Undergraduate / MIT "World You Come From" - Rural India [2]

Describe the world you come from. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations? [250]

As the sun set the dirt roads quickly became pitch dark. I dug my hand into my pocket for my lighter and flipped on a tiny LED to find my way through the village. As I stepped indoors my family had begun to light lanterns throughout the house.

Electricity is a luxury in rural India, where it is only available for as little as eight hours a day. 400 million Indians are forced to completely live without it. When I would visit, I experienced the shoddy electrical infrastructure; the power lines are crude, unshielded, and often targets for thieves who steal electricity off of the grid because they cannot afford it.

One day my baby cousin was playing outside when an unshielded power line snapped and fell on him. He was instantly electrocuted and killed.
How is it that one of the world's most populated countries is severely lacking in something as basic as a stable electrical infrastructure - and what could I do about it?

Since the incident I strove to make a change. I began to research energy engineering and harvesting. I worked with Rutgers University and developed a solar power concentrator, a 'smart' solar panel modification that constantly finds the optimal source of sunlight and absorbs it. I made the project blueprints and code open source in hopes of helping others.

Undergraduate / Stanford Intellectual Vitality Essay - Combat Robotics [2]

Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been important to your intellectual development.

Enormous, deadly titanium machines of monstrosity, equipped with buzzsaws, beaters and blades, displayed behind a thin piece of glass. This is what my engineering hallway looks like - a glorious showcase of combat robots.

Being a programming student, I had never held a soldering iron in my life. But just as I passed that hallway, I knew I wanted to get involved and learn how to make my own combat robot. Unfortunately, there were no formal classes - just a project period. Regardless, I decided to check it out.

Self learning robotics was a monumental task - it required an enormous amount of drive and dedication. CAD software drafting, milling pieces, assembling the chassis, and wiring circuitry - learning each of these steps involved a ton of trial and error and experimentation. Although it was a bit embarrassing, I wasn't afraid to ask the engineering students questions - "What's a caliper?".

At last, I had completed my first robot, and I felt confident enough in entering it in a competition. Combat robotics is risky - in seconds your months of work and precious design could be crushed beyond repair. I gripped my remote control and revved my weapon motors, spinning a titanium blade at the opponent. The whistle blew; sparks burst as our menacing vehicles of destruction collided and flipped wildly in the air. The intensity, sleepless nights of careful engineering, adrenaline-invoking danger and endless strategies - I was finally experiencing the thrill of combat robotics first-hand.

Now, engineering is an important part of my life. I learned to take risks - anything can be done as long as you have the time and dedication put into it. Now, as I pass the engineering hallway, I see my robot on that showcase. I'm glad I took the opportunity and initiative to learn combat robotics.

At Stanford, I realize that there are opportunities and things that I have never seen before; fascinating new technologies and fields that would blow my mind. I'm excited to take advantage of such opportunities, reach out and get involved.

Undergraduate / Stanford Roommate Essay - My Life in Statistics [6]

This is a risky essay idea that I decided to follow through with. The prompt is to write a letter to your future roommate at Stanford. What do you think of it?

Hey Roomie,

I'm <censored>, and for my past three high school summers, I decided to keep a detailed daily log book of my activities. I made a goal to do at least three noteworthy things each day. This helps for two reasons: it helps me remember and appreciate the smaller stuff, and it motivates me to do meaningful things instead of waste my summer away. I then decided to compile all this data and share some statistics about my lifestyle with you as a way of introducing myself. I hope you'll find them interesting!

1. Went out somewhere (63%): I like to explore! Coming from New York City, I can't begin to imagine all of the exciting, unique culture at Stanford and the west coast.

2. Ate out somewhere (35%): I absolutely love food - trying new cuisines and discovering new places to eat is one of my favorite things to do. You'd be surprised how much a good meal can turn a bad day upside down for me.

3. Learned something new (30%): I do my best to reach out of my comfort zone, take a risk, and learn from the experience!

4. Cooked something (22%): I consider myself a decent chef! When I'm not out looking for new food, I'm usually cooking it at home - and I'd be glad to share a portion with you.

5. Went to the park (22%): What's a summer without the outdoors? Frisbee, basketball, soccer - sports are my favorite way to unwind.

6. Went to a party (16%): Non-alcoholic parties, mind you! Even though I take my work seriously, it's important getting loose once in a while. Once a week I make it a habit of dropping what I'm doing and reminding myself that life isn't all about work.

7. Fixed someone's computer (11%): If you're decently educated with computers, don't make my mistake of revealing it to your relatives. Once you fix one problem for them, you'll be their go-to "computer genius" for all of their other tech issues. Play it safe, my friend.

I hope these statistics paint a clearer picture of me for you, and I look forward to our adventures together!

Sincerely,
<censored>