Undergraduate / STANFORD SUPPLEMENT- letter to roommate "challenge accepted" [2]

Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate -- and us -- know you better. (250 word limit.)

Greetings, roommate!
For starters, you should know that I can be a bit high-energy. I often get overly excited about small things and am very enthusiastic about most endeavors ranging from trying new foods to debating the potential of superheroes to spontaneous walks along the beach which, coming from Ohio, will probably fascinate me endlessly. I am a chronic rambler, Batman fanatic, granola bar hoarder, and consider meeting people different from myself a hobby. I am an optimist and value a sense of humor. If I crack up uncontrollably without apparent cause, please humor me (punpunpun!)- It means I made a joke. I possess a very prominent inner dork and art junkie. I am also easily lost in the world of literature; I hope that you will either join me there or allow me to dedicate a corner of our room to a library. I am a thought-addict and believe that the only thing better than saying things that make others think is hearing things that make myself think. I apologize in advance in case I drift off mid-conversation, it usually means I've entered pondering-mode. And finally, beware: I am ridiculously arachnophobic but weak in the actual eight-legged-creepy-crawly-squashing field. I hope you are prepared to be a steadfast spider-slayer. I have heard many things about college, one being that after a year of imprisonment, you and your roommate will surely be arch enemies awaiting only the sweet liberation of graduation... But to this I say, challenge accepted.

Any advice/critique would be much appreciated! Thanks :)

Undergraduate / Archeaology of quotes - STANFORD SUPPLEMENT - What matters to you [6]

What matters to you, and why? (250 word limit.)

More often than not, within a minute of meeting someone I will have asked about their name, school (if applicable), favorite food, and favorite quote. With time I may forget the first three but will always remember the fourth. To me, words reveal as much about the listener as they do the speaker.

Over the years, I have collected a small library of quote diaries: Some are philosophical, others are witty, and still others are just plain ludicrous. I value these slips of insight because they force me to think. Every quote I come across is a small piece of history with a unique context, cause, and effect. It is this aspect that fascinates me, as piecing together the stories behind a quote forms an enigmatic sort of puzzle; I make it a source of entertainment to uncover the story behind each snippet.

It is my belief that an active mind is the most treasured possession anyone could ask for and that vigilant maintenance of this liveliness is key. This allows for imagination and innovation, the agents of progress, but at the core must lay a stimulant. While others may solve Rubik's Cubes or play Sudoku to actuate their minds, for me the finest mental workout exists in the archaeology of quotes. Although I do not have a single definite favorite, I live by the idea that "an opportunity becomes an experience when you seize it". Now, as promised before the minute ends, what's your favorite quote? Think about it. (250/250 words)

Thanks in advance for any advice!!

Undergraduate / Science Olympiad / Teaching position in China - EXTRACURRICULAR ESSAY--Which one? [5]

These 150 word extracurricular essays seem to be everywhere on Commonapp but I can't decide which one to use... I do have a personal preference but I would like to get some more feedback from others :) Please read both (they're short!) and help me choose!

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular or work experiences (150 word limit)

Essay #1
Of my extracurriculars, Science Olympiad has become a mixed blessing. As a sophomore, joining "Scioly" proved to be one of the most testing endeavors of my high school career as I'd simultaneously joined Speech and Debate. This combo was disputed and the core Swarovski-clear: these two organizations refused coexistence. However, I spoke with the coaches, set my bones, and scribbled two registration forms. Though I was proud of my decision, my Scioly position was challenged. Members of "Towers" skipped meetings or dropped out, until I was building alone at night and living off coffee each morning; In short, Towers collapsed faster than its towers. Worn from frustration, I pursued bettering performance to regain the loyalty I'd lost, and eventually did. Initially I was accustomed to solitude, even preferred it when many Loctite-victimized fingers exhausted our superglue removal supply. But in the end, Scioly gave me limitless opportunities and relationships with the most incredible teammates, for which I could not be more thankful. **162 words right now and a very rough draft:\\

