Undergraduate / Yale's short supplements: econ, ethics and politics; financial crisis Yale course [3]

Why do these areas appeal to you?

For Politics, ethics and Econ.

I would like to know if these answers aren't too generic or meaningless. If you have some tips on improving them, please suggest some.

And ow... Happy New Year

When my father told me that he wanted to quit his job, I was shocked. He is the man who taught me to always be persistent and now he wanted to pull the plug. My father, luckily, kept on going, but there are a lot of starting entrepreneurs who are experiencing this problem. The economic climate is almost forcing starters to burn out in order to become successful.

I want to study economics because, although it's very idealistic, I want to have an impact on that climate to make it more free and to encourage initiative.

Why does Yale appeal to you?

When I was browsing through the 'coursera' catalog, there was one course that grasped my attention: A Yale course on the financial crisis. Now, a year later, browsing through the actual course catalog makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop.

What I love the most about these courses is that some of them have a very politically oriented scope. Yale is a school that perfectly emerges my interest in both politics and economics. This combined with the tradition of public service makes me want to step on the plane to New Haven already.

Undergraduate / Several facts that convinced me, that Northwestern is the best choice - another why school 'X' essay [3]

Other parts of your application give us a sense for how you might contribute to Northwestern. But we also want to consider how Northwestern will contribute to your interests and goals. In 300 words or less, help us understand what aspects of Northwestern appeal most to you, and how you'll make use of specific resources and opportunities here.

Some feedback about the content please. Enjoy :)

Northwestern complements me

"Ooh.... That's the big one!" Thanks to the amazing Craig Ferguson, that was my first impression of Northwestern. His interview with Northwestern alumnus Meghan Markle didn't just make me chuckle multiple times, it oddly introduced me to the university where I would love to spend the next four years of my life.

I started learning about its economics department and quickly realized how unique it is because of its balance between practical courses such as 'Business Strategy' and theoretical courses such as 'History of Economic Thought' and the opportunity to take a lot of these courses because of the quarter system. I proudly call myself an econ nerd and see myself in the consulting field after graduation. The minor in Business Institutions is an amazing way to complement these courses and develop the necessary skills to succeed in that field, from writing and speaking in business to rational decision making.

What convinced me, even more, is the fact that I will be able to apply that knowledge in the CASE consulting group to impact the community, but also through the Chicago Field Trips. The combination of classes and internships in consulting allows me to pursue both academic and career aspirations in the wonderful city of Chicago.

From admiring the art in the Block museum to a relaxing afternoon on the student beach or an exciting soccer game with fellow wildcats, there will be enough opportunities for me to take a break from the hard work. Spending time with other students and being exposed to all the different perspectives is something I will definitely enjoy.

Besides the fact that Northwestern complements my professional goals and academic interests completely by its courses and internship opportunities, it is a community in which I see myself growing intellectually and socially. Go Wildcats!

Undergraduate / This is what I love in Cornell University. Undergraduate CALS motivation essay [3]

Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. Specifically, how will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Cornell University help you achieve your academic goals? (Please limit your response to 650 words.)

Some advice about the content? Please let me know if there are any grammar- punctuation issues (English isn't my mother tongue :D)

what i love in cornell

This must be my favorite spot on campus. Just being able to stand here on top of the McGraw tower and have this breath-taking view is one of those little things that makes me fall in love with this place every single day. This is only my first semester at Cornell, but from the minute I set foot on this campus I felt at home. I grew up on the countryside surrounded by farms where my brother and I would take apples from farmers and sell them to our neighbors. We were still very young and we loved exploring that bubble we were living in. This changed drastically when my father moved to Antwerp to start his business, but it's that rural environment here that brings me right back to the countryside.

The biggest difference must be that Cornell is a place that bursts that bubble intellectually. I am majoring in AEM and concentrating in strategy. I took my first Strategic Thinking course yesterday; it is amazing to experience how professor Chau doesn't just teach us facts and figures, but rather teaches us how and why. I am even taking the Judging The Jury course in the law school where we have to find creative ways to increase the response to jury qualification questionnaires and jury summons in New York. Being able to think creatively and trying to come up with solutions for a real world problem is typical for all courses here at Cornell. Our professors are enabling us to impact the destination we choose after graduating and it's that teaching philosophy that inspires me constantly.

