross the horizon, but I cannot make out anything in the distance; the massive skyscrapers blot out my vision. People are running quickly to catch up to missed buses, and the lines of traffic crowd every street.

Throughout my short life, I have lived in all corners of the United States. From beautiful San Diego to the dreary cities of Portland and Salem in Oregon, I have journeyed through it all, but no matter where I go, this vision has stayed with me. As a first-generation immigrant, I was old enough to remember South Korea before I left it, and still regularly visit it. The vision that I hold has a monumental significance to me. I cannot forget my roots, and even though I would now consider myself an American, I know that without my heritage, I am nothing.

Living in America is a completely different experience; not just the buildings, but the entire lifestyle. As I grow accustomed to life in America, my vision is gradually changing. The endless skyscrapers become single home houses. The never-ending pavement becomes the front lawns of these homes. The throngs of people walking to and fro become friendly neighbors waving hello. But I realize that even though my vision of the world changes, my values must remain the same. The vision I have represents my past, my roots: where I'm from. The glimpse outside the window now shows that I am an American.

I often hope that I can someday positively impact the world that gave birth to me. At this point in my life, I would call myself an American; and to be an American is to take advantage of the endless opportunities set in front of me. I can only wonder what lies ahead of me now, and I hope that no matter where life takes me, I do not lose myself, and remember who I am.