Undergraduate / 'moment I have in badminton' Common App Activities Short Answer [NEW]

Prompt: Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in the space below (1000 character maximum).

There's a moment I have in badminton, when my opponent has just served to me, and I know exactly how I'll return her shot and where my hit will land, so that there's a likely chance she won't be able to receive. Given my complete lack of coordination in athletics, this is an unexpected twist. But badminton has been the one sport that's stuck with me ever since I picked up my first racquet in third grade. Basketball, ballet, soccer - those were fleeting. They've never given me the rush I get from returning a forceful smash, or hearing the satisfying thwack that indicates the power in my clear as I hit the birdie across the court. Sure, badminton practice can be tedious. And there are times when I miss all my shots, lose all my games and am struggling to not give in to frustration. But I'll always keep playing, simply because this is what I love doing. When I play, I get an intensity no other sport will ever offer.

Grammar/word flow/content tips and suggestions are welcome!

Undergraduate / 'endless activities' - Why NYU? Supplement [7]

Prompt: Why NYU?

At NYU, there's so much doing on, endless activities that my hometown will never be able to offer. Is it the guest lecturer coming to talk about the latest development in biology? Is it the film screening being held in Washington Square Park? In a city teeming with millions, there's no end to the possibilities. I have a chance to pursue my education outside of the classroom, to gain that "real-world" experience, to figure out the answer to the age old question adults love to ask: What do I want to do with my life?

The liberal arts program of CAS would give me the opportunity to involve myself in both biology and literature, two unrelated fields of study that have both captured my interest. Not only that, by taking the core classes, I might even discover a hidden passion. Perhaps I hold a dormant zeal for economics - who knows?

Current students at NYU talk of the freedom they've found here. It's not a "lets-go-wild" freedom, but a degree of independence. I'll be living on my own, in control of my plans and my time. I'll have to learn how to support myself, how to balance my work and my education, how to lay down reachable goals to work for. These skills are not taught, but slowly acquired.

At NYU, I hope to not only broaden my perspective outside of the suburbs where I live, but to discover my ambitions and emerge enlightened.

Is the ending too...stupid? Does my passion come through? Be as blunt as you want!

Undergraduate / Emory Supplement Essay - "A New Adventure" [4]

Prompt: What are the unique qualities of Emory University, and the specific school(s) to which you are applying (Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Oxford College, or both), that make you want to become part of Emory University? In what ways do you hope to take advantage of the qualities you have identified?

There's only so much my hometown can offer. I'm more than ready to engage in a new adventure for the next four years.

Emory, with its flexible curriculum, provides a wide range of opportunities. Under the college, I'll be able to pursue biology and writing - two unrelated fields of study that have both captured my interest. Who knows where it'll take me? Perhaps I'll double major and write figurative prose on the microbiology of E. Coli. Not only that, the liberal arts program would allow me to gain a degree of knowledge in a variety of subjects I normally would never take. Maybe I'll even find a new passion - a hidden zeal for economics, perchance, or an unforeseen enthusiasm for humanities.

As a current student puts it, Emory values quality over quantity. Instead of an overabundance of large introductory science classes, seminars and special topic courses are offered that target specific subjects within biology. Many of these cross over with other subjects, like psychology and anthropology. Through this, I'll be able to explore topics in many fields I'm curious about.

Emory also seeks to take things outside of the classroom, whether it's with their Engaged Learning approach or the opportunities of internships within Atlanta, one of the major cities of the South. Education here is more than just bookwork - I can achieve a wider understanding with "real-world" experience, discover the answer to that age-old question adults love to ask: "What do you want to do with your life?"

Do you guys think my desire to attend Emory really shows?