Undergraduate / 'I don't know.' - Common app for Princeton, Columbia, Harvey [7]

Hello!
This is my common app main essay. Since I'm not much of a writer, I've had a quite a hard time with it. Any constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated :D

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.

'I don't know.' This was my most commonly used phrase when I first entered high school. I knew so little, and there was so much to learn, and I had no idea where to begin. In fact, my own character was alien to me. THIS was what I feared the most. Not the fear of failure in academics, or any other activity, but being uncertain - uncertain about my preferences, my opinions, my aspirations, myself. At times, I felt different. I felt that my ideas would be rejected and I would be condemned. Not only did this uncertainty make me insecure, but it hampered my ability to make decisions, and lessened my confidence in those decisions. Not understanding a concept or action was already annoying; not understanding myself, that elevated the annoyance and fear to catastrophic levels. But just when I felt like I was bursting apart at my emotional seams, she came into my life.

Dagny Taggart, the main protagonist of Atlas Shrugged, a product of Ayn Rand's creative genius, is my mentor. In a time when women were expected to fade into oblivion, she was the strong willed vice president of her family's transcontinental railroad. As an assertive powerful business executive, and an engineer by profession, she was, I soon realized, the paragon of everything that I wished to be. She knew what was right, she knew what she wanted, and most importantly, she firmly believed that what she wanted was right. "You don't have to see through the eyes of others, hold onto yours, stand on your own judgment, you know that what is, is-say it aloud, like the holiest of prayers, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise." The aforesaid lines, as quoted by Dagny, made me realize what my problem was and gave me strength to accept myself as I was. That was the first step I took on the journey of self discovery. Sure, I encountered failures in life, but I had the courage to accept myself as a person different from the rest, and at that time, it was all that mattered. Moreover, the realization that I was a unique entity in this vast universe made me feel special.

Not only did she help me gain confidence in myself, Dagny Taggart served as an ideal role model when I was on the road to overcoming my identity crisis. Despite facing many an obstacle, be it the loss of human resources due to the prevalent brain drain, the opposition she faced from her company or the lack of public support, she remained undeterred, and with unwavering confidence, sought to win. Her calm rationality, and passion and dedication towards her work have inspired me to work to the best of my abilities, for whatever it is that I believe in and love to do.

It might seem silly and exaggerated, but Dagny has shaped me into the person that I am today. I consider myself to be a strong opinioned feminist, and have no reservations about expressing my thoughts and ideas. The timid, introverted girl has now grown into someone who loves to interact with people, and believes in herself. Because that faith, that self confidence, I've learnt, is all it takes to transform a life.

Undergraduate / 'create technology' - What attracts you to the field of Engineering? Columbia. [9]

Please post your comments and suggestions :-)

'Why?' This question has plagued my mind from as far back as I can remember. I have an unquenchable thirst to get to the bottom of things, and the enigmatic universe has only further aggravated my curiosity. I discovered my passion for the sciences in early childhood, and there has never been any doubt about what I wanted to do with my life. I remember, as a girl of 10, taking my computer apart, because I wanted to see those 'insect-like things' inside, wearing a silly smile for my mother. In high school, my interest in physics, mathematics and computer programming grew, along with my love for machines and awed respect for the developing technologies. Studying the basics of electromagnetism and electronics has made me realize that it is in that field that my interest lies. Diodes, semiconductors, transistors, IC's: the intricacy and perfection with which these devices are developed, and the way they have become indispensable to mankind in such a short time span amazes, and in a childish way, excites me. Ever since I've had the slightest idea about engineering, I've wanted to be an engineer. Engineers, with their creativity, skill and application of science, and amazing analytical and logical thinking, create technology. I am a believer in technology and its power to redefine our lives. I want to turn into reality the technologies that I've always dreamed of. I want to be an engineer.

Undergraduate / 'nature and science in harmony' - columbia supplement short essay [6]

Please tell us what appeals most to you about columbia and why?
(1500 characters)

"Why Columbia?"

I dream. My dream is of a future where nature and science exists in perfect harmony. My dream is of a world where every voice is heard and every opinion considered. My dream is to grow and to help others grow. My dream is to lead. My dream is Columbia.

Columbia is, undoubtedly, an institution par excellence. The stellar academics and research facilities, under the guidance of some of the best professors in the world and the amazing 'CORE', which embodies in a student all the necessary qualities of a well rounded individual, along with its majestic campus and its location in the heart of the world's heart, make Columbia perfect. And for me, numero uno.

What appeals most to me about Columbia though, is the warmth and exuberance it reflects, the ideals by which it stands, and the precision with which it hones its determined students into skilled individuals- individuals who thing big, think smart, work hard and raise the standards of society, individuals who not only aspire to make a difference in the world but diligently work towards a better future, individuals who lead.

