Undergraduate / "entrepreneurial drive and passion" - Why Stanford? Supplement [6]

What makes Stanford a good place for you.

Through all these years up until now, I have been an entrepreneur in all facets of my life. And smack in the middle of cutting-edge Silicon Valley, is Stanford, at the epicenter of pure entrepreneurial innovation.

In 1996, two Stanford students discovered something special. These two were Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the duo at the Gates Computer Science Building that went on to transform their novel idea into a global technology powerhouse we now know today as Google. There are many Stanford alumni like them. These people are my heroes. They have revolutionized the very way we live, communicate, and interact with information every single day.

These are the people who I've strived with all my heart to emulate and have vowed, in the long-term, to hopefully someday match. Before these individuals arrived at Stanford, they were as studious, and as persistent as everyone else, except that they brought with them a budding passion for technology and a dynamism, a willingness to think beyond the horizon, and Stanford brought out their passion to a even higher degree to achieve what they have. I too, share this thrilling ardor for technology, and what it really stands for; a means to improve and benefit humanity for the betterment of all. To be able to experience an education at Stanford would be of unimaginable value to me.

My entrepreneurial drive and passion for the high-tech has brought me to heights that I've always striven to reach; writing for one of the top tech blogs in the world, raising thousands of dollars to purchase Lifestraw water filters for third-world countries, and founding my own startup to develop mobile software apps. I've gone so far; Stanford would take me one step closer to my aspirations.

Does that 2-line beginning seem odd? Did I address the quote?

Undergraduate / "Concept of a new idea, and its Execution " ; Why Choose Carnegie Mellon? [6]

Please submit a one-page, single-spaced essay that explains why you have chosen Carnegie Mellon and your particular major(s), department(s) or program(s). This essay should include the reasons why you've chosen the major(s), any goals or relevant work plans and any other information you would like us to know. If you are applying to more than one college or program, please mention each college or program you are applying to. Because our admission committees review applicants by college and programs, your essay can impact our final decision. Please do not exceed one page for this essay.

Growing up as a witness to some of the greatest technological innovations of this era, I have always been enraptured with the concept of a new idea, and the execution of such ideas.

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Undergraduate / Stanford Roommate Serious Humor Short Essay [10]

Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. What would you want your future roommate to know about you? Tell us something about you that will help your future roommate -- and us -- know you better.

The first time I laid eyes on it, I named Stanford University the "red house". In grade school, I had visited the university during a trip, not even knowing its name, and fallen in love with it. I will cherish every minute of the four or so years that I will be spending here, including the time I spent typing up this letter. My hands are shaking with elation and anticipation. I hope you feel the same way.

However, I don't expect that we will share all of the same interests. I understand and accept this. Furthermore, that doesn't mean that I won't attempt to change your opinion on things like pink Starbursts, the future potential of artificial neural networks, and your questioning of modern Shostakovich concertos. May our contrasting interests open our minds to new ideas and retire old ones. Even better, if your major is entirely different from mine, I will be able to glimpse another aspect of life that I haven't yet seen or experienced.

You may be interested to know that I write for a major tech blog, read by millions of people around the world, but probably not by you. I also love to code and my tech startup develops killer apps for the Google Android and iPhone software platforms. You don't own an iPhone. I see a challenge. In the near future, when you're sitting beside your iPhone-toting girlfriend, you'll hopefully be ogling over her shoulder, trying to catch a glimpse of the dream app I've created, and that she and the entire campus is currently in love with.

But if you don't, we'll still be partners in crime. I'll nevertheless teach you how to master the piano, violin, harmonica, and cycle your way through the bike leg of a triathlon, in that order. After 112 miles, I'm sure you'll have something in store for me. I can't wait to share it in our "red house".