For me, that destination will be law school. When my father told me that he was thinking about stopping with his business and how hard it was for him financially, I realized that many entrepreneurs are having these issues. At that moment, I knew that I wanted to help these people by solving their difficulties. I immediately joined the consulting club and I am having unique hands-on experiences where I get to work in teams and solve challenging business problems. I am also involved in the Mock Trial Team and the Business Law Society. The combination of my courses and my extracurricular involvement is an amazing way to develop professionally and socially.

I a meeting a lot of people through the activities here at Cornell. Actually, the whole campus is filled with a wonderful student body. A few hours ago, I was having lunch at Risley Dining. Besides the delicious food (and the fact that there is a Harry Potter-themed dinner each spring), it is amazing to have conversations with the most interesting people. I just talked to an Art History major at the CAS. The discussion we had was so interesting that I am going to take a few courses there next semester and we even planned to go to the Johnson Museum tomorrow. The any person, any study mission of this school is creating an incredible community in which I am learning not only from my courses, but also from the people around me.

Cornell is enlarging my view on the world through its academics and diversity, but it's also allowing me to impact that world through these exact same things. I always knew that this was the ideal place for me. The office hours with the most intriguing professors, the diversity, the clubs I'm in, and even the walks in the botanical garden, these are all moments with great value. That value that is created by my experience here at Cornell is something that I hope to use to help people with great ideas, but who are struggling with the execution. Being a Cornellian isn't just about achieving my dreams, it's about achieving the dreams of many other people as well.

Undergraduate / Taxi drive in the New York City - Why NYU Essay [3]

Why NYU?

Some feedback about content and punctuation/grammar please. Enjoy :)

Taxi!..

I can walk, eat, talk on the phone and hail a cab, all at the same time. That's one of the things a semester at NYU did to me. "Where do you need to be?" "Smalls Jazz Club please." The driver seems to be intrigued by my sweater. "So, NYU. You're having fun at that school?"

It's hard to place an adjective on my experience at NYU. I came here being excitingly overwhelmed by the dynamic of the city. I have been dreaming of living in New York for so many years, and now I am finally here.

I'm a Stern student concentrating in Management & Organizations and taking the Management Consulting Track. The greatest thing about the academics here must be the practicality. I took my first Negotiation & Consensus Building course yesterday; it is fantastic to experience how professor Howard doesn't just teach us facts and figures, but rather teaches us how and why. Our professors are enabling us to impact the destination we choose after graduating. It's that teaching philosophy that inspires me constantly and that is exactly what I was searching for in a college.

When I was at Club Fest in September, I immediately joined the Management Consulting Group. I am also involved in the Mock Trial Team and the Business & Law Association. I love these activities because they do not just mean consulting and doing mock trials, but learning a lot from the people I spend my time with.

Yesterday, I was sitting in the Bobst library when suddenly a CAS student sat next to me and we had a chat about her home country. The exposure to all these different backgrounds makes me want to study abroad for a semester. NYU, like me, values a global perspective and I am going to use that opportunity to go to Florence next year.

We also talked about her major: Art Hsitory. The conversation was so interesting that I am considering taking courses at the CAS as well. NYU's interdisciplinary approach is a huge advantage to me because I am a very curious person and it allows me to balance practical and theoretical courses.

"Hey, stop dreaming kid. We arrived." Wait a minute, did I just ignore the taxi driver? Well, if I had to explain every aspect that I love about NYU, this trip would take hours.

Undergraduate / My performance as a DJ. Common App: prompt about failure [13]

Common App: prompt about failure

DJ performance

What are your thoughts about the content, style etc.? If there are mistakes regarding grammar and punctuation, please let me know as well. Enjoy :)

The intro starts to play. It's time to get on the stage. The whole tent is dark and I carefully try to crawl my way through the cables and empty beer cups with my headphone around my neck. While most people view DJing as an iPod shuffle or a sweaty guy pushing buttons, I feel differently: I will be taking responsibility of 400 people's happiness and experience at this festival.

I take a deep breath and when the intro ends, I start my first track. People are jumping and shouting, the spots are moving and the energy is bouncing off the walls. Everything is going exactly as planned and everybody is having a great time. But suddenly - it all stops. No lights; no music; nothing is playing anymore. The crowd thinks it's part of the show, but then a second later, they begin shuffling and coughing, asking each other what is going on. I can almost feel the energy drain from the room and when I look behind me I see my friend giving me an empty stare. What now?

