Undergraduate / 'Tennis career' - 1000 Character Extracurricular Short Response [3]

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

There is no such thing as perfection in tennis. Losing is an acceptable part of this sport, and in my 8 years of playing tennis, I have lost more games than I have won. Losing does not destroy my confidence; instead, it brings me back to the court, only feeding my hunger to improve. The most crucial part of tennis, the service, has always been the low point of my tennis career. Whenever I thought that I had mastered this skill, my countless double faults in my games had set me back to the basics. My service was also a dreadful setback in my 9th grade varsity tryouts. When Coach Rodriguez told me that I had not made the team, I immediately knew what I had failed to execute. Over the next year, I persisted in practicing the fundamentals of my service not until I had reached perfection, but until I had consistency. This consistency led to my placement in varsity. The successes and failures that I have experienced from tennis have taught me to be a better player and a better individual.

Undergraduate / "We need more pies!" - University of Michigan Supplement #1 [2]

Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. (Approximately 250 words)

"We need more pies!" The "pie-cutter" leader at our table had demanded. We had just run out pies to cut, but there were many more food boxes to fill. It was the perennial Equinox Thanksgiving Food Bank, an event where multiple organizations join together to provide service for the less fortunate. I was present, just like I had been in the past two years, among the crowd of "pie-cutters", thinking about people around me. It was the night before Thanksgiving, which meant that there was no school next day. Yet, as I looked around, everyone seemed to be vivacious and content about spending their night in this manner. We were not forced; instead, it was all based on our interest. This is how I'm defined; my dedication to community service is a large part of my identity.

For me, community service is not a task; instead, it is a hobby. When I walk onto a service project, it's a relief to know that I am working with people who are welcoming and share the same interests as me. We work to give the fortune that we possess in our lives to the people who are in need of it.

Most people think that people waste of time in community service because it is just giving and not receiving, but it's more than that. It's about learning. I learn to be more mature and more accepting about my community. We learn to be better initiators through the values of community service.

Undergraduate / (Math, science, and art) UMICH SUPPLEMENT-what attracts me [3]

Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests? (500 words maximum)

I want to finish my undergraduate studies in the same manner that I will finish my high school career. By the time I graduate college, I want to say that I have fulfilled all of my wants and needs by taking advantage of almost all of opportunities offered. University of Michigan's College of Literature, Sciences & the Arts (LSA) and the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design offer the undergraduate education that I seek.

Math, science, and art have always been my forte because, for me, they are the most intriguing subjects. Science and math continue to challenge me every day, and by accepting these challenges, I have strengthened my logical and conceptual reasoning and learned a wealth of information. On the other hand, art allows my brain to relax and my imagination to let loose. Boring is a word that never comes up in the subject of art because I can express myself explicitly on a piece of art work in a variety of different ways with a variety of different media. University of Michigan (UM) offers the flexibility I need to achieve satisfaction with my undergraduate studies by taking courses related to math, science, and art.

University of Michigan's LSA offers one the world's best pre-medical school education and research. If accepted, my major in biology, and research and education from UM's Health Sciences Scholars Program will definitely qualify me as a medical school-ready applicant. However, I don't just plan to major in a science field. I want to go beyond what is needed. If accepted, I'll plan to major in a math field such as economics in LSA and minor in the visual arts in the School of Arts & Design. This way, I can assure my interests in math and art also. University of Michigan's educational opportunity is the not the only aspect that attracts me, the balance, diversity, and freedom offered at Michigan also play a tremendous role.

I think of UM as a great, big bowl of ice cream. The great chunks of different flavored ice cream represent UM's education, extracurricular organizations, and social life. While other schools only offer one flavor of ice cream, UM offers all flavors and accepts any combination. The toppings on the ice cream represent student diversity. With the enrollment of over 40,000 students, there is no shortage of diversity and extracurricular activities and it is easy to find anyone or any group one desires. Also, the city of Ann Arbor provides the perfect college-town setting. The bowl that holds the ice cream represents UM's commitment to providing an incredible undergraduate and graduate experience. If accepted, I will be sure to take my time to build a nice bowl of ice cream and eat it without leaving anything behind.