Undergraduate / My Discovery of Math; questions beyond math (intellectually exiting concept) [2]

Dear fellow posters and readers, I want to thank you ahead for your help.

Prompt:
Describe an experience that you have had or a concept you have learned about that intellectually excites you. When answering this question, you may want to consider some of the following questions: Why does this topic excite you? How does it impact the way you or others experience the world? What questions do you continue to ponder about it?

I woke up to the fresh, misty northwest weather. A week before, my math teacher, Dr. Gorman, recommended that I attend a math seminar at Reed College on abstract math. I, a novice in abstract math, decided to go because I wanted to explore math beyond the conventional computational work and redundant formulating.

When I arrived, some other high school students and I went to a classroom where we met Thomas Wieting, our professor for the day. When we sat down, in front of us were giant parchments of drawing paper and some basic drawing tools. Mr. Wieting asked us to go away from the geometry of two dimensions and of three dimensions. He was going to guide us on a journey "to capture infinity" with hyperbolic geometry. We started out by drawing a large circle, and then we drew smaller, congruent circles and lines. We ended up with large patterns near the center of the circle and smaller, identical patterns near the edge of it. We drew in the second dimension what would be a top view of a paraboloid, a three dimensional parabola. The idea behind this drawing is that the figures near the middle of the paraboloid, although they look bigger, are exactly as big as the smaller sized figures near the edge.

I think to myself, how can two objects that I definitively drew as different be the same? That is what the hyperbolic plane does. Because the paraboloid continually goes up at an extremely rapid pace, thus what we cannot see is the paraboloid going to infinity. M.C. Escher experimented with this math and made masterpieces with it. Now we have the ability to experience it. This topic intellectually excites me because I get to learn and reproduce legendary mathematical work. Not only do we get to explore a new dimensional outlook on figures, but we get to explore a whole new dimension in mathematics, one that is warped and atypical. This topic was a great first exposure to abstract math, and this ultimately sparked my interest in learning more about the unknown. I had felt uncomfortable about learning what I did not understand, or comprehend, but I loved it.

Now I ponder what other great mysteries in math have yet to be discovered? What other dimensional outlooks are there, and how can they be used? But my questions span beyond math and into life, the soul, history. Maybe one day I will solve one.

Undergraduate / My grandpa-the biggest influence in my life [4]

Hey guys (and gals), I would love any and all comments on grammar, syntax, or content. Any and all comments are welcome, even the mean and nasty ones because I could use some help. Thanks!

Ever since I could remember, my grandpa was there for me and my family. He was a humble man who came from a humble background. My grandpa was born in China and immigrated to American when he was sixty. Back in China he was an electrical technician, and he came to America to find a better job.

Trying to support their family, my grandparents started a Chinese buffet restaurant called China First, with my grandpa as head chef. He was one of only two cooks in the full sized restaurant, but he assumed the majority of the responsibilities. Not only did he cook, my grandpa washed the dishes, put all the dishes back in the rightful places, clean the kitchen, prepare the food, and maintained inventory. Every day he would take orders and cook chow mien or sesame beef with roaring flames. He would arrive at the restaurant at the crack of dawn and prepare for the upcoming day only to leave late into the night. I always hung out in the restaurant as a child and not once did I hear him complain. Every day I would see him toil over the open flames to stir fry some dish and mix some sauce.

One day during his lunch hour, my grandpa carried out a barrel of used, hot oil and tripped. My family found him writhing on the floor and yelling as the oil burned through his left foot. Devastatingly, he completely seared his left foot and we were forced to close our restaurant. My grandpa had skin replacement surgery and was forced to bed rest for a year; however, after the year my grandpa insisted that he was ready to return to work. My grandmother and mom argued with him for days to just retire, but he just could not do it. Ultimately, he went right back to working a twelve hour shift in various cramped kitchens, despite his age, then seventy, his foot, and the hard labor, because he knew his family depended on it.

I see the value of looking beyond myself and giving to others. I see the determination needed to help others just as my grandpa saw the value of giving and dedicating himself to others. He valued never giving up, even working himself to death. He never gave up, even with his harsh injuries and old age. Due to his dedication, I am a better person because.... Though I did not understand it as a child, I have come to learn the value in giving and sacrificing. Even when life torments me, I still need to take it and grind through it all.

As I strive for better grades and better SAT scores, I have come to realize that doing all this work for me is not what I want. Because of him, I want to do this for others. I want do everything I do to better the world, not just my world. Through his commitment to our family, I have come to recognize that all my hard work and dedication will pay off someday to someone. My grandpa came to America to have a better life; although he never did, he made mine better.

Undergraduate / Rice Supplements - my love for chemistry and why Rice [4]

Hello, yet again. Can you please help me with the supplements, or only one if you wish. You can choose which one. Thanks.

I mainly need proofreading, but any advice would be helpful.

College and Home

I have always been interested in science, but my AP Chemistry class jolted my enthusiasm towards chemistry. My teacher Mr. Feebeck showed me the importance of chemistry last year through various labs. Nothing appeals to me more than watching compounds undergo change and react to form new compounds. Particularly one lab sparked my interest in chemistry. (still thinking about what to do with the "particularly..." sentence)

As a replacement for the final exam, my teacher decided to give us large component labs. My lab was synthesizing soap through a process called saponification, and my variable was using different types of oils as key ingredients. I tested their acidity as well as the amount of scum each type of oil produced to see which oil would produce the best soap. Before this, I never thought I could make soap, or any type of household commodity on my own. If I, a novice chemist, could make soap, what could I make if I was an expert?

I want to apply to the Weiss School of Natural Sciences because I want to further my studies in the field of chemistry, with an emphasis on medical applications. With a top program in chemistry at Rice and a college system that fosters cooperation, there is no better place to study chemistry than at Rice.

why rice

Why would I not apply to Rice? I love how eighty two percent of all classes have less than thirty people in them. I am looking for a more personal, one-on-one approach to learning, and the smaller classes create a more personal learning atmosphere versus large lecture rooms. I love the Honor Code system. By understanding that there is a mutual trust and respect between the students and the teachers, Rice allows the students and teachers to focus more on learning and mastering the subject at hand rather than worrying if this or that student is cheating. Finally, the main reason why I want to apply to Rice is because of the Residential College system. An admissions representative even said the system is at the heart of the university. The residential college system fosters a sense of community and togetherness. I want to have famous professors and world renowned guest speakers speak at my school. I want to attend a top notch college, but I also want a home for four years as well. That rare combination of a college and a home has motivated me to choose to apply to Rice.

Undergraduate / Arts, Sciences, Engineering + Mock Trial and Volunteering - Johns Hopkins Supp [NEW]

Any help would be great, especially grammar and syntax. Just do one, if you want. Thank you!

1. Johns Hopkins offers 50 majors across the schools of Arts and Sciences and Engineering. On this application, we ask you to identify one or two that you might like to pursue here. Why did you choose the way you did? If you are undecided, why didn't you choose? (If any past courses or academic experience influenced your decision, you may include them in your essay.)

I chose to study chemistry and biology particularly because of the way it deals with how humans interact with everything from plants to other humans to everyday compound. I have always been interested in science, but my AP chemistry class has jolted my enthusiasm towards chemistry. My teacher Mr. Feebeck showed me the importance of chemistry last year through various labs. Nothing appeals to me more than watching compounds undergo change and watching compounds react to form new compounds. Particularly one lab sparked my interest in chemistry.

As a replacement for the final exam, my teacher decided to give us large component labs. My lab was synthesizing soap through saponification, and my variable was using different types of oils as key ingredients. I tested their acidity as well as the amount of scum each type of oil produced to see which oil would produce the best soap. This lab invigorated my passion for chemistry because I was able to create an everyday item by myself. Before this, I never thought I could make soap or any household commodity on my own. I want to study chemistry because of the possibilities that it brings. If I, a novice chemist, could make soap, what could I make if I was an expert? The sky is the limit, and my flight path is through chemistry.

2. A Typical student at Johns Hopkins spends less than 15 hours each week in a classroom, leaving lots of time for volunteer opportunities, clubs and organizations, athletics, social events, and other on- and off-campus activities. Aside from the academic interests you've already expressed, in what activities do you plan to engage as an undergraduate at Johns Hopkins?

Of the myriad of opportunities at Johns Hopkins, I probably will participate in Mock Trial and volunteering. My dream activity, however, would involve an internship at Johns Hopkins. I would love to really involve myself in a medical field before fully committing to a graduate school and working and getting a feel at Johns Hopkins would be the ideal condition. From what I have read, Johns Hopkins' Mock Trial team is up and coming, going from one of the worst in the nation to a top forty power. I would like to be part of such a new, yet talented team because my high school's team is very young, but we have had a lot of success. College is so much more than just grades and classes; it is about experiencing four of the best years of your life and maximizing it. With all the opportunities Johns Hopkins provides, I know I will be able to maximize my potential, inside and outside the classroom.

Undergraduate / "Walking the Dog" - Yale/Harvard Supplement [6]

You have already told us about yourself in the Common Application, with its list of activities, Short Answer, and Personal Essay. In this required second essay, tell us something that you would like us to know about you that we might not get from the rest of your application - or something that you would like a chance to say more about. Please limit your essay to fewer than 500 words.

I woke up at 6:00 AM to the call of the alarm clock: a teenager's nemesis. I put on my black Adidas sweatpants and pick out a random Jesuit t-shirt. As I walk downstairs, my dogs, Max and Sasha, hear my footsteps and proceed to bark, making sure that I know that it was time to walk them. Looking out the window, I see today's forecast was typical of Oregon: high in the mid forties, low of thirty, and rain, lots of rain.

Max and Sasha greet meet with their usual unconditional giddy and jumping. The two do not stay still as I leash them and instead progress to sniff and lick me. Walking outside, I inhale the fresh morning air; my dogs enjoy the fresh air too as I see their breaths fog up. We walk to the end of the block and proceed to turn right to a "hotspot" for my dogs. I have been waking up to walk my dog for about three weeks now. How did my grandpa do it? As my dogs sniffed the ground, I think of my grandpa who had stage three lung cancer and how he woke up every day to walk the dogs. The same grandpa who worked his entire life, toiling over open flames in restaurants his entire life, even took it upon himself to religiously exert what little strength he had to keep the dogs happy.

I continue our little stroll around the neighborhood and let them to do their business. We make our way through two more blocks in the rain. I do not like how wet I am, but my dogs love the cool weather. When we arrive home, my dogs yet again tussle with me to take their leashes off. They look down with sobbing puppy eyes, expressing their discontent that our walk is over.

I am dripping wet and tired, even before my day begins. My uncle bought these dogs. At times, I question, "Why do I have to take care of them? I never wanted them. Could not he take care of them? No. He was always on a business trip or stayed up late into the night. Maybe my grandma could walk them? No.She is too elderly and could not handle Max's roughhousing." As I go to the dryer, I see a little memorial my family made for my grandpa after he passed away. Looking at it, I thought, "You know what, if he could do it, so could I. Just take it as it is and just do it." I am honored that I get to wake up early and walk the dogs. I turn back and look at Max and Sasha. They smile back at me as a thank you for walking them.