Undergraduate / "Community & Pizzazz" - Chapman Supplement [4]

Chapman is just a safety school, but I'd still like the essay to be nice. I feel that right now it's incredibly conventional and sort of bland linguistically...any input would be much appreciated!

Q: There are thousands of universities and colleges. Please tell us why you are choosing to apply to Chapman. How does Chapman match your educational goals, and what do you expect to achieve on campus? (1000 characters)

Aside from your incredible prestige, location, areas of study, and campus, I must say that I am applying to Chapman for two major reasons. The first is that I've discovered that we're quite similar. We're motivated, and filled with pizzazz, and consumed with the arts. We're environmentally conscious, and put priority in serving our communities, which leads me to my second reason for applying to Chapman. I was raised in a small town community, home to parades devoted to butterflies and festivals dedicated to the good old days. As president of my high school's Interact Club, a community service club, I did my best to emphasize the beautiful closeness within my town. It's that sort of local intimacy that I adore about my community, and I love in your university as well. I admire the efforts of Chapman's Student Civic Engagement program, and would certainly join movement, should I be accepted. Programs like those make me look forward to engrossing myself in your community!

Undergraduate / Awareness is More Than a Can of Tuna: Pitzer Supplement [3]

Thank you so much for your time! I've felt a bit iffy on this one for a while. Not sure what to do. Any input would be greatly appreciated, and don't be afraid to be harsh!

1. Founded in 1963, Pitzer College was built upon four core values that re-imagine the purpose of a college education in a progressively changing world. These values are social responsibility, intercultural understanding, interdisciplinary learning, and student autonomy. Almost 50 years later, our students feel that our founding values help prepare them to address the issues of their time. How do you feel these values will help you find solutions to the evolving challenges of your generation? (Maximum of 4000 characters)

Currently 573 characters over.

Unfortunately, it seems that one of the most significant challenges facing my generation today is an all encompassing lack of awareness, and a surplus of single-mindedness. What my generation lacks in awareness concerning our influence on environmental and socio-economical issues, we compensate for in ever-growing "me, myself and I" philosophies. I think the solution to this sort of phenomenon walks hand-in-hand with a Pitzer education.

During my overnight stay at Pitzer, I took a course on the development of third-world countries. The professor alluded to the truth that my generation generally empathizes with the turmoil of foreign countries to a degree, but finds it difficult to understand beyond a superficial level, or even become sincerely involved. I appreciated his statement, because I realized that being socially responsible and having the capacity for intercultural understanding is something more than donating a check for twenty dollars to the Peace Corps, or a can of tuna to a local food drive. It means looking beyond yourself, and maintaining a sense of social awareness. It means being conscious of where you purchase your foods from, or where your clothes are made. It means participating in community programs that support communities on the other side of the word. It means acting upon your desire to help, not just actively thinking about it.

I've always taken great pride in my ability to take action, to contribute, and to do so in a genuine and imaginative way - and in doing so, I believe that at least within my own community, I am helping to solve the ever-changing challenges of my generation. I've invested a vast amount of time in employing the activities offered at my school and in my town to make sure that I engage myself and promote a healthy, driven student body, always to the best of my ability - including captaining the Mock Trial team, starting an environmental club (we're already in the works to get our cafeteria utensils to go green!), and perhaps most significantly, serving as president of the Interact Club at my high school.

As president of a community service club, I decided to organize an information booth and fundraiser for the battle against homicide in Darfur at my school. By the time the Darfur campaign was over, we made a pretty decent donation, and many of my peers gained some insight into the true nature of another country's plights. The campaign itself led to a slew of future benefit concerts, garage sales, book sales, and donation stands for other charities. During that time I discovered something wonderful; it isn't all that difficult to contribute to your community in some small way, every day. It isn't all that difficult to be considerate and kind and courteous - and I believe I am exactly that. My mission this year has been to try to spread that message of reactivity and understanding to my peers, and I'm already utilizing Pitzer's chief values to do so.

We need to institute a wide variety of programs within schools to better a student's access to intercultural information. I believe in strong multinational history and world economics classes, in which students may be completely immersed in the conduct of other cultures from a young age. Oversea study programs should be highly encouraged - they give students an increased opportunity at learning to implement a holistic and global perspective in America. Students need to be encouraged to take part in a wide variety of courses in college - not only engaged in their own interests, but also in the interests of global awareness; so that a civil-engineering major may know of the collapsing state of India, and a theatre major may know of the dense expressionistic history of the Middle East.

Pitzer is my first choice of higher education, and this choice was made effortlessly because our values are already strikingly similar. The idea of becoming involved and taking on a socially responsible, understanding, community-oriented role has already become a reality for me. The conscientiousness and perspectives I have gained from being intrigued by the world and the way in which humanity functions have helped me to become a more proactive and unique person within my community, while simultaneously driving me to always become a part of something bigger than myself. I can't wait to become immersed in a diverse school and student body that share the progressive mindset I have today, because I know that the lessons I will gain by attending Pitzer will give me tools to change a close-minded generational way of thinking.

