Undergraduate / Chemistry, Global Network, John Lennon - NYU Supplement [4]

Hey Guys!
Okay, so I've done my NYU suppliment and need to condense it. The second response is 499 characters and I need to condense the first and third responses to be 500 characters or less. Please help me out! Thank You!

Here are my responses:

Please tell us what led you to select both your anticipated academic area(s) of study and the NYU school / college / program or the Abu Dhabi campus. What interests you most about your intended discipline? Mention any extracurricular or non-school-related activities or experiences that demonstrate your interest.

Chemistry was a science that truly stimulated my intellectual curiosity. It intrigued me how chemical reactions in our body kept us alive and how without modern chemistry, pharmaceuticals would cease to exist. After volunteering at my local hospital, I realized that chemistry was not at all a limited science, but a science that had scope. I was amazed at how chemistry powerfully applied to industrial and medicinal development. I believe the College of Arts and Sciences at NYU will help enhance my passion for chemistry and garner insight about how it can be applied to real life.

NYU is 'In and of the City' and 'In and of the World.' What does the concept of a global network university mean to you? How do you think studying in New York City, Abu Dhabi, or one of NYU's global sites would change you as a person and equip you to build cross-cultural relationships at NYU and beyond?

A global network university is one that embraces all forms of diversity, cultural standards, and ethnic backgrounds. As such, NYU combines the intellect and perspectives of different cultures to shape the way we perceive and behave as global scholars. By studying in NYC, I will develop new ideas and beliefs that will allow me to build my character and eventually take part in the global initiative, where I will take advantage of many opportunities and challenge myself to the best of my ability.

Undergraduate / "prominent core curriculum and prestigious faculty" - Columbia Supplement [2]

Any suggestions are appreciated. Criticize me very harshly!!! Feel free to change anything.

1. Please tell us what you find most appealing about Columbia and why:

What I find most appealing about Columbia University is its prominent core curriculum and prestigious faculty.

Columbia's education is responsible for numerous creative thinkers and visionaries. The core curriculum at Columbia University teaches students to become worldly and to appreciate subjects outside their realm of familiarity and/or interests. Aspiring to become an engineer, I will learn how to express and discuss my ideas freely with other students. Although engineers have a dominant focus on the technicalities of their careers, by taking classes such as "Contemporary Civilization" and "Music Humanities" I will strive to become well-rounded and well-versed in other disciplines.

In addition to the core, the outstanding and innovative faculty at Columbia University is very alluring. The dedication with which professors and researchers at Columbia work will have an immense impact on my intellectual growth and application of theory to reality. Because the student to teacher ratio at Columbia is very small, professors are much more accessible to their students. By working alongside ingenious professors at the college, I will develop healthy, academic relationships and my capacity to discover new knowledge will significantly increase.

By attending Columbia University, I will be equipped with the tools to venture beyond the known boundaries of our current understanding of fundamental concepts.

Undergraduate / "As an imminent chemical engineer..." - Stony Brook University Supplement Common App [2]

I have 1,624 characters in this essay and my limit is 1,500. Any suggestions on cutting it down and making it stand out will be much appreciated!

Briefly state why you are considering Stony Brook University:

What appeals to me the most about Stony Brook University is the amount of research and academic opportunities that it offers to undergraduates. When I first read about "URECA," an acronym for "Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities" it strangely sounded a lot like "Eureka," a term coined by Archimedes that expresses triumph of discovering or solving something. That is exactly what I hope to do at this university. By interacting with research mentors and creating research projects, I will be able to discover new things and expand my knowledge beyond the classroom. Furthermore, 'Celebration of Undergraduate Research & Creativity' a scholastic celebration through URECA, will permit me to present my own research to undergraduates and familiarize myself with research conducted by my fellow peers. It will truly be a stimulating experience.

As an imminent chemical engineer, another reason why I am considering Stony Brook University is because of its strong dedication to science and engineering. The Chemical and Molecular Engineering department at Stony Brook University will force me to connect notional ideas learnt in the classroom with hands-on experience. Located a few miles from the main campus, The Brookhaven National Laboratory will give me the ability to utilize state-of-the-art research facilities. Additionally, from the internships available at the university, I will gain communication, management, and collaborative skills that will help me in my pursuit of becoming a chemical engineer.

The opportunities are endless and with an education from Stony Brook University, I can only succeed.

Undergraduate / "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" - Most Meaningful Book - Columbia [3]

Please tell us what you found meaningful about one of the above mentioned books, publications or cultural events.

"The Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom is an outstanding and heartwarming novel in which the author provokes strong sentiment in his readers while instilling a moral within every chapter. 


The protagonist of the story, Eddie, encounters five people in heaven whose lives he has influenced. In one scene, Eddie meets a man who sacrificed his own life in order to save Eddie's. Because Eddie was too young to understand what had happened at that point in time, he was never able to acknowledge the Blue man for his heroic deed. Reading this scene made me both melancholy and reflective. The pleasures we find in life often cause our surroundings to be neglected; the people who may seem to just pass by may actually provide us with the greatest simplicities of life.




By provoking these thoughts, Mitch Albom changed the way I viewed the people around me. Surely people have affected my life positively in ways I am unaware of and to never credit them for their generosity is impertinent. In fact, these thoughts provide the wiring which connect the morals of the book to my own existence. This brilliant literary work captures the essence of the unexamined aspects of life, something only a handful of authors have accomplished.