Undergraduate / I had the opportunity to watch a close friend of mine read her acceptance letter from Northwestern [5]

Hi! So common app is due soon any edits ideas would be greatly appreciated.
My main concern is that I feel like there aren't enough qualities I highlighted. However, I'm already over the word limit(300) by around 20 :/ HELP!!!!

4 years ago, I had the opportunity to watch a close friend of mine read her acceptance letter from Northwestern University to the Bien School of Music. Through her hysterical crying I could tell that this was a life-changing moment for her. Visiting Northwestern multiple times over the course of High school, I've learned why Northwestern became both of our first choices. Beyond the regularities that quantify any top school- a diverse community, an accomplished staff, and an adept D1 athletic program - qualities like exposing students to real life applications as well as offering countless interns and job opportunities really sets Northwestern apart in my eyes. The prospect of spending weekends lying on the beautiful lake beaches or traveling to the great city of Chicago just adds on to the long list of great Northwestern qualities. Although my interests lie not in music, but in the McCormick School of Engineering, I still believe Northwestern is the perfect fit for me.

The first thing that attracts me to the School of engineering is the nationally and internationally recognized Design, Thinking and Communications class. The aspect that sets this course apart from any other first rate program is its focus on giving the students real world experience. Helping me develop communication and problem solving skills through real problems submitted by real clients is undoubtedly an invaluable experience that other universities cannot offer. Reading on how Sam Malin and other alumni have helped the community through projects such as developing prosthetic fitting solutions and designing low cost ventilation systems has inspired me to become a Northwestern engineer. I hope in the future I can take advantage of this opportunity to advance my intellectual prowess whilst solving some of the many dilemmas in society.

Being such a prestigious university, the Northwestern name has to compete with the likes of other top colleges in America. However, the real world experience McCormick exposes the students too, alongside numerous interns and job opportunities that awaits a Northwestern engineer is invaluable. These are among the reasons why I've decided to make Northwestern my number one.

Undergraduate / Another cool summer night in Hobi - common app [5]

The essay may seem cliche :/ but this really is a true representation of who I am. opinions?

Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
It was another cool summer night in Hobi. The small village along the south side of Taiwan was already teeming with energy when the familiar melody started reverberating from down the street. Looking up from the novel, I noticed an old woman across the street struggling to carry her garbage out. Unable to bear the weight of the bags, her frail legs eventually gave out, spilling the contents all over the floor. I watched as a barrage of children came running to her aid. I chuckled to myself, finding it comical yet admirable how dozens of children came to assist her when only a few were needed. I couldn't help but think later how grateful I was to be a part of such a compassionate community.

Growing up in America, it was difficult for me to connect with my Taiwanese heritage. It wasn't until the summer following 6th grade that I was able to first visit my hometown. During my stay, I began to notice that the people of Hobi, unlike Americans, found happiness in everyday living. Possessions like televisions or cell phones were basically unheard of in this small village.

As I spent summer after summer in Hobi village, I realized that the happiness they found in their lives stemmed from each other. While taking walks, I could observe the bond each individual shared with their neighbors. At seven in the morning, I found elders preforming taichi in the local fields while parents casually conversed at the breakfast stands. Even the children were up and about, spinning their self-made tops in the empty parking lots. Watching these interactions day after day, I began to internalize the value of harmony between people.

I soon came to understand that the closeness of the community was driven also through traditions. I remember the cool night when I first heard the familiar melody from the surprising source, a garbage truck; even more surprising was the staggering number of people gathered. As the truck came and the garbage was emptied, I found it peculiar how no one seemed burdened having to do this "chore". I came to learn that for the people of Hobi the truck symbolized something more than just a way to dispose their refuse. They showed me that lavish block parties or extravagant county fairs weren't needed; instead something as simple as a truck could be a more effective way in bringing together the community. It was moving to see how obstacles such as poverty could not keep the people of Hobi from finding a way to connect.

Over the years, I've learned that Hobi village has not come to define me; rather it has inspired me to become the person I am today. Seeing my native people so united through all of their adversity has challenged me to develop a new appreciation of community. Each year, coming back to America after my time spent in Taiwan, my desire to connect with others grows more and more. I now understand that achieving simplicity and obtaining interpersonal connections was my path to pure happiness.

After developing this new mindset I have made it a personal goal to tear down boundaries in communities. I have found that humans believe they need something in common to connect with one another, when in reality, being human itself should be enough. Through organizations such as my local Buddhist Youth Group I have been given the opportunities to teach others the sense of community Taiwan has taught me. I hope that in the future, at higher institutions such as Northwestern University, I will still be able to spread my beliefs with and within the community.