Undergraduate / "Chess is central to my identity"; UIUC - Get to know you better [3]

Tell us about one interest or experience of yours that allows us to get to know you better as an individual. Please limit your response to approximately 300 words.

When I first learned the game of chess 6 years ago, I dismissed it as a boring diversion from more entertaining forms of human competition such as baseball. However, over the years, I have grown to appreciate the artistry and finesse that chess demands. Chess is the purest test of mental strength between two people, which appealed to my competitive nature. In every game of chess that I play, I expect to win, which motivates me to improve my game and become a better player. Chess also allows me to view situations from different perspectives as any chess position can be analyzed through various mindsets. Through playing chess, I was able to become a better problem solver as I improved my analytical power along with my creative capacity.

Chess was also essential in helping me recognize my identity. The chess piece that I relate to most is the knight. The knight exhibits great range and power but its primary purpose is to serve as a unifying force: to provide synergy to the surrounding pieces. Similarly, I enhance the strengths of others around me by providing support and leadership. Although the knight can function as a one man army, its true potential lies in its ability to consolidate all the pieces into a combined effort, which is comparable to me. Knights also inspire me to be selfless and to focus on the greater cause since they are often sacrificed to weaken enemy defenses; they enable the bishops and rooks to crash through to the enemy king. My view of the chess board as a microcosm of the universe may be imperfect but it helps me to find my place in the world.

Undergraduate / I solved the algorithm; UIUC Computer Science- Interest in Major [4]

Explain your interest in the major you selected. You may describe a related experience you've had to that area of study and/or your future career goals. Please limit your response to approximately 300 words.

I hop into the school bus on a cold winter morning. I sit in my seat and snatch my laptop out of my bag. I impatiently wait for it to boot while I mentally recall the algorithm I was working on. As the sea of incoherent text finally appears on my screen, a sense of comfort rushes over me. As the bus starts moving, I start typing. My fingers fly over the keyboard flawlessly, accustomed to the natural rhythm of the bus. I hit a few bumps along the road and take a wrong turn at one point but I finally arrive at the solution as the bus pulls into my school. At last, that has been holding me back for days. As I step out of the bus, I feel a sense of pride, a sense of accomplishment. No one besides me knows what I did, and no one needs to, but I know. I know my true potential. I know what I am capable of.

I am a problem solver. When my 4th grade teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, the only possible way I could express my aspiration was I wanted to be a problem solver. Over the years, I have learned that the field of engineering is the most direct path for me to practical problem solving. Engineering and computer science enable me to use my strengths in mathematical reasoning and scientific deduction to solve everyday problems that affect society. Although many view programming as being monotonous and dreary, I see it as a colorful and variable experience. I see the beauty in a recursive solution to the Tower of Hanoi. I see the power of a chess computer that can defeat grandmasters. I see the elegance of an iterative sorting algorithm. The perfect balance between theoretical study and practical implementation that exists within computer science inspired me to pursue engineering. I am a problem solver, I serve mankind.