Undergraduate / "Civilization" - love for Economics - extracurricular activity essay choice [2]

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences that were particularly meaningful to you.

Now that I am wrapping up my journey as a school student I consider the Mathematics classes the best part of my study. Whatever it was, from graphing to trigonometry, from geometry to statistics, I have always admired the strict beauty and complexity of Mathematics. When I first took Economics, however, my attention was hooked immediately. Being quite a rational-minded person I was sure to fall in love with such a practical and flexible subject that infiltrates every sphere of human life. Economics has vast implication area. There can be no effective government, no developed culture unless the country is well sustained. Russia has proved it on its own skin not once: during the oprichnina of Ivan the Terrible (1565-1572), during the great hunger of 1600-1603 the fight for true knowledge, for internal beauty was forsaken for a battle for survival. Crisis of economics forced the country into cultural stagnation. There are numerous more examples and I came to see these deep sequences as quite natural. They are a real prove that Economics is the basis of life, satisfying the unlimited demands of humanity within limited resources. It has a capacity to ameliorate our society: eliminate unemployment, offer people security in their future and in future of their kids. As I was gradually progressing through the course, my understanding and appreciation for Economics grew proportionally to the material studied.

My love for Economics takes roots in the "Civilization", which is a create-your-business program. Over the course of the year the participants meet once a week to get the basic theory of Economics and Finances. In June, the practical part of the course is held in a hotel near Moscow. There, participants divide into teams of three people each and create enterprises, open factories, compete on the market, unite into monopolies, bankrupt, start over again etc. Three and a half years ago this gave me the first taste of the way Economics works and planted admiration for it. Learning to cooperate effectively, demonstrating initiative, taking risk, making on-the-spot decisions and accepting responsibility, solving challenging problems along the way - all of it inspires me to learn rules of real Economy. It was the "Civilization" that gave birth to a desire to get knowledge beyond what extracurricular program could offer.

One day, I hope to work in Business Management. I am outgoing, hardworking and articulate person and feel the need to make an accent in my career on these qualities. Besides, one of the chief joys of my life have always been learning languages and at this point I freely speak Russian, English, Japanese, French and Spanish. Working in Business seems to offer a great opportunity to apply this knowledge productively. Every time I see social commercials advertizing various small businesses that have recently appeared, I can't help imagining how one day I will become a part of one myself. Then I could occupy myself with work that I have passion for. That seems like a terrific perspective to me. Being an enthusiastic learner, I have found the path I want to follow and I am prepared to work hard to achieve my ambition. Meanwhile, the study of Business or Economics itself brings a lot of pleasure and satisfaction to me. I am a rather self-motivated person with the determination to study subject in-depth and throughout - that is the only way my curiosity can be satisfied. I believe I will be able to fulfill many of my dreams as a university student, get involved both in career related activities and in sports. I hope to be a good ambassador for which ever university accepts me.

Undergraduate / Tea with Pancakes - Story that changed my life [13]

Tea with Pancakes

One frizzing winter day, as I was falling for the hundredth time on the ice that covered the road, I was just at the point of abandoning the idea of being on the "Who? Where? When?" team. Russian winters are normally harsh so you'd say Russian hearts should have frozen long ago and have made people indifferent to the icy winds that own streets in Moscow every winter morning. However, that definitely wasn't my case. Anyway, reaching the stairs of our local little library felt like a little disappointment: all these trouble for an event of no importance to me. I was no team player so when my teacher asked me to join an intellectual decathlon team my answer would have been "no" if only it wasn't my first year of high school - time to socialize they say. So I gave it a try.

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Undergraduate / Tell us how you have spent the last two summers (or vacations between school years) [2]

Please tell us how you have spent the last two summers (or vacations between school years), including any jobs you have held. (About 150 words)

Last summer, I became a FLEX finalist which meant obtained a grant for a year-long international exchange. FLEX organized an orientation camp where I gained in-depth understanding of American culture and values. Another useful experience was opening a proto enterprise within create-your-business one month program called "Civilization". The time had come rapidly to leave for the USA. All at once I was thrown into a new surrounding, exiting and disorientating. Visiting baseball games, making presentations about Russia, fencing- summer 2013 brought a lot in the way of never-done-before activities. Coming home year after in June 2014 not having seen my family during that time is a touching memory. However, the major event of the summer 2014 was finally creating a sustainable business and becoming "Civilization's" winner. Inspired by the unique experience, I feel unceasing enthusiasm to dive into the year that is likely to become quintessential to my future life.

Undergraduate / One "Personal" Word - UChicago Supplement [21]

In French, there is no difference between "conscience" and "consciousness." In Japanese, there is a word that specifically refers to the splittable wooden chopsticks you get at restaurants. The German word "fremdschämen" encapsulates the feeling you get when you're embarrassed on behalf of someone else. All of these require explanation in order to properly communicate their meaning, and are, to varying degrees, untranslatable.Choose a word, tell us what it means, and then explain why it cannot (or should not) be translated from its original language. - Inspired by Emily Driscoll, an incoming student in the Class of 2018

One "Personal" Word

Are there any words unique and dear to you, ones cannot live without? If, say, Esperanto was to substitute all languages in the world and this/these words were to become non-existent, you would feel as if the only mean to explain your very soul to others was lost. For me there is one such "personal" word - samokopaniye.

Samokapaniye is literary translated from Russian as digging into oneself. But don't worry - it doesn't hurt. On the contrary, it is very rewarding in the plainest sense of the word. I am convinced that the great and invaluable treasure is concealed inside every person's soul, one that nobody could steal or stain. This is the treasure of emerald kindness, golden compassion, ruby truthfulness and crystal selflessness etc. All these virtues surface up in normal human's life with various degree of consistency. For them to do so, it takes a lot: to undergo a judgment of egoism, to outrun a good portion of pride and to outscream the call of gain. Samokapaniye facilitates retrieving those virtues more easily and more often.

