Undergraduate / I loveStar Trek ;The Holodeck Essay [2]

Guys i really need help on this essay. The word limit is 1000 so im okay on that front but i think my essay gets too confusing. help!

In a world where technology continually adapts and progresses, Harvey Mudd College expects that our students will be aware of the impact of their work on society. How would you use new advances to improve your life and/or the lives of those around you? Describe your idea and its potential impact. Feel free to be as creative or as practical as you like.

I confess; I love Star trek. I might not be one of those strange, cult-like "Trekkies" you occasionally see on television, but I do love the show as well as its premise. Its ability to captivate my imagination and force me to consider the ramification of ideas has made Star Trek hold a place dear in my heart. One particular element in Star Trek always awed me; the holodeck. The Holodeck is in essence a room with a simulated reality within it with holograms that can interact with the user and 3D images that appear to be almost lifelike.

For this idea to work, projectors must be placed on all sides of the room. For simplicity, lets assume that each holodeck is a four sided simple rectangular room. On each wall, there will be one projector and there will be large, multi-projector in the centre. Furthermore, various projectors will be placed on the ceiling each positioned some fixed interval apart, say one tile. The reason for this various image projection devices situated around the room is to give an illusion of 3 dimensions. Indeed, this is a similar concept to the proposed "hologram room" patented by Microsoft. However, unlike Microsoft's concept which makes essentially makes the walls into large screens, I wish to create 3D models.

There are various limitations to my own concept and I'll be first to admit it. Firstly, calibration is an issue. A person enjoying this experience is not supposed to stay stationary but rather move around and interact with the virtual surroundings. However, each time you move, the cameras and the corresponding projectors must alter their projection angles so that you, the user, continue to see the holograms in 3D. Furthermore, a person is a physical object in the room which light simply cannot get passed and if for instance the user is to go to close to the hologram it would interrupt the projection similar to that annoying individual in every class who walks past the projector obscuring the projection. This is why I proposed the projectors on the ceiling. Each time a projector is interrupted or blocked, another one can assume its place.

Virtual reality could become all too possible. My vision is that the holograms will be used as a type of entertainment medium. However, I don't expect it to resemble movies or books which are essentially passive but rather an entertainment platform such as videogames which interact with the user. An entire artificial world can be created in your living room, full of people and elements that react to your input. For this, some sort of virtual intelligence is required. With voice recognition and software such as Siri on the iPhone (and of course far more advanced software elsewhere) already available, this technology seems possible in the near future. The possibilities for this are endless. People could develop entire virtual worlds where they could entertain, educate and even develop new technologies by first virtually creating prototypes. I envision medicine could be revolutionized, as complex surgeries could first be tested in these virtual worlds, or the effects of antibodies on specific forms of bacteria.

Of course, this underscores the greatest danger of virtual worlds. People could become lost to it. Videogame addiction would be nothing compared with the virtual worlds that we could be create. The line between reality and fantasy will become blurred. This point emphasizes the irony of creating such a device. Just as the fiction of Star Trek will become a reality, will our reality become a fiction?

Undergraduate / This desire is perfectly attuned with the principles of the: Why UMichigan? [2]

Hey guys, i know my grammar is pretty lousy so can i have a bit of help here? Thanks!

2) Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests?

Engineering: the art of transforming the abstract into reality, of innovation guided by an engineer's creativity and insight. My passion for engineering was apparent even at a young age, disassembling a defective Walkman and refitting it into a radio set. And it is this love for creating which I wish to nurture and advance at the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan.

The College of Engineering greatly appeals me because it combines my passion for engineering with my human-orientated focus of aided communities in dire straits. Indeed, my career as a fire-fighter has provided me with a unique opportunity of being able to witness just how valuable and important the field of engineering is in the well-being and safety of others. This desire is perfectly attuned with the principles of the University of Michigan, as evident from its projects such as the BLUElab. Furthermore, the University of Michigan has a well-deserved reputation of being able to attract some of the brightest young minds on the planet enabling multi-cultural perspectives on how to tackle the major problems of today. As an international student and a "Third-Culture Kid", I am well aware of how different outlooks can provide unique and valuable insight on problems and I believe the University of Michigan encourages this.

