Undergraduate / Rice University never crossed my mind at any point when I imagined myself in college [2]

any thoughts? I appreciate any help I can get my deadline is tonight and i want to polish it.

Prompt:How did you first learn about Rice University and what motivated you to apply?

ESSAY: I won't lie to you Rice University never crossed my mind at any point when I imagined myself in college. If you would've asked me a year and a half ago what type of school Rice was I would say I have no clue. Even when the emails came asking me to consider Rice I still ignored them. Eventually curiosity got the best of me, and I clicked on one of the emails. I checked out Rice's website and my interest was piqued. I began doing research on Rice and the more I learned about the school the more I was sure it would be the right school for me. I was amazed by how I got to choose the courses I wanted to take. With only one required class to take in order to major in Political Science Rice offered me a chance to choose. My education is in my hands at Rice. What finally solidified my decision to apply to rice was the Gateway Program. The Gateway Program to me is an opportunity unlike any other. A chance to get real life experience with professional through internships and still focus on my education amazed me and gave me my first image of myself at Rice. I choose to apply at Rice because I see myself being successful because of Rice.

Undergraduate / Can't choose essay; 3 supplement prompts are asking me to evaluate on an extra curricular activity [5]

So I have like 3 supplement prompts that are asking me to evaluate on an extra curricular activity and explain why i do it. I wrote out two similar essays but can't decide which to choose? Any advice and criticism on the essays is appreciated

Essay 1:
...
Essay 2:
...

I also wrote a longer more detailed essay for Vandy that further explains my activity and why i do it. It has aspects form both these essays

Essay 3: The words flow flawlessly from my mouth. The transition between English and Spanish is natural, smooth, and uncanny. I know I should be used to it, I mean I've done since I was 6, but it's still strange to me how I am able to repeat in Spanish what I hear in English. What doesn't surprise me though is the facial expressions: the bewilderment on one person as I translate for the other almost like I know a secret that they want to understand, the look of clarity that is created as I destroy the language barrier between the group, and more importantly the look of satisfaction found on everyone's face once it's all over. We live in a world that takes communication for granted; things like talking to your doctor or filling an application seem simple, but to some it's an impossible hurdle to jump. When I translate I make their hurdle smaller. I create a bridge so that two different people can have a meaningful and important conversation. I translate because I love seeing the look of excitement on a stranger after they get a job, or the tears that form on a mother's face when I explain to her the teacher's praises towards her son. It doesn't matter to me whether I translate for a job interview or a meeting with an attorney, because in the end I still get the same amazing facial expressions. When I translate I make a difference in my community, and that is what matters to me.

...

Undergraduate / Acronym for me - R.E.D has been a wild roller coaster of indescribable experiences. [4]

I'd like some ideas on my current Supplementary essay. Any advice would be appreciated and I'm willing to help anyone who needs advice as well

Prompt: We all exist within communities or groups of various sizes, origins, and purposes; pick one and tell us why it is important to you, and how it has shaped you. (150 word limit)

Essay:R.E.D has been a wild roller coaster of indescribable experiences. From last minute trips to Florida to midnight basketball sessions R.E.D has changed my life. R.E.D. is an acronym for me and my friends Erick and Daniel's name. The name originally was an inside joke, but has grown to become a symbol of our friendship. The idea of a comic book nerd, a football player, and a preacher's son being best friends can be silly. Our personalities are not alike, yet it is this reason that we are able to have as much fun as we do. We bounce of each other elevating the simplest situations to critical level. R.E.D has broken me out of my shell. It's shown me the being with people like yourself is boring. It's helped me meet people I would never speak to. Most importantly it has given me the greatest memories of my youth.

Undergraduate / When my father was arrested by immigration I saw an opportunity to help him by learning about law [3]

If I could get some advice on this essay it would be appreciated. Also if you guys think its a good idea to just use this essay for all the questions in regards to why I want to be a lawyer. If you guys can also give a quick look at my Common app personal statement and give me advice on that I would really appreciate it

Essay: When my father was arrested by immigration I saw an opportunity to help him by learning about law. I sat in front of my computer, and began a journey that has led me to where I am today. As I learned about law I fell in love with its intricate system. It was a puzzle, and each piece had purpose. I loved the way the attorney stood on the side of anybody in need. I was amazed by the way prosecution fought to stop those that did wrong, and appreciated the way the judge maintained order on a war over someone's life. Most importantly the more I learned about law the more I learned how I can change the world with it. It didn't matter what piece of the puzzle I joined because law was always an instrument for change, and that is what draws me to it the most.

Undergraduate / I've always found the term Alien offensive not because it's malicious [5]

So i have my Common app essay written out but i feel like its not fleshed out the way I would like it to be. The word limit really only allowed me to scratch the surface of my experience. If you guys could give me your ideas on the essay any mistakes you may see it would be really helpful!

Prompt: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.

Essay:

I've always found the term Alien offensive not because it's malicious, but because in a world where there is a racial slur for every shape, color, and orientation Alien is the only term everyone feels okay to use. Judges, politicians, and even teachers all use the term Alien to describe immigrants never paying attention to the ramification of their words. They never realize that by using the word Alien to describe an immigrant they are effectively dehumanizing us. The word takes away our loves, fears, ambitions, and appearance replacing it instead with a problem, a monster straight out of the mind of Ridley Scott.

My first coherent memory of my childhood is of arriving in the Nashville International Airport. I remember seeing my dad for the first time in what had seemed like forever. I remember the glee that filled my heart, his cologne suffocating me as I hugged him, and the tears that poured down my face as I pictured my family reunited again. I was in a fresh new world on my way to living a dream that so many have had before me, but I felt no different then what I felt before. I still loved movies and comic books and hated broccoli and haircuts. I was no different in this new world then I was in my old, and in fact I was no different than any other child my age.

I never understood what made me an immigrant until the summer of 2006. What made me different is that I had no "papers". To the immigrant community papers were the golden ticket to jobs, stability, and happiness in the New World. To me they were the reason my perfect world came crumbling down. To this day I can still hear the knock on the door and the roar of the officer commanding me to open up. I can still picture the look of confusion on my dad's face when I told him the police were outside. Most horrifying of all I can still see my mom, the woman that raised me, being taken away her pregnant stomach uncomfortably entering the patrol car. At the time there were no words to describe how I felt, but looking back now the only word I can think of is powerless. Despite how smart everyone at school said I was I was still powerless to stop my mom from being taken away. I could not go meet with the lawyers, I could not go to the court hearings. All I could do was stay at home and hide my sister from the truth until my mom finally returned.

Once my mom returned I believed everything would return to normal. Unfortunately in 6th grade my father was arrested for working illegally. This time I was not powerless, I armed myself with as much knowledge about law as possible and I accompanied my dad and his lawyer to every court related appointment. I translated for my dad on any chance I could. I stood with him on his final court date as the judge told my father that he and I may stay in the country.

My experience changed me in ways that I could never imagine. It made me stronger, smarter, and put me on the path to becoming a lawyer. It taught me that life throws you curve balls when you least expect it, and all you can do is prepare, adapt, and fight to accomplish your goals. Most importantly my experience gave me a thirst for change. My experience pushes me to change the U.S., and make it a place where the word Alien is unacceptable. A place where a young African child can grow up and feel at home. A place where South Korean girl can live without worrying about her "papers". A place where a Nicaraguan boy can move to and feel like everyone else.