Undergraduate / Picture Books/ Explore Beijing/ Friends/ Action; Tufts App/ Who am I? [5]

Hi guys could you please give me suggestions or comments? PLEASE be harsh!

If you would like me to help with yours I would be glad to.

You may have heard the quote "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." We don't mind. Who are you? Respond in the medium of your choice: prose, one-minute video, blog, digital portfolio, slam poetry... For media other than writing, please share a link (video can be submitted via YouTube but we recommend using a privacy setting) that is easily accessible.

My name is XX and I'm 17 years old. My favorite color is blue and my favorite flower is the rose. So once I decided to dye a white rose blue. There were blue streaks on the petals so I guess it kind of worked and that made me really happy.

My favorite books are pictures books. Some people laugh at me for that but in the spirit of being who I am and saying what I feel, I think there is something very special about picture books. Sometimes things cannot be conveyed through words alone. My favorite would be "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. It's the type that after you finish you can't help but stay still for a minute and indulge in its meaning.

I love being with my friends, either exploring Beijing's subway stops or just having a movie marathon with a diabetes-inducing amount of caramel popcorn. But sometimes, I also like to be alone. Once while running near the back road of my house, I came across a piece of woodland that I think is too small to call a forest. Upon venturing in, I found a little abandoned stone house with a sparkly stream flowing through. This has become a haven for me when I want a little bit of quiet to read or simply to escape reality.

After my best friend attempted suicide and was still in the hospital with no visitors allowed, I spent quite some time there just thinking. I knew our relationship was going to be different and honestly back then, the uncertainty scared me to no end.

So here it is. These are some things that you may want to know about me. As for who am I? I've always been a solid believer of showing instead of telling. I hope this has given you some insight into my personality.

Undergraduate / 'Quaker saying about life' - Tufts supplement [7]

Hi guys! Please be as critical as you can! All comments and suggestions are appreciated.
Also if you like, I would be glad to help with yours!

2.There is a Quaker saying: ''Let your life speak.'' Describe the environment in which you were raised-your family, home, neighborhood, or community-and how it influenced the person you are today. (200-250 words)

Mom ties a string onto my wrist and attaches the other end onto a lamp. "Okay play."
I position my one-sixteenth-size violin and begin to work through my daily set of screech and squawks. At three years old, I have a tendency of falling asleep and cracking my violin. When my arms start drooping, the string's tension jerks me awake so I can resume making noise.

After violin practice or violin class on Mondays and Fridays, mom would then drive me to PP5, endearingly known by students as Pee-pee 5, and tell me she'll buy me bubble tea if I study well. Sadly, I somehow always fell asleep between French and Art.

"We should take Tina to the new skating ring!"
"Is that a ballet studio?"
"Boxing? Taekwondo? I've always wanted to learn these things."
My parents both come from rural parts of China and never had the chance to pursue these activities when they were young. They want me to have all that they couldn't. Admittedly, in the spirit of nothing but the truth, ballet and violin were like torture to my uncoordinated music deaf self.

But as I grew older and my parents' requirements shrunk, their influence upon me remains. I know that I am lucky to have the opportunity to experience so much. My parents' determination to give me the best has shaped me into a person that always puts myself out there.

Consequently, I would love to join Tuft's Quiditch Team. I fancy myself a Beater.

Undergraduate / 'relevancy of economics' - Cornell Supplement Economics [6]

Hi guys this is my essay for Cornell. Please help me out and be as critical as possible! I will be glad to help back if you would like me to. (:

College of Arts and Sciences:

Describe your intellectual interests, their evolution, and what makes them exciting to you. Tell us how you will utilize the academic programs in the College of Arts and Sciences to further explore your interests, intended major, or field of study.

Growing up in Beijing, the capital of one of the world's fastest developing countries, the dynamics of the city changed with breathtaking speed. Miles of cornfield disappeared as the coal burning factories popped up and spewed out blackness into the once brilliant blue skies. Shopping malls sprouted all over the city and soon the streets filled with bicycles were traded for shiny new cars.

These were childhood observations that with the opportunity of enrolling in HL economics I finally began to understand. And with the models and explanations, the world itself began to make sense. "Everything is economics and economics is everything", thought I in an attempt to be profound. But truly, with my desire to understand the modern society, I have developed a deep appreciation for the subject's diversity.

With the relevancy of economics as the main reason to further my study, my criteria for choosing a program is one that not only has excellent teaching, but also emphasizes and celebrates the diversity of the subject. These principles are representative of Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences.