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Undergraduate / "Poem reading competition" - 150 words about meaningful activity [5]

This is a short 150 words essay

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences that were particularly meaningful to you.

I frequently participate in events promoting peace, equality and human rights. Through reading poems in public, I find it in my power to turn people's attention by the means of peaceful protest to quintessential social or political issues. So many faces hear me and my words have different influence on each. Still I desperately need more - my fresh air, my inspiration, my joy. Getting ready for performing a poem, I experience variety of emotions from fear to pride, from agony when a right intonation is so hard to find to a sense of absolute confidence when I finish the prep-work. As a result, I obtain a universal skill of expressing myself logically and persuasively. Reading poems is doubtlessly my way to tell the world how exactly I feel about a problem. It's also rewarding to read poems in orphanages as I believe it helps children to grow emotionally and develop sense of social justice. A poem can do anything to human's heart if delivered appropriately.

Undergraduate / Before I could across the Civilization I was not sure which path to choose in life [5]

I really look forward to any comments and advice as always!!

This section is an opportunity for you to elaborate on the information you have provided earlier. You may discuss a special talent, a personal experience or an activity that you have been involved in that is relevant to the course you are applying for admission.

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After review:

My love for Business and Economics took roots in the create-your-business "Civilization". The program allows high school students interested in economics to create their own business model and attempt to make it work. I took part in it three times in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Over the course of the year the participants meet once a week to to discuss and learn about the theory of Economics, Management and Finances, which are not, unfortunately, offered in Russia at the school level. In June, the practical part of the course is held in a hotel near Moscow. There, participants bring to life the projects they created during the year, compete on the market, unite into monopolies, bankrupt, start over again etc.

Three years ago this gave me the first taste of the way Business works and planted admiration for it. Learning to cooperate effectively, demonstrating initiative, taking risk, making on-the-spot decisions and accepting responsibility, solving challenging problems along the way inspired me to look into the rules of Economy in-depth. I was fascinated by the feeling of thrill when I was able to predict other participant's actions and the impact it was going to have on my current project. This consequently allowed to adopt my market polices accordingly and ultimately achieve my goals. The summer of 2014, was a culmination. The fight for success was ever so tense. After the previous year's many fruitless attempts, I felt proud to walk away with the highest prize for creating a uniquely sustainable business model.

Before I came across the Civilization I was not sure what path to choose in life. Studying Russian, English, Japanese, French and Spanish, among which only the last one I do not speak fluently yet, I was looking for a unique sphere. I struggled for opportunities to not only apply my knowledge for pure translation of other people's thoughts but as a tool for mutual understanding between colleges, partners and coworkers that could serve to broaden the horizon of my mind.

[b]I actually have a question for you. Could I post in this topic another essay I really need comments for because I don't feel like starting a new thread: it becomes acceedingly difficult to navigate through them. Plus, it would be nice not to draw too much attention to it.

Undergraduate / Almost dead - A ruff lesson; interesting interaction you've had with someone different than yourself [5]

I am not sure of spelling and grammer ussage. Please comment and critique freely. I always appriciate the feedback I get on this website! Also, can this be the college essay for the common app prompt about the background story or a person that influenced me...?

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.

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

The essay was actually written to the following Yale-NUS prompt:

Please describe an interesting interaction you've had with someone different than yourself. Who was the person and what was the nature of the interaction?

Almost dead

A girl lay unconscious between two desks, completely ignored by Aleksey Michialovich, our teacher. Aleksey Michailovich continued walking around the room in his usual confident strides, knowing the students would not dare defy his direct demand. He had ordered all of us to ignore the girl and go on studying: "I will not lose any time on this. Everybody listen, we will now check your homework." Being well known for applying overly strict measures upon his students, Michialiovich was confident that we would not dare defy him because of fear of being punished for even the most minor infraction of the rules he laid out for us.

Anya, the girl who felt sick right before the all so important test but refused to see the school doctor, was completely ignored by Aleksey Michailovich. We were all students at a crucial crossroad of our education, so nobody dared to help Anya because Aleksey Michailovich had threatened to fail anybody who interrupts the class. Since my father was a doctor, I knew that leaving Anya there was a very bad idea. I found myself contemplating whether I really had a strong enough desire to defy our teacher and help Anya.

I did not want to lose the golden medal for excellent studies that I had been working on for so long but I felt a need to do something. No doubts, Aleksey Michailovich would be held responsible for whatever happens to the poor girl, but his legal responsibility doesn't take guilt of my shoulders, surely. I would never forgive myself if something happens to her due to my indifference. The situation couldn't be ignored any longer.

Getting to my feet, I walked over to her, in complete defiance of our teacher, and shook her by the shoulders. Not having any actual medical skills, this was the best that I could come up with to help her. Relief washed over me when Anya opened her eyes and hissed: "Finally!" What exactly was going on? Aleksey finally took control of the situation and explained that this was an experiment he had connived with Anya in doing. He wanted to see if the class would help a person in need and if we could do the right thing given overwhelming odds, even if it meant defying authority.

For me, it was like a blow in the stomach that saved me from suffocating in my childish world and broke its walls of belief that elders are always right. Had I come to help Anya that day and she were not a part of an experiment, my shaking her would have come too late, she could have been dead by then. Human life is more valuable than golden medal even though the life is hers and the medal mine. Learning to think with my own head was a rough experience, but the one I appreciate highly. I learned the importance of making my own decision rather than letting the others' rules define my actions. This was the vital lesson that Aleksey Michailovich has left for me. I need to stand up for what I believe in when I know it must be done. And I will.