Essay #2
This summer I was offered a brief teaching position at a High School in China. I was excited though jittery while boarding the plane, having never taught students my own age even without a language barrier. Upon my arrival, the school was decrepit and unventilated with rats that gnawed at the electrical wires and yet the students seemed to glow with an inexpressible gratitude for simply attending. Seeing their joy made me guiltily conscious of my own lifestyle which reeked of thanklessness by comparison. We exchanged knowledge and they taught me the customs of my own culture and introduced me to the city, bringing me to their favorite street markets and eateries. Different as we were, the bonds we had freely established ran deep and we still stay in contact. In three weeks I had learned more about cultural adaptability and gratefulness than I had in the past seventeen years. **Exactly 150 words

Undergraduate / STANFORD SUPP- intellectual vitality- CULTURE AND MORALITY [5]

Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been important to your intellectual development. (250 word limit.)
I am a self-proclaimed cultural fanatic. But even more so, a morality freak. Concepts of right and wrong never fail to engage me as does diversity. Having traveled a good deal in recent years, I have hybridized these two obsessions and a new fixation has arisen: The Cultural Basis of Relative Morality.

For years I was a staunch believer in absolute morality, a standpoint only fortified by my Christian upbringing. However, investigations of diversity formed observations and, from those observations, questions. Lots of them. For example, why was spitting on the ground "wrong" in America but routinely acceptable in China? The answer here was simple: Culture. But that raised yet another inquiry: Can there be moral variation within a uniform culture? It is this that piqued my interest. How can right and wrong vary based on the individual? How is it that "Thou shalt not kill" is preached daily and yet our pastor's son is a soldier?

The answer is context. Every action has a time and place that deems it moral or immoral in context, a concept otherwise known as relative morality. Initially this sounds like an excuse but it is undeniably practical. Absolutism is predictable and mankind has consistently proven itself to be anything but predictable. Perhaps it is ideal but relative morality is necessary as circumstantial variances form the basis of diversity. Nonetheless, absolutism unites us in humanity. Now a new issue has emerged: Which is more important, diversity or humanity? For what is humanity without diversity?

Does the essay make sense and is it even slightly convincing? Also- are there too many questions? They fit fine before but now it seems a little like a rhetoric overdose.. I had some trouble cutting an original essay down to meet the 250 word limit and am not quite sure that it flows/is cohesive anymore :\ Please help!

Undergraduate / WHY DUKE SUPP- Pratt School of Engineering- puzzles [4]

If you are applying to the Pratt School of Engineering as either a first year or transfer applicant, please discuss why you want to study engineering and why you would like to study at Duke. (Please limit your response to no more than 150 words.)

My earliest childhood memories all contain puzzles: Sudoku, Rubik's Cubes, tangrams- thinking puzzles. They were pleasantly time-consuming and offered the reward of a Lemonhead from my parents. I grew up with the belief that the greatest power given to mankind was that of problem solving.

I later joined Science Olympiad and discovered that searching for solutions was just as enjoyable as asking questions. Even so, I struggled to visualize myself as an engineer, deciding that creation should be reserved for those with bigger notions than my own. However, Duke's reassurance that engineering was an opportunity for anyone with an idea and the ambition to craft reality encouraged me. Furthermore, a unique focus on research would maximize the undergraduate experience. At Duke I could challenge myself and accomplish more than I can currently dream of. Engineering involves an infinite number of puzzles and at Duke I could begin by solving one.

Feedback appreciated!

Undergraduate / Unlimited flexibility - WHY PENN ENGINEERING- supplement [5]

The Admissions Committee would like to learn why you are a good fit for your undergraduate school choice (College of Arts and Sciences, School of Nursing, The Wharton School, or Penn Engineering). Please tell us about specific academic, service, and/or research opportunities at the University of Pennsylvania that resonate with your background, interests, and goals. (400-650 words)

**I am applying the Penn Engineering for Biomed. Any feedback would be appreciated, thanks in advance!

My earliest childhood memories are full of puzzles: Sudoku, Rubik's Cubes, tangrams- thinking puzzles. Time-consuming and mildly-addicting, they offered intensive mental workouts and so I grew up convinced that the greatest power given to mankind was that of problem solving. At the University of Pennsylvania I could harness this power. Penn Engineering is distinctly multidimensional as it stresses the importance of a hands-on approach and commitment towards global citizenship all the while encouraging interdisciplinary education throughout its diverse yet close-knit campus.

