Undergraduate / Animal rescue group? - UM Admissions Essay, Describe a community that you belong to [3]

(Approximately 250 words.)
Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it.

***I'm unsure whether the "community" that I chose is acceptable for the essay prompt. It's not really a community but I couldn't think of anything else I belong to, should I choose something else? Any tips to make this essay better? Also, my essay is currently 320 words, even though it says approximately I'm thinking that 70 words over is too much? Should I cut it down? What should I take out? Thank you!

Crash is the sweetest, most loving and trusting dog you will ever encounter. But you wouldn't expect that if you knew his past. At just a few days old, he was pulled, along with his mother and siblings, from one of Ohio's high-kill animal shelters. He was born blind and suffered from severe glaucoma, and he needed surgery to have both eyes removed because of the massive pressure placed on them by his condition. Despite his handicap he has always tried his hardest to keep up with his siblings, sometimes rather haphazardly, which is how he got his name.

I have always had a strong compassion for animals. In high school I began volunteering for local rescue organizations, trying to contribute as much as I could. A New Leash on Life is a non-profit rescue group that I have been helping out with most recently. They work hard to find adoptable animals the forever homes that they deserve.

When Crash came in last spring, the rescue made several efforts to try and raise the funds needed for his surgery. $1200 is a lot of money when you run solely on private donations, and have to simultaneously care for the 35 animals typically fostered at any given time. It took a several weeks, but finally we were able to help him.

Even though he's missing his eyes he is much happier and has since been adopted by a great family. While it was hard to see him go, its animals like Crash that make me so passionate about being a part of these groups. Being involved with animal rescue has affected my life so greatly that I've even adopted two rescue dogs of my own. I intend to be a part of these organizations for as long as I can because even though I cannot undo their past, I can be certain that I'm helping these animals have a better future.

Undergraduate / UM Admission, Unique qualities of Taubman College - Did I include enough? [2]

Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests? (500 words maximum)

Not sure if I touched on enough "unique qualities" of this college? Any tips to make it better?
Also, I don't know if it is acceptable to abbreviate the name of schools in admissions essay? (like U of M and Taubman instead of writing out the whole name) Will I be considered lazy if I leave it as is?

And is it ok not to write out the name of my community college? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm assuming that after seeing it in the rest of my application, they don't need a further summary of what school I am specifically attending.

Thank you!

When I enrolled in my community college the idea was to explore my future career options while taking general education courses. Never having been one to simply be satisfied with something, I wanted to be passionate in what I chose. I went through many phases, trying to find something I truly could see myself doing. I thought of being an artist or an interior designer. And however unrelated it may be to my other interests, I even considered pursuing a career as an orthodontist. Through my search, I have discovered a great interest in architecture, and can no longer imagine myself in any other field. I want to specifically pursue an education at the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning for several reasons, both academic and personal.

Academically, I feel that Taubman can offer me the best preparation possible for the field I have chosen. I attended the architecture open house, and was very impressed with the resources available to students in the program. I enjoyed seeing the studio area, and was also very interested in options such as international projects, internship programs and research opportunities. I feel that with all that the University of Michigan has available, I will be able to get the best education possible.

After graduating, I chose to enroll at OCC for several reasons. One of which being that I don't feel that my high school education served very well to prepare me for a four year university; I wanted to strengthen my educational foundation. Another reason is simply that it was comfortable; I could live at home, and I didn't have to travel very far. After studying at a community college, know that I have prepared myself and that I'm ready to become a part of a larger institution. Personally, What attracts me to U of M is the atmosphere. At the open house I got the impression that U of M and more specifically Taubman has a great sense of community on campus. This is much different to what I am used to in a community college and I have a strong desire to be a part of it. Another point that draws me to U of M is the great Ann Arbor setting, which can be an experience of its own.

I feel that the curriculum of Taubman College has the ability to serve both my academic and personal needs. I wish to be a part of Taubman's community and I believe that it is the perfect place for me to continue my education in the field of architecture.

