Undergraduate / Developing new kinds of materials is a significant part of a chemical engineers job [2]

How do you plan to use your engineering degree to benefit society?

As a person who has lived a significant part of his life in Pakistan, I know the difficulties and hardship a nation faces when coping with natural disasters. The 2005 earthquakes along with the 2010 floods were arguably the most traumatic moments the people of Pakistan have faced in recent times. Every time I reflect on those times of chaos, I realize that it's our job to make an effort and ensure that chaos of this magnitude never transpires again.

Developing new kinds of materials that are not only efficient but also cost-effective is a significant part of a chemical engineers job. And that is what I plan to do. I plan to take part in extensive research work to develop materials to build dams and flood barriers that are not only cheaper but also more durable. In addition, they have to be practical enough to use in underdeveloped countries that are prone to flooding and heavy rain. Although the possibility of developing such a material is questionable at best, it's not impossible unless we try. After all, graphene was first produced only 12 years ago and now people believe that it is on the verge of revolutionizing technology. Who's to say the same can't happen again?

My ideas might seem like one that would take years or maybe even decades to come to fruition. But I am up for the challenge and my engineering degree at USC would perfectly prepare me to take on that challenge.

Undergraduate / Firstly, I would look to get a job at a renowned chemical company such as DuPont [4]

How do you plan to use your engineering degree to benefit society?

My chemical engineering degree at USC will not only help in kick starting a successful career but also allow me to actually make a positive difference to society. Firstly, I would look to get a job at a renowned chemical company such as DuPont. DuPont is one of those companies that looks towards the future and addresses ever-growing global issues that threaten the existence of humanity. I want to be a part of such a company to get the opportunity to help tackle global crisis's like lack of food security, depletion of fossil fuels, inefficient sustainable energy sources and countless others.

As a child, I always wanted to save the world. Curing cancer, stopping global warming and ending poverty were some of my many noble yet very farfetched aspirations. However, as I grew older, I began to realize that one person cannot save the world. It's a team effort and all of us must play our small, albeit significant parts in it, similar to that of a brick in a wall. I may not save the world on my own but I want to use my engineering degree to become that brick.

Undergraduate / Carnegie Mellon University provides an abundance of opportunities for students like myself [2]

Please submit a one page, single-spaced essay that explains why you have chosen Carnegie Mellon and your particular major(s), department(s) or program(s). This essay should include the reasons why you've chosen the major(s), any goals or relevant work plans and any other information you would like us to know.

Unique, innovative, and illustrious, Carnegie Mellon University provides an abundance of opportunities for students like myself who hope to pursue their passions in the world of engineering. Having a campus brimming with life, diversity and an array of possibilities, it initially caught my attention with its prominent history as an academic institution along with the praises it receives from its alumni. Its founder, Andrew Carnegie, is arguably the most influential philanthropist in American history and his rags-to-riches life will be a true inspiration for many generations to come.

Now, I'm not afraid of admitting that Carnegie Mellon University hasn't always been my first choice. My search for the perfect university stretched over a number of frustrating months. It finally ended with Carnegie Mellon. Carnegie Institute of Technology stands out in the world of engineering and technology with its excellent ranking, state-of-the art facilities as well as distinguished faculty members. More importantly, it is a college with an ambition, teeming with people willing to make a difference.

Many people find the rigors of engineering to be too hot to handle. However, I truly believe that I would relish the opportunity and rise up to the challenge of becoming an engineer. The most important reason for choosing the field of engineering is that it unites all of my major interests. It is a combination of math, science, creativity and innovation. Add to that the stimulating environment of Carnegie Mellon and I'd have the perfect place to progress as a student as well as an individual.

Throughout high school, the one field of engineering that has fascinated me the most is chemical engineering. The chance of developing new kinds of fuels as well as harnessing old ones for sustainable energy and designing materials that we not only use in our everyday lives but also depend on for our wellbeing always seemed like an interesting proposition to say the least.

Another significant factor that makes Carnegie Mellon stand out is its Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) program. The chance to take part in all kinds of research is an opportunity that I would never let pass me by. It would broaden my horizon to explore further areas of sciences and studies and allow me to venture into the fields that I may never have considered to pursue.

Carnegie Mellon is also renowned for its diversity. Its large international student population is a significant advantage for someone like myself who is always fascinated by people belonging to different cultures and communities. It exposes an individual to new ideas and provides the opportunity to interact with people from all over the world. This early exposure to new individuals ends up being valuable to ones professional and personal life.

Unlike most people my age, I established most of my career goals fairly early on in high school. I always visualized myself becoming a successful chemical engineer, working at a massive chemical company like DuPont, actually bringing a change to the environment for the better.

After finding success at Carnegie Mellon, it would be an honor to become part of its alumni force. I may not be the perfect applicant but one thing's for sure; I want to follow the footsteps of the successful alumni of Carnegie Mellon and leave my own as well in the process.

Undergraduate / Some people categorize engineers as geeks or nerds. Are you a geek, nerd, or neither? Why? - USC [3]

Some people categorize engineers as geeks or nerds. Are you a geek, nerd, or neither? Why?

What are geeks and nerds? They're people devoted towards their interests, people with obsessions towards a particular field or in other words, simply plain enthusiasts. Well, if that is the case, then every single person on the face of the earth is a geek or a nerd. Why? Because we all love something and that's nothing to be ashamed of.

