Undergraduate / "confessing all my idiosyncrasies" - Note to your Roommate [6]

Hey guys, this is my first time using essay forums. Below is the second stanford essay.

"Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommateïand usïknow you better"

Thanks in Advance!!!

Roommate,
If you were to see an eerie white glow emanating from my room at an ungodly hour in the night, do not fear! More than likely you will encounter me hunched over my computers multitasking by reading the news, listening to music, and playing a blitz game of chess on the free internet chess server.

For me, night is the time to be alive. I think best during the tranquility of the darkness. You might find it odd, but I carry a notebook with me around at night, and at frequent intervals, may scribble something down. Don't be frightened into thinking these are the actions of some sleep deprived insomniac. Some of my most creative ideas occur at night, and when they do come, I always keep a pencil and paper at the ready.

Please don't confuse my nocturnal activities as the sign of a "night owl". Rather, my midnight musings are due to my belief that every minute spent sleeping is a waste. There are things just waiting to be discovered, and here I am lost in my dreams.

If this seems rather disconcerting, I will have no problems taking a step outside, perhaps to the library or possibly to the park.
Let me see - what are my other shortcomings? It is best for two fellows to know the worst of each other before they live together.

Well. I feel compelled to warn you that there might be the occasional complaint of untidiness. Most look at my room and believe a rabid wolverine had been unleashed on an unsuspected stack of papers. But please, do not mistake my untidy working space as a sign of anarchy or laziness. As Einstein said "If a cluttered desk signs a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?". Of course, if this bothers you, I'll ensure that at least some semblance of order will be maintained.

I have confessed some of my quirks. So what of you?
(my name)

How is this?

Undergraduate / coffee -- Note to your Roommate -- Stanford essay question [7]

Here is my attempt at the room mate question. Please tear apart as you wish!

Thanks in advance :)

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

I love coffee. I love it in nearly any form, from the simple Americano to the more complex Café Breva; from the classic Cappuccino to the infamous Hammerhead.

But don't think of me as your typical caffeine junkie! I find it almost scandalous when people say coffee is simply to provide energy for those lethargic mornings and tiring all-nighters. To me, coffee serves as a respite from a rather hectic life. I maintain one of the busiest schedules I know of. Between running from class to class, preparing the agenda for my charitable organizations group to editing articles for my science magazine, there never seems to be a moment of peace.

Coffee offers some sanity in a rather frenetic life. It gives me a brief moment where I can just kick back and smell the delicious scent of the mocha in my hands, without worrying about any upcoming deadlines or pending projects. It serves as a relief, and even gives me a different outlook of the world. Even a person's personality can be likened to coffee. A man of simplicity and curtness is a simple drip brew, a black coffee with no milk; a brew that gets things done with minimal fuss. The quirky people would be eccentric Espresso Con Pannas, with an exciting whipped cream flavor dominating their personalities. I suppose I would regard myself as a Ristretto, an initially intense brew, but not unpleasant to the taste. I like an undiluted raw version of life, with all its unusual mixes of flavors and aromas.

I look forward to meeting you and finding out your particular flavor. Regardless of what it is, I am certain we will blend together well. As long as you aren't a Frappe of course - I simply abhor Frappes!

Undergraduate / "The wind of Freedom blows" - Why Stanford? [6]

This essay was the hardest one for me to write. There are so many things to say, and its so difficult for me to articulate them. I guess im simply not an eloquent man :(

Essay: Tell us what makes Stanford a good place for you

"The wind of Freedom blows".

It is this time of year where many eager students look forward to ending their high school education, and to pursue college, to mature from childhood to adulthood. To us, it is freedom; from our high schools, from our families and even sometimes from our country. This is not to say that we do not love these things, but rather that they inhibit us, limiting our perspective of the world.

But to me, Stanford's motto means far more. For me, the "wind of Freedom" symbolizes a breaking of conventions and restrictions. Rather than following the beaten paths of others, Stanford is a place to innovate; a place for unconventional solutions to unusual problems; a place to think outside the box; even if what is outside that box is frightening and unknown.

Professor Susskind's YouTube videos gave me an insight into topics I could have hardly comprehended otherwise, using simple examples to describe complex phenomena, from the quirky quantum physics to the bizarre world of string theory. His explanations radically transformed my outlook of the world, yet simultaneously left me even more mystified than before.

