Undergraduate / 'Bare minimum grade' - a personal accomplishment, contribution or experience [7]

Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud, and how does it relate to the person you are? *

"You will never be successful in life," my classmate, Mike told me with a smirk on his face. Mike didn't think that I was smart enough to make it into university, needless to say, become a professional engineer. He was a schoolmate of mine for 3 years and believed that I could never make it into a university and that a leopard could never change its spots. I strongly disagree with this saying and I am determined to detach this notion and stereotypical thought in others through myself as an example.

The bare minimum grade was something I strived for back in school. Then, school was never of utmost priority in my life. Having the minimum GPA to graduate in order to keep my worried parents off my tail was sufficient for me. I was indulged in all sorts of activities in my life, but nothing academically related. Busy with my social life and working hard in my part time job, everything then seemed to fall in place for me. It was only the day I received my diploma signifying graduation that made me realize that the picture I had painted before me was not impressive at all. Looking at my transcript, it showed a graduating GPA of 1.7279. Definitely something not to be proud of, it made me ponder, "Was this really me?"

Right after graduation, I was enlisted into the army. My experience in the army changed me drastically. It pulled me back to earth and made me realize that only through hardship and sacrifices could rewards then be reaped.

Today, I can safely say that I have grown wiser and more mature. I know that this is the last hurdle before I step out into the working world and my future depends on this. With my studies and future prioritized, I am more than ever determined to succeed. I know that in this road to success, I would have to overcome many new obstacles. Many times, whenever I feel discouraged by an incident, I would reflect back on my past and tell myself, "I've been to the deep end, there's nowhere to go but up." As I imagine my future, I can see myself equipped with a UC Berkeley degree in my hands. I would visit my old friend, Mike. He would then already be well aware of the international acclaim that I had received through my innovative creations and research papers. Then, I would relish the moment when my friend, Mike acknowledges that I had indeed succeeded and I would whisper to him, "A leopard can definitely change its spots".

Undergraduate / "Go to bed" - UC transfer essay prompt 1 [4]

What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had in the field - such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities - and what you have gained from your involvement. *

"Go to bed,", my dad told me. It was way past midnight and I had been carried away working all day on our new project. My dad and I had started on a project to reform his clinic. A kind and loving family man, he had been a family doctor for over 30 years. Throughout this time, all his patient records and clinic procedures were paper-based. We knew that it was time his clinic had a makeover. Over the past month, I followed him to work daily, observing and learning every aspect of his business. I would sit in the lobby of his clinic with a notebook and pen and jolt down every little detail I observe. After a month, I formulated a proposal to him.

Deciding on my major was never a smooth journey for me. From Information technology to business, I had to go through many obstacles in life before finally realizing that my passion indeed lied in industrial engineering and operations research. What more could I ask for with an education that offered the best of both worlds: engineering and business. As a young boy, I've always been outgoing with a keen eye for detail. When I use an object and find it unhandy or when I find inefficiency in a system, I would brainstorm for ways to improve them.

Currently, I am in the process of leading a fundraising team and to raise funds for the arthritis foundation. Through this experience, I have realized that in order to magnify my capacity to make a difference, I need to have a transcendent education. Thus, in an attempt to prepare myself for the challenging courses to come, I am also in the Honors program. With the support from my family, professors and supervisors, I strongly feel that I am adequately equipped with a solid academic background to progress to the next level.

Showering me with abundant opportunities to take initiative and lead, these events have enabled me to improve myself in my leadership skills, public-speaking, team-facilitation, role playing, mentoring and also in many other aspects. It is only through these experiences that I have grown to become a mature and independent individual. With the first class education I will receive at UC , I seek to become an effective professional and leader in today's rapidly changing global economy.

Any form of critique would be greatly appreciated.