Undergraduate / "that real-world element" - why is stanford a good match for you [3]

please be as critical as possible! the more critical, the better :)

Tell us what makes Stanford a good place for you. (250 words/1800 characters)
I first read Adam's Smith Wealth of Nations when I was ten, and my subscription to The Economist began when I was twelve. However, at that time, I had no idea what I was reading. I didn't know the difference between deflation and disinflation or between mutual funds and hedge funds. More importantly though, it lacked context for me. I couldn't relate to the text. To me, it was simply a massive compilation of jargon based on even more abstruse theory. It was meaningless for me.

One of the most important elements I am looking for in my undergraduate experience is the opportunity to apply the knowledge I am learning to the real world. Being able to attend lectures of world-renowned professors is a privilege, but it is not enough. Even though they can probably articulate the theory better than anyone else, it's pointless unless I can understand it and apply it later on. Therefore, I have to build my own context. At Stanford, whether it is a grant to study the current health care reform at SIEPR or an semester spent interning in D.C., I will be able to explore the theory outside of the classroom. Not only will I have access to a unparalleled faculty, but I also have the opportunity to apply the theory to solve real-world problems. Although I realize that much of public policy rely on theory, Stanford uniquely incorporates that real-world element that I am looking for. Although I must create meaning for myself, there's no better place to assist me than Stanford.

Grammar, Usage / "The" - quick question on capitalization [6]

At The Morrison Institute for Population and Resource Studies, I want to further explore both the economic and social consequences of this potential change.

should "The" be capitalized or should "the" be all lowercase? thanks! and if possible, can you provide an explanation why?

Undergraduate / "two guilty pleasures: baking and 90's sitcoms" - roommate essay [7]

Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate - and us - know you better. (250 words/1800 characters)

My two guilty pleasures? Baking and 90's sitcoms. It is the perfect combination for a cozy Saturday night spent with a couple of my best friends. While reruns of Friends or Everybody Loves Raymond play in the background, we are busy making chai snickerdoodle cookies or trying to find a "healthy" alternative to white chocolate bark. It is simple, nothing fancy, but for those few hours, all we have to worry about is making sure that we are not so engrossed with the TV that we forget about the timer that rang ten minutes ago!

I am a little embarrassed to admit this, but until last year, puppy chow was about the only item I could make from scratch. At our school, birthdays are celebrated with trays and trays of baked goods, but there is an unofficial rule that all items must be homemade. However, because I decided to forgo puppy chow as one of my New Year's resolutions, I began to experiment with a little more complicated but still fail-proof recipes. I am proud to say that I have now mastered Oreo truffle balls and peanut butter fudge. I am still working on the vanilla sponge cake, but I am getting there!

By the time I meet you, hopefully I will be able to have a more extensive menu. Let me know whether you prefer chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry though so I can prepare it for our first late night TV date. I will even let you pick the season, but if you have never seen Will and Grace before, I will catch you right up. While we enjoy a few episodes and maybe do a recipe exchange, I cannot wait to learn more about you!

Undergraduate / "trying and learning new things" - Personality Trait [9]

What attribute of your personality are you most proud of, and how has it impacted your life so far? This could be your creativity, effective leadership, sense of humor, integrity, or anything else you'd like to tell us about. (200-250 words)

Long before Mean Girls immortalized the saying, my grandmother would always remind me that "the limit does not exist!" Ever since I was little, I've enjoyed challenging myself to step out of my comfort zone and attempt things that a prudent person would normally avoid. My mom blames it on my curiosity, and I couldn't agree more. I especially remember this tattered but intimidating 3 by 4 inch book that my dad had. Every once in a while, he would give me a problem out of it and simply told me to experiment with it. I remember toiling for hours and hours on the Seven Bridges of Konigsberg problem, and trial and error convinced me that there was no solution. My dad refused to tell me whether I was right or wrong but simply asked me for a explanation. Any sane person would have given up, but I was too curious to admit defeat. I remember listing all the math formulas and concepts I had learned since first grade, but my five years of elementary-school math unfortunately didn't rise to the occasion that day. In the end, I still couldn't figure out the solution by myself, but I gave my best effort. Over the years, my curiosity has probably deprived me of quite a few hours of sleep, but it also motivates me and excites me. I cannot wait for the puzzles and adventures it will lead me to at MIT. (242 words)