"...And hence, Columbia."
(1135 characters)

Is it too short? Too vague? Too general?
Any feedback would be really appreciated. : )

Undergraduate / Engineering - What department at MIT appeals to me and why? [2]

Very important to me, any criticism will be gladly accepted and appreciated :-)

Although you may not yet know what you want to major in, which department or program at MIT appeals to you and why? (*) (100 words or fewer)

Studying the basics of electromagnetism and electronics in high school, and an increasing fondness for programming made me realize where my interests lay. Semiconductors, transistors, IC's: the intricacy of these devices, and the way they have become indispensable to mankind, in a childish way, excites me. The Electrical engineering and computer science department at MIT, with labs such as LEES and RLE, and amazing UROP facilities, under the guidance of the world's best researchers, would enable me to research in electronics and communication systems design and improve the efficiency of electronic systems. Albeit challenging, it will hone me into an engineer with the ability to create technology and change lives, which is what I aspire to be.

Undergraduate / 'Education is limitless' - short answer- co-curricular activity (Teaching) [3]

Submitting tonight, any help would be greatly appreciated!

Education is limitless. It is a two-way process; everyone has something to teach. I learned this first-hand while tutoring little children, as well as students of my age, in the youth-for-youth program in my school. Being with the kids, I realized that I was more of a student than a teacher, because my little angels taught me so much. Seeing the faces of my students brighten up at the sight of a simple 'Good!', and their love and innocence made me appreciative of the small things in life, no matter how insignificant. My colleagues asked questions that perplexed me, and made me question my own strength of the subject. However, in the process of answering them, I learned where I was going wrong, worked on my weaknesses with added zeal and improved my own concepts, whilst helping my peers better their academic performance. The satisfaction I feel when my students do well in a test is incomparable, and these are memories that I will cherish forever.

Undergraduate / "I shop!" - MIT -Tell us something you do for the pleasure of it. [5]

I shop! The smell of new clothes and shoes, the thrill of a sale, the sound of the cashier-a shopping splurge is my weekly dosage of unadulterated happiness as, accompanied by my equally enthusiastic mother and sister, I embark on my therapeutic adventure. To me, fashion is not just about donning the latest 'trends'; it is a showcase of my character, interests and my little idiosyncrasies. And of course, the thought of looking good gives an ordinary science nerd like me a boost of self confidence. The nerdy behavior is evident in these little escapades, in application of combination theory to determine the number of ways of styling the outfits, my random lectures on the structure of nylon-6,6 and the dramatic shift my wardrobe makes from dark shades in winter to white tanks in the unendurable summers(more reflection=less absorption, obviously!). A trip to the mall is an exercise in economics, as my frugal mind tries to minimize the cost, and of course an exercise in itself, with the magnitude of Dubai malls tending to infinity. Shopping is truly a thought-provoking, character-defining, and family bonding experience, and one that I enjoy thoroughly.

Really need to cut down on the words, any suggestions/feedback?

Undergraduate / 'electromagnetism and electronics' - Pratt Engineering [3]

If you are applying to the Pratt School of Engineering, please discuss why you want to study engineering and why you would like to study at Duke.

I have always been a curious kid, with an unquenchable thirst to get to the bottom of things, and the enigmatic universe has only further aggravated my curiosity. Maybe that was what drove me to science, ever since I was little. I remember, as a girl of 10, taking my computer apart, because I wanted to see those 'insect-like things' inside. In high school, my interest in physics, mathematics and computer programming grew, along with my love for machines and awed respect for the developing technologies. As I delved deeper into the sciences, I realized how they were so relevant to our lives, not just in terms of understanding the universe, but understanding the principles of life itself. Physics, to me, is the science of life; it amazes me to see how the fundamental laws, such as Newton's laws, and the law of conservation of energy, apply to human behavior as well; Chemistry is the executioner, dissecting and understanding the details of life at the minute level, and mathematics serves as the tool to understand the extent of permeability of the these two in our lives. The beauty and interconnectivity of science is truly scintillating.

Studying the basics of electromagnetism and electronics has made me realize that it is in that field that my interest lies. Semiconductors, transistors, IC's: the intricacy and perfection with which these devices are developed, and the way they have become indispensable to mankind in such a short time, amazes, and in a childish way, excites me. There is so much to discover, and for me, engineering is the gateway to understanding how the world and our systems function. Engineers, with their creativity, skill and application of science, and analytical and logical thinking, create technology. I am a believer in technology and its power to redefine our lives. I want to create technology.

Pratt school of engineering at Duke, with its multitude of research centers and groups, would enable me to conduct research in the field of electronics and system design under the guidance of world class faculty. In pursuit of a more wholesome education, I would like to double major in electrical engineering and economics, so as to cater better to the needs of mankind. The CEINT holds a special appeal, for some day, I hope to further specialize in nanotechnology, a field with tremendous scope in electronics, medicine and energy production, and minimize its cost and cons, especially those related to the environment. What appeals to me most about Duke, however, is the warmth it reflects, the strong rapport its students and faculty share, and the way it hones its students into individuals who think big, think smart and make a difference in the world.