Undergraduate / Columbia. Science is my passion, but so is Spiderman. [2]

question:For applicants to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, please tell us what from your current and past experiences (either academic or personal) attracts you specifically to the field or fields of study that you noted in the Member Questions section. (300 words or less)

Science has always been a passion for me. For a matter of fact, I was a junior engineer as a kid, always taking things apart- at the angst of my family- and putting them together. I had an interest in all forms of science including physics, chemistry, and biology. My appreciation for science began as a result of the media. I remember reading the Maximum Ride novels, and longing to have wings just like fang, the dark winged, silent, jock of the novels. The idea of attaining the attributes of another species and augmenting my abilities to aid me in life, seemed like a dream, a dream further strengthened by the various Spiderman comics I read growing up. For several years the allure of genetic engineering was just that, to become something that I was not. Only in my freshman year of high school did I recognize the truly vast potential of genetic engineering. After going to various school trips to health facilities, meeting veterans of the Vietnam War, and witnessing the outcome of trisomy 21, I began to think, what if we lived in a world where our health concerns were no longer a problem. What if we could create a new generation of human beings that are not susceptible to birth defects and are able to replace their organs if fatally injured without the need of a transplant from another person? With my grandfather slowly falling into the clutches of Alzheimer's, the fire burning within me was fanned once more. And that's what ultimately drives me to become an engineer, to make sure no one suffers the same fate as my grandfather.

Undergraduate / Columbia. The Lion and the Engineer, What could They Possibly Have in Common [2]

question:Please tell us what you find most appealing about Columbia and why. (300 words or less)

Being from Africa I find it fitting that I go to a school that has a lion as its mascot, seeing as that's what many people think of when asked "what does Africa look like?" The lion embodies many of the trait I have, albeit at a lesser degree. Just as lion is fearless in its conquest, so also am I in my acquisition of knowledge. When faced with a foe much larger than it, a lion, like me, must muster all its strength to overcome this adversity. But a lion is never limited in its capabilities and prowess, which leads me to the reason I am attracted to Columbia University, its Core Curriculum.

No school I have heard of allows for such diversity and variability in its academics. And as my interviewer Barry Weinberg will have noted, I love diversity. There is a prototype of the title "Engineer". People see engineers - regardless of specialty- as either nerds, hard workers, or a combination of both. While engineers are hard workers, we unfortunately also fit the second stereotype that accompanies any career in the scientific field: the lack of knowledge in any other subjects. The Core Curriculum combats this problem allowing the most avid engineer to hold his own against the berating of history majors and their like. Apart from genetics, History and the Arts are my next favorite subjects. Going to a school that allows we to pursue my chief objective in life-as a Genetic Engineer- while granting me knowledge on the cultures of other nations, allows me to pursue both interests.

Moreover, Columbia is fantastic at cultivating the minds of its students to better assimilate into society, by placing emphasis on one's career, yet allowing that person to extend their scope of knowledge allowing for seamless interaction with students of other vocations, as opposed to other universities that produce the average student, who is unable to work beyond what they major in.

Undergraduate / Columbia Essay: Superman and I, One and The Same [2]

Question: Please tell us what you found meaningful about one of the above mentioned books, publications or cultural events. (300 words or less)

During the birth of a boy, a civilization is plunged into the clutches of civil war and natural disaster, prompting the parents of the child to say farewell as they send the child into the care of another. This is the story of Clark Kent, also known as superman, in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel. Clark's journey parallels mine in that at a young age, I left the place of my birth-Nigeria- to live in a foreign land. While the change in environment was not as grand as Clark's, we both faced many of the same situations. Clark and I both struggled with accommodation. While Clark struggled with maintaining control of his abilities and staying below the radar, I struggled with being recognized. As a kid I was one of the smallest in my grade and was always vying for attention, resulting in an attitude for being outgoing, which usually resulted in ridicule. Clark and I are also similar in that we wished to learn more about our homes. We both grew up learning about the culture and history of foreign environments. Some of the fears Clark held in his adolescence I hold today. Clark and I both dream of doing great things in life, but we are plagued by indecision as to how we should accomplish this, how we would be received by our peers, and to a greater effect, would we make an impact in the world?

Clark places limitations upon himself, limitations that carry on into his adult life, causing him to not use his abilities to its vast potential. Like Clark I had deceived myself into believing that whatever I do or will do does not matter. Eventually I am able to overcome this mindset through the help of my family who like Clark's paternal father- Jor-El- tells me to believe in myself and forgoe what others think of me and my accomplishments because in the end, what I do is what I love and my path- as a geneticist- will act as a guide for those who come after me. The film ends with Clark overcoming General Zod by removing all psychological limitations leaving him to become the iconic character I have come to know and love, Superman, the Man of Steel.

