Undergraduate / brown supplements - the response. [4]

So here's the response for the Brown Supplement. I usually have trouble conveying what is in my mind onto paper, and I hope I achieved the purpose:

Tell us about the academic areas that interest you most and your reasons for applying to Brown.
1600 characters

I am someone that knows what I want. Ever since middle school I have been attracted to the sciences and would enjoy being a doctor or a scientist in the future. It is rather different for a woman to be interested in the science classes, but I feel that is where I belong. Furthermore, I thrive on challenges even though I may not always succeed right away. The one science class that I truly have a passion for is chemistry. I admit that it can be a challenging course and I struggle with it at times, but in the end I find myself enjoying solving these chemical formulas and performing lab experiments. I feel that I learnt something new everyday when I took chemistry. I sense that I would be the most comfortable at Brown. With the freedom in the course curriculum, I know that I will be able to reach my career goal by attending Brown. While I work on my distribution requirements for the math and science classes, I also have the opportunity to take some classes out of my comfort zone. This way I will be able to become a better well rounded student. It will be quite different at first, but I will find a way to adjust because I would learn something completely unique to me. I need the freedom to study as much as I want and for no one to judge me. And I believe that Brown will be the best fit for me. At the same time since the environment of Brown is more collaborative than competitive it seems like I will still have times to relax and set my mind. Brown will help me organize my priorities and still leave time for my other interests such as volleyball and community service projects.

How did you become interested in Brown, e.g., college counselor, undergraduate, relative, web site?
900 characters

Even though Brown is an Ivy League school, it took me awhile to discover the uniqueness it has to offer. Last year second semester of my junior year, I participated in a college tour with my school and we went on a tour of the campus. I had no idea what to expect, but by the end of the tour I realized that this is where I need to be. One story that a tour guide told us intrigued me and I have never forgot it since then. His story fit my criteria of how I have the freedom to express my intelligence. He mentioned that everyone on his dorm floor contributed notes for a test by adding notes to the wall of the dorm floor. Everyone saw what each other had to say and their notes eventually helped them succeed. Although it is a rather unique approach to study for a test, it seems that a collaborative approach always helps in the way as opposed to independent study.

Undergraduate / 'maybe talked about food too much' - Why Bates supplement [7]

Why, in particular, do you wish to attend Bates?
Answer in 2 to 3 paragraphs

I want to make a difference. I don't have to change the world, but I want to make something of myself in college. I want to do internships, conduct a research project with a professor, to be a committed sports fan, and to help out in the community. I believe that Bates will give me the chance to pursue all these goals while I can still maintain my sanity. The 4-4-1 calendar will give me time to participate in many activities that may not be possible at other schools. In the final 5 week course, I could take advantage of this time and finally commit to a job. And with all these multitude of opportunities I hope to begin a new life at Bates.

I love to eat food whenever I want. I like how I would not be limited to the amount of food that I can eat per week if I were to attend Bates. When I go to college, this place is going to be my new home for the next four years of my life. I want to make this new location feel as close to home as possible. At home my mom does not tell me that I can only eat 20 meals for the week, so I should not be told the maximum meals I can get per week at my new home. When I was told of the unlimited meals for the meal plan I was ecstatic because I knew that my experience at this school would be even better for me. This school seems to be made for me. Bates seems to know that I love food, and is welcoming me with open arms to come to its school.

so when i showed it to my mom she thought that i maybe talked about food too much. is that true? and would the school think that I'm obese for some reason, because I'm totally not. any advise please?

Undergraduate / common app essay-nigerian culture [2]

So this is the Common app essay. I answered the question: A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.

I am proud to be a Nigerian. I love my culture and the diverse background that I come from. Being brought up as a Nigerian has taught me to be more open minded and better able to understand individual differences in others. As a first generation American, there are some Nigerian traditions that are different from the American culture I still have to respect even though I may not understand them. However by abiding to these traditions has let me grow up with a better appreciation of other cultures including my own. Whenever I see a Nigerian adult I have to call them auntie or uncle, and I have to greet elders by kneeling down to them, and the strict background that my parents have raised me in has caused me to take a greater appreciation towards work and a greater respect to others. These acts of respect show how proud I am to be a Nigerian-American.

Respect in the Nigerian culture is very important. All traditions that are upheld revolve around respect. The act of kneeling down to elders reveals a lot about a person in the Nigerian culture. When a child kneels down to an older person it shows how well brought up the child is, he or she is respectful, and that he or she actually values Nigerian traditions. I want to reflect all these things about me when I kneel down to elders. I do not kneel down just to please my parents, but for self-respect. After those few minutes I meet a person I do not want to be known as the girl that showed no respect to her elders. I care how I am represented as a person. I do not want to be the reason for why my parents or anybody else is looked upon poorly. No matter where I am I make sure that if anyone were to meet me that I am representing myself the way that I would like to be remembered. Through this tradition that I follow, I value other cultures that may have unorthodox traditions too. I understand and can relate to the way that Asians have to bow down to their elders. I do not view it as strange or odd, but I know exactly how they feel or why they have to bow down to their elders. Again, it is all about respect. I may now even understand why Aretha Franklin wants respect, too. She wants to treat others with the same respect that she wants to be treated with as well. And I am able to understand what she means through my own experiences as a Nigerian.

