Undergraduate / 'Thought processes'- Stanford Essay on Intellectual Vitality [3]

Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been important to your intellectual development?

When people from previous generations wanted to learn about current events or a particular topic, they read the newspaper, a book, or a magazine. If I want to learn about absolutely anything, I have access to any number of articles and blog posts and sites about that topic, via the Internet. The problem is sorting through the articles, from the brilliant to the inane, and finding the ones I want to read. Stumbleupon solves that problem. Stumbleupon is a brilliant website that is specifically catered to each individual; it asks for your interests, and sends pages it deems relevant to you.

Sometimes it distracts me from homework and sometimes it helps me find the exact page I need for my research project. But the greatest thing about Stumbleupon is that it helps develop my intellectual curiosity. Occasionally I come across an article like the one I read a few days ago, titled "Which 5 Technologies Will Shape the Future?" The technologies were large-scale desalinization, self-driving cars, 3-D printing of functioning organs, space-based solar power, and vertical farms. As soon as I saw that third one, I stopped and thought, "Wait a second. Did that say printing functioning organs? How could that be possible?" I then spent hours reading about the mechanisms and applications of 3-D printing, medical and otherwise. Some say that transplants involving printed organs could be feasible within the next decade! Now that is something that I would want to be involved in. The idea of studying and researching technologies like that fascinates me. So why not study materials engineering?

Thought processes like that are why I consider Stumbleupon to be a significant tool for my intellectual vitality and development. Maybe one day I'll end up developing the printer that doctors will use decades from now to create organs on site for the emergency surgery of patients injured in self-driving car accidents, all because of the interest sparked in me by an article I read on Stumbleupon.

I'm afraid the writing is too bland. There is a 2,000 character limit, and I was originally at around 2600, so I had to cut it down to this (It has 1998 characters).

Undergraduate / 'not a very good singer' - Stanford Roommate Essay [3]

Hello, any criticism of this essay would be great, whether its on content or grammar. Thanks so much!

The prompt is "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."

Dear Roomie,
Man, we are going to have a good time! I am so excited to be sharing a room with you this upcoming year! Now let me tell you about myself so you can be excited too. First off, I'm outgoing, talkative, and always positive. Chances are you'll rarely see me without a smile on my face, unless I'm sleeping. I do sleep a lot; I need my 8 hours, and I enjoy a mid-afternoon nap. However, I'm an extremely deep sleeper, so feel free to play music or hang out with friends while I'm taking a nap, it doesn't make a difference to me! I think you'll find that I'm very easy to live with. If you're messy, so be it, it won't bother me. If you like things squeaky clean, that's ok too! I'll make sure to keep everything clean and put together.

I love music; it is one of the greatest joys in my life. I'm partial to indie music, alternative rock, and I come from a family of deadheads. But if you don't like that music that's fine, I'll listen to anything you want to listen to, as long as there is always music playing in our room. I also like making my own music. I'll be bringing my favorite guitar, a mandolin, and a banjo. You're welcome to play any of them, and if you don't know and want to learn how, I'd be happy to teach you! Unfortunately, I'm not a very good singer, but I like to do it anyways sometimes.

If you like peace and quiet have no fear, you'll have plenty of that as well. I love being outdoors, as long as there is sunlight and warmth (and I'm pretty sure we'll have quite a lot of that!), so chances are I'll be outside quite often. I love a good game of Ultimate Frisbee more than anything, except maybe a particularly exciting chess game.

I hope this letter made you as excited for next year as it did me. We are going to have an amazing time! Now go download that new Matt and Kim album and brush up on your Queen's Gambit opening.

Your Friend,
Spencer