I think back to three years ago, late December. My dad came home from a long day at work and I could see that something was wrong. He told me that managing his business was becoming too hard financially and mentally. I'd never seen my dad that upset and I never thought that he would think about quitting someday. I asked him: "what would your students do if you quit?" He sighed. "I don't know... You're right." He realized that the community, the people- his clients kept him going. His work resulted in many people feeling safer and the gratitude that he received for that was worth the hard work. This made me realize that the solution was in the audience.

I climb up on a speaker pole and I do something I never expected to do. I wave to get everyone's attention and address the audience:

"We are going to do something special. I am going to divide the crowd into two camps and you are all going to sing along with me. The side that sings the hardest wins!."

I start to sing 'Don't you worry child', but nothing happens. Then one second later An overload of decibels overwhelms me giving me the best near-deaf experience one could ever imagine. Everyone is singing along. The embarrassment fades away and I start feeling like I can handle everything. I point to one half of the audience: euphonious sound. I point to the other and before I know it, the whole audience is singing in unison. During our collective acapella moment, the electricity turns back on and my friend quickly runs towards the mixer to start the song we were singing, but the volume of the crowd surpasses the speakers. It is magical how everyone is singing with full commitment, completely determined to be the loudest side.

I turn off my last track to end my set, but instead of leaving the stage, I keep looking at the audience for another minute. Their cheering and applauding almost makes me forget what happened. I crawl my way back and nearly stumble over a cable that I didn't see out of pure excitement. This was the best hour of my entire life. It made me realize that even if things don't go the way you want them to, trying to make the best out of it will always be rewarded.

As a DJ, as corny as it may sound, It is my goal to make my set an hour that everybody will remember. And now, whenever I need to play a set, singing acapella with the audience is always a part of my performance.

Undergraduate / There is one thing only a few people know about me, I produce music: personal statement [2]

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

=> What are your thoughts about the content?

From scratch

There is one thing only a few people know about me, I produce music. I keep this low profile because it is an indoor's passion and when people find out, they are surprised because they know me as a future lawyer. They are even more surprised when I tell them that those two are directly related. Producing music is not just a creative outlet, it is a unique way of thinking that made me to who I am today and shaped my future goals.

When I was seven years old, I used to listen to music in my dad's radio studio. I foolishly turned knobs of an old mixer not knowing what it did, imagining myself creating my own peice of music, although I did not know how. A year later my dad gave me some music production software and as my experience grew, my mindset evolved. Somehow creating music gave me a very unique way of thinking because my mind goes through a special proces.

It starts with inspiration, an abstract idea that pops into my head because of my fantasy's contact with a sometimes very random perception. A voice, a painting, or a song can stimulate my mind an it will transform into a melody or a rhythm. Right now there is an idea that lives its own life in my head, but I want to translate that idea into sound. When I produce I have an empty canvas - silence. My paint is sound and when I combine different colors in balance with each other, a beautiful painting comes into existence. Likewise, put alll the sounds, melodies, and beats together and there is a piece of music.

It takes a long time to get all these sounds in balance. Perseverance is the main ingredient for making a track unique and recognizable. It means twisting knobs, moving notes, and shifting drums until everything fits perfectly. As I produce, every single detail becomes important, I want all sounds to fit just right in the track. Building something from scratch is probably the most satisfying thing there is, but it takes hard work and a lot of energy to do so.

This process gives me a unique perspective. All the things that I learn from producing are things that I subconsiously apply in my daily life. I started to mentally "dissect" objects and look at all differents components they are made of, I started to use my creativity instead of following every rule, I started to develop a style.

I want to keep on turning knobs, but not just the knobs that change the sound or adjust the volume. I want to keep on achieving great things from scratch and manifest ideas from the mind into the real world. The difference in my two passions is not as big as people think; it is a different product, but to me, it is the exact same principle. I know I want to keep on going through this process by helping other people to achieve their dreams and seeing the beauty in the creation of a business. The process can be hard, but I want to give people the satisfaction of seeing their creations thrive.

The origin of my ambition may be slightly odd, but that is what makes it so interesting and powerful. It is still funny to hear people say that I have the mind of a lawyer while only a few of them know that it is actually the mind of a producer.