Stanford is unique because it combines my love for the intellectual thrill of innovation, with my views on moral obligation. Stanford's uncompleted Green Dorm project is a perfect example of this. Using salvaged wood combined with PVC to create green building materials and radiant floor systems to provide heating epitomizes the concept of taking the theoretical aspects of science, and transforming them into practical designs.

"The wind of Freedom blows" is an invitation for open scientific inquiry. But it is also a plea, a plea to keep these winds of Freedom blowing. A plea that I will gladly respond to, and hope to do so alongside Stanford.

Undergraduate / "Cerebral high school science" - Stanford Essay Intellectual vitality [5]

hey guys, this is the first stanford essay prompt.
I would love some feedback, imput, anything you have to say about my essay :)

As always, thanks in advance!

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.

What can be assembled from a broken-down bicycle, a decaying 90's CPU, and a rusted circuit board?
For me, high school science seems almost entirely cerebral: a process of identifying a problem and through reciting a set of tediously memorized, obtaining a fixed solution.

However, for me, the significance and value of a theory always lies in its application, where it truly demonstrates its benefit. So when I first heard about the engineering program with an emphasis on renewable energy production, I was instantly intrigued.

Immediately, the first concept that came to mind was hydroelectricity. Singapore is a country that experiences continuous rain, and if even a fraction was harnessed, significant amounts of energy could be generated.

However, the only materials I was given were rusted parts from an old refuse bin. I could not simply rely on a pencil and paper to find the solution. The parts wouldn't simply magically assemble themselves into a micro hydroelectric generator once a few formulas were written down.

Rather than relying on uninspiring definitions, innovation and unconventional thinking was required.
A turbine could be constructed from a run-down bicycle wheel, a computer fan could be used as the rotor, a commutator could be constructed from diodes from the circuit board...

While these answers were certainly unorthodox, they were effective, and this to me epitomizes the true purpose of science. It is not the mathematical calculations or the chemical equations that makes for riveting science, but rather it is their application to real life. This is why I am pursuing engineering: a subject where the theoretical meets the practical; where concepts become reality.

Undergraduate / 'neither recognized nor rewarded' - Common App [6]

Hey guys, heres my common app essay. my writing isnt that great so i really need suggestions and helps for improvement. Also any comments if the overall idea is any good or not. thanks

I won't lie. Walking into Central, Singapore's premier fire station, as its youngest Section Commander was a terrifying experience. What was even more frightening? Then telling a group of veterans who have been tackling catastrophes for years and saying "hey guys! My name's (INSERT NAME HERE). I'll be leading you from now on".

However, my station experiences have affected me remarkably and one particular incident is indelibly imprinted in my mind. On a lazy Sunday morning, my crew and I were dispatched to an apartment block to investigate a call. When we arrived, we were dismayed to find a seventh story unit enveloped in flames with plumes of smoke ascending miles into the air. With an inoperable lift and deficient water pressure, we struggled to even get near the blaze let alone control it. Finally, I decided to use an extinguisher in an attempt to contain the fire. It was a foolhardy move and the burns on my left arm attest to that. However this action led me to save my first life.

When I entered the room it was not the blazing inferno or the falling debris that caught my attention but rather the large green shape plodding away from the fire. It was of all things, a tortoise. Not just any tortoise, but the largest, portliest and possibly greenest tortoise that I had ever laid eyes on. Gently, I picked him up and brought him away from any immediate peril and down to his grateful owner who tearfully thanked me.

I was neither recognized nor rewarded for my actions. But this incident above all others taught me that I needn't carry a damsel out of a burning building to be a hero. It was not my bravery or skills, but rather my genuine concern for his beloved pet, that touched the owner. Through my experiences as a firefighter, I am witness to both acts of munificence on a monumental level and displays of kindness on an individual basis. Do you want to know what I've learnt? They all matter. When I do finally hang up my fire helmet, my duty does not end. There will still be those, like that tortoise, who desperately need my help.

Due to this, I chose to pursue engineering as its potential for turning theoretical ideas into practical reality greatly attracts me. First responders are constantly bogged down by their obsolete and cumbersome equipment and advancements in technology can result in us being safer and more effective. Particularly, I'm interested in spearheading movements to create new types of breeching (a type of forward pump) as well as to involve myself in the innovative CAFS (compressed air foam system) which potentially could revolutionize firefighting. Even if I can't operationally be on the ground, I can still support and contribute to others' lives.