One particular experience that I encountered was at a family friend's graduation. I stood with my family, and then I see a herd of Nigerians coming in my direction. I only recognize a few adults' faces, and the rest are just new faces to me. Even though I have never met some of these people before I knew the proper thing to do was to greet myself by kneeling down to the elders. One has to treat one another as if they are family. That day I had to kneel down to every elder that I knew already or did not know. I never really understood why I greeted people the way that I do, but I simply could not let my parents down. Although I am a Nigerian - American, I want to continue the traditions of my ancestral country. However I do not only want to kneel down to elders or call these strangers my aunts or uncles, but I want to represent who I am as a person through these acts of respect.

I want to continue these Nigerian traditions mostly to stay connected with my roots. They are very meaningful to me because that is the only way that I can connect to my home country for which I have yet to visit. Keeping the culture, eating the food, wearing the traditional clothing, and listening to the native music is the only way that I can relive the culture even though I am not actually in the country. And by continuing these traditions has given me a broader understanding of cultural differences too. Some people may not understand the same cultural differences that I recognize, but at least I can speak to diversity and I am open to anything that comes my way.

Any advise please??

Undergraduate / common app short answer (work at the hospital) [3]

In the space provided below, please elaborate on one of your activities. (extracurricular, personal activities, or work experience)(150 words or fewer).

Having worked at the hospital for almost two years has helped me prepare for the real world at least in terms of a job. I go to the Women's Unit once a week for four hour shifts. I have to rely on myself to get there on time and if I do show up late I have to make up for the time by staying later. There are the usual tasks that I have to do on my own. I clean the cribs, ask all the moms if they need anything, discharge the patients, make the charts that the nurses use later for the admitted mothers to be, and basically just attend to the nurses for anything that needs to be done. I've rather enjoyed doing all the work that needs to be done, because by doing all the menial tasks has brought me to the realization of hopefully becoming a doctor in the future.

does it answer the prompt fully?

Undergraduate / 'Chemistry and new people' - Why do I want to apply to Emory University? [5]

Many students decide to apply to Emory University based on our size, location, reputation, and yes, the weather. Besides these valid reasons as a possible college choice, why is Emory University a particularly good match for you.

What does Emory University not have to offer? From what I can tell it seems that Emory has everything. Believe it or not, I could attend college in a small town and at the same time in a big metropolitan city. I find the Oxford College option very appealing. I do not have to go straight into the big city life, but can live on a small campus with a close-knit community. Most of my classes won't have more than 30 students. Therefore, I know the professors will give me the close personal attention that I need to succeed in the classes.

At the same time Emory will give me the chance to have hands on experience on various subjects instead of just being limited to the classroom. I could broaden my knowledge in the labs, library and trips into town. Another great opportunity would be to participate in the theory/practice/service learning (TPSL) courses. Although chemistry is usually a course done in the classroom and lab I could explore other approaches to the subject such as working on a biodiesal project for the Earth Day celebration that a fellow Emory student, Brenda Harman, was able to conduct. I would love to experience what else is out there in the world besides what is just on the campus or what I am already familiar with. I could achieve this goal by participating in the study abroad program. I've realized that college is the only time I will have to travel abroad for a semester or even a year. I might as well take advantage of the opportunity to travel and learn in a new, unfamiliar country. I could possibly take part in Chemistry Studies in Italy. I have only been to Italy once, but I will be able to appreciate the culture more by staying there for months and also attending school.

Not only I am interested in what the courses will bring to my education, but I am also looking forward to the many connections that Emory will give me during my time at the school and after I graduate. Since there is a well-noted hospital on campus I will have the chance to attain a multitude of opportunities for an internship. I could hopefully continue my volunteer work at the hospital or shadow a doctor to see what it really takes to be a doctor. And I am very interested in undergraduate research and I believe that Emory has all the resources I need. I enjoy discovering about new concepts about diseases and the various things that exist in the world.

I also enjoy meeting new people. Emory is diverse in their academics and in the community of people. There is about 50% of minorities on both the Oxford and Emory campus. That will give me even a better chance to learn and discover other things about people's various cultures. I am open to learn more and open my mind to other people's perspectives when necessary.

Then Atlanta has so much to offer besides for just entertainment. There are about 700 fortune 500 companies that exist in Atlanta. That gives me at least 700 chances to get a job, 700 ways to learn something new about the business world, and 700 ways to make some sort of a connection for my future career. I want to broaden my knowledge on other topics besides what I am already comfortable with. I will discover the town by going to museums, attending festivals, and just try new things while I am there on the campus and the city itself.

I somehow did this in less than an hour. The grammar may be a lil off. I need some feedback please to make sure it answers the prompt effectively. Thank you in advance!