Undergraduate / 'passion for building' - Cornell Supplement, my interest in Engineering [3]

Cornell:Tell us about an engineering idea you have, or about your interest in engineering. Describe how your ideas and interests may be realized by - and linked to - specific resources within the College of Engineering. Finally, explain what a Cornell Engineering education will enable you to accomplish.(500 Word)

A yellow block with 4 circles barely rising from the top. A weird shape, that if you stack on top of another they stick. Legos.
When I turned 6 I recall my first set of Legos, a few, used-up pieces that my dad saw me playing with at the thrift store. It was fascinating how when you stack one on top of another it became one structure, but when you switched it around it became a completely different structure. I could make Lego cars, buildings, and even robots; the possibilities were endless. This fascination later sprouted into a hobby. My brothers and I would build so many different designs, and when we got bored we would go outside and build things from sticks and grass; it's amusing how the simple things interested us so much. Unfortunately my parents thought of Legos as detrimental to my studies and rarely, if ever, bought me new pieces.

In high school, it all came back. VEX robotics. I still recall my first impression of the pieces, "Woah, they're not plastic, but metal, and we are using screws and bolts now? This looks so complex." Getting accustomed to VEX took a bit of time, but after successfully building my first protobot, I had a feeling of accomplishment. Then came the programming, which was similar to Lego Mindstorm, what we practiced with before VEX, but with a lot more functions. Luckily I decided to take AP computer science that year and programming was simple after learning the new programming commands that came with VEX, such as SetMotor(x,y,z). Once I became suited with the pieces and the programming it was all free land. Anything I came up with, I was allowed to build, it was a matter of what worked best. I remember having to rebuild my original robot 4 times before I was satisfied; it was a never-ending quest of improvement, optimization, and innovation.

The endless possibilities that stem from a simple piece is what began my passion for building and since then I have been able to build and tinker with every contraption I think up. For me engineering is a way to express my thoughts, a way to bring my ideas to life;it is what I love doing!

At Cornell's College of Engineering I hope to continue fueling my interest. The co-op program will allow me to have the best experience in every field of engineering that allures me; The college offers a masters in every field that interest me, particularly mechanical engineering, chemical engineering and computer science, so I would still have time to choose; and the diversity will help me not only develop as an engineer, but also a social person. Cornell is where I can not only become a successful engineer but also a well-rounded person!

criticize please :)

Undergraduate / 'Made in China. ' - Cultural Background [4]

Please tell us more about your cultural background and identity in the space below (100 word limit).

Made in China.
Both of my parents are born in China and immigrated to the USA, where they had an "ABC", an American-Born Chinese, me. I have had the opportunity to indulge in both cultures; the Chinese customs and the American ones. My parents would often have a family Christmas celebration and then the Chinese New Year celebration the next month. We would eat the stereotypical rice but with a drink in our hands. In our household we encourage the Asian worth-ethic with the american freedom, a mix that has taught me to work hard towards my goals.

Undergraduate / MagLev; Cornell / Building interest. [NEW]

Cornell:Tell us about an engineering idea you have, or about your interest in engineering. Describe how your ideas and interests may be realized by - and linked to - specific resources within the College of Engineering. Finally, explain what a Cornell Engineering education will enable you to accomplish.(500 Word)

Every time I build, my mind ponders how the end product will function; how having a certain overall shape or placement of parts could increase the effectiveness of the machine. In the science Olympiad event, MagLev, this was essential.

My first impression of MagLev was "this will be so easy, the descriptions practically tells you how to build it." This turned out to be a big understatement. My first maglev was a rectangle piece of foam board with 2 pillars sticking above it, to hold the motor, and 3 magnets taped on the bottom of each side, north facing down. I thought my maglev had a good chance, it was sturdy and the fan produced a good breeze, but at the first testing everyone's maglev was similar. We all used either a block or a board for the base and then just mounted a motor; from looking at other people's Maglevs we came to the conclusion that the best motor equaled the best maglev. After testing started though a problem arose; every Maglev that used a board as their base would tend to rotate, and every Maglev that used a block as their base would have too much contact with the side of the tracks to move at all. It turned into a competition of who's fan could overcome the friction, a futile competition where the friction always won. In the end no one's Maglev moved, but everyone, including the teachers, gained a new impression of the event.

Since then every time I think about Maglev I would ponder on how to overcome the balance problem. I've build 3.5 Maglevs since then; one where the vehicle is at a slight angle, looking like a bent piece of paper; one where the two boards are connected like a I beam but with 2 middle supports, and the magnets connected to the top board to get the most support from the 4cm tall walls; one that is my primary design, but with a magnet in the middle that repels because of the angle between the track magnets and it; and one that I'm currently working on that is similar to the second design, but inside a coke can. And though I've somewhat overcome the balancing problem, I know it can be better. It is this constant thought of improvement, optimization, and innovation that draws me into engineering.

