Undergraduate / Determined; Passionate; Open-minded - boston: three word that describe you best [3]

Determined; Passionate; Open-minded

These words are the pillars of my life. Born and raised in the most populous country in Africa, I watched people suffer without help. Being fortunate to be born into a family that had the means to care for me, I strived to help the people of my country in any way that I could. My father served as my inspiration. As a doctor, he gave all his heart into saving people's lives. As I grew up, I watched my father become a great man. I have always been determined to be like him. Following and achieving my dreams have been my primary goal in life.

My passion is my country. My first dreams as a child and now as a teenager have been greatly inspired by my determination to make my country and its people better. This dream has given me a definite and straight- forward outlook on life and plays a major part on who I am today and what I represent as a person.

My open-mindedness makes me diverse. As a child and a teenager I travelled around the world, to different places. I have met new people, learnt new things and have been exposed to new ideas. What makes me special is the fact that I learn how to inculcate these ideas and values which I have learnt, during my various journeys, into my life. Some of these ideas and values have also changed and improved my perspective on some issues of the world.

My determination, passion and open-mindedness, makes me suitable for BU's community. I bring with me a different culture and different values. Being from a country which is known for its diverse ethnic groups, cultures and traditions enables me to add a touch of difference and to share various interesting cultural practices with the cultural community of Boston University

Boston University has a diverse community of students which I hope to be part of. Therefore, I look forward to learning from its students in other to better myself as a person and to improve my country, Nigeria. My perspective on certain issues and the world in general which I have gathered throughout my life is unique. I intend to infuse all that i have learnt, in any way that I can into my life in Boston University.

Trying to help the people of my country through various voluntary services has also given me the experience I need to become a part of the BU community. Being a part of the community service centre would enable me to share what I have learnt while helping the people of my country and in turn learning new ideas and ways to help and improve my country.

Determined; Passionate; Open-minded Is who I am.

this is just a draft..i m not really sure about this approach, but i have to know what you all think first. grammatical corrections will be appreciated!

Undergraduate / "My climb may be far from over but I fully intend to complete it!"; COMMON APP [6]

MY Climb
"Miley Cyrus has a new song!" my friend, penny, shouted happily into the phone. Curse her! I thought to myself as I listened to penny raving about Miley's new song. I had just been woken up from a very peaceful nap by my over-excited friend just to hear about Miley's new song. Every single time Miley has a new song, my life seemed like it was going to end. This is because penny never stops talking about it or singing it. Penny and I are two totally different people. While I have no interest in music whatsoever, penny is crazy about all sorts of music, especially Miley Cyrus's. Sometimes I even wonder how we could be best friends if we are such different people.

"I'm coming over right now! We're going to her concert this evening", said penny. Although I desperately wanted to disagree with her, I realized that it would be futile because "what penny wants, penny gets", so I quietly said yes and obediently waited for her to pick me up. When we got inside the concert, we took our sits and waited for the show to begin. Penny had told me earlier that Miley was performing her new song first but I couldn't care less!

[Concert begins]
Miley sings:
"I can almost see it that dream I'm dreaming...but there's a voice inside my head saying, "you'll never reach it"...but I have to keep trying... got to keep my head held high..."

I practically froze in my sit. This song was actually nice! I felt like Miley was reaching out to me. This song called "the climb" communicated to me, like no other. I am pretty sure that anyone who saw me at that moment thought that I was in a trance.

The song, which talked about the obstacles one has to face during the course of their lives appealed to my own life. Living in the most populous African country in the world, I grew up amidst poverty. Although I was fortunate enough to be born into a family that had the means to take care of me, I watched other people live in squalor. I had always promised myself that I was going to try to make things better for my country in any way that I can. I thought that the first step toward achieving this was performing exceptionally in school. I have always been at the top of my class since primary school and I have received certificates of distinction throughout my years in secondary school.

At first, I was proud of the fact that I contributed so much intellectually and that I inspired my peers positively but it began to get very hard for me to live normally. People always watched my every move. They always expected me to get perfect scores in everything. They always remarked that someone like me could be just what the country needs. This may have sounded like "honey" to a lame man's ears but it made me feel like I was in hell. I could no longer live like an ordinary teenager. Whenever I failed to do something right or win any competition everyone in my school talked about it for days. "What happened to her...is she losing her talent?" they would say, not caring how I felt. After sometime, I began to hide away from everyone. I avoided going out as much as possible and practically withdrew into a hard shell. I dreaded participating in any kind of activity whatsoever.

