Undergraduate / Following Nikola Tesla; Texas A&M Qatar Transfer Essay - Personal Statement - Mechanical Engineering [3]

Prompt: An essay is a required part of the application process. This essay should distinguish you as a unique candidate for admission. For example, you may want to provide information on the personal experiences that have shaped your academic abilities, or give us a more thorough insight on your exceptional achievements. The information you provide in the essay will be considered in the admission decision so please provide information that sets your candidacy as unique. Include in your essay the reason why you have selected your major and why it is important for you to attend TAMUQ.

Any suggestions will be helpful

With his great intellect, and gifted ability to visualize and improve designs in his mind Nikola Tesla was able to revolutionize the world through his elaborate work on electricity and wireless technology. He was so far ahead of his time that he was working on ideas, such as a mean of renewable clean energy to power the world, to solve problems which we face today. Fascinated by his inventions, I decided to pursue a career in engineering. In high school, my interest in climate change and renewable energy solutions grew. This interest and my goal to follow Nikola Tesla's footsteps lead me to join the Environmental Engineering program at the Middle Eastern Technical University.

As a first step in following Tesla to become an engineer, I started taking interest in mathematics, physics and chemistry to understand the basis of engineering. I have been able to excel in these areas not only in class but also outside it too by participating, and winning, in local and national science Olympiads. Last year, I was among the shortlisted candidates from which the team representing Pakistan at the International Mathematics Olympiad was to be selected. In my free time, I learned to code using Python and JavaScript.

One of the main factors of each Nikola Tesla's creation was that they were aimed at improving the living conditions of mankind. To gain a better understanding of the problems the underprivileged faced, I became an active member of Akhuwat, a non-governmental organization working for the alleviation of poverty by providing interest free loans, I have had the opportunity to work with the poor and marginalized sections of the society. To have interacted with such people and witnessed their regard and affection for Akhuwat has developed within me a strong sense of social responsibility. I have, since, devoted time and effort to causes ranging from the provision of necessities to those affected by natural disasters in Pakistan to fulfilling the dying wishes of terminally ill children while working with another Pakistani NGO called 'Make a Dream'. As my awareness of the adverse effects of global warming grew, I got involved in activities to improve environmental conditions such as participating in WWF's Mangrove Replantation Program near Karachi, a coastal metropolitan which is under threat of drowning because of rising sea levels. I also organized several awareness campaigns in my city to inform people about the effects of excess carbon emissions and advantages of solar energy solutions. Three years ago, there weren't many platforms for aspiring engineering and scientists to get a practical experience, I and a group of friends decide such a platform. This leaded us to create the Aitchison College Science and Engineering Competition which comprised of challenges involving mathematics, physics, astronomy and robotics. At METU, I joined the robot club and took lessons in basic robotics engineering from senior members. After this I was part of the team that developed a "sun tracker system", a circuit consisting of LDRs and voltage comparators so the solar panels on the vehicle could position themselves for maximum sunlight, for the robot club's solar powered vehicle. All of these and other such experiences taught me leadership skills such as organizing groups, handling crises, time and resource management and teamwork.

After taking courses, talking to professors and participating in engineering activities, I realized I was more interested in machine design than in subjects related to environmental. With this newfound clarity, I decided to join a leading mechanical engineering school, this lead me to Texas A&M Qatar. In recent years I have read books on Islamic culture, history and visited Islamic countries from Turkey to Pakistan. By doing so, I was amazed by the massive contributions Muslims have made to science ranging from understanding light travels in straight line to inventing algebra during the golden era of Islamic scholars. Knowing this created in me a desire to contribute to an effort to usher a new era of advancement in the Islamic world, a desire that Qatar shares and has contributed by setting up Education city. Studying there will give me the chance to interact with the diverse student body from other universities there and develop my ideas. I aim to join clubs including robotics club and archery club to not only improve the skills I have but to also learn new ones. At TAMUQ, I will be able to conduct research on renewable energy generation and utilization ,and contribute to the Qatar Sustainable Water and Energy Utilization Initiative. Studying under professors such as Mansour Karkoub and Hamid Parsaei, I will be able to gain a deeper understanding of robotics and efficient systems to become an useful engineer.

