This is my first draft of the first Olin essay. It was very difficult for me for some reason. Anyways, you guys know the drill: any comments are greatly appreciated, and I would be more than happy to read your essays in return.
Given what you know about Olin College, please tell us why you think Olin is a good fit for you. 500 words or less.
"Never heard of it," was my honest reply when asked by an uncle one year ago if I was familiar with the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering. "You should check it out," he said. "It's this small, relatively new school in Massachusetts that only takes about eighty-five kids a year. And they pay for your entire tuition if you are admitted." Intrigued by these words, I decided to do some research of my own. I am happy to say that what I discovered upon my further investigation of Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering was a unique mixture of individuality and group interaction, and the ideal environment for me to continue my studies.
The link between individuality and group affiliation at Olin comes in the form of the Honor Code. The Honor Code at Olin makes the longevity of the college the direct responsibility of the student body. I am a firm believer in academic integrity, so I was particularly interested to learn more about the code's uses and how violations, such as cheating, are very serious affairs, and are regulated by the student-operated Honor Board. On my tour of the campus, for example, I learned how students take tests by themselves and are permitted to use outside sources for answers, so long as they are cited properly. The Honor Code holds each student to be proud of his or her own accomplishments, and I really like the way that this aspect of the code is integrated into the project-driven atmosphere of Olin. I thrive on the opportunity to lead others successfully, but at Olin, I can also see myself satisfied and equally valuable as others take charge.
Another attractive feature of Olin is its interdisciplinary conglomeration of liberal arts, entrepreneurship, and hard sciences and math. For a person like me with many varied interests, it is comforting to know that Olin can provide ways, such as the Olin Conductorless Orchestra, for me to enrich my academic and musical passions outside of engineering.
One major concern I had while searching for the right engineering school was the lack of required work experience. It seemed that each successive college I visited simply expected their faculty, student-teacher research opportunities, and classroom learning to translate successfully into post-graduate employment preparedness. Olin, however, is much different; there is no co-op or internship opportunity, or sponsored lab research, or permanent research-specific faculty. The required entrepreneurial curriculum, alongside a solid engineering foundation, assures me that I will be able to survive in the business world of engineering. Moreover, the Senior Capstone Program in Engineering (SCOPE) provides Olin seniors with a real-world problem scenario sponsored by a corporation or non-profit organization; nothing says "work experience" like the task of solving such a problem with a group of other Olin students by utilizing state-of-the-art resources, technical expertise, and realistic time constraints. I want to contribute my unique talents and leadership skills to a team of engineers, and I believe SCOPE is truly the closest thing to real, modern engineering available to a college student.
Olin is truly a unique environment for learning, and a much different take on engineering education than anywhere else in the world. I want to be a part of this community.
Given what you know about Olin College, please tell us why you think Olin is a good fit for you. 500 words or less.
"Never heard of it," was my honest reply when asked by an uncle one year ago if I was familiar with the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering. "You should check it out," he said. "It's this small, relatively new school in Massachusetts that only takes about eighty-five kids a year. And they pay for your entire tuition if you are admitted." Intrigued by these words, I decided to do some research of my own. I am happy to say that what I discovered upon my further investigation of Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering was a unique mixture of individuality and group interaction, and the ideal environment for me to continue my studies.
The link between individuality and group affiliation at Olin comes in the form of the Honor Code. The Honor Code at Olin makes the longevity of the college the direct responsibility of the student body. I am a firm believer in academic integrity, so I was particularly interested to learn more about the code's uses and how violations, such as cheating, are very serious affairs, and are regulated by the student-operated Honor Board. On my tour of the campus, for example, I learned how students take tests by themselves and are permitted to use outside sources for answers, so long as they are cited properly. The Honor Code holds each student to be proud of his or her own accomplishments, and I really like the way that this aspect of the code is integrated into the project-driven atmosphere of Olin. I thrive on the opportunity to lead others successfully, but at Olin, I can also see myself satisfied and equally valuable as others take charge.
Another attractive feature of Olin is its interdisciplinary conglomeration of liberal arts, entrepreneurship, and hard sciences and math. For a person like me with many varied interests, it is comforting to know that Olin can provide ways, such as the Olin Conductorless Orchestra, for me to enrich my academic and musical passions outside of engineering.
One major concern I had while searching for the right engineering school was the lack of required work experience. It seemed that each successive college I visited simply expected their faculty, student-teacher research opportunities, and classroom learning to translate successfully into post-graduate employment preparedness. Olin, however, is much different; there is no co-op or internship opportunity, or sponsored lab research, or permanent research-specific faculty. The required entrepreneurial curriculum, alongside a solid engineering foundation, assures me that I will be able to survive in the business world of engineering. Moreover, the Senior Capstone Program in Engineering (SCOPE) provides Olin seniors with a real-world problem scenario sponsored by a corporation or non-profit organization; nothing says "work experience" like the task of solving such a problem with a group of other Olin students by utilizing state-of-the-art resources, technical expertise, and realistic time constraints. I want to contribute my unique talents and leadership skills to a team of engineers, and I believe SCOPE is truly the closest thing to real, modern engineering available to a college student.
Olin is truly a unique environment for learning, and a much different take on engineering education than anywhere else in the world. I want to be a part of this community.