As mentioned, the BLUElab particularly attracts me due to its focus on creating environmentally sustainable technologies with the express purpose of bettering lives. For instance, I was greatly intrigued as well as amazed by the "NicarAGUA" project which created a system of collecting rainwater on rooftops and filtering it enabling it to be drinkable. The creativity, drive and social awareness demonstrated by this project inspires me and I wish to intensely participate in programs such as this. It is clear that the College of Engineering has a pronounced emphasis on student-led initiatives (such as the BLUElab) and its focus on independent research is evident in its provision of over 145 labs and research centres - vastly more than most other engineering schools. I truly believe that I will greatly benefit from these vast resources as well as the freedom to innovate. Indeed, the University of Michigan also provides incredible undergraduate research opportunities such as the Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering which I believe will provide me a valuable glimpse of Graduate Education.

The College of Engineering at the University of Michigan perfectly aligns to my principles and I feel that this university can enable me to become an engineer with both great abilities as well as a social conscience. In short; a Michigan Engineer.

Undergraduate / UC Prompt 1 Chess' influence on my life [5]

Hey guys, this is my answer to UC prompt 1. Wondering what you guys think. did i answer the question or did i miss the point? any glaring grammar problems? Thanks guys!

Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

Pieces are sacrificed, tactics are devised, and openings are pursued; all in order to capture the opponents' king. This is the fundamental goal of chess.

Ever since I first learnt chess at the age of six by observing my father and sister play, I have been fascinated by the game. The infinite potentials for victory and defeat, the multitude of moves at one's disposal and the complexity of the game have always captivated me. When I discovered the Asean Chess Academy, I went from merely being a passive spectator to being an active participant in the chess world.

The Academy is a place where chess addicts can congregate through our mutual passion for chess, regardless of our race, creed and religion. It was not the individual's background that defined him, but the personality he portrayed through the game. A person's character can be revealed through the process of moves played. Is he Genghis Khan, violently overwhelming his opponent with brilliant aggressive plays that strike down the enemy line (the dragon variation of the "Sicilian Defence"), or is he the Duke of Wellington, with a sturdy defence that slowly dwindles away enemy forces (the "Caro Kann Defence")?

My passions lie in creating and innovating and for this reason I choose to pursue engineering and this self-contained world of chess enthusiasts is symbolic of that. Chess is not only a perfect illustration, but also an apt demonstration, of the complexities of creating. My resources are limited, as are my pieces, and the strategies which I use must maximize the benefit I obtain from them. Furthermore, in chess it is creativity and insight and not merely sheer calculative power which determines the outcome of a match and this pursuit of elegance in engineering has been inspired through chess. Chess has not only altered how my aspirations and dreams but also affected how I can achieve them. The very nature of the game involves a deep sense of responsibility; every pieces fate and future, as well as that of the outcome of the game, rests with you. Rather than finding this limiting, I find it supremely overpowering. The success or failure of my goals and aspirations depends solely on me.

In chess you cannot control everything. But it is through the game's surprising twists that the exquisiteness of the game emerges. Like a dance, the game constantly evolves through creativity and insight. To me, chess is not a combative sport with the sole intention of trying to obliterate your adversary but rather the beauty generated when two minds face each other with their personalities determining the course of the game.

Undergraduate / 'Sobering Comedy': What matters to you and why [2]

Sigh, my third attempt at this essay. I think my ideas are getting better, but my execution is getting worse...Help guys!

BTW, im a firefighter and first responder. Its in my transcript and also described in another essay although in a different context.

What matters to you and why?

Covered in a mixture of motor oil and blood, I walked towards the ambulance deafened and blinded by the sirens. I held my precious cargo with my outstretched arm: a severed human arm. As I approached my senior investigative officer, I gave a grim smile and asked: "wanna hand?"