At Cornell's College of Engineering I hope to continue fueling my interest. The co-op program will allow me to have the best experience in whatever interests I may partake; The college offers a Masters in every field that interest me, particularly mechanical engineering, chemical engineering and computer science, so I would still have time to choose; and the diversity will help me not only develop as an engineer, but also a social person. Cornell is where I can become a successful engineer and a well-rounded person!

Criticize please :)

Undergraduate / I was a shy boy with no English knowledge; MIT short essay- Finding myself [3]

Tell us about the most significant challenge you've faced or something important that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?(*) (200-250 words)

Everyone wants to have their voice heard, but ever since I was small this has been a difficult thing to do. I started my life off in China and moved to the US at the age of 4 as a shy boy with no knowledge of English, into a neighborhood that had no Asians. I was in the extreme minority. Because of this I tried so hard to fit into the dominantly-Caucasian community, with no avail. The bullies would continue to take interest in me as the lonely Asian and, even when I notified the teachers, nothing would change. As life continued I would become accustom to the daily routine of what I can do and what I can't, but before I became comfortable with this, I would move and restart the whole process. Life was dreadful, and I would always wonder "why can't they accept me?" It wasn't until later on did I find the answer.

After switching school systems 4 times, I decided to stop trying to fit in; I was going to focus only on my goals. Surprisingly this was the solution; it wasn't that other people wouldn't accept me, it was that I didn't accept myself. I've always tried to blend into society, believing it was the best thing to do, by dissolving my individuality, but it was the other way around: I blended in by expressing my individuality. Now in High school, I'm no longer the lonely Asian boy, but the confident teen that many thinks has it all: confidence, intelligence, and friends!

Criticize please :). Oh and its hitting 259 words, any suggestions on shortening?

Undergraduate / I love being stubborn; MIT/ Characteristic [4]

What attribute of your personality are you most proud of, and how has it impacted your life so far? This could be your creativity, effective leadership, sense of humor, integrity, or anything else you'd like to tell us about. (*) (200-250 words)

Taking a step in the wrong direction may be the first step towards success.
During my Sophomore year I asked many of my upperclassmen what classes were best to take Junior year and, though there was a variety of replies, no one recommended AP physics. Instead many of them recommended NOT taking that class, saying it was way to difficult and that almost no one got a natural A. After hearing this, I was hesitant to take AP physics from the possibility that it could drop my average, but for some reason I still took it. To my dismay it was as difficult as they described it. I failed my first test, but I wasn't going to allow the class to become impossible. Through a bit of studying and asking questions I was able to pull up my failing grade, from an F to one of the few natural As'!

I found the impossible class possible, and would've regretted not taking it. That is why the trait I'm most fond of is being stubborn. When everyone was telling me not to take the class, I still took it, not to be rebellious, but because I knew I could do it. Just like when Faraday published his findings on the connection between electricity and magnetism despite criticism and disbelief from fellow scholars; He knew it was there even when everyone else said it wasn't.

criticize please :D. Oh and i feel like this example is insufficient :/ it isn't really that "big"

Undergraduate / MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering; MIT App/program and why? [2]

Although you may not yet know what you want to major in, which department or program at MIT appeals to you and why? (*) (100 words or fewer) Truly, we're asking only because we're curious about what interests you right now. Writing "underwater basket weaving" will not give you an edge in the admissions process, so just be honest!

Every time I build, my mind ponders how the end product will function; how having a certain overall shape or placement of parts could increase the effectiveness of the robot. Every time I do calculus or physic problems, I wonder how they are applied in real life; how we can send current through a coil to transform electrical energy to mechanical as in a motor and then optimize that for maximum efficiency between power and speed. It is my passion to build, improve upon, and understand how things function that has led me to choose MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering!

Criticize please :)

Undergraduate / Lego Cars; MIT App/ Pleasure activity [3]

We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do for the pleasure of it. (*)(100 words or fewer)

Stack a piece on top of another and you get one structure, switch it around and you can get a completely different structure; the endless possibilities that stem from simple pieces is where my passion for building began. Every contraption I think up, I am able to build and tinker with; starting from the basic Lego car to now working with VEX robotics, I have built a multitude of designs. For me building is a way to express my thoughts, a way to bring my ideas to life; it is what I love doing!

criticize please :D