Undergraduate / "I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!"; Music never goes unnoticed. [4]

Prompt: Consider something in your life that you think goes unnoticed and write about why it's important to you.

"I believe that we will win! I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!" The Sauk Prairie student section chants above the crowd. That chant always happens at least twice at a football game, no matter if the eagles are winning or losing. High school sports, like football, bring students and community together to support a common goal. Sports are essential to Sauk Prairie High School, and the majority of students are involved in sports. Being a part of volleyball, track, soccer, and cheer throughout high school has taught me teamwork, self-discipline, and respect. Aside from taking part in athletics, I am also a member of the chamber singers and Executive Session, the school's varsity show choir. Music has taught me many of the same lessons that sports have, but it has also taught me two important lessons that I did not get from sports: take risks and know yourself. A lot of students know little to nothing about the music program, and most of its funding was cut a couple of years ago. The 2013-14 yearbook even failed to include the two music teachers, Mr. Brennan and Mr. Koscinski, in the staff section. Talk about awkward! Although it is vital to it's students lives and teaches many of the same lessons as sports, the importance of music has been forgotten in many schools lately.

The Sauk Prairie music program has taught me to take risks, because "the greatest risk in life is to risk nothing." A large poster of a poem entitled RISKS hangs on a wall in the choir room. It reminds me to take creative risks during choir class and show choir. Outside the choir room, the poem has given me the courage to take risks in academics, like taking a challenging AP class or conveying my concerns about a bad grade to a scary teacher when I could have just taken the score like the rest of the class did. Learning to take risks has helped me to succeed in every aspect of my life.

My experiences in show choir have led me to get to know myself on a deeper level and become independent in my beliefs. During the show choir season, my teacher asks us to come up with a character for ourselves that fits into the show we are performing. Last year, the show comprised of selections from the broadway musical Hair, a story about young people living in the controversial sixties. This assignment really made me consider my values and beliefs and connect my opinions of current political issues to the issues that my character would have faced in the mid-1960s. Creating my "hippie" alter ego for Hair helped me get to know myself and deeply understand my views on the issues our country faces today.

Taking risks and knowing myself are two lessons I learned from being a part of Sauk Prairie Music. Joining show choir in seventh grade has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. Music has had such a great impact on my life, and I hope that middle and high school music programs throughout the country can continue to survive and make a difference in people's lives. My favorite aspect of performing is the ability my group has to move people with our shows. Music not only has a positive impact on it's members, but it also affects the audience. And that never goes unnoticed.

Undergraduate / I have aspired to attend UW Madison for years and now I finally have the chance to apply; Statement [3]

Prompt: Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, share with us the academic, extracurricular, or research opportunities you would take advantage of as a student. If applicable, provide details of any circumstance that could have had an impact on your academic performance and/or extracurricular involvement.

I have aspired to attend UW Madison for years and now I finally have the chance to apply. Living just 40 minutes away from campus and having two parents who graduated from the university, I have been exposed to Madison my whole life. With my background knowledge, I think Madison is the ideal school because it combines an excellent pharmacy school, study abroad programs, and student government with a beautiful city and campus.

I currently want to major in Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Madison is one of the few schools that have that major as an option. The UW School of Pharmacy is one of the top pharmacy schools in the country, so I know that I'll be getting an outstanding education. To further enhance my learning, I will definitely take advantage of one of the countless research opportunities that are available at Madison. Research allows students to gain experience in their career field and be a part of new discoveries.

Travelling the world has always been one of my dreams, and I plan to take advantage of UW Madison's study abroad program to help fulfill that dream. While studying abroad, students develop an understanding of global issues, learn new languages, and undergo personal growth. Spanish has always been one of my favorite subjects, and I want to become fluent in reading, writing, and speaking it. Being fluent in Spanish will be an important skill to have in the future as more and more of the population speaks Spanish, and studying abroad in a Hispanic country will help me achieve that goal.

I have been the treasurer of my class at Sauk Prairie High School the past four years, and I want to continue to be a part of student government at UW Madison. Organizations like the student council bring diverse groups of students together and help unite the entire student body. Being involved in the student council by attending meetings and volunteering at school events will be a great way to meet new people.

I experienced UW Madison from a young age, when I attended an art camp there the summer after my 5th grade year. We occupied one of the science buildings on University Ave, walked everywhere on campus, and I even had my own Wiscard for a week. Since then, my interest in Madison has only increased. From the exceptional School of Pharmacy to countless study abroad options to the opportunities in the student council, I believe that UW Madison is the place where I will not only live, but thrive.