Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.
1. Tell us why you chose the New York Campus (700 characters)
Living in Queens, Manhattan was never farther than a train ride away. I have relished the trips I have taken there, and I am always eager to return. Manhattan is so aggregative, vibrant, and purposeful. It is so close to historical events, important landmarks, and urban culture that I could closely learn about the in and outs of Wall Street on Wall Street. This juxtaposition of business and culture is unique to Manhattan, and for this reason going to New York University would heighten the overall college experience. It would be incomparable to going to a school outside of the city.
3. What intrigues you? Tell us about one work of art, scientific achievement, piece of literature, method of communication or place in the world and explain its significance to you.
I have always enjoyed reading. It provides me with gateways to other worlds and ways of thinking. Recently I read Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead. In the book, she argues that a noble man is a rugged individualist, an egoist, and one who doesn't do anything for anyone but himself.
Initially, I thought her main idea was outlandish. It seemed very strange for her to argue that a noble man lived only for himself and didn't work with or help others. She stated that any form of collectivism, such as religion or government, was bad. To Ayn Rand, the evil in the world was "people who were incapable of surviving on their own, so they [made] it a virtue to give back to others." She claimed that when people work together, the result is incoherent.
Even though I often disagreed with her, I found myself liking her writing style and respecting her strong views. She stated her ideas very clearly, but ultimately I found them to be one-dimensional and overly romantic. The individual is important, but so is working with and for others.
Living in New York, a predominantly Democratic state, with Democratic parents, I believed that government intervention was helpful to the poor and middle classes. However, as I read Ayn Rand's book, I became more aware of other perspectives. The Fountainhead broadened my way of thinking. Because of this book, I gained more respect for the views of others. While I may not fully agree with them, there is often at least a grain of truth in their ideas.