Perhaps the most distinguishing aspect of Penn Engineering, a unique focus on real-world application carefully sculpts puzzle-loving undergraduates into the future agents of scientific and technological progress. At Penn, not only are students well-learned in elaborate theories and all things hypothetical, they are constantly driven to the next level: Application. Here the curriculum is structured not around the classroom but around the world. Specifically, the real world. I am eager to tackle tasks such as the Senior Design Project which is precisely integrated into the Penn experience to encourage innovation, ingenuity, and the ambition to craft reality. Rather than a fortified focus on self, the University of Pennsylvania persistently produces active global citizens equipped to impact the world.

To me, community service has always been just as valuable as academics and I have struggled with structuring a balance between the two for my upcoming college years. How am I to continue my passion for service alongside a rigorous curriculum in engineering? Penn Engineering abolished those doubts. As a Penn Engineer, the prospects are boundless and auspiciously predesigned for hopelessly conflicted freshmen such as myself. Penn Engineering's awareness and contribution span the campus and stretch into the beautiful city of Philadelphia where science outreach programs for local schools would benefit both the community and myself as they would allow me to sustain my passion for teaching.

Furthermore, Penn's continued pursuit of ambitious projects such as Penn Connects 2.0 exposes an attitude of admirable positivity and determination. Through these endeavors, Penn's commitment to the true "application of knowledge for the greater good" has manifested itself throughout the community. However, Penn's involvement expands beyond even that and across the globe: Unique study abroad opportunities organized by the Global Biomedical Service Program as well as innovative and challenging expeditions undertaken by Engineers Without Borders would sate my desire for cultural exploration while likewise giving back. Whether it be improving the water system of a village in Cameroon, researching neuromusculoskeletal disorders in China, or holding science workshops at the local middle school, the impact of Penn students on a global scale is undeniably ubiquitous.

Aside from universal assimilation, Penn also provides the privilege of unlimited flexibility right on campus. With an engineering program that promotes interdisciplinary exploration, I could pursue interests in business and political science even while refining the problem-solving mind of an engineer. Penn clearly embraces the importance of versatility and it is this progressiveness that establishes Penn Engineering as not a follower but a pioneer of development.

Lastly, Penn's size and location are beyond ideal. Coming from a class of eight hundred students, I yearn for preservation of the vibrant student body I've known throughout high school yet also the intimate class sizes advertised by college. Here Penn strikes the ultimate balance. With thousands of undergraduate students and countless student-led activities, diversity flourishes at Penn. However, with a concise student to professor ratio and small engineering classes, the close relationships and deeper level learning I crave are guaranteed.

It is in the aspiring culture of the University of Pennsylvania in which I hope to one day thrive. Globally committed and concentrated on a practical approach, Penn Engineering would invite me to enter as an open-minded freshman and allow me to graduate with the diploma of universal citizenship. It is without a doubt that the puzzles in engineering are infinite but at Penn I could begin by solving one.

Undergraduate / WHY UCHICAGO-- where I love coffee, microscopes, and people. [4]

How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago. (500 words max) Please help with grammar and overall feedback. Thanks! :]

There are few things I truly love in this world and among them, coffee, microscopes, and people. Suffice to say, the University of Chicago has all three. But does not every populated university with a science program and campus cafe offer the same?

Not quite.
My first love: Coffee. Ah, the sweet aroma of a Starbucks Caramel Macchiato. The buttery caramel drizzle, the dash of Espresso Roast, the thirty-two grams of sugar surging through my veins and faithfully increasing my odds of clinical illness. Coffee siphons me away from my midsized suburban home and into big cities where the spirit of adventure shimmers through the air. At UChicago, enchantment equates a forty minute bike ride along the coast of Lake Michigan. The city of Chicago is a bustling metropolis overflowing with cultural, intellectual, and social dynamism. Here lie countless outreach opportunities encouraging me to continue my passion for teaching, ambitious internships promising experience in the "real world", and even art museums to fuel my inner Picasso (not to mention ample coffee shops). It is in this atmosphere of inspirational vitality in which I hope to one day thrive. Coffee is symbolic of adventure and that is exactly what can be found at UChicago.