That night, hearing this song made me snap out of my misery. It made me realize that my life is a mountain which I must climb. What was happening to me was just one of many obstacles I was going to face. This song reinforced my hope and determination in everything I believed in. "I had just begun my climb", I thought to myself. Right there, I made a promise to myself never to give up on my dreams no matter what obstacles I faced. I had to get to the top of my mountain. I had to see the beautiful scenery that awaited me. Just then, I heard my name being called from a distance and I realized that penny was staring at me worriedly. "Are you alright?" she asked. I muttered an answer and reassured her that "all was well".

For the first time in the past few months, I actually believed, that all was going to be well with my life...
"College is here!" I thought to myself a year later. I intend to study in America which is not so common for most people in Nigeria. However, I am determined to achieve my dream of college.

My climb may be far from over but I fully intend to complete it!
my first draft of the essay.. any kind of correction would be appreciated...comments on my approach would also help! thanks

Undergraduate / Northwestern supplement:: "A second chance" [6]

prompt: What are the unique qualities of northwestern-and of the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying-that makes you want to attend the university?In what ways do you hope to take advantage of the qualities you have identified.

A Second Chance

"Why don't you take a look at the Northwestern University?" my father asked. At that moment I thought that was the worst idea, I'd ever heard. I had never thought about Northwestern University as a prospective school. When my father noticed that I was hesitant, he withdrew saying that it all depended on what I wanted or preferred. Thinking back right now, I laugh at myself for ignorantly judging without even giving the school a second chance.

"My revelation" as I like to call it, was by chance. I had been searching for a particular store in Washington when I was mistakenly linked, to the Northwestern University website. My first instinct was to close the page; however, I decided that there was no harm in exploring a little. I began to look at the various schools and its majors. Apparently, Northwestern was academically diverse. "There's nothing special about that" I told myself, trying to justify my dislike for the school. As a student from Nigeria, it has always been very important to me to attend a school that caters to all my interests, structures itself around people like me and would help nurture my talents.

Exploring the website further, I discovered the Weinberg College of Arts and Science. What immediately caught my attention was the Northwestern Community Development Corps. Being born and raised in the most populous country in Africa, I grew up amidst poverty and squalor. I was inspired by my father, who as a doctor dedicated his life to helping and saving the lives of the Nigerian people. My first dream as a child and now as a teenager has been inspired by my determination to make my country and its people better. This dream has given me a definite and straight- forward outlook on life and plays a major part on who I am today and what I represent as a person. Devoting all my life into making my country better, has been my primary goal in life.

The Northwestern Community Development Corps, the largest student group on campus, serves as an umbrella organization for service groups offering volunteer opportunities in areas like hunger and homelessness, literacy, women's issues, the elderly and health. I am most interested in this group because I believe that it can help me save my country. I hope to share ample ideas and obtain useful ideas with the members of this wonderful organization. Their success in helping the people of the world by founding voluntary organizations that deal with world health issues has greatly inspired me. This organization promises better educate me on the best ways to help my country.

The Weinberg College of Arts and Science has a diverse community of students. This is of utmost importance to me. Being an international student, I want to be able to share my culture, values and my perspective on certain issues with its student and also learn about other cultures and values in return. The Idea of being able to achieve this makes me all the more certain that Northwestern is a step in the right direction.

It only makes it more natural that this wonderful college is located in a city which has always been a great source of inspiration. With the college's unique academic programs and its wonderful and diverse selection of scholars I intend to pursue my dreams to the fullest. Also, I have to point out that the university's environment presents such a diverse and comfortable feel that guarantees an interesting life for me.

With I college like Northwestern, I am guaranteed ample opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others and an education that will empower me not only to succeed in my personal and professional life but also to make a positive impact on my country and the world in general.

