Posts by Katiepegasus

Katiepegasus

Feb 1, 2015

Undergraduate / Flex Path submission for WPI - I have created a portfolio exhibiting my artwork and sewing projects [3]

Thank you for your suggestions. I was having a hard time adding details because the common app had a word limit. I just found another way to submit it without a limit so I will work on it.

Katiepegasus

Feb 1, 2015

Undergraduate / I started out strong academically but later developed anxiety took a huge toll on my attendance [3]

Thank you both so much! I made some changes based on your suggestions. :o)

Katiepegasus

Feb 1, 2015

Undergraduate / Flex Path submission for WPI - I have created a portfolio exhibiting my artwork and sewing projects [3]

These are my two Flex Path essays I am just touching up. The deadline is in 4 hours so any quick suggestions are appreciated! Thank you :)

PART 1: If you are not submitting test scores but rather opting to submit Flex Path materials, please use the space below to describe your Flex Path Submission:

For my Flex Path submission I have created a portfolio exhibiting my various artwork such as traditional art and sewing projects.

Included in the traditional art portion are some of my strongest and most recent compositions. Each have been created using different mediums such as watercolor, charcoal, and pencil. Since childhood I have had a strong interest in the arts and an affinity for capturing detail. What all three pieces have in common is that they were captured from life, and not from a photograph. For example, I used a mirror to draw my self-portrait. I believe that this allows the audience to see my own perspective reflected in my work.

Secondly, I included sewing projects I have hand sewn, machine sewn, or a combination of both. Since starting a sewing class last year, I instantly developed a passion for this new hobby. It is so satisfying to construct and design something that is fully functional. People have even started asking me sewing advice including a 10 year old neighbor with whom I helped make a soft pouch for her guinea pig. For my next project, by commission from a friend, I will be making an A-line style, Valentine's Day themed dress. I am excited to broaden my sewing abilities and hope one day to open a small business selling my creations during spare time.

PART 2: If you are not submitting test scores but rather opting to submit Flex Path materials, please use the space below to tell the admissions committee why you think this submission is a strong reflection of your potential for success at WPI.

-coming in later post-

Katiepegasus

Feb 1, 2015

Undergraduate / "Here's your winner and new state champion" - Common app #2 Prompt [4]

Wow great essay!

One grammar suggestion for you. When it says not smarter or biologically different, I believe it should be neither smarter nor biologically different,

Katiepegasus

Feb 1, 2015

Undergraduate / I Love Coding - until the 8th grade my passion for computing started its journey [3]

Nice essay! The only coding I know is some basic HTML which I think is like the easiest of them all. lol

I'm no expert but this is how I would fix things:

A few months after which, I eventually got bored and wrapped it away in the attic.
The first programming language my 8th grade teacher~~, and probably the only teacher,~~ ever taught me was Visual Basic .

The refusal of my teacher to teach me anything more than that was in the school syllabus didn't stop me from learning. To make matters even worse, the place where I lived didn't have an internet connection, the books in my school library were insufficient as they only illustrated what to write and when to write it, but not why. This left me to tinker around with the very few sample codes provided within the language. I'd find myself spending 9 hours a day, at times even more than that, ~~7 days a week, 63 hours a week~~tinkering (another word for some variety maybe?) around with whatever I had at my disposal with nothing but the ticking sound of the wall clock to accompany me.

There'd be times when if things didn't go my way I'd ~~just~~ simply dash out of the house making up my mind never to look at, or even think about programming~~, but~~However, as soon as I got home, I'd feel this undying invisible force of attraction that would draw me towards that very thing I swore never to take a glance at.~~, which~~ In turn, this would spark the fire of determination and make me keep trying until I got things right. Those weeks of hard work eventually paid off when I became the first ever person in the entire school to know more than what the programming syllabus had asked for; thus making me a beacon of computing knowledge to all my fellow high school seniors who asked for assistance with their year end computing coursework.

But I didn't stop there. I kept on expanding my horizons, and within less than 2 years I had gone from just learning Visual Basic to C, C#, C++, JAVA, and web development.I even learned low level machine code, which is what I used to make my own artificially intelligent operating system like JARVIS, something that none of my teachers learned until their last year of college. Learning all of those languages wasn't an easy task for me. Due to not having an internet connection, I'd often find myself walking 2 miles from home to the closest cyber café I could find only to browse the internet for 30 minutes or so, just barely enough time to download all the free e-books, articles and tutorials I could find.

I'm horrible at titles so I'll leave that to someone else..

Katiepegasus

Feb 1, 2015

Undergraduate / I started out strong academically but later developed anxiety took a huge toll on my attendance [3]

Common App: Required explanation for interruption in your education.

This is required as part of the Common app because I switched schools. I don't want to put my real school names here so I replaced them with School #1,2,3. Please edit, make suggestions, or whatever. Thanks! :o)

During my freshman year at School #1, I started out strong academically but later developed symptoms of anxiety which took a huge toll on my attendance. School #1 was a small private school which did not have support services or counselors. Despite the challenges, and this being a highly competitive school, I managed to work hard and got grades to be proud of.

When I was diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder, my parents and I decided it was best to focus on treating the anxiety and not to focus solely on academics.

For sophomore year I transferred to School #2 for their special education program. Although I began in mostly mainstream honors classes with all A's, my anxiety drastically worsened which forced me to transfer into more alternative classes. This was a huge sacrifice because although I was intellectually capable of higher level classes, the special education program did not offer them in their alternative setting. This hurt my confidence, but I never lost motivation to work vigorously on my schoolwork. During junior year, with much determination, I was able to finish the year in mainstream classes.

As a senior, I was fortunate to receive placement at School #3, a therapeutic school with clinicians, emotional support, and schoolwork at my academic level. In the past few months I have overcome much of my anxiety. Finally I am thriving with great grades, significantly improved attendance, and fully equipped with coping skills. I am proud of my improved ability to be more assertive and advocate for myself. I am now enjoying things I never thought I would be able to do such as yearbook club, community service, and student council.

Despite the obstacles and small detours caused by anxiety, I am grateful that I could use high school as a learning experience, not only in academics, but in perseverance. Moving forward I am confident in saying I am ready for college.