Scholarship / Essay: Huntsman program of the University of Pennsylvania. What are your thoughts on this essay? [2]

Discuss a current international issue, which demonstrates how international affairs and business intersect and explain how the Huntsman curriculum might assist to resolve the issue

Trial by media

I am scrolling down the reactions on an article about the Panama papers. Drama, drama, and... drama that is a short summary of what I am reading. CEO's and sportsmen are being compared to Dagobert Duck as they ar being called greedy, immoral, and criminal. People are furious and I am smirking; while tax law has a reputation for being boring, it is almost funny to see how much sensation it causes.

This is a typical trial by media. People who love to give their opinion on a legal issue while they don not necessarily have the knowledge to do it correctly. The result is the massive harm in reputation for multinationals and sensation taking the upper hand instead of information. My quiet smirk changes in fright as I think further.

Tax fraud is a problem, I will never deny that. However, I am afraid that politics will not deal with this issue correctly. As we saw in France, the consequences for the economy can be quite dramatic if they decide to take the easy way out and make it witch hunt to poach votes. For, example, the recent BEPS project of the OECD is ought to deal with this issue while some measures actually close down our free market and scare multinationals to invest in our regions. There has to be a balance in the prevention of tax fraud and that is why I want to research the cross-border aspect of tax law and use it to defend corporations.

I already started educating myself on this topic by reading books about the Panama papers and free market economics or by collecting articles about the actions that the EU commission is taking against big corporations such as Amazon or Apple. I recently took an online course about international tax law in which I have written essays about my opinion on the actions of the OECD. Educating myself has taught me a lot, but it is only the first step.

I want to take the next step and consequently, I became interested in Huntsman. I want to specialize in the intercontinental relations between Nort America and Europe and research the international aspect of tax law to know what is really going on and what the real solution is. Because of Huntsman, I will be able to study these relations by studying in Philadelphia and Paris and still have a business education and liberty to take the concentration in Legal Studies and Business Ethics. I plan to get a JD after the program so I can put my knowledge into practice as a lawyer.

I want to change the tone of this debate; I want the right measures to be taken. Huntsman is the only program that enables me to make this impact for my future clients in one of the biggest and most complex economic issues of this decade.

Undergraduate / Who are the Nighthawks in Edward Hopper's painting? The UChicago uncommon essay. [5]

Who are the Nighthawks in Edward Hopper's painting?

I am the man. I have no name, nor do I have a face. I am just that man sitting in a diner in New York city. It is around midnight and the atmosphere is depressing and dark. Every person in this café is living in their own world; not a word is being said and no looks are being crossed. It is striking how the atmosphere contrasts with the beautiful Jazz playing in the background. I look into my empty glass as I hear the bartender asking me if I need another drink. I decide not to react; I am too intrigued by the couple sitting next to me. The man is wearing a white hat and a navy blue suit that is sitting just a little bit too tight. He is lost in thoughts and he has not talked to the lady next to him for about twenty minutes. I can see that the lady wants attention as one arm is pointing at the man while she is heavily sighing and looking at her nails to make it clear that she is bored. Once in a while she turns around and looks at the man but he does not flinch. I think they are on a date because they walked in this bar with a big smile on their faces - that smile faded away as the clock reached midnight.

A song breaks the tensed atmosphere, I recognize the melody but despite my love for Jazz, I cannot put my finger on it. The woman on the other hand smiles when she hears the first notes. "Ow listen to that song honey." The man escapes from his deep thoughts. I decide to use this moment to break the ice. "What is it called again?" "It is Duke Ellington's C Jam Blues, it is my husband's favorite song." The woman says. Her voice is soft. I have never met this woman but I immediately feel at ease when I listen to her. We start talking and during the conversation I start filling in the gaps in their identity. She is a law teacher at Columbia and the man is a banker at Morgan Stanley. He quit his job right after the firm joined the New York Stock Exchange last Tuesday. He will leave New York to fight in Europe tomorrow night. Now I realize that they were not bored, they were stressed. They have a healthy relationship but they are not in the moment because they are afraid that this just might be their last night together. The man goes to the bathroom and in the meantime it took the woman one second to realize what I was thinking.