Sometimes, I allow myself to think about what would have happened if I hadn't come across that website; what different direction my life would have taken. My thoughts were interrupted when my mother walked into the room. "Are you alright?" she asked. "Yes!" I answered happily. I had never been so sure in my life. I had taken the best decision. I had applied to the Northwestern University.

it's just a draft..grammatical corrections will be appreciated and i'd love to know what you guys think about my approach, i am a little bit confused

Undergraduate / "the Global Citizens Project" - describe extracurricular or personal activities [4]

prompt: elaborate on one of your activities(extracurricular activities,personal activities or work experience) 150 words

Standing outside the small building, I took a deep breath. "This is the right thing to do", I thought to myself. As I entered the building, I was greeted by people of different nationalities, gender and religion who also shared my dream.

As a child, my most recurring dream always involved helping my country and making its people better. With this amazing group of people, I was about to take the first step towards achieving that dream.

The main aim of the Global Citizens Project is to foster global citizenship and tolerance among young people irrespective of race, ethnic background, religion and gender. Every year, members come together to raise funds to support a particular charity. Last year, we raised money to help blind school children. Joining this group has changed my life and fuelled my dreams to the fullest.

Being able to give people hope gives me greatest joy.

Undergraduate / cornell supplement: soulmates [NEW]

prompt:Describe your intellectual interests, their evolution and what makes them exiting to you.Tell us how you will utilize the academic programs in the college of arts and science to futher explore your interests,your intended major or field of study

Soulmates

Why are ants so small?
Where do germs come from?
Why can't my plant walk?
I asked myself these questions when I was a kid. Finding no logical answer, I resorted to pestering my dad. Poor man always tried to explain but I just didn't understand. My grandmother used to be my heroine. She always had a simple explanation for everything. Growing up in Nigeria, which is well known for its diverse ethnic groups, cultures and traditions, it will come as no surprise to learn that some of the major folklores we have today, originated from my country. In my culture, we had deities which were responsible for punishing children who wouldn't listen to their parents or men who decided to steal for a living. My grandmother was mostly in love with Sango. According to my grandmother, Sango "the god of thunder" ruled the earth and everything in it. She claimed that the plants and insects used to be our equals until they disobeyed Sango, who punished them severely by removing their legs or making them small and insignificant. That was always enough to satisfy my curiosity.

In junior secondary school, I stumbled upon a book in the library called "inquiry into life". Tempted to open this book, I flipped open a random page and began to read. I was hooked by what I read; this book seemed to provide an alternative explanation to what I have always believed. It described the concept of life itself and the evolution of mankind. It was fascinating and thrilling. At that moment, I felt a rush which I had never experienced before. I knew that I was destined to study biology.

Although I had not began to learn biology in school, I always found time out of school, to read the book I found. As I delved deeper into the world of biology, I researched more on certain topics like genetics and read every other book I could find on biology. Getting into senior secondary school, it was only natural for me to excel in this wonderful subject. I joined the biology Olympic team of my school and became very successful. I won various biology competitions and soon became a well known name in the Olympic team.

However, becoming a local champion wasn't enough. I had to aim higher; I had to use this subject which had become so dear to me over the years, to make a difference and impact the world significantly. Studying biological sciences in Cornell University, I believe, is a step in the right direction, in other to nurture my talent and achieve my dream. Biological sciences delves deeper into biology and therefore would help me to increase my intellect and understand better its whole concept and what it represents. "Your soul mate is one who makes life come to life" my father always said. My soul mate is biology and I intend to stick with it.

Undergraduate / Upenn optional essay: page 217 of 300 paged auto-biography [4]

Prompt: write page 217 of your 300 paged auto-biography

I looked around the hospital, feeling fulfilled. I had spent many years building this hospital and with the help of my very supportive husband, and the "Save our Women and Children Foundation", I had finally achieved my lifelong dream.

This was the third hospital I had built over the years. For fifteen years I concentrated on improving my country and other select countries in Africa. By building more hospitals with modern facilities, I was able to reduce the rate of maternal and infant mortality very drastically. I also established various voluntary organizations that concentrated on various aspects of my country's problems. The "Save Our Environment" organization which aimed at providing a cleaner and healthier environment helped me to reduce malaria to the minimum. I had also spent many years providing free education and public health for the people of Nigeria. With the help of the Nigerian government, I was able to improve the medical system in Nigeria.

