Undergraduate / Flexibility (taking more classes) - Northwestern Supplement [4]

"What are the unique qualities of Northwestern - and of the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying - that make you want to attend the University? In what ways do you hope to take advantage of the qualities you have identified?"

The din of the lunchroom surrounded me as I stood at the salad bar, carefully placing the best looking carrots across the top of my bowl of greens. A tall figure in blue appeared next to me, zealously heaping lettuce onto his plate. He greeted me with a smile.

"Hey, Milewski!"
"Oh, hi!" I responded, surprised at the enthusiasm of my science teacher's salutation.
"So, have you figured out what you want to study in college yet?"
My stomach dropped. The age-old question that haunts all high school seniors had found me yet again.
"Oh...not yet!" I said with a smile. "Still trying to figure it out."
Still trying to figure it out. The mantra of my year. In all the college research I do, I search for a school that is well rounded in all of its programs and treats its students with care, pushing them to excellence. Never before have I found a school with as much ingenuity and flexibility as Northwestern University and its Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

In particular, I was attracted to the high level of personal attention given to students. Small class sizes, intelligent and considerate professors, and freshman seminars with freshman advisers would all give me the feeling "of being in a small liberal arts college within the context of a major research university" (Mark Sheldon, Assistant Dean for Advising and Academic Integrity). To me, this is an incredibly important facet of college life, and would allow me to explore my strengths, weaknesses, and interests with a caring mentor. In addition, I feel that my education at the college would empower me to make a positive and lasting difference - whatever I choose to study. The diverse cultures, undergraduate research opportunities, and the Northwestern Community Development Corps would allow me to use my skills and education to serve the local and global community.

Having the opportunity to study at Northwestern University with its quarter system (rather than semester) would also give me the flexibility to explore my interests by taking more classes. At an information session I attended, I also learned about the study abroad programs the University offers - because of my love of languages and Polish parents, discovering other cultures and countries is endlessly fascinating. And other cultures and experiences are right next door, in the cultural hub of Chicago.

I can picture myself on a crisp morning, running by the shore of Lake Michigan, or letting out a primal scream before finals, or keeping vigil by The Rock before painting it. It is my hope that if were given the opportunity to attend Northwestern, "figuring it out" would no longer be something said with embarrassment. Rather, it would be a testament to the school that provides its students with opportunity, encouragement, and excellence.

Undergraduate / "waking up to nothing" - Yale - traveling, culture [2]

Hello! Just looking for someone to read and comment. I think I may need one or two more sentences at the end...
Thanks!

Yale Supplemental Essay

I can clearly recall the strange experience of waking up to nothing. My family and I had been traveling through the lonely stretches of desert in Utah as I awoke with a start in the back of our minivan, far from my home in sleepy suburban Shawnee, Kansas. As I sat up to look around, my eyed widened. Before us stretched the undulating ribbon of US highway 50, aptly nicknamed "the loneliest road in America." Void of any traces of humanity, the vast plains of red earth had no end in sight. Then, seemingly from nowhere, a city of stone rose from the ground. Towering, red skyscrapers of ancient rock amplified by the beautiful and terrifying gorges in between. To our left, on the sharp, flat cliffs that rose from the desert, were petroglyphs. These simple, beautiful drawings were over one thousand years old. They depicted animals roaming across the land, some tamed by their human counterparts. These illustrations were all that remained of the ancient tribe's life. I drew closer to the rock, and at that moment, I held my breath. I was in the presence of people long gone from this place. I pressed my cheek on that ancient rock and felt an echo deep in my soul. Never before had I felt so solid, yet so completely ungrounded.

The study of people and their way of communicating has always fascinated me. From ancient petroglyphs to my Spanish IV class, my pursuits of different languages and cultures consistently teach me something new. From a young age, I would return from our summer trips to Poland brimming with new vocabulary and factoids from the grandest of castles to the most humble of bakeries. When I grew older, my quests became more enthusiastic. I took tentative steps into new languages, traveled with my family, and actively searched for museums and cultural history. I recall a day last summer when I had a surprising reprieve from my job as a lifeguard. I made up my mind to visit all the historic sites and museums that tiny Old Shawnee Town had to offer - restored general stores, Native American graveyards, and small mansions from a time long since past. I went to bed that night, my mind racing with thoughts of Shawnee chiefs and resilient pioneers.

In the academic realm, I was quick to sign up for language classes, taking both Spanish and French in addition to working on Polish with my parents and grandparents. I relished finding connections between the languages and dreamt of the day when I could study abroad and be immersed in the cultures. I suppose at heart, I am an explorer. I constantly search for opportunities, adventures, and knowledge.