After Texas A&M Qatar, I aim to become a leading engineer and follow Tesla in creating a better world for mankind by solving the most complex problems we face today. Doing so by working for and with people like Elon Musk who are working on complex solutions, to our problems ,like the Hyperloop and spacecraft for transportation to Mars. I have high aspirations to become an engineers whose inventions would benefits others to come for decades and would be an inspiring figure for the next generations of engineers as Nikola Tesla is for me.

Undergraduate / 'sensitized to the climate and environment issues' - UIUC Transfer Essay - Motivation [2]

Prompt 1: In an essay of 300 words or less, explain your motivation to transfer from your current/previous institution to Illinois and how your academic interests and/or professional goals will be fulfilled in your intended program of study.

Having grown up watching documentaries like "The 11th Hour" and "An Inconvenient Truth", I became sensitized to the effects of climate change and worsening environmental conditions in my country. I wanted to do my part in limiting the adverse effects and improving the condition. As an incoming college freshman, I decided to study Environmental Engineering at Middle Eastern Technical University as it seemed to offer academic excellence in this area.

This was my first interaction with the developed world and I soon started observing the difference in infrastructure of the country I was in and my home country, and became conscious of the role it played in the development of an economy. After consulting professors and taking courses, I realized that I had become more interested in the design aspect than the public health aspect of the Environmental Engineering program. So, I decided to change my major to Civil Engineering.

Over the past couple of years, energy and water crises across Pakistan have become increasingly common. I want to do my part by conducting research in areas regarding water management and clean energy solutions at an undergraduate level, an opportunity not available at METU.

With this new found clarity, I decided to join a leading civil engineering school, which led me to UIUC. The more I researched, the better it looked. It not only offers an environment where I will be able to excel academically but also be able to improve my skills and further develop my ideas by participating in activities with like-minded people and joining student clubs.

METU was a great stepping-stone for me but UIUC is where I believe I will be able to flourish. With the amazing faculty and countless resources available to me at UIUC, I will be able to become not only a leading civil engineer but also a contributing member of society.

Undergraduate / 'the Father of Modern Lahore' Transfer essay for Georgia Tech - Program of Study [3]

this is my transfer essay for georgia tech. should i add information about my current university? and how else can we improve this essay
Prompt: What interests you about your selected program of study?

Sir Ganga Ram was an engineer who is largely consider to be the Father of Modern Lahore. During the late 19th and 20th centuries, he designed and developed most of the major construction projects in Lahore. These projects included several universities, hospitals, power plants and even towns, most of which are still integral parts of the city. He also transformed 50,000 acres of desert near the city into fertile fields by lifting water using a hydroelectric plant and a complex irrigation system. His work has inspired me to not only fulfill my desire to create something magnificent but to do it in a way which could benefit the people around me. Because of this, I decided to choose civil engineering as my program of study.

At the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech, I will be able to master topics such as fluid mechanics and strength of materials under one of the most accomplished faculties around the world. I would get the chance to carry out research with fellow engineers in areas of interest such as clean energy solutions and infrastructure development in cities.

Outside the classroom, I will get the chance to learn new skills, interact with other engineers, and further develop my ideas by joining clubs like Engineers for a Sustainable World at Georgia Tech and taking part in activities at the Student Competition Center.

With the skills and knowledge I would acquire from Georgia Tech, I will be able to follow the footsteps of Sir Ganga Ram by improving the living conditions of people living in Lahore without access to necessities such as water and electricity through meaningful development. Georgia Tech will enable me to become a great engineer whose contributions would be no less important than those of Sir Ganga Ram.