Undergraduate / "My passion for creating"; what attracts you specifically to your field of study? [3]

Columbia: For applicants to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, please tell us what from your current and past experiences(either academic or personal) attracts you specifically to the field or fields of study that you noted in the Member Questions section. (300 words or less)

Every one has dreams when they are kids . My was to be an engineer. While the other kids were playing with toys I was fascinated with my uncle's job, electrical engineering. I was so curious, how he could make all those devices work with just manipulating the tiny circuits inside. He noticed my fascination and one day he gave a set of Lego brick; he told that I could use the bricks to design things just like him, since that day I would seat there for hours building different things, from cars to robots, there was no limits. Unfortunately my uncle pass away when I was ten and my parents never understood my fascination for designing things or my curiosity for understand how things work.

During my junior year of high school, this fascination for building things became stronger. I was part of a robotics program. My first impression was of surprise and excitement, I was finally going to work with real circuits and bolts just like my uncle. It took a while to learn the programing part but when I finally did it, I had a feeling of satisfaction. I remember, after I familiarize with the program, I would design anything I came up with.

This year I decided to take compute math, which is an introduction to computer science, to learn more about programing. For me engineering is a way to express my ideas and being able to bring then to life.

At Columbia's college of Engineering I hope continue my passion. I think that the core curriculum will allow to experience every field of engineering since my first year. At Columbia I will be able to participate in the different research projects that will allow me to become the successful engineer I want to be.

Undergraduate / "Culumbia is the place for me" [3]

Columbia: Please tell us what you find most appealing about Columbia and why. (300 words or less)
Columbia is one of the few universities that can offer me the possibility to major in engineering and at the same time a minor of liberal arts in Hispanic studies, since I'm interested in learning more about my culture. The engineering core classes will allow to experience the different fields of engineering, allowing to have a hands-on experience of my major during my first year. The diversity of the student body will help to expand my views of the world since the core curriculum will allow to meet students from all over the world and from different majors, making possible to learn their different views of the different subjects, giving me a broad background that I could use in my discipline.

The opportunity that professors give to students to participate in research projects and the internships in New York and around the world will help to develop leadership skills, create my own research projects, and acquired experience in field.

Being thousand of miles away from home it's important for me to feel comfortable in campus, Columbia is one of the few campuses were the students really make feel like home. Their enthusiasm and passion for what they do really make me want to be part of them to share that enthusiasm and passion.

Columbia is more than the place were I want to start my career of engineering is the place that would help me to step out my comfort zone and help to discover myself and what I am capable of doing. it's the place where I will growth as a person and learn how to use my knowledge to help others. Columbia is the best place to start my future.