I would like to believe that right now that tortoise is somewhere lounging under the sun eating a juicy lettuce leaf, thanking the fireman who saved him.

Undergraduate / 'Malaysian road' - Stanford -- Intellectual vitality [2]

hey guys, this is my response to the stanford supplement essay question. Im quite worried that i didnt answer the question, if im talking enough why this experience was intellectually stimulating. Anyway, tear apart my essay as you guys wish!

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

Searing heat; a forsaken strip of Malaysian road; nonexistent satellite reception. This was the situation I faced last summer when my vintage Mitsubishi Lancer stuttered to a stop on the way to Kuala Lumpur. An exciting road trip with three close friends, minimal supplies and a mountain of soft drinks had quickly evolved into a nightmare.

As the only member of our ill prepared group of adventurers with any knowledge of car anatomy, it fell upon me to remedy this problem. When I opened to hood of the car to inspect the engine, I was able to glean that the float of the carburetor ï a mechanism controlling the air-fuel mixture consumed by the engine ï had disintegrated. This was a nightmare situation. The 'textbook' solution was contacting AutoShepard Free Shipping Agency and request them to send down a carb rebuild kit. As you can imagine, this answer wasn't met with by much enthusiasm.

Only after hours of failure and disappointment as every idea I had faltered, an epiphany finally struck. I took out a ball point pen, disassembled it and picked out the barrel. I disengaged the fuel line and gently removed the carb. With the barrel and some rubber bands I managed to create a makeshift carb. To my amazement it worked. Perhaps not gracefully, but the car could move.

This incident profoundly changed my view on what an engineer truly is. Engineering is not a vocation but in my opinion a philosophy combining the creativity of an artist with the pragmatism of a scientist in order to innovate. There is a sublime joy in attempting to find unconventional solutions to everyday problems. Those hours spent toiling under the sun in a god-forsaken strip of land covered in grease and sweat was one of the most intellectual stimulating and dare I say it, fun, times in my life. Combining basic knowledge with creativity as well as a fair amount of luck in what at that time seemed like a catastrophe was captivating. I dream of being an "engineer", a true innovator of insight, adaptability and creativity.

Undergraduate / Introducing myself to a roommate -- Oreos and Nutella [2]

Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. What would you want your freshman year roommate to know about you? Tell us something about you that will help your roommate -- and us -- know you better.

Well, if we're to be roommates, we are going to be spending quite a lot of time together so it might be best that you know my shortcomings beforehand.

It may seem a bit peculiar to you initially so I best explain now so we can get over the awkwardness that will likely follow. I absolutely insist on a minimum of two fire extinguishers in our room. As an ex firefighter, I strongly believe in fire safety (perhaps a tad fanatically) and considering that when I attempt to cook, a disaster is simply waiting to happen. On that note, perhaps it is best if I'm banned from the kitchen. Considering my signature dish is oreos dipped in Nutella, I know my tastes tend to terrify people, particularly my mum. Although personally I think anyone who hasn't tried my Nutella crusted Oreos is severely missing out on one of life's greatest pleasures.

I'll be quite frank with you, I don't plan on being in the dorm all that much. I would rather be tinkering down in the lab or relaxing at the nearest coffee shop than being confined in my room. I do warn you however, I have a horrible habit for spontaneous road trips. When the lull of boredom overcomes me I can't help but want to explore. Particularly with Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose just a car ride away, it seems an injustice not to do so.

So what does this all mean? Will I cause the kitchen to combust into flames? Unlikely.

Will I try to drag you along on hastily planned road trips? Definitely.

Will I make for a boring roommate? I'll let you decide.

Undergraduate / Stanford -- what matters to you: my torchlight [3]

Here is my last Stanford essay. i find the ending of this to be the weakest but im not sure how i can change it! Suggestions? thanks in advance guys!

What matters to you and why?

Crawling through the crevices and dark confines of the collapsed building in search of any casualties, with soot and debris obscuring my vision, I rely entirely on the seemingly mundane artifact strapped to my helmet; my small pelican torchlight.