Undergraduate / What department? - "the opportunity to solve real-world problems" [3]

Although you may not yet know what you want to major in, which department or program at MIT appeals to you and why? (100 words)

As much as I am fascinated by Adam's Smith Invisible Hand phenomenon or Frederick Taylor's experiments with shovel efficiency, I don't want to spend four years studying only abstract theory. I also want to apply that knowledge to find solutions and to help people. While I am eager to participate in seminars that discuss various economic anomalies, I crave even more the opportunity to solve real-world problems under the guidance of Professor Esther Duflo. Because of the unique combination of the theoretical with the practical, a dual major in Course 14 and 15 really appeals to me.

Please be as critical/honest/blunt as possible. Thanks!!

Undergraduate / "Sibling Class" - Something you do for the pleasure of it [9]

We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do for the pleasure of it. (100 words)

At our local hospital, Sibling Class is a program run by teenagers to help little kids adjust to the arrival of a new sibling. The kids are usually ten and under, but our favorites tend to be the youngest ones, who ask the most innocent but adorable questions. We have a lesson plan to complete, but the best part is doing drills with them, such as teaching them how to hold a baby or change diapers. As an only child, I never experienced any of this myself, so it has been really special for me to be a part of this.

Please be as critical as possible. I really appreciate bluntness/honesty. Thank you!

Undergraduate / Essay: Randy Pausch, Someone Important to You [7]

Write an essay in which you tell us about someone who has made an impact on your life and explain how and why this person is important to you.

I've never met him, he doesn't know that I exist, and even the most reckless junk-bond investors would hesitate to bet on any ties between us. Perhaps, the six degrees of separation provides the only link between us. But nevertheless, he challenged me.

A couple summers ago, to pass time, I was browsing Youtube and came upon a clip titled "time management," that is if a seventy five-minute long segment can really be considered a clip. And sure, I had three months to myself and was rather bored at the moment. But did i seriously want to embark upon an hour-long commitment to hear some professor advise me on how to better utilize my time? Considering that my aim was to find a quick laugh, it wasn't the most appealing choice. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a chance; it had near a million views, and the ratings were far superior than what I had expected, so why not?

While waiting for the video to load, I convinced myself to keep an open mind. Truthfully though, I probably wished for the video to become so overwhelmingly unbearable that I could justify closing it without feeling I had prematurely aborted something of value. However, as he began his lecture, I couldn't help but laugh. And no, it wasn't the type of nervous laughter evoked out of pity for the poor guy, but rather it was spontaneous and spurred me to think. I admit that I'm guilty of stereotyping, but normally you don't expect a Carnegie Mellon production or a computer science professor to be quite so witty. But then, like the sudden road block that appears before you, requiring you to swerve and apply emergency brakes, he revealed that he had pancreatic cancer, an impeding death sentence to be executed in less than a year.

As he continued his presentation, I admit that I had somehow forgot about his terminal illness. Besides the immediate shock that occupied my mind when he first revealed this, his composure and passion stripped us of any opportunity to pity or commiserate him. Although he is a far more eligible candidate than most for throwing a pity fest, he simply refused.

Even though there are probably even more inspirational speakers in this world than aspiring celebrities, he had an unique effect on me. It was as if he placed me on a mechanical bull, jolted me around until i became completely disoriented, led me to suffer a painfully humiliating fall, but in the midst of this, sparked an epiphany in me. I realized that whenever we encounter an obstacle, it seems as if all we are capable of doing is magnifying the problem until everyone we know dwells in our misery as well. As the saying goes, misery loves company, but fortunately Randy Pausch negated this philosophy for me.