When not exploring the city, my time and efforts would be loyally devoted to my second love: Microscopes. Microscopes and their ability to make the unseen, well, seen, have always been a source of fascination for me. Led by an elite world-class faculty and encompassing more microscopes than I can dream of, UChicago's Bioengineering program will truly challenge my potential while refining the diagnostic mind of an engineer. I am eager to develop my skills in the Fermilab, surrounded by the latest technologies, and equally excited to use those skills to benefit others through programs such as the Urban Health Initiative. As community service has always been important to me, opportunities around South Side would fuse passion with academic pursuit, allowing me to contribute to meaningful developments while simultaneously bettering myself.

Lastly, I have not abandoned my third love: People. Specifically, weird people. Like myself. I consider meeting new people a hobby and the community at UChicago will positively satisfy this obsession daily. With hundreds of student organizations to choose from, I can freely pursue present passions in music, art, religion, and debate while also sparking countless new interests. UChicago is traditionally untraditional and proudly so. With shenanigans spanning a Scavenger Hunt and Midnight Breakfasts, UChicago guarantees four years without the threat of monotony.

So no, the opportunities found at UChicago are not quite like those of other schools; in fact, they are quite unparalleled. Rivals may advertise coffee shops but they cannot compare to the caffeinated vivacity of The Windy City. Other schools may boast of science programs but none with sight equivalent to that of UChicago. And finally, though every campus retains its fair share of novelty, no other student body can quite compare to the wacky community I hope to join at UChicago.

Undergraduate / Licking tigers - UCHICAGO- favorites supplement-- Dr. Seuss and painting [4]

Share with us a few of your favorite books, poems, authors, films, plays, pieces of music, musicians, performers, paintings, artists, blogs, magazines, or newspapers. Feel free to touch on one, some, or all of the categories listed, or add a category of your own. (500 words) Please help with grammar/ awkward phrasings/ general feedback! Thanks :)

"I licked thirty tigers today!" I announced in disjointed English. My parents exchanged a bewildered look and silently questioned the teachings of American schools. I had just returned from my first day of preschool where I had read my first English book. Even after moving to America, it wasn't until I entered preschool that I began hearing English on a daily basis. With preschool came Lunchables, naptime, and Dr. Seuss. Eventually, my parents realized that licking tigers was not, as they had feared, my objective in life, but rather the single English phrase I had rehearsed throughout that day. The Seuss masterpiece "I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today" marked my introduction to English literature and so, though my days in Seussville are far behind me, it remains to be my favorite book.

Summer of 2005 found me sprinting towards the closing doors of the neighborhood bookstore, clenching a ten dollar bill, sporting broken glasses, and bleeding from the forehead as I fended off a masked cult member with a broken tree branch. "Expelliarmus!" I shrieked at my attacker. Kevin arced through the air, losing his Death Eater mask in his pretend flight. "You can't always use that!" he protested. But of course I could. I was Harry Potter. At midnight, I ran home triumphant, whooping gleefully and swinging a brand new just-released copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince over my head.

The next day, I shouted "I give up!" and glared at a blank canvas. I fidgeted on my stool and looked sheepishly towards Grandpa Hong, my art teacher. He smiled patiently and gestured

towards the banner above me. I didn't have to look to know that it said "Persevere" in curling calligraphy. I stared at Grandpa Hong, silently begging to paint something else- a photograph, a model, anything else- anything, really. "A true artist doesn't only copy the paintings of others, he creates his own," Grandpa Hong recited, pointing at the canvas. "Create." I did.