It is difficult not to become attached to the instrument that saves your life. My pelican is graffitied, decorated and continuously maintained in the effort that I never lose it. Even off duty I still inconspicuously carry around that torchlight. My job regularly involves me and my men descending into areas of limited to no visibility, where a wrong move could result in serious injury or worse. Through my many experiences I have come to depend my pelican torchlight not just for the illumination it provides in even the most smoke logged atmospheres but also its capacity to help me locate those in peril.

Just this February, I located a drowning man using my pelican after which I was able to dive in and pull him to safety. The torchlight may not be the most used tool in my arsenal, or the most important piece of equipment that I have, but to me, it is an embodiment of my ability to save lives. Like in the aforementioned example, it provides a vital resource - light - which if without, I would be impotent at my true passion: lifesaving. As a firefighter I regularly encounter death and occasionally I have walked the fine line between it and life. However I believe these experiences gave me the courage to put my own life as collateral for others as well as give me the wisdom to appreciate the merit of even an unassuming torchlight.

Undergraduate / "Hey, don't Play Play!" - What matters to me and why (stanford) [3]

Okay, because of the common disapproval of my previous entry on this question, i tried another approach. I really need a person to help me out with the grammar of this because seriously, my grammar is really down the drain. Also tell me what you think of this idea. Be honest and harsh! thanks guys!

What matters to you and why?
"Hey, don't Play Play!"

Those words from an elderly woman chiding my six year old self for playing on with the library computers still resonates in my mind today. It was my first brush with the peculiar dialect Singlish; the product of various south Asian languages mingling. As someone who was raised to speak in only 'Standard' English, Singlish sounded to me as if the English language was held up at gunpoint and rifled for any punctuation.

But over time I have become very proud and somewhat psychotically defensive of this much blunt, impatient, clipped sounding language. My job entails me to cooperate and often lead men of varying backgrounds and cultures, and the repercussions of communication breakdowns in my vocation can potentially be fatal. I am still shocked at how much I now rely on the language, when recently I unconsciously reprimanded one of my new recruits using the very same line that old lady used against me. The unifying language of Singlish is what enables me to be understood, and allows me command and control my men.

Singlish matters to me not only as a means of communication but also as it symbolizes personally the cultural diversity I grew up with. Singlish is a spicy mix of English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil - all languages of cultures which have molded me. I am as influenced by the customs of the Hungry Ghost Festival as I am of Hari Raya Haji, Deepavali and Christmas. Even though I might not belong to the respective religions, I still celebrate these events with my friends, family and community. Singlish represents the multiculturalism that is as much part of the fabric of Singapore as it is of me.

Undergraduate / 'Sobering Comedy': What matters to you and why [2]

Sigh, my third attempt at this essay. I think my ideas are getting better, but my execution is getting worse...Help guys!

BTW, im a firefighter and first responder. Its in my transcript and also described in another essay although in a different context.

What matters to you and why?

Covered in a mixture of motor oil and blood, I walked towards the ambulance deafened and blinded by the sirens. I held my precious cargo with my outstretched arm: a severed human arm. As I approached my senior investigative officer, I gave a grim smile and asked: "wanna hand?"

My profession is a sobering one. I witness suicides, attend to burn victims and most traumatizing, I attempt to comfort the grieving. This grim reality seems as distant from comedy, or humour, as one could imagine. Yet joviality, the sheer ability to find comedy in tragedy, has over time become my most important ability. Although comedy is occasionally viewed as a sign of immaturity, I personally rely on it to get through the real tensions and stresses of day to day existence. Encountering such tragic situations in such unfiltered ways has led me to value the power of laughter. It is that joyous moment where for an instant, body and souls are gloriously in unison.

Taken out of context, undoubtedly my sense of "gallows humour" seems inappropriate and in some cases cruel even though it remains strictly private and between professionals. However, it isn't a cover for cruelty, but my own expression of resilience as well as an emotional catharsis. Underlying all my jokes and hilarity is a very sober realization. There is little I can do about the unfortunate events that happen, but I can control my mentality towards these circumstances. Confronted with the fragility of life so graphically has made me deal with the enormity of what I do with black humour. The spell of laughter has allowed me to create the greatest memories out of the even the worst of times and turned pain into uncontrollable chuckles.