I ignore her asking look because I suddenly realize why I felt so at ease when I heard her voice. This is the woman who taught me everything. I am now a successful partner at White & Case and she is partly responsible for my success in law school ten years ago. Who would have taught that I would reunite with my favorite law professor in a bar, ten years after my graduation? I am enthusiastically shocked, but I decide not to tell her who I am. In fact, it is time to go home. I say goodbye to the professor and her husband who is standing in the doorway, wiping his wet hands on his pants. I give the bartender a tip and leave.

On my way home I start thinking about my past. I moved from a small town in Belgium to Chicago to attend college, and the difference was excitingly overwhelming. I was the only student from my school who went to college in the U.S.; I just had that different kind of ambition. I would teach myself about law and economics while my friends were going downtown, I would read about art history while my friends were at the movies, and I would even go the open day of the Flemish Bar Association while my friends were playing soccer. Everybody knew that I love to learn but nobody expected me to make such a life-changing decision. They knew I was ambitious and driven by my goals but it seemed like taking risks to achieve them was somehow uncommon. I was a small-town kid trying to make it in life. Turning my life upside down was probably the best choice I ever made. Living here in New York and practicing law us something I will never give up. From the Saturday nights at the Jazz club in Harlem with the intense client meetings, they are all part of my life now and I love them.

My last two years in high school were intense, but I am here because I was passionate about what I was learning. I have a great job and a great family because I was willing to work hard and go that extra mile. But now I am standing in front of my door and I have to be silent because I do not want to wake the kids. I hope we can meet again so I can tell you more about myself.

I would like to know if this story somehow made you curious. How is the style and is it too much storytelling for the uncommon essay?

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Undergraduate / Penn 2016-2017 supplement (Wharton school) [4]

How will you explore your intellectual and academic interests at the University of Pennsylvania? Please answer this question given the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying.

Essay:

It is very striking how people react when I say I want to pursue a career in law. They try to respond enthusiastically but I can really hear some kind of disgust in their voices. To most people, corporate lawyers are greedy and arrogant know-it-alls who do not care about their clients as long as they pay them. There are not many lawyers who read through the mission statement or visit the client's workspace; I think it is time to change all that.

I want a college education that enables me to be the new kind of lawyer. Being a lawyer who cares about his clients means being commercially minded; it means seeing things not just as a lawyer, but as an entrepreneur. Choosing the Legal Studies concentration and the Management concentration gives me the perspectives of both a lawyer and his clients. Wharton is a school that encourages both breadth and depth. I will be able to study certain areas in depth such as the law of corporate management and finance, while I still have the possibility to pursue my interest in history or to explore new areas of study. The possibility to submatriculate into law school is ideal to graduate from Penn as someone who knows the law, and someone who knows his clients' way of thinking.

I am someone who likes to get his hands on real problems. I have actually been advising projects on their marketing and communication towards clients and partners. I do not like to just learn the theory, I want to do something with it. The practical environment combined with small class sizes at Wharton is an environment in which I can thrive, through pragmatic courses such as MGMT 100 and negotiation courses I will learn how to put knowledge into practice and make an impact for my clients. Wharton is the kind of school that holds his undergraduates to the same caliber as they do to MBA students. This means that I will get lectures from professors that also teach graduate students. In that way I will be able to become the best version of myself.

I also plan to explore outside the classroom through the wide variety of extracurricular activities at Penn. I look forward to the closing statements in the mock trial team and joining the John Marshall Pre-Law Honour Society. The combination of Penn`s academics and pre-career student groups are a great way to prepare for law school. Although these two will be the first clubs I will sign up for, I will definitely discover other interesting clubs as well. Off course student groups are also a great way to explore and entertain at the same time, I would really like to join a music-related student group since I am very interested in music and I want to share that interest with other campus members.

Although college is mainly about preparing for the future, Penn will not only be academics for me. I look forward to exploring Philadelphia, I live a few miles away from the city center of Antwerp and I love going there. I am a very busy person so I always need noise and life around me. On the other hand, spending an evening in the Jazz club on Sansom street is the ideal way to escape from the stress that going to college could cause sometimes.

Penn is the place where I want to be and where I see myself growing. In the classroom, I want to be the person who ignites the discussion and produces the energy. I can bring an international and creative perspective, a lot of initiative, and eagerness to learn to the classroom and the whole campus.

I look forward to the strolls on locust walk, Hey Day and watching the Quakers on Franklin Field. I sincerely want to become a part of the Penn experience.

What do you guys think about this essay?