My profession is a sobering one. I witness suicides, attend to burn victims and most traumatizing, I attempt to comfort the grieving. This grim reality seems as distant from comedy, or humour, as one could imagine. Yet joviality, the sheer ability to find comedy in tragedy, has over time become my most important ability. Although comedy is occasionally viewed as a sign of immaturity, I personally rely on it to get through the real tensions and stresses of day to day existence. Encountering such tragic situations in such unfiltered ways has led me to value the power of laughter. It is that joyous moment where for an instant, body and souls are gloriously in unison.

Taken out of context, undoubtedly my sense of "gallows humour" seems inappropriate and in some cases cruel even though it remains strictly private and between professionals. However, it isn't a cover for cruelty, but my own expression of resilience as well as an emotional catharsis. Underlying all my jokes and hilarity is a very sober realization. There is little I can do about the unfortunate events that happen, but I can control my mentality towards these circumstances. Confronted with the fragility of life so graphically has made me deal with the enormity of what I do with black humour. The spell of laughter has allowed me to create the greatest memories out of the even the worst of times and turned pain into uncontrollable chuckles.

Undergraduate / "Hey, don't Play Play!" - What matters to me and why (stanford) [3]

Okay, because of the common disapproval of my previous entry on this question, i tried another approach. I really need a person to help me out with the grammar of this because seriously, my grammar is really down the drain. Also tell me what you think of this idea. Be honest and harsh! thanks guys!

What matters to you and why?
"Hey, don't Play Play!"

Those words from an elderly woman chiding my six year old self for playing on with the library computers still resonates in my mind today. It was my first brush with the peculiar dialect Singlish; the product of various south Asian languages mingling. As someone who was raised to speak in only 'Standard' English, Singlish sounded to me as if the English language was held up at gunpoint and rifled for any punctuation.

But over time I have become very proud and somewhat psychotically defensive of this much blunt, impatient, clipped sounding language. My job entails me to cooperate and often lead men of varying backgrounds and cultures, and the repercussions of communication breakdowns in my vocation can potentially be fatal. I am still shocked at how much I now rely on the language, when recently I unconsciously reprimanded one of my new recruits using the very same line that old lady used against me. The unifying language of Singlish is what enables me to be understood, and allows me command and control my men.

Singlish matters to me not only as a means of communication but also as it symbolizes personally the cultural diversity I grew up with. Singlish is a spicy mix of English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil - all languages of cultures which have molded me. I am as influenced by the customs of the Hungry Ghost Festival as I am of Hari Raya Haji, Deepavali and Christmas. Even though I might not belong to the respective religions, I still celebrate these events with my friends, family and community. Singlish represents the multiculturalism that is as much part of the fabric of Singapore as it is of me.

Undergraduate / Stanford -- what matters to you: my torchlight [3]

Here is my last Stanford essay. i find the ending of this to be the weakest but im not sure how i can change it! Suggestions? thanks in advance guys!

What matters to you and why?

Crawling through the crevices and dark confines of the collapsed building in search of any casualties, with soot and debris obscuring my vision, I rely entirely on the seemingly mundane artifact strapped to my helmet; my small pelican torchlight.

It is difficult not to become attached to the instrument that saves your life. My pelican is graffitied, decorated and continuously maintained in the effort that I never lose it. Even off duty I still inconspicuously carry around that torchlight. My job regularly involves me and my men descending into areas of limited to no visibility, where a wrong move could result in serious injury or worse. Through my many experiences I have come to depend my pelican torchlight not just for the illumination it provides in even the most smoke logged atmospheres but also its capacity to help me locate those in peril.

Just this February, I located a drowning man using my pelican after which I was able to dive in and pull him to safety. The torchlight may not be the most used tool in my arsenal, or the most important piece of equipment that I have, but to me, it is an embodiment of my ability to save lives. Like in the aforementioned example, it provides a vital resource - light - which if without, I would be impotent at my true passion: lifesaving. As a firefighter I regularly encounter death and occasionally I have walked the fine line between it and life. However I believe these experiences gave me the courage to put my own life as collateral for others as well as give me the wisdom to appreciate the merit of even an unassuming torchlight.

