Undergraduate / Brown is the only university of it's calibre where hip-hop is incorporated into Africana Studies. [2]

Please tell us more about your interest in transferring. Why does Brown appeal to you as a college option? Who or what has influenced your decision to apply? (250 word limit)

I came across a hip-hop lecture hosted at Cornell University by Tricia Rose on YouTube. I researched Rose after being so impressed by her intellectual understanding of hip-hop. I found that Rose is a professor in the Africana Studies department at Brown, and that Brown is the only university of it's calibre where hip-hop is incorporated into Africana Studies.

Brown has everything that I'm looking for in a college academically and socially. Brown's educational structure is interdisciplinary, strong in my areas of interest and openly allows me to connect the worlds of music, science and Africana studies. I can study music with a focus in computer music and multimedia, while assuring my theoretical and practical music skills are honed as I blossom into a well-rounded musician. The leading Africana Studies faculty are dedicated to the educational prosperity of the black community, and display a thorough understanding of the importance education in systematic oppression, race issues and African history have in the advancement of black society. Brown's School of Engineering will allow me to take the mechanical and computer engineering classes necessary for me to take the world of music technology by storm. The exceptional Engineering department holds a plethora of world-class resources and research facilities to assist in chiseling my ideas and manifesting my vision.

Brown has over three-hundred clubs and organisations. A Capella, Daily Herald, The Brown Noser and the Swearer Center for Public Service particularly arouse my interest.

My favourite teddy as a child was a brown bear.

Please give feedback and your general thoughts. Thanks!

Undergraduate / My quest to become a fully-qualified sound engineer, jazz musician and vocalist; Common App Transfer [2]

Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve. You can type directly into the box, or you can paste text from another source.

Changed college, club names and locations to protect identity.

I set off for the XXXX in January 2013, ready to embark upon my quest to become a fully-qualified sound engineer, jazz musician and vocalist. I was to learn four levels of jazz harmony, ear training and vocal performance, and above all, I would learn to be a scientist in the musical realm via the Music Production & Engineering department. Unfortunately, my time at XXXX was cut short. I spent a semester at XXXX before I was forced to leave. My sponsor lost his job, and my parents were not in a position to pay such steep tuition. I left XXXX before I could declare my major, therefore unable to explore the depths of sound like I'd always dreamed.

After reflecting upon my time in XXXX's African Club, Black Student Union and Audio Engineering Society, I realised that African history and science play a huge contributing factor to music. Relating my long-standing passion for science and Africana studies to music was akin to a revelation. My passions reached far deeper than the pain and disappointment that I felt upon my rough and unexpected return to [location], and I immediately began searching for Liberal Arts colleges where I could study the things that kept me awake.

I arrived at XXXX a silhouette coloured with hope, diligence and meticulous planning. I was ready to continue my collegiate career and become the best engineer and musician possible. I enjoy the people and professors at XXXX, and have found a place in diversity club "----" and international student organisation "----" However, I'm looking for a college that's challenging academically and socially engaged. Academically, an intelligent and enthusiastic faculty paired with a responsive, passionate student body would make for fantastically interesting class discussion and personal intellectual growth; learning through your peers outside of the classroom is an extremely important learning aspect to me. Socially, a college packed with extracurricular activity would be ideal, as I enjoy dedicating time to clubs and organisations such as A Capella groups, newspapers, diversity clubs, minority unions and community service.

A colourful, interdisciplinary curriculum with a myriad of options will allow me to bridge the gap between music, science and African history. I want to be confident that there are classes paramount to beginner's engineering such as Calculus and Physics I; an opportunity to be a part of classes that fall under the Africana studies umbrella without having to cross-register at a fellow college inaccessible by public transport, and in addition, a balance of practical and theoretical music classes that allow you to advance from introductory to higher skill levels.

I'm looking for a multiculturally competent college where I can be intellectually stimulated and socially active. I want to study music and science to make state-of-the-art music technology and digital applications, and study African history to create deep-rooted jazz, neo-soul and hip-hop music. Ultimately, I'd love to engineer music tracks professionally and create a line of headphones, speakers, synthesizers and digital tuning plug-ins for Pro Tools. I'd like to take classes in mechanical and computer engineering to assist in the creation of my music technology line. I'm vehemently dedicated to avenging race issues that plague the black society, and a strong background in African history is imperative in order to write the successful algorithm.

I've had a less than traditional college journey thus far; most of which has been beyond my control. I've grown accustom to adversity in my life, and now, the steering wheel is finally in my hands. As Malcolm X so famously said: "So early in my life, I had learned that if you want something, you had better make some noise." I know what I want, and I'm ready to make some noise. I am here, newly aged twenty-one, liberated and in control. I know what I need to succeed, and together, we can make my vision a reality.

Please give me feedback and your general thoughts. Thanks!