Undergraduate / 'Becoming a doctor' / 'Body language' -Tufts Supplemental Essays [5]

Which aspects of Tufts' curriculum or undergraduate experience prompt your application? In short: ''Why Tufts?''

At Tufts I hope to follow my dream of some day becoming a doctor. At the same time, I would like to pursue other interests, such as language and culture. Not far from the busy city of Boston, I feel that that Tufts will provide me with the active and diverse environment I need to thrive.

Self-identity and personal expression take many forms. Use the richness of your life to give us insight: Who are you? (200 words)

I am a listener. Those who know me speak to me without difficulty, certain that they will be heard. These could be people I just met, or people I've known for as long as I can remember. My ears do not discriminate by race, age, or gender. I will lend my ears to anyone, whether it is one of my parents or someone I might meet on the train. All they need to do is talk. When this isn't possible, my eyes can take over and do the listening; I will understand. I am no amateur when it comes to body language.

Along with body language, I take pride in learning and understanding other languages, whether for necessity or because of interest. Despite all this, it's important to know that I am not well versed in the language of silence. I am an active listener, and I will tell you my opinion in the hopes of helping you out. In addition, while I may appear to be a quiet and timid person, I assure you that I can and will express myself, if necessary. I love to listen to others, and thus, I am a listener.

Undergraduate / College of Agriculture and Life Sciences -Cornell CALS (I have been rather fortunate) [4]

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences:
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) develops leaders committed to the improvement of life. Describe how your interest and related experiences have influenced your selection of major and how CALS will prepare you to be a leader in your chosen field.

As a child, I grew up with the notion that my father had attended medical school and never managed to complete it. In reality, this wasn't his ambition, and he soon left school to immigrate and start a family. Nevertheless, I had made my decision to follow in what I thought were my father's footsteps. I wanted to help people, to be as kind and generous to others as my parents had been to me. Thus my love for biology, and medicine, began. My learning was fueled by the mass amounts of outdated medical textbooks and work lying around the house. While I spent a lot of time watching PBS and reading children's books, my knowledge was further enhanced by books on the cell, and an anatomy coloring book.

Being raised in the U.S., I have been rather fortunate. All my life I've been able to receive excellent health care. The idea that there are people out there without it has always been something startling to me, and one memory still haunts me. Every few years, I travel to Egypt to visit my extended family. On one of these trips, I accompanied my young aunt to the doctor's office. My aunt suffers from lupus, so these trips were standard for her. To me, what I saw was a shock: the smell, the lighting, the patients waiting in pain, and the doctors who showed apparently little concern for them.

On a recent trip to Egypt, when my aunt had an eye infection we traveled to another hospital. Unfortunately, what I saw was no better than what I had seen years before. I realized that I had always taken for granted the healthcare back at home. I decided then that as hard as I would have to work to become a doctor, it would be my aim to help those who cannot help themselves.

As a result of my experiences, I feel that I would be best suited in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Concurrent with my hopes to one day enter the field of medicine, my interests are geared primarily toward issues concerning public health. For this reason it seems that the Biology and Society major would be most appropriate for me. In regards to science, many aspects of biology appeal to me, from molecular biology, to cytology, to physiology. The study of life has never ceased to amaze and surprise me. However, I am equally astonished at the state of our society and many others, in which people are permitted to suffer at the hands of a flawed system of health care. The Biology and Society major would give me a greater understanding of this system and its political and legal workings. In combination with my love for science, I hope to make a difference not only in my own community, but others who are in need as well.

please and thank you!

Undergraduate / 'A cultural center for college students' - Why Boston University? [8]

Students consider many different factors when applying to college. Briefly discuss who or what influenced your decision to apply to Boston University:

Throughout my college search, I've tried to focus on schools that could further my goal of some day becoming a physician. Of the things that worried me about the process, the amount of time it takes to get a degree in medicine has been a major issue. As a result, I've taken a particular interest to 7- and 8-year B.A./M.D. programs. The Liberal Arts/Medical Education Program provided by Boston University is one of my main reasons for applying. To some, a program of this sort might appear to be restrictive, preventing a prospective student from trying out various courses and trying to find their place. I feel though that I know where I want to be, and that a program like this shows me how to get there.

Boston is about a four-hour drive from New York City, the only home I've ever known. I love this city with all my heart, but after so many years, I feel like I need some change. New York City moves to fast for me at times, to the point where it can be rather overwhelming. People are always so busy and tired, and that combination makes many of them inclined to be irritable, and at times even rude. From what I know about Boston, it is also a large city when compared with New York. However, it does not move as fast, which perhaps could give me the chance to look around, and even interact with those around me.

Along the same vein, I feel that there would be no better place for a college student, fresh out of their home, than Boston. I grew up in a neighborhood called Astoria, which is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the country. Consequently, I would not feel comfortable leaving my home if I was going to live somewhere lacking in diversity. I don't think this can be said about Boston, which is practically a cultural center for college students. With so many universities in the area people come in from all over the country. It's for this reason that I feel that the environment around Boston University is one in which I can grow, learn, and mature, all away from home.