All the years I had toiled to achieve my dreams were behind me and my past seemed like a distant memory. However, my mind kept drifting to a particular place in my past...the University of Pennsylvania. "U-Penn" I thought to myself. Looking back now, I wonder where I'd have been right now without that wonderful school.

The University of Pennsylvania had shaped my dreams into reality. It made me realize that I had ample opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others. It empowered me not only to succeed with my personal and professional life but also to make a positive impact on my country and the world in general.

"Doctor", a nurse called as she gently tapped my hand, pulling me away from my thoughts. "A patient has just arrived with cardiopulmonary complications" she said. It was time to do what I loved the most; what U-Penn had thought me how to do best- save a person's life.

Undergraduate / duke supplement essay: discuss why duke is a good match for you [3]

Prompt:if you are applying to trinity college of arts and science, please discuss why duke is a good match for you. is there something in particular at duke that attracts you?please limit your response to two paragraphs.

"Why don't you take a look at Duke University?" my father asked. At that moment I thought that was the worst idea, I'd ever heard. I had never thought about Duke University as a prospective school. When my father noticed that I was hesitant, he withdrew saying that it all depended on what I wanted or preferred. That night when my father left, I decided to look up Duke University on the internet. What was most obvious about duke was its academic diversity. "Every school has that!" I thought to myself, trying to justify my feelings about the school. As an international student, it is of utmost importance to me to attend a school that caters to all my interests, structures itself around people like me and would help nurture my talents. Duke surprisingly provides all these.

With its multicultural community of students, it provides me with the opportunity to learn about different cultures and values and also shares Nigeria's diverse cultures and traditions. The Duke University union also promises to provide an interesting social, cultural, intellectual and recreational life. Being a fan of all sorts of sports, I look forward to various types of entertainment from duke's basketball and lacrosse teams. The Trinity College of Arts and Science provides a solid curriculum which ensures that students are exposed to a various areas of knowledge and modes of inquiry. However, what entices the most about Duke is the fact that I can get the best of both worlds. With Duke University, I can achieve academic success while keeping up with my social life. I also have to admit that the free bus service provided by this "GOTHIC WONDERLAND" is very tempting. Sometimes, I allow myself to think about what would have happened if I hadn't researched Duke; what different direction my life would have taken. My thoughts were interrupted when my mother walked into the room. "Are you alright?" she asked. "Yes!" I answered happily. I had never been so sure in my life. I had taken the best decision. I had applied to Duke University.

Undergraduate / Upenn essay: which academic and social community are of interest to u(help) [4]

Prompt: Which of the academic and social community that now comprise the university of pennsylvania are most interesting to you and how will you contribute to them and to the larger penn community.

As I watched my daughter filling the application for the University of Pennsylvania, My heart swelled with pride. Two months ago, my daughter had asked me, "Why did you apply to the University of Pennsylvania". Taken aback by the question, my mind drifted to my past days at the University of Pennsylvania.

Being born and raised in the most populous country in Africa, I grew up amidst poverty and squalor. I was inspired by my father who as a doctor dedicated his life to helping the Nigerian people. My first dream as a child and then as a teenager had been inspired by my determination to make my country and its people better. This dream had given me a definite and straight forward outlook on life and plays a major part of who I am and what I represent as a person.

As an international student, it is of utmost importance to me to attend a school that caters to my interest, structured itself around people like me and would help nurture my talents.

The University of Pennsylvania provides all these. My dream of helping the people of Nigeria drew me to the University of Pennsylvania. The civic house catches my interest immensely because I believe that it can help me save my country. I hope to share ample ideas and obtain useful ideas from the members of this wonderful organization. Their success in helping the people of the world by founding voluntary organizations that deal with world health issues has greatly inspired me. This organization promises better educate me on the best ways to help my country.

I bring with me a different culture and different values. Coming from a country which is known for its diverse ethnic groups, cultures and traditions enables me to add a touch of difference and to share various interesting cultural practices with the diverse cultural community of Upenn and to also learn about other cultures and values in return. The idea of being able to achieve this made me all the more certain that Upenn is a step in the right direction.