Three years later, I sat in the waiting room of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital. My brother had sprained his arm and now waged a truly-impressive war against the restrictive sling. Desperate, I snatched a copy of National Geographic and tried to seize his attention with an environmental word search. He kicked the turkey-emblazoned November issue out of my hands and howled with renewed strength. I tried again, this time with Highlights Magazine. "Look, Aaron, you're supposed to find the pilgrim." I may have been an atheist but his instant captivation could have converted me. Since then, I have hoarded countless copies of Highlights, flipping to the Hidden Pictures page with my brother each time.

As much as Dr. Seuss had inspired me to be a reader, J.K. Rowling has inspired me to be a writer; Grandpa Hong had awakened a painter and Highlights had transformed me into a big sister. And so, even as I roll my suitcase off to college, you'll be sure to find the gang of favorites still intact.

Undergraduate / ...seashells, Pokemon cards, and US quarters - UChicago Supplement - Yo soy yo y mi... [3]

In a famous quote by José Ortega y Gasset, the Spanish philosopher proclaims, \"Yo soy yo y mi circunstancia\" (1914). José Quintans, master of the Biological Sciences Collegiate Division at the University of Chicago, sees it another way: \"Yo soy yo y mi microbioma\" (2012). You are you and your..? -Maria Viteri, Class of 2016 The length requirement was 1-2pgs. Mine is Times New Roman size 12 and takes up exactly 1pg with the last two lines on the second. Should I add more or is it effective as it is? Also, this is submitted as a PDF so the strikethrough and italics will be there. Please comment, thanks for reading!

Yo soy yo y mi colección de palabras.

More often than not, within a minute of meeting someone I will have asked about their name, school (if applicable), favorite food, and favorite quote. With time I may forget the first three but will always remember the fourth... Arguably because I will have scribbled it down within the next minute.

The way I see it, words are a rare commodity in the sense that they reveal just as much about the listener as they do the speaker. Over the years, I have abandoned collections of seashells, Pokémon cards, and US quarters in favor of quietly amassing a modest library of quote diaries. Ranging in size and content, some are philosophical ("Do or do not... there is no try." -Yoda), others are witty ("College has given me the confidence I need to fail." -Jarod Kintz), and still others are just plain ludicrous ("Semicolons are transvestite hermaphrodites." -Kurt Vonnegut). Nonetheless, I value these minute slips of insight because they force me to think. Every quote in existence is a small piece of history with a unique background, cause, and effect. It is this aspect of quote collection that piques my interest, as piecing together the story behind every individual snippet forms an enigmatic sort of puzzle. As such, I consider it a genuine source of entertainment to uncover the stories behind each quote.

With each new string of words comes a journey filled with obstacles and triumphs. Travelling through time and setting, each quote invites us on a scavenger hunt boasting of impressive cerebral athleticism. While historical framework plays a major role in the synthesis of a quote, most of the intrigue faithfully resides elsewhere. Along with its location in time and place is a quote's location in space- by which I mean the speaker's mind. A quote's ability to activate my inner psychic mind-reader is unfailing; for example, how can one resist speculation of the mental milieu in which Albert Einstein proclaimed, "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former"?

To me, my collection of quotes has amounted to more than an interesting pastime or evidence of a lacking social life. Though I may or may not have become known as "That-One-Girl-That-Hounds-You-For-Your-Favorite-Quote-With-A-Not ebook-In-Hand" and may or may not be slightly neurotic with regards to the prim upkeep of my quote diaries, my collection has inevitably become a window to my eccentricity individuality. It has borne witness to my dedication and testified for my enduring fascination with things not quite understood. No matter how much time and effort I may spend investigating the Curious Case of an Anonymous Quote, there will always be questions left unanswered, puzzle pieces that only the imagination can fill.

Perfect.

It is my ardent belief that an active mind is the most treasured possession anyone could ask for and that vigilant maintenance of this liveliness is key. Only then does the mind allow for imagination and innovation, the agents of progress. However, at the core of creation must lay a stimulus. While others may wrestle with Rubik's Cubes or play Sudoku to actuate their minds, for me the finest mental workout exists in the archaeology of quotes. Although I do not have a single definite favorite, I live by the idea that "an opportunity becomes an experience when you seize it". I am myself and my collection of words.

Now as promised, before the minute ends, what is your favorite quote?

Think about it.