Undergraduate / Diversity + academics that match my interests (biology) - Why Emory supplement [9]

1. Many students decide to apply to Emory College based on our size, location, reputation, and yes, the weather. Besides these valid reasons for making Emory College a possible college choice, why is Emory College a particularly good match for you?

Diversity. This is one of the most important qualities that I look for in a school, and through my research, I have learned that this is just one of the many characteristics about Emory that attracts me. Throughout my life, I have always been interested in experiencing other cultures. Having lived in a diverse community myself, I have had the pleasure to be able to interact with people from a plethora of countries. It is always a thrill to experience a part of a different culture such as watching my friends perform the Bhangra dance for our school's annual SAASA performance to eating Latkas at a bar-mitzvah. This is not to say that I don't embrace my own culture. As a student of Chinese ethnicity living in the United States, I also have a wide knowledge of Chinese culture which I hope to bring to Emory. I am able to fluently speak Chinese and have also participated in the annual China Night performances at our school by playing traditional Chinese music. Being able to interact with people of different ethnicities will allow me to better communicate and understand those of different identities, which is an important skill to develop as the world is becoming increasingly globalized.

There are several qualities about Emory's academics that match my interests. One important aspect is the Liberal Arts foundation upon which Emory's curriculum is based upon. Although I have already chosen Biology as my major, I know that my future may not always turned out as planned and I might eventually decide to change majors, or even my career. Because of this, I feel that the Liberal Arts foundation would be extremely valuable as it would provide me with "a lasting broad knowledge base" along with skills such as "critical thinking, clear communication, and good information management." The class rigor at Emory would suit me well because I wish to be continued to be challenged in college.

Emory's association and proximity with the CDC will provide for me research opportunities that no other school can offer. The education at Emory, fueled by some of the world's most renowned professors will surely be one that will prove invaluable.

Undergraduate / "we thank you for your interest in becoming part CVS pharmacy" - for high end schools [5]

Applying to schools like duke, upenn, emory, jhu, tufts and listing biochemistry as my first major, if thats not offered then biology. Heres my essay:

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

"I'm sorry, but we will not be inviting you to become an employee of our store. However, we thank you for your interest in becoming part of our family at CVS." I wasn't too depressed after receiving my first rejection for employment; after all, I still had three pending applications. Two nerve-wracking weeks passed by and I had not gotten another call regarding my prospective employment as a pharmacy technician from the other three pharmacies to which I had applied. Finally, I caved in and ended up calling each pharmacy I had applied to, thinking that I had been accepted and had probably missed their calls or given them the wrong number. Unfortunately, after following up, my intuition proved incorrect. I received rejections from all three. Even worse, I couldn't get a single interview out of my applications. I was both upset and frustrated, deeply perplexed by the outcome of events.

I needed to occupy myself for the first half of summer vacation, and finals were already around the corner, so I decided to apply to the two places still hiring: the local Superfresh and Walmart. Summer vacation arrived so I decided to make use of my free time by finishing my summer homework at home while they were still processing my application. The banality of my work coupled with the emptiness of my forlorn room made for an extremely boring day. I decided that I needed a change, so the next day I escaped to the newly opened library.

Part way through my work, I decided to take a break and find an interesting book. I remembered enjoying a book called Oxygen, one I read during AP Chem, so I headed off to the science section to find something similar. I started looking through the first shelf, but all I found was either picture books or textbooks; nothing seemed appealing. After a few minutes of browsing, I found an interesting looking book, called The Body Electric. The book detailed the role electricity has on regeneration and also described the research performed and discoveries made by the author in the then bygone field of bioelectricity. I didn't have much prior exposure in this topic so I dashed to the nearest chair to see what this book had to offer, as exited as a child on Christmas morning. After peeling through the first few pages, I was engrossed in the subject matter and ended up spending the rest of the day reading. Although I hadn't seen much written about the nervous system and bone healing, I was able to comprehend most of the material covered with my background in high school science courses coupled with the excellent explanations provided. However, some concepts were out of my sphere of knowledge so I went to find a basic biochemistry book from the same area of the library to serve as a reference. Carefully admiring the pages of The Body Electric for the rest of the day turned out to be the start of a great summer.

Later that day I started reconsidering the idea of getting a job this summer. Instead, I wanted to do something more intellectually satisfying: delve into the subject of biochemistry. After deciding to forgo employment and pursue the quest to satisfy my curiosity, I was able to experience an enjoyable and intellectual summer. Each day I made the relaxing ten minute bike ride to the library where I would spend my entire day learning about both science and those I met at the library. Although I started my summer by reading, I quickly found pleasure in playing chess with others and volunteering at the library. I met a plethora of people subjects, including a young but balding Indian man who was starting his own software company, and shared stories on a range of subjects. The decision I made to alter my summer plans allowed me to develop a passion for a subject that I hope to learn more about in the future. I now aspire to someday contribute to our knowledge of the biological and chemical sciences.