With the college's unique academic programs and diverse selection of scholars, I intend to achieve my dreams to the fullest. With a college like the University of Pennsylvania, I am guaranteed the ample opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others and an education that will empower me not only to succeed in my personal and professional life but also to make a positive impact on my country and the world in general.

Just then, I heard my name being called from a distance and I realized that my daughter was staring at me worriedly. "Are you alright mum?" she asked. "Yes" I answered. "You haven't answered my questions" she said. Looking her straight in the eye, I replied "The University of Pennsylvania helped me to achieve my dreams."

Poetry / NYU supplement essay: haiku , poems, limericks e.t.c [5]

Like an lion
Determined to catch its prey
I chase my dreams
And achieve them to the fullest

Like a giraffe
Who towers above all beasts
I stand out in a crowd
Like the missing piece of a puzzle

i really need help you guys..jst a few hours left

Undergraduate / tufts second optional essay: house of cards [4]

HOUSE OF CARDS
The crowd was so quiet; I could feel the tension mounting. I had begun to sweat profusely, as I realized that this was the last question. I was one question away from winning the international biology Olympiad. "I have to win this" I thought to myself. Everyone was counting on me.

Guy asks question:
"I know this!" I said to myself. I just had to press the buzzer. Just then, I heard a familiar sound. It took me a while to realize that my opponent had already pressed the buzzer. "I had failed" I thought to myself. Everyone would be talking about this tomorrow. As I walked into my room later that day, I felt like my life was about to end.

"Clean the attic!" said my mom as she entered the room. "That would get my mind off all of my misery" I thought to myself. As I cleaned the attic, I knocked over a cardboard box. Inside the box was an uncompleted house made of cards. Making a house of cards used to be my favorite past time. However, I got easily frustrated because the cards kept falling off. I kept the box in a corner and continued to clean the attic. When I was done, I took the box to my room. "Maybe I should complete this" I said, thinking out loud.

Although I have not yet completed my house of cards, it has thought me a valuable lesson. Life is a house of cards. Although some cards may fall off you have to pick them back up and complete your house. Everyone faces road-blocks at various times of their lives. Losing the Olympiad competition was one of those road-blocks. Our ability to escape and overcome these road-blocks makes us a successes or failures.

"Mum! Look what I found!" shouted my daughter, about thirty years later. It was my completed house of cards. Smiling to myself, I reached out for the cardboard box. My house had been completed and all my dreams had been achieved.

what do u guys think??

Student Talk / College Choices: George Washington University and Washington University St.louis [7]

i would like to know what you guys think about George Washington University and Washington University St.louis...i have alot of mixed rumours about the GW and i would like to know what everyone here thinks.

Undergraduate / Pursuit of knowledge: analysis of doctor faustus and frankenstein [2]

When a child is born, it is pure and innocent. The child has no care in the world and has no knowledge of its surrounding environment. As the child grows older, it becomes more inquisitive. It touches strange objects and tries to imitate the people close to it. As time passes, the child begins to understand the difference between good and bad and is taken to school to acquire knowledge, as it grows older. Some people may have no interest in acquiring knowledge however for others like Marlowe's Doctor Faustus and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein there is no limit to the amount of knowledge that they wish to possess.

During our childhoods, we may have listened to horror stories and looked at pictures of the dreaded Frankenstein with its monstrous body and bolts around its neck. However people never realize that Frankenstein is much more than a story meant to scare little children. It was written to teach a very important lesson to humanity about how the thoughtless pursuit of knowledge can lead to one's downfall.

The story of Frankenstein starts with letters written by Robert Walton to his sister Margaret Saville as he begins his voyage from Russia to the North Pole, which he refers to as " the country of eternal life". In his letter he (Walton) expresses to his sister his hope to acquire undiscovered knowledge at the North Pole like the cause of earth's magnetism and a passage near the pole to different countries. In a part of his mind, Roberts realizes that the North Pole might turn out to be a seat of frost and desolation but he continues to imagine it as a region of beauty and delight.