Although I consider myself to be a pretty bright student, I always make time for entertainment. I'm a massive movie fan; a true lover of the classics to the point that you'd consider me to be a "geek"; a different kind of geek. I'm the kind of guy who knows the famous conversations between Vincent and Jules in Pulp Fiction or Andy and Red in the Shawshank Redemption by heart. Arnold Schwarzenegger's " I'll be back" line in The Terminator, Marlon Brando's distinctly hoarse voice in The God Father and Kevin Spacey's shyness in The Usual Suspects, despite seeming like relatively unimportant aspects of three outstanding movies, are actually significant parts of what make these movies stand out in front of their audience. But not all people realize that. Movie fanatics like me, however, do.

Undergraduate / NYU is college with an ambition, teeming with people willing to make a difference to the world [6]

NYU is global, urban, inspired, smart, connected, and bold. What can NYU offer you, and what can you offer NYU? (200-400 words)

What makes NYU special? Well, I'd say everything about it, from its unrivalled college experience in one of the greatest cities in the world to its worldwide reputation as a leading academic institution. More importantly, it feels like a college with an ambition, teeming with people willing to make a difference to the world.

NYU provides the opportunity for me to experience a world-class and well-rounded education in the field of chemical and biomolecular engineering. NYU's Polytechnic School of Engineering stands out with its steadily improving ranking, state-of-the-art facilities as well as distinguished faculty members. Add to that the perfect location of NYU at the heart of the Big Apple and I'd have the best place to progress not only as an active and curious student but also as an individual who hopes to push himself to new heights.

Aside from education, I believe that it is important to give back to the community. I spent nearly four years volunteering at an NGO and I spent a significant chunk of that time involved in relief efforts for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 floods in Pakistan, which affected the lives of more than 20 million people all over Pakistan. I got the opportunity to meet some of those people from all over the country; from areas I had no idea even existed. In those times of turmoil, I tried to be a source of strength and support for them. At NYU, I want to continue making a difference to the community by joining clubs that are dedicated towards community service (like the Global Brigades at NYU) as well as taking advantage of the numerous volunteering opportunities available throughout New York. At NYU, I can help on a truly global scale.

NYU's large international student population is also a significant advantage to someone like myself who is always fascinated by people belonging to different cultures and communities. It introduces an individual to new ideas and provides the opportunity to interact with people from all over the world. Being an American who has lived a large part of his life in Pakistan, I believe that I would also be able to add to the diversity and bring a unique perspective to NYU.

At NYU, the possibilities are endless. It offers plenty but in my opinion, so can I. I can offer a voice that is diverse, ambitious and hoping to make a difference.

Undergraduate / I gave my hand to a helpless man - Common App Belief essay [5]

Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
This is my first draft. i have to shorten it a bit and improve it alot, obviously. I want to ask whether this essay is solid enough to support the prompt?

I could change it for the "accomplishment or event essay that marked my transition from childhood to adulthood " by saying that i changed as a personand no longer felt like a 16-year-old kid.

Thanks for reading

Transition to adulthood: Common App essay
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

Walking out of my school gate one day, I noticed a very old man sitting alone under our schools massive oak tree. The ancient-looking man had a fringe of silver hair around his balding, mottled scalp. His rag-like clothes looked as though they had not been washed in years. His face had a certain restlessness on it while he sat on his wheelchair, which was easily as weak and decrepit as he was. The resigned look on his face was even worse to see; one of a man who knows that at his age life has stopped giving and only takes away.

Days stretched into weeks and the man was still there. And by the looks of it, there to stay. Usually, I never considered myself to be one for helping people. But during those weeks of watching the same helpless-looking man over and over again, I felt something different; an urge to make a difference for someone other than myself.

Hence, I decided to talk to few of my friends regarding the man and unsurprisingly, none of them seemed remotely interested. Everyone I talked to, family, friends or strangers, refused to take me seriously. Who could blame them? I was, after all, just another 16 year old; someone unable to make any difference to society.

I started small, giving him my lunch money everyday after school. Occasionally, when I had enough money to buy him something more substantial like clothes, I'd do that. He never said much apart from the odd thank you, but I knew that he was grateful.

As we grew friendlier, we began to chat a bit about each other's lives. Ahmad, as his name turned out, had been living this way for the past seven years. He moved from place to place, hoping to find some help, but bar a few small donations here and there, people usually never cared. But the greatest tragedy of all was losing his family, one of many victims in the 2005 earthquakes in Pakistan. As he recounted his past years of turmoil, the sadness on his face was truly immense. This man was a prime example of someone who had been ruined by our society's lack of care for people who, according to it, did not matter.

Several months passed by and nothing changed. Then one day, Ahmad was gone. A week passed by and I began to fear the worst. After all, seven years was a long time to live on the streets, especially for a 75-year-old man. Perhaps he was gone for good. However, what actually happened was hugely satisfying.

It turned out that someone else, a parent of a student, had noticed Ahmad at school and decided to take full responsibility for him. Everything had been taken care of, ranging from medical care and food to a place for him to live. He had been enrolled in a senior citizens home and when I paid him a visit, I was delighted by all the care he was getting. Ahmad expressed his gratitude and even went as far as saying that I was the reason he ended up there. Apparently, the man who decided to take care of him saw me helping him over the past few months and finally decided to do something more permanent for him. I felt content with the fact that my seemingly insignificant contribution mattered in the end.

This experience changed me as a person. I no longer felt like a 16-year-old kid, but an adult who actually began to care about society. The fact that I was able to think and make a decision for myself caused others to start considering me as an adult as well. Most people say that the transition from childhood to adulthood involves hundreds of significant learning experiences, but if I were to point out one such experience that kick started my personal growth, it would certainly be this one.