Undergraduate / Introducing myself to a roommate -- Oreos and Nutella [2]

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

Well, if we're to be roommates, we are going to be spending quite a lot of time together so it might be best that you know my shortcomings beforehand.

It may seem a bit peculiar to you initially so I best explain now so we can get over the awkwardness that will likely follow. I absolutely insist on a minimum of two fire extinguishers in our room. As an ex firefighter, I strongly believe in fire safety (perhaps a tad fanatically) and considering that when I attempt to cook, a disaster is simply waiting to happen. On that note, perhaps it is best if I'm banned from the kitchen. Considering my signature dish is oreos dipped in Nutella, I know my tastes tend to terrify people, particularly my mum. Although personally I think anyone who hasn't tried my Nutella crusted Oreos is severely missing out on one of life's greatest pleasures.

I'll be quite frank with you, I don't plan on being in the dorm all that much. I would rather be tinkering down in the lab or relaxing at the nearest coffee shop than being confined in my room. I do warn you however, I have a horrible habit for spontaneous road trips. When the lull of boredom overcomes me I can't help but want to explore. Particularly with Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose just a car ride away, it seems an injustice not to do so.

So what does this all mean? Will I cause the kitchen to combust into flames? Unlikely.

Will I try to drag you along on hastily planned road trips? Definitely.

Will I make for a boring roommate? I'll let you decide.

Undergraduate / 'Malaysian road' - Stanford -- Intellectual vitality [2]

hey guys, this is my response to the stanford supplement essay question. Im quite worried that i didnt answer the question, if im talking enough why this experience was intellectually stimulating. Anyway, tear apart my essay as you guys wish!

Stanford students are widely known to possess a sesne of intellectual vitality. Tell us about an idea or an experience you have had that you find intellectually engaging.

Searing heat; a forsaken strip of Malaysian road; nonexistent satellite reception. This was the situation I faced last summer when my vintage Mitsubishi Lancer stuttered to a stop on the way to Kuala Lumpur. An exciting road trip with three close friends, minimal supplies and a mountain of soft drinks had quickly evolved into a nightmare.

As the only member of our ill prepared group of adventurers with any knowledge of car anatomy, it fell upon me to remedy this problem. When I opened to hood of the car to inspect the engine, I was able to glean that the float of the carburetor ï a mechanism controlling the air-fuel mixture consumed by the engine ï had disintegrated. This was a nightmare situation. The 'textbook' solution was contacting AutoShepard Free Shipping Agency and request them to send down a carb rebuild kit. As you can imagine, this answer wasn't met with by much enthusiasm.

Only after hours of failure and disappointment as every idea I had faltered, an epiphany finally struck. I took out a ball point pen, disassembled it and picked out the barrel. I disengaged the fuel line and gently removed the carb. With the barrel and some rubber bands I managed to create a makeshift carb. To my amazement it worked. Perhaps not gracefully, but the car could move.

This incident profoundly changed my view on what an engineer truly is. Engineering is not a vocation but in my opinion a philosophy combining the creativity of an artist with the pragmatism of a scientist in order to innovate. There is a sublime joy in attempting to find unconventional solutions to everyday problems. Those hours spent toiling under the sun in a god-forsaken strip of land covered in grease and sweat was one of the most intellectual stimulating and dare I say it, fun, times in my life. Combining basic knowledge with creativity as well as a fair amount of luck in what at that time seemed like a catastrophe was captivating. I dream of being an "engineer", a true innovator of insight, adaptability and creativity.