Although he admits that there are dangers involving his journey, he believes that his enticements are sufficient to conquer all fear of danger and death. In his letter he writes, "My education was neglected, yet I was passionately fond of reading. These volumes were my study day and night". Walton's passion from his youth to his present in acquiring knowledge is clearly shown. His desperation in acquiring this knowledge is also shown in the great lengths that he went through to prepare for his journey. He is warned by Frankenstein later in the book to stop his pursuit and return home. Frankenstein says to Robert "you seek for knowledge and wisdom. As I once did; and I ardently hope that your wishes may not be sting you like mine has been."

In Roberts's fourth letter to his sister, he talks about a mysterious man, which he saved called Victor Frankenstein. Frankenstein is the main character of the story. From a young age Frankenstein was fond of natural philosophy. He stumbled upon a volume of books by Cornelius Agrippa, an ancient philosopher and became enthralled in the study of natural philosophy. He began to study other books by similar ancient philosophers and became hooked by their teachings. As Frankenstein read these books his thirst for knowledge began to grow. Right before he left for school his mother died. The loss of his mother could be described as an event, which spurred Frankenstein pursuit of knowledge. Frankenstein wanted to banish diseases from the human frame and render man invulnerable to any violent death. At first, his motives for wanting to acquire knowledge about human life could be termed as honorable but it later became an obsession.

Victor Frankenstein's misery begins because of his craving to encounter a mystery of science. When Frankenstein started school, he started to learn about modern science and began to wonder about the secret behind human life. He later finds out the secret and decides to create a being with life. He stayed confined for months trying to create this being until he is done. However when this being comes to life, Frankenstein realizes that he has made a mistake and has created something that could be a potential harm to all of mankind. Frankenstein is so ashamed of his actions that he abandons the creature. Frankenstein's motivation for success and scientific exploration drives him to play God, as he is also enthralled. However in victor's role as God he is also enthralled with the thought of bringing life for a lifeless corpse that he does not stop to think about the moral consequences of his actions. When he finally realizes his mistake it is too late.

The monster is left to fend for itself and has to learn the ways of the world. In some ways the monster also strives to gain knowledge. At first, it relies on its natural instincts, collecting food and warming itself. After some time the creature begins to strive for more and dedicates itself to learning to speak and read. It learns this while spying on a family. The monster also tries to educate himself by reading different materials, one of which is Milton's "paradise lost" which he makes reference to when he first tries to speak with Frankenstein. However longing to be more like human causes the monster unhappiness. The monster decided to get revenge on his creator for bringing him into such a world of hatred. He starts by killing Frankenstein's brother and framing up his maid thereby taking two lives almost successively and resorts in killing Frankenstein's best friend Henry Clerval and his wife Elizabeth when Frankenstein refuses to make him a companion.

Frankenstein's pursuits of knowledge therefore lead to the creation of a being, which caused him pain, downfall and eventually a pathetic death.
The same theme can be seen in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus. Doctor Faustus begins with a prologue in which the chorus praises Faustus's intellectual achievements. Doctor Faustus in the play is portrayed as and quintessential renaissance man which is in a way a lover of knowledge and power. When we are first introduced to Faustus in the play, he is showing us the extent of his knowledge: philosophy of Aristotle, to Galen's medicine to Justinian law and the bible. Doctor Faustus wants to acquire knowledge that is not directly accessible in his world at all costs. His desperation to acquire knowledge leads him to turn to magic as his new pursuit, thereby selling his soul to the devil in exchange of twenty-four years of power. Faustus compares being a magician to being a "demi-god'. The eventual gaining of this knowledge leads to his dramatic downfall in the play. Faustus's knowledge of the dark and arcane arts seems appealing at first but as his years come to an end he begins to realize the doom that awaits him. Faustus suffers harsh consequences for going against God as a result of his ardent desire to know, that which is to remain a mystery to mankind. However there is a great deal of regret and lamentation after the knowledge is gleaned.

What is interesting about all the characters in this essay is that the kinds of knowledge which they pursue leads to questions about the existence of God. In their strive for knowledge and power all the characters meet their tragic endings. This theme is also a universal statement about humanity at all times and in all places. Humans have a bottomless motivating but dangerous thirst for knowledge. This leads them to seek that which should remain unknown to them.

Knowledge is often a dangerous and unsettling thing. Contrary to most scientific thoughts, not every piece of knowledge is golden. The human mind must not comprehend everything that there is to know about the world.