Undergraduate / BU Supp: Leaps and Bounds - spectacular progress or growth in a big way. [6]

Given what you know about Boston University, what do you hope to accomplish as an undergraduate here? Please respond in an essay of no more than 500 words.

By definition, if one does something in leaps and bounds, they are prone to making spectacular progress or growth in a big way. All my life, I've made leaps, and I've made bounds. It's a habit of mine to go big on everything, to absorb lessons like a sponge, to aim at success, and to engage myself completely in programs that will further my growth. I'm bounding towards becoming a Boston University student. As an undergraduate, I can guarantee that I will always contribute to the university in a positive, intelligent way - with the intent of becoming the experienced, worldly, and knowledgeable person I've always wanted to become.

As a multifaceted individual, my interests lie in the studies of International Relations, Law, and English. I was ecstatic when I found that BU offers various means of combining all three subjects through its curriculum - the fact that CAS is home to an entire International Relations department, one that is far beyond other schools in breadth, (actually, its mere existence is far beyond other schools), is more than I could have ever imagined. I've always been fascinated by international systems and the way in which humanity functions - and as an undergraduate at Boston University, I'll certainly be taking advantage of courses in diplomatic practice and global justice. Becoming the student of an international lawyer or former ambassador, especially former U.N. diplomat Mr. Charles Dunbar, would be an honor for me. I can't wait to leap into the intensive coursework he'll be assigning!

As an undergraduate, I plan to use my strengths and interests in writing, critical thinking, performing arts, and the environment to better my experience as both a student and participant in the BU community. I would like to see my work published in the Writing Program's annual e-journal or "The Back Bay Review." In high school I've been an avid member of the Young Writer's club, and my work has already been published in the local newspaper. I am also eager to participate in a BU a cappella choir. (My favorite BU a cappella group are the Barbershop Sweethearts.) Perhaps most of all, I am hoping to become a member of the Corporate Social Responsibility Club - it's a big leap from the Green Club I started at my school, and as an undergraduate at BU I would love to support a healthy, vibrant environment for my classmates.

As an enthusiastic, creative, motivated, and conscientiousness student, I know that I will easily engage myself in the Boston University community and programs. I know that I have something substantial to contribute to Boston University, and I am fully prepared to engage my heart, mind, and soul in the BU vision and curriculum, just as I have in my hometown. Boston University offers me not only the chance to engage myself in an outstanding learning environment, but also the opportunity to employ the lessons and skills I've learned in my experiences to give back, in leaps and bounds, to the Boston community.

Undergraduate / NYU Supplements; Zenith + Escape Little Town + Eugene Ionesco [8]

1. Please tell us what led you to select both your anticipated academic area(s) of study and the NYU school / college / program or the Abu Dhabi campus. What interests you most about your intended discipline? Mention any extracurricular or non-school-related activities or experiences that demonstrate your interest. (500 characters)

NYU is in essence a zenith of all I love and appreciate in the world- it's superior in my interests of study and a pinnacle of a diverse, psychologically inspiring university. As a multifaceted student, my intended areas of study are International Relations, Law, and English. As a NYU student I hope to combine all three. As captain and lead attorney for my school's Mock Trial team I've learned to respect the power of diplomacy and words and will continue to use these skills in my NYU experience.

2. NYU is 'In and of the City' and 'In and of the World.' What does the concept of a global network university mean to you? How do you think studying in New York City, Abu Dhabi, or one of NYU's global sites would change you as a person and equip you to build cross cultural relationships at NYU and beyond? (500 characters)

Coming from a small, coastal town in California, I know the benefits of an intimate neighborhood. But being raised in a relatively homogenous community has also fostered a powerful need within me- to be a part of a global community, one that will encourage immense growth for both my mind and soul. I know I'll thrive with the world at my fingertips. NYU is my first choice in higher education because, in my opinion, it's the best example of a school devoted to diversity and progress in existence.

3. If you had the opportunity to bring any person - past or present, fictional or nonfictional - to a place that is special to you (your hometown or country, a favorite location, etc) who would you bring and why? Tell us what you would share with that person. (500 characters)

I performed as a lead in a play of his as a junior, and I've remained in love ever since- absurd dramatist Eugene Ionesco would be my dream date for a trip to Eastern Germany. Nearby Hannover there lies a blueberry farm, abundant with humming bees and fertile branches of "blaubeere" bushes. In my visits to Germany I found the farm to be a source of peace in its subtle beauty. I imagine that walking beside Eugene, listening to his contemplation of a simple blueberry, would be hugely enlightening.