Undergraduate / Vanderbilt Question; Sunday School isn't what you imagine it to be. [NEW]

Vanderbilt supplement question: Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences.

I have been given the opportunity to work with the generation after mine as a result of my involvement in church. As a leader in my church's youth organization, I have been tasked to equip the children with the knowledge they need to be successful in life, both spiritually and mentally. When someone says "Sunday school", what comes to mind is the image of an elderly woman, asking the children around her who "the oldest man in the bible is?"- It's Methuselah, by the way. This image does not depict my interactions with the youth. While the bible is part of the curriculum, it is not the only subject that I assist the children in. From English to science- the subject I feel most capable in- I answer questions ranging from biology, to the greater meaning of life. Who would have thought nine year olds were capable of such thought, I know I wasn't. The children have imparted as much knowledge to me as I have upon them; now and again, I caught of guard by a question that I am unable answer, prompting me to seek the solution through my peers, teachers, or pastor. This initial lack of an answer has given me the opportunity to seek understanding in various aspects of my life, granting mental and spiritual growth.

Undergraduate / COMMON APP - Background/Notre Dame/Something New [3]

hey i need help reviewing my essay, i have already asked people and they have given me comments, but you can never be to perfect. I'm really hoping to get accepted into notre dame, it's my dram school. these are my personal essays and common app essay. do i need a title for each essay?

Question: Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

Answer: My years in Nigeria are all but a blur, but I do remember myself at five years of age, sitting my uncle's parlor marveling at the "American" movies he would bring home for both of us to enjoy. Never would I have thought I would get the opportunity to leave the country let alone the continent. But as luck would have it, my opportunity would come as an invitation for my father to serve as temporary ambassador for the Nigerian embassy in Japan.

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Question: In his 2005 inaugural address, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame, challenged our community: "we at Notre Dame must have the courage to be who we are. If we are afraid to be different from the world, how can we make a difference in the world?" When you leave Notre Dame, what is one way you will bravely face the world, stay true to your values, and make a difference large or small?

Answer: After graduating from Notre Dame, I plan on doing two things. Firstly, I will return to my birth place in Province of Abuja. Nigeria. After being a first-hand witness to the difficulties that plague my home: malnutrition, corruption, and gang violence, I believe it is my duty to put into practice all I will have learned of leadership from Notre Dame into creating an organization to combat the afore mentioned problems. The organization I envision will focus on removing children from the streets and placing families affected by the community violence, into homes erected by the organization, while providing meals, clothing, and tutoring. I also plan on taking a prominent role in the politics of the community if not the country to combat the corruption in the government most especially in the law enforcement system. My hope is that others in the community will see the changes I have put into motion and begin their own battle for transformation. The second path I will take, is to further my carrier in the bioengineering field. Through this field I will make the world a better place by finding a cure for the diseases that plague humanity.

Question: By the end of the college application process, you will have probably written dozens of essays and responded to a multitude of questions. Use this opportunity to try something new.

Answer: Religion, a sensitive topic, which has the tendency to draw out emotions so strong that many people do questionably radical things to demonstrate their love for their religion. Every religion has their radical organizations, but when asked to describe a religious radical, we (America) are prone to bring to mind images of a dark skinned man, with nomadic garb and a head cloth wrapped around the face, holding an AK-47. We are so quick to forget that radicalism comes in different forms. Like every country, America is home to many religious extremist organizations. We are so loath to talk of them, so as to not tarnish the great reputation we have as a country. Specifically, the Christian organizations who have made it their goal to persecute all who they believe are acting contrary to their beliefs. The Westboro Baptist church claims to be doing the work of the lord; yes I do agree, Jesus says to go into he world and teach the people what it means to be Christian, but it also says in Mathew 7: 1-5, "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you", and "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless", in James 1:26. Judging is not the job of man, but of the lord; to judge is to bring oneself to god's domain, an act contrary to the belief many claim to be protecting. By going contrary to the teachings mentioned, you are breaking the greatest commandment ever put forth before humanity: to love your neighbor as yourself.

Question: Why are you interested in attending the University of Notre Dame?

Answer: My high school carrier has lead me to Notre Dame. As a devoted catholic, I have fantasized about attending Notre Dame since I arrived in the United States and became a Hoosier. I chose Notre Dame because it is one of few institutions that offers a brilliant nationally acclaimed biology program that enables me to expand my education while embracing and developing my religious life through its countless available masses. I have learned much and more about the campus life from current students who tell me of the small classrooms that foster one-to-one communication with the professor. But what truly draws me to Notre dame, is its athletics. I love watching Football, or as I like to call it hand-ball, as well as soccer, even playing it when I was given the chance. I believe Notre Dame is the right place to foster my love for sports for its intermural sports program is geared towards bringing together its student creating bonds that will last a life time. As a result, Notre Dame has become more than just another school, it has become something to aspire to.