Undergraduate / "My relationship with my mother" - Common- Person that has influenced your life. [5]

This is for the Common Application Essay, the topic was:
Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

I have clear memories of May school days filled with laughter and joy from everyone, except me. The teacher would always plan some cute little mother's day project, where we were instructed to write things like "I love you" and "Best Mom Ever". Yeah, right. I would sit there and imagine my mother's reaction when I handed her an "I hate you, you're the worst mom in the world" card for Mother's Day, complete with smiley face flowers and purple hearts. I knew that if I wrote that, my teacher would probably call my mom before I ever had the satisfaction of giving her the card, at which point my mother would probably make up some elaborate story to dismiss me. Instead, I would write "I love you, Best Grammy Ever", I figured it should at least go to someone that actually deserved it.

Nurturing, kind, patient; these are words one would typically use to describe their mother. Me? My mother could be described using words like callous, hateful, and deranged. To grow up in my mother's house was to spend every day in constant fear. I dreaded my dad going to work every morning to leave me alone with her for the day. School and my father's presence had become my only means of escape from her abuse. I tried to join every after school club I could in an attempt to lessen the time between when I got home and my dad got off work. On days with no after school activity, I didn't want to get off the bus, and sometimes I would get off a couple subdivisions early so I could walk home and delay the inevitable.

I was constantly walking on eggshells around her. My mom suffers from several mental illnesses, the most prominent being bipolar and multiple personality disorder. My dad had no idea what was going on until I was twelve, when he came home while she was mid-rampage. He had been completely oblivious to what was going on until it was right in front of his face. I was apparently a very accident-prone kid, always getting hurt "ice skating", "cheerleading", or "horse-back riding". She stayed with us another year and a half until she had woven a web of lies so thick that my dad was forced to kick her out.

As far as I'm concerned, I never had a mother. The only thing she ever contributed to my life was to make me feel unwanted and unloved. I never understood until I was older why she always targeted me, yet never hit my younger brother or sister. The years after she left were hard for me. I was depressed about how my life had gone up until that point, all I ever wanted was a normal home life, and it would never be normal. My friends would spend time shopping with their moms, which I would never experience; my teammates' mothers would always help out at our cheer competitions, which mine would never do. The worst part was that she left my seven year old sister without a mom either, so I had to step in to help her grow up with some shred of normalcy.

In the seven years since then, she's gotten help for her illness, and my siblings go visit her regularly. She has had another child, and had to prove to the courts that she would remain on medication and that she can be a decent mother. I refused any kind of contact with her for six years before I faced a serious dilemma. If I continued to completely shut my mother out of my life, I forfeited any kind of relationship with my half-sister. I didn't want to see my mother, but I realized that by refusing to see my sister, I would be causing the same emotions that my mother caused for me. As my half-sister got older and grew closer to my brother and sister, she would start to realize that I wanted nothing to do with her and on some level would probably feel unwanted and unloved, just as I had.

It wasn't a decision made overnight, but eventually I came to the conclusion that I couldn't do that to her. Despite my every hesitation, I decided to go to my mother's house. At first our interactions were very strained and awkward, but today I'm able to go over there for a few hours and at least tolerate her presence. I don't feel we will ever have that mother-daughter bond, but at least I'll have a bond with my sister, which is all I really care about.

My relationship with my mother has taught me many negative things about humanity, but I feel that it has made me a stronger person. Because of her influence, I have grown up faster than most people, and I've overcome things that many will never experience. I've become aware of what I never want to become, and it has inspired me to do whatever I can in life to make it worthwhile. I got a few positive things out of my childhood; I've always had to be very independent, and many years of after-school art club have fueled my creativity and influenced me greatly. I can't imagine my life being "normal" from the start, but if my mother had been different, I don't think I would appreciate what I have today. I want to do something great with my life, and I think I've chosen the perfect outlet to do that in. Thanks to my mother, I can handle whatever life throws at me.

Criticism is welcome, I'm unsure if this even gets it's point across?
Also, at 839 words is this too long? It said 250 word minimum.