Everyone else’s is so much better and more personal than mine! I think I took the wrong approach. I applied early action and still have yet to receive my decision.
Notes on UChicago
(Inspired by Susan Sontag’s Notes on “Camp”)
Curiosity: a strong desire to know or learn something. An abstract noun that cannot be defined by a single denotative expression, or demonstrated through one tangible thing. An utterance which holds no boundaries; constantly expanding. Just like the oceans of ivy which hug Cobb Gate, oceans of curiosity hug the students at the University of Chicago. The foundation and guidance of curiosity retains the students, in which research and engagement is elicited through the drive to define their rendition of curiosity. As alumna Susan Sontag might put it, curiosity at the University of Chicago is esoteric—it can only be understood by the close-knit community of students within the context of their knowledge and interests.
These notes are for the University of Chicago.
“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” - Carl Sagan
- My curiosity, like the universe, is always expanding. The community and opportunities at UChicago provide me with the tools to satisfy the existence of this boundless curiosity. Where is Waldo? How many people, and in what way, found x? What would happen if I fell off the edge of the Earth? How is it possible to build a nuclear reactor in your dorm room in just four days? The small yet, uniquely diverse community at UChicago not only postulate these questions, but also use their individualized interests and passions to answer them. This is both inspiring and demonstrates the individuality of the community that is a magnet for my curiosity.
- The study that is the epitome of curiosity is philