Undergraduate / "sharing a space with Austin's nerd" - Stanford -Roommate and Intellectual vitality [6]

Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate - and us - know you better

Hey roomie,

I hope you're excited about sharing a space with Austin's finest nerd. However, I think you should know exactly what you're getting yourself into.

I'm no songbird, but I love to sing. Whenever I'm home alone, I blast the Beatles, kick off my shoes and dance around "singing" the lyrics I know by heart. I'm not confined to being a Beatles freak, though. I think Talking Heads should be prescribed as an anti-depressant and Dylan is an absolute staple in any music collection. I'll listen to just about anything, excluding most Country, Heavy Metal and Rap. Even then, I make exceptions; you have to look up the video for "Girl Directions" by Psychostick.

I'm also a huge film buff. I don't have a television set, so I watch movies on my laptop. Anchorman has to be one of the greatest comedies of the past decade. My friends and I dressed up as the Channel 4 News Team for Halloween. I wore my moustache with pride, channeling my inner man as Brian Fantana. I may also be slightly infatuated with Han Solo (I told you I was a nerd).

Our relationship should be smooth sailing, as long as you don't mind if I stock our fridge with things like tofu, frozen Indian food, and concentrated chai. I'm a vegetarian, although not the type that'll fixate on converting you to "the cause."

As you can tell, I'm serious yet silly, and opinionated yet open-minded. I can't wait to meet you at Stanford.

See you next fall,
Grace

Stanford students are widely known to possess a sense of intellectual vitality. Tell us about an idea or an experience you have had that you find intellectually engaging

Roaming the neighborhood last night with my dog, I was struck by the enigma that is human civilization. We suffocate the Earth with an eternal stretch of pavement, which winds between the dwellings of a mentally advanced species. As a member of society, how can I come to terms with being part of the problem; one reluctant soldier in the conflict between the civilized and the uncivilized? Perhaps the differences between the two aren't as clear-cut as they appear. The indigenous peoples of our planet live in harmony with the land, relying on no pretentious notions of superiority. My English class raised these issues while wading through the jungle of Conrad's Heart of Darkness. I'm fascinated by our discussions in part because I believe we could learn much from the native cultures of the world. A champion for the study of humanity, I seek a degree in anthropology with the intent of learning about different cultures and applying the knowledge to our own society. I want to be part of the solution, not the problem. Obviously, we must work within the constructs and confines of the society we have built, but a hybrid lifestyle stemming from the adoption of a more "earthy" mindset is a viable option I would like to explore.

I look forward to your advice and criticism. Looking through the other essays that respond to these prompts, I feel quite intimidated. I admit that I just threw these together today and I'm not sure if I should just scrap the second one and start over. Let me know what y'all think.

Undergraduate / Animal Rights: UT-Issue of Personal Importance [8]

University of Texas
Personal Essay 2
Choose an issue of importance to you-the issue could be personal, school related, local, political, or international in scope-and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community, or your generation.

An untamed child of the Earth, I felt a kinship early-on with animals. Our farm dogs accepted me as a member of the pack, and we gamboled in the pasture. Tiger the yellow tabby accompanied me on evening strolls. I wore only long-sleeves and jeans inside the house because Willie, a rather chunky squirrel we raised, climbed our tree-trunk bodies with razor-sharp claws. As a kid, I called animals family. Today, I make choices that support my love for all creatures.

Having moved to the city last year, we brought no pets with us. My mom and I missed having a big family, so we started to think about getting a cat or a dog. Mom wanted to buy a puppy, but I feel strongly about adoption. We settled on a wild-eyed rescued border collie with the energy of a pup and the belief that he is a five pound lap dog. By going to an animal shelter, not a breeder, we give these animals a second chance and a new family.

I may be an animal-lover, but I'm also a meat-lover. I swoon at the smell of a juicy steak on the grill. Chicken korma makes drool like a dog. However, eleven months ago I made a bet with myself. The challenge was simple: forgo meat for a month. January flew by and I just kept going. Vegetarianism feels right; each day that I make simple choices like spicy tofu instead of a roast beef sandwich, I'm saving lives and fighting animal cruelty. One should honor one's convictions. Mine tell me that the corrupt nature of the meat industries and the pain inflicted upon animals eclipse the pleasure we take from meat.

A small family in a big city, we consist of four individuals: My mom, a frisky dog 'Bear', a prissy cat 'Frida', and me. Each night, I take Bear for a neighborhood caper and I play with the huntress Frida, who can never be let outside; she would decimate the bird population. And each day, I follow my beliefs as I work for animal rights with small choices that add up.

Book Reports / Heart of Darkness Essay (Economics: A Study of Consumption) [3]

Critique on this essay on the distortion of progress?

Economics: A Study of Consumption

Conrad establishes a clear conflict between the civilized and the uncivilized in Heart of Darkness. The civilized elevate certain principles as societal ideals such as equality of opportunity, justice and intellectualism. The civilized peoples of the earth often try to impress their values onto the perceived 'savages'. They justify their actions with a higher purpose, either in the name of God or in the name of progress for the good of mankind. Civilized man values the ideal of progress because moral progress separates the man from his primordial nature, effectively restraining the best within. In Heart of Darkness, Conrad criticizes the failure of civilized men to live up to the ideal of spreading moral progress through the changes within Kurtz and the distortion of moral progress to economic progress.

"The changes take place inside, you know," (137) Marlow's medical examiner mysteriously foreshadows the changes in temperament and beliefs of Kurtz. Kurtz arrives in the jungles of Africa with dreams of bearing the torch of progress and civilization to the savages of the Congo to uplift them: "He bothered me enough when he was here. "Each station should be like a beacon on the road towards better things, a centre for trade of course, but also for humanising, improving, instructing." Conceive you-that ass!'" (162). Conrad illustrates the ranking involved in the process of achieving 'better things' for humanity through a crescendo of clauses. This reveals that Kurtz's intentions in the establishment of trading posts hold profit as the lesser goal and instruction and education as the true objectives. However, as the wilderness "caresse him...take him, love him...consume his flesh," (179) Kurtz finds himself changing physically and morally. A now skeletal being, Kurtz no longer strives to educate and civilize the natives, but rather uses them as his personal labor force. Kurtz's failure to make the dream of moral progress a reality demonstrates Conrad's criticism of civilization's failure to achieve ideals as Kurtz symbolizes civilization and his corrupted ideals represent society's principles.

Conrad condemns civilization's failure to live up to its ideal of moral progress through the distortion of moral and intellectual progress to economic progress, which is not in the best interests of all parties involved. The naïve citizens of Europe, who have not ventured into Africa, suffer from the delusion that the primary goal of occupying the Congo is to "[wean] those ignorant millions from their horrid ways" (138). Marlow half-heartedly attempts to enlighten his aunt to the true motives of the Company: profit. Marlow's encounter with the accountant demonstrates the self-interest of the modern day 'conquistadors', more wrapped up in vanity than in education or moral progress: "He had been out nearly three years; and, later on, I could not help asking him how he managed to sport such linen. He had just the faintest blush, and said modestly, 'I've been teaching one of the native women about the station. It was difficult. She had a distaste for the work'" (145). Conrad lightly mocks Europeans' fixation on keeping up appearances through diction choices like "faintest blush" and "modestly." The accountant should have been instructing the native women about self-sustaining practices or Christianity, not how to weave fine European linen. When Marlow finally meets Kurtz, he anticipates a man of high morals; a champion of moral progress. However, Kurtz appears to have fallen victim to the distorted ideals like other Company employees. The Manager condemns Kurtz's method of collecting ivory not because of its immorality, but because of its lack of economic foresight: "'Mr. Kurtz has done more harm than good to the Company...We must be cautious yet. The district is closed to us for a time! Deplorable! Upon the whole, the trade will suffer. I don't deny that there is a remarkable quantity of ivory-mostly fossil. We must save it, at all events- but look how precarious the position is- and why? Because the method is unsound'" (195). Conrad demonstrates his disappointment with society's execution of a righteous principle (moral progress) by twisting it into an immoral standard (economic progress).

Conrad's social commentary on the discrepancy between ideals and realities encourages the readers of Heart of Darkness to question their personal beliefs, as well as the collective principles of their societies. At its core, this novel acts as a nudge, pushing you to examine what you believe in and whether or not you act in accordance with your values. The book certainly lacks optimism about the nature of man, as no characters stay true to their society's ideal of moral progress when confronted with the darkness of the human heart. Let it be a lesson to us: we must be watchful of our actions as we engage in the eternal struggle to balance our ideals with the chained beast within.

Undergraduate / "Guru in a Surfer's Body": Brown Admissions Essay [4]

What is the best piece of advice you've ever been given, and why?

With the moon high over Santa Fe, my mom swung our van into the hotel parking lot. We checked in, deposited our bags in the room and I convinced my mom to proceed directly to the hot tub.

I cranked up the jets, immersing us in steamy bubbles. I fashioned myself a foam beard to the amusement of my mom. Our moment of repose after a long drive was short-lived. A highly attractive boy, complete with sun-kissed skin and shaggy brown hair, stepped into the froth and introduced himself as Aaron. Of course, he was Californian.

My mother, being a chatty extrovert, struck up a conversation whilst I ogled the young man. My mother's sudden inclusion of me in the discussion jolted me from my admiring glances.

"Yes, Grace is going to be a senior," She divulged, smirking in my general direction, well-aware that he was just my type.

"Tight. Do you know where you're applying?" He inquired, shifting towards me.

