Undergraduate / "Fly your geek flag!" one of your extracurricular activities or work experience [4]

This is for my short essay on the common app. I'll be sending it to Northwestern, USC, University of Michigan and Villanova so I really need it to stand out!

"Fly your geek flag!" These words are often spoken by my conductor and have come to define my high school experience. I originally joined choir as an outlet for my musical passions and I was lucky enough to also discover a family who fosters the very best in me. My freshman year I was a shy, awkward kid with no confidence but, through choir I've learned how to be proud of my passions and pursue them intensely. I've created my deepest relationships through choir and the eccentricities we share. There are days where the shadows of my earlier years want to reclaim my self-esteem but, by simply letting my voice join fifty-one others into one magnificent sound I feel a rush of relief as my confidence is rejuvenated.

Thanks so much.

Undergraduate / Why Northwestern? This is my dream school; perfect balance between academics, music and athletics [2]

Dream School and The Concept of Academia

I began my college search without any influence from my parents. They were as open as I was in deciding where to apply considering that I would be the first in my family to attend college. I simply began to make a list being as picky as possible with everything I could possibly want in a school. I wanted to be near a metropolis, attend a top tier engineering school, be part of a well respected music program and live among a diverse community of people as we cheered for a great football team. After considering dozens of other qualities the last thing I discovered was that my dream school existed and was known as Northwestern University.

Coming from a small town in Idaho I've always longed to escape to a big city and Chicago fits the bill quite nicely. From the rich culture of the arts to the skyscrapers housing some of the most powerful companies in the world Chicago has everything my small town doesn't. On the other hand I also really like that Northwestern is located slightly outside of Chicago in Evanston making it possible to find tranquility and recharge from all the sights and sounds of the city. The most prominent reason for choosing Northwestern though is of course Northwestern itself, specifically the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. I'm interested in pursuing a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and am fascinated by the opportunities presented to undergraduate students to conduct research with graduate students and professors such as Lance Fortnow, Nicole Immorlica and Jason Hartline. I've always been intrigued by problems of any kind and am constantly searching for innovative solutions. My most recent interests have been developed in my economics class as I become more attracted to the intersection of engineering and economics in our new digital age of commerce. This is one of many multidisciplinary fields being studied at Northwestern and all I know now is that my thirst for innovation has yet to be quenched. With an E.E. in hand from Northwestern I know I'll be prepared to head into the world and shape the future of technology and society.

When I'm not busy conducting research or studying for my next final I want to be found immersed in the musical culture of Northwestern. Music has been a part of my life since I was little playing the piano, but throughout high school, choir has taken center stage. I would absolutely love to be a part of any of the sixty a cappella groups on campus; performing across the country with Purple Haze, Undertones, Asterik or any of the in between. Yet, the more I look into it the more I'm drawn to Freshman 15. The love they all share for music, their repertoire selection, even the story of their founding strengthens my belief that Northwestern is where I belong.

Finally I look forward to being at a founding school of the Big Ten Conference and cheering on the Wildcats. Whether they're spiking a volleyball over the net or driving a football into the end zone of Ryan Field I want to take full of advantage of being at school with D-1 athletics. Aside from varsity athletics a vast array of intramural sports piques my interest. I've always had a hard time settling on a single sport. I've jumped from baseball, to basketball, to wrestling, to football and intramurals provide the perfect setting to satisfy whatever interests I decide on for my particular year of study at Northwestern. This last aspect has been the capstone cementing my faith in Northwestern as the perfect balance between academics, music and athletics. Combine this impeccable balancing act with the wonders of Chicago and I've found a university unparalleled by any other.