Undergraduate / 'neither recognized nor rewarded' - Common App [6]

Hey guys, heres my common app essay. my writing isnt that great so i really need suggestions and helps for improvement. Also any comments if the overall idea is any good or not. thanks

I won't lie. Walking into Central, Singapore's premier fire station, as its youngest Section Commander was a terrifying experience. What was even more frightening? Then telling a group of veterans who have been tackling catastrophes for years and saying "hey guys! My name's (INSERT NAME HERE). I'll be leading you from now on".

However, my station experiences have affected me remarkably and one particular incident is indelibly imprinted in my mind. On a lazy Sunday morning, my crew and I were dispatched to an apartment block to investigate a call. When we arrived, we were dismayed to find a seventh story unit enveloped in flames with plumes of smoke ascending miles into the air. With an inoperable lift and deficient water pressure, we struggled to even get near the blaze let alone control it. Finally, I decided to use an extinguisher in an attempt to contain the fire. It was a foolhardy move and the burns on my left arm attest to that. However this action led me to save my first life.

When I entered the room it was not the blazing inferno or the falling debris that caught my attention but rather the large green shape plodding away from the fire. It was of all things, a tortoise. Not just any tortoise, but the largest, portliest and possibly greenest tortoise that I had ever laid eyes on. Gently, I picked him up and brought him away from any immediate peril and down to his grateful owner who tearfully thanked me.

I was neither recognized nor rewarded for my actions. But this incident above all others taught me that I needn't carry a damsel out of a burning building to be a hero. It was not my bravery or skills, but rather my genuine concern for his beloved pet, that touched the owner. Through my experiences as a firefighter, I am witness to both acts of munificence on a monumental level and displays of kindness on an individual basis. Do you want to know what I've learnt? They all matter. When I do finally hang up my fire helmet, my duty does not end. There will still be those, like that tortoise, who desperately need my help.

Due to this, I chose to pursue engineering as its potential for turning theoretical ideas into practical reality greatly attracts me. First responders are constantly bogged down by their obsolete and cumbersome equipment and advancements in technology can result in us being safer and more effective. Particularly, I'm interested in spearheading movements to create new types of breeching (a type of forward pump) as well as to involve myself in the innovative CAFS (compressed air foam system) which potentially could revolutionize firefighting. Even if I can't operationally be on the ground, I can still support and contribute to others' lives.

I would like to believe that right now that tortoise is somewhere lounging under the sun eating a juicy lettuce leaf, thanking the fireman who saved him.

Undergraduate / "Cerebral high school science" - Stanford Essay Intellectual vitality [5]

hey guys, this is the first stanford essay prompt.
I would love some feedback, imput, anything you have to say about my essay :)

As always, thanks in advance!

Stanford students are widely known to possess a sense of intellectual vitality. Tell us about an idea or an experience you have had that you find intellectually engaging.

What can be assembled from a broken-down bicycle, a decaying 90's CPU, and a rusted circuit board?
For me, high school science seems almost entirely cerebral: a process of identifying a problem and through reciting a set of tediously memorized, obtaining a fixed solution.

However, for me, the significance and value of a theory always lies in its application, where it truly demonstrates its benefit. So when I first heard about the engineering program with an emphasis on renewable energy production, I was instantly intrigued.

Immediately, the first concept that came to mind was hydroelectricity. Singapore is a country that experiences continuous rain, and if even a fraction was harnessed, significant amounts of energy could be generated.

However, the only materials I was given were rusted parts from an old refuse bin. I could not simply rely on a pencil and paper to find the solution. The parts wouldn't simply magically assemble themselves into a micro hydroelectric generator once a few formulas were written down.

Rather than relying on uninspiring definitions, innovation and unconventional thinking was required.
A turbine could be constructed from a run-down bicycle wheel, a computer fan could be used as the rotor, a commutator could be constructed from diodes from the circuit board...

While these answers were certainly unorthodox, they were effective, and this to me epitomizes the true purpose of science. It is not the mathematical calculations or the chemical equations that makes for riveting science, but rather it is their application to real life. This is why I am pursuing engineering: a subject where the theoretical meets the practical; where concepts become reality.