"Yeah, Brown's my first choice. But, the University of Texas is my backup."

"Great school. I ended up at Humboldt. Nowhere else would take me," he joked.

We spoke of Europe, the Ethnographic Show in Santa Fe, and our sister cities: Austin and Berkeley. Then, came a slight pause. Aaron stroked his non-existent beard and decided to impart upon me the sage advice of a college application process survivor.

"Grace, you seem pretty chill. But, when you're going through the torture that is college admissions and you're freaking out-because you will-I want you to take a step back. Think about it, this is your senior year. Don't get so bogged down in the future that you forget about the present. So, just don't forget to have fun," he spoke as my guru in a surfer's body.

Four months later, I'm waist-deep in college applications but I keep an emergency reserve of fun in my pocket. Whenever I feel frazzled, I call up my friends and we head to the park for a late-night rendezvous. We practice yoga on the grassy turf and my comrades attempt to teach me how to cartwheel, a skill I never learned. We frolic in the sprinklers, drenching me in fun and I feel my anxiety fade away. Yes, I'm concerned about where I'll be a year from now, but the immediate adventure lays in the present-in the excitement of each day.

On that particular day in old Santa Fe, the hotel manager kicked us out of the pool area at closing time, but as I grabbed my towel and turned to say good night, Aaron made a small leap to the future.

"So, do you want to hang out tomorrow? I'll be by the pool all afternoon."

Undergraduate / "AIDS Prevention" - Stanford-Intellectual Vitality [4]

Stanford students are widely known to possess a sense of intellectual vitality. Tell us about an idea or an experience you have had that you find intellectually engaging.

Junior year, I explored giant sacks of donated clothing, pricing garments to be sold in the thrift shop. I began volunteering under the AIDS Services of Austin with a vague understanding of the disease. To be honest, I couldn't fathom how the virus could continue terrorizing our world when the word about AIDS was out: practice safe sex.

While perusing a cultural anthropology text, my interest in that particular enigma was once again sparked and a flame of understanding grew. To spread awareness about sexually transmitted diseases and their prevention methods is not enough. We must also study the cultural and social factors influencing the behavior of at-risk individuals. An anthropological approach examines the implications of gender roles, beliefs about sex, issues of fidelity and lack of communication about sex.

Let us briefly observe South Africa. Society teaches Xhosa women to be submissive; expressing sexual desires and initiating discussions about condoms are deemed taboo acts. Men, too, remain hesitant to suggest the use of condoms. The proposal of safe sex may provoke suspicions of fidelity from sexual partners. In addition, condom use is believed to waste sperm, when men are expected to preserve their clan's continuity through procreation. Although STD clinics in South Africa present the facts about AIDS and encourage prevention, cultural influences present obstacles to combatting the spread of AIDS.

My mind awoken, I contemplate the next step: designing a prevention program with cultural factors taken into consideration. As always, there remains a catch: how can we reconcile traditional cultural beliefs and patterns with the health issues of today? Food for thought, I'll be gnawing on that puzzle for quite some time.

A curious individual, I originally settled on anthropology as a major because of my varied interests and the general, liberal-arts nature of anthropology. I wish to study anthropological applications to modern, global concerns in addition to continuing to pursue my passions, which include literature, language, dance and history. Cornell's undergraduate anthropology program offers the broad education I wish to obtain while still allowing the freedom to concentrate in global quandaries.

Thank you for your criticism and thoughts!
Deadline in three days :)

Undergraduate / Stanford essay-"subjected to raging humidity" [2]

Tell us what makes Stanford a good place for you.

I want to wake up, stretch, open my window, and gaze upon the physical beauty of sunny California. Oh, let me drive down to the beach, kick off my shoes and barrel into the ocean with friends or hike amongst the Redwoods one lazy week-end!

Growing up in Texas, I've been subjected to raging humidity and heat. Growing up in Austin, I've been blessed with a diverse, liberal community with many opportunities to explore other cultures and lifestyles. I perceive parallels between my Texan oasis and your progressive state, such as cultural diversity and liberal ideology. These are important to me, especially as I plan to study cultural anthropology. Living amongst such a heterogeneous assortment of individuals should advance my cultural understanding as a global citizen and as a student of humanity.

People describe me as quirky. I believe I gained this reputation due to an unmistakably individualist perspective in addition to a voracious appetite for fun. Perusing Stanford's website, I discovered insights into the student body's personality. The students appear not only intellectual, but fun and actively engaged beyond the classroom. I desire a community that stimulates me intellectually, but doesn't take itself too seriously. Stanford boasts the sense of humor and vivacity that I seek.

The ideal undergraduate experience lies in a friendly, intellectually-stimulating environment-preferably against the backdrop of temperate California. Stanford's diversity, opportunity and personality speak to me. Bring on the academic challenges; just equip me with engaging peers and I'll pack my sense of humor.