In addition to the honor of working with an exceptionally large number of economists on the faculty, there are opportunities to aid in ongoing research and conduct my own. This is highly attractive to me because research would provide me the chance to utilize the knowledge and skills I acquire from class to truly contribute towards society. Also, as part of the honors program or department's program of independent study, I would have the resources and guidance to work towards aspects of personal interest. As an economics enthusiast but undecided in a specific field, this opportunity could pave the path of my future career.

Furthermore, with over 2000 courses to choose from, the opportunities are endless in exploring interests and developing new ones. With the college's dedication to the liberal arts, I would be encouraged, in fact required to take a variety of different courses. My top choices after perusing Fall 2012 course descriptions are PSYCH 4840 - Goals, Needs, and Desires and 4655 Topics in Social & Political Philosophy. Courses in other subjects will not only instill in me the ability to approach problems from different angles, but also contribute towards economics, enriching and interlacing it with other disciplines. Perhaps I may even end up taking on one or two other majors, providing me a cutting edge to the average economics degree.

The steep slope of improvement in my high school grades demonstrates my possession of the necessary maturation and focus to become part of Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences. Among those that share my passion, I would be able to comfortably engage in the academic atmosphere, fostering deeper understanding and contributing my own ideas. From the dedication to the liberal arts to the excellent teaching and opportunities for research, study abroad, and internships, all the while the Knight's institute providing literary skills fundamental to any profession, I regard Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences as the quintessential next step.

Undergraduate / It looked into my eyes and said, "Have faith"; NYU-What intrigues you? [5]

Hi guys, this is my NYU supplement. Please be as critical as you can! All comments and suggestions are appreciated.

If you want me to help with yours just say so and I'll be glad to help!

TOPIC 3:What intrigues you? Tell us about one work of art, scientific achievement, piece of literature, method of communication, or place in the world (a film, book, performance, website, event, location, etc.), and explain its significance to you.

In the middle of a pristine neighborhood with polished fencing, pruned bushes and mowed lawns, lies an immaculately paved street. Smooth and freshly painted, it seems to go on forever, lined by perfect houses of cream and gold.

And walking along the sidewalk, I sensed that even the wind knew to be delicate, blowing a dainty breeze...

Such was the surrounding that as I leisurely followed the road, sometimes slowing to admire the sunset; it was at terrible contrast when I came to a sudden jerky stop. Terrible indeed, but I must deem it appropriate. Because in the middle of two beautiful houses, one cream based and the other gold, sat a tree. Smack center in the street.

With twisted roots waging war with the concrete, the plant drooped in exhaustion. It knew as a seed that it was going to be an uphill battle but still courageously broke through the coating. Some may deem it stupidly stubborn but its existence is proof to them all that an uphill battle wasn't a pointless battle. It looked into my eyes and said, "Have faith."

A dozen failed attempts to convince charities of the Cultural Interaction Community Project's maturity; I imagine the tree telling a story about its countless attempts to break through concrete and tried again. A failed biology test brings up a picture of its scarred body and I knew that one couldn't break me. Tree, your words have echoed through the years. One day I will visit and tell you that your faith is hope to the hopeless and strength to the repressed.

Undergraduate / NYU economics program; NYU sup/ Academic Interests [10]

Hey guys please help me with this answer. Do you think I fully answer the question? Please be as harsh as you can. All comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated!

A. NYU's global network provides students with hundreds of academic areas of interest for students to cultivate their intellectual curiosity and to help achieve their career goals. Whether you are entirely undecided about your academic plans or you have a definitive program of study in mind, what are your own academic interests? Feel free to share any thoughts on any particular programs or how you might explore those interests at NYU on any of our campuses. (1500 characters)

Growing up in Beijing, the capital of one of the world's fastest developing countries, the dynamics of the city changed with breathtaking speed. Miles of cornfield disappeared as the coal burning factories popped up and spewed out blackness into the once brilliant blue skies. Shopping malls sprouted all over the city and soon the streets filled with bicycles were traded for shiny new cars.

These were childhood observations that with the opportunity of enrolling in HL economics finally began to make sense. And with the models and explanations, came the full appreciation of the subject's real world relevance and a conviction to pursue economics. I realize that it is the laws of economics that invisibly dictate the workings of modern society and for this reason I thirst for more understanding.

With the relevancy of economics as the main reason to further my study, my criteria for choosing a program is one that not only has excellent teaching, but also emphasizes and celebrates the diversity of the subject. These principles are representative of the NYU economics program. In addition to the honor of working with passionate professors, the liberal arts foundation through MAP enriches the study of economics and interlaces it with other disciplines. All the while, the array of opportunities for research, internships and innovation keeps the subject relevant to the real world. With such features and the prestige of the campus and the city itself, I would be honored to attend NYU.

I will be glad to help with your essay if you like.