Undergraduate / A kid from Mongolia - Northwestern Supplement [2]

When I was six, I used to construct a pillow fort but every time I tried to get in, it always collapsed. Nevertheless, I kept on trying. As a result, I used certain woods to buttress my pillows. Ever since then, I wanted to become a civil engineer.

Civil engineering, one of the renowned departments at McCormick, is my goal. Engineering programs are not the only reason why I want to attend NU. Faculty ratio of 1:9 at McCormick is the ideal ratio for a kid who is from a relatively small class. I like how McCormick challenges its students intellectually in order to strengthen the use of both sides of the brain. Even though I lack usage of both sides of the brain, this "whole-brain engineering" focus appeals to me greatly.

Moreover, I have been a member of AIESEC since Fall, 2015. AIESEC in Mongolia may not offer as many opportunities and resources than AIESEC in NU, but it did inspire me to get the most out of it. I have been in contact with Ian Su, the team leader of outgoing function. We exchanged some of our experiences in AIESEC with each other. I was fascinated by Ian's experience. From there, I realized that opportunities and resources at NU's AIESEC were whole lot different than what I have gotten at Mongolia's AIESEC. Concerning its reach, the level of Team Leader (TL) at NU's AIESEC might be the same level as the Vice-President (VP) here. This whole new level of experience is another aspect of NU that is appealing to me. I want to live through this all too different level of AIESEC experience at NU.

If I get admitted to NU, I will make use of every opportunity and resource it has to offer academically and intellectually.

Undergraduate / I want to become Boilermaker / the "Ger" district in Mongolia. WHY PURDUE? [3]

1. How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom? (Respond in 100 words or fewer.)

I want to become Boilermaker, but becoming what you want is not easy. Even though they say becoming an engineer at Purdue is hard, I believe that Purdue connects with my personalities. Firstly, I am really attracted to BGR, a program which it will help me to meet new people, but also an opportunity to be one step ahead of the other freshmen. Moreover, joining the chess club at Purdue will give me an opportunity to be with people who share similar interest as me. Playing chess, studying for the finals, and contributing to the campus through my background will get me exhausted, but I can't wait to run through the fountains! (112)

2. Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected. (Respond in 100 words or fewer.)

Most students are not sure what they want to be when they go to college because of that they are forced into choosing a major by their parents. However, I am not one of those students. I realized what I wanted to change at an early age.

Growing up as a child, I was raised by my Grandpa in the countryside, approximately 400 km from the capital. Journey to my Grandpa's is bit adventurous, takes one through much of Ulaanbaatar. On my way to my grandparents' place I often found myself gazing at buildings lined up along the way, whether under construction or newly finished. Seeing these buildings made me want to jump out of my car, put on a hard hat and get to the site just like an engineer.

Past the city and one saw an entirely different landscape - a wilderness devoid of any buildings and few manmade structures. A place that has no electricity, no sewerages, no apartments, no roads, just fences and gers. We call it the "Ger" district. You can't imagine the life in this place. During the winter, the citizens burn coal in their ger, Mongolian traditional home, while some stay in their luxurious apartments, not paying slightest attention to the other side of the wall. I want to bring in change.

As I arrive at my Grandpa's, I realized I wanted to dedicate myself into becoming a civil engineer. (242)
ALthough the limit is 100 i can't seem to cut it down til 100

Undergraduate / CHESS. Tons and tons of losses helped me to understand the simple, yet elusive, essence of a game. [3]

The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Checkmate!

Once again, I glanced at the board searching for an escape, but I had mistranslated my tactics on the board. I was on the verge of losing until I saw one opening to strike.

I first fell in love with chess as an eleven-year-old kid. I was intrigued by the unique chess board at my Grandpa's country house: wooden dogs used as pawns, wooden camels used as bishops, king's right-hand men used as the queen, and wooden carriages used as rooks. This was the most interesting chess set I have ever seen. So, I would ask about the chess set rather than the game itself. Grandpa may have misread my interest because he offered to teach me more about the game during my summer vacation.

At first, he explained me the basic structure of that specific board and how it depicted Mongolian nomadic lifestyle style with just 16 pieces. After his short introduction, I wanted to learn more about this game maybe even the lifestyle of it. "Why not give it a shot," I thought to myself and accepted his offer. My first ever move was pawn to e5, from that moment on, I had no idea how to intertwine my pieces together. I didn't have the slightest knowledge of opening advances, mid-game control, and end-game tactics. I was just like a soldier in a battle without a gun. Every day I encountered with this battle for 3 months straight. I thought I had gotten better by just playing, but as we played our last game the result was same as every other match I've encountered against him: loss. Just before my departure, Grandpa inspired me with his parting words, "You know, everyone has the will to win, but they lack the will to prepare."

Coming home from Khentii, Grandpa's home province, I was determined to show him what I was capable of. I begged my parents over and over again. Annoyed, they decided to buy me a beginner chess manual that included everything I needed to learn to be successful on the board. That evening -and every other evening thereafter- I studied this book, devouring the tactics with enthusiasm. I wrote everything in my notebook, starting with the basic movements of each piece up until possible tactics. I asked my classmates, parents, cousins and even nieces to play against me in order to keep track of my progression. But guess what?... I was still losing! Every night, I couldn't sleep. I was haunted by this game, but I did not want to give up. At that time, I was immersed in a new world and a whole new dimension - 32 pieces in two contrasting colors.

Tons and tons of losses helped me to understand the simple, yet elusive, essence of a game called "chess". It is all about mistake. Both players use certain tactics to overcome their opponents defense, but one wrong move and you are short-handed. Thereupon, I have learned that chess gives you the ability to cogitate every decision you are going to make later on in your game, and also in life. Not only did chess helped me to become who I am today, but also helped me to discover ME. A kid full of mistakes.

After all those days of studying opening theories, mid-game strategies, and end-game tactics, I moved one piece - a PAWN and triumphantly looked at Grandpa.

"Checkmate!" I said breaking the silence.
"You did it," said my Grandpa, "You did it!"
That is the one thing I learned from chess: You are a Pawn. No matter how small you start in life, with the right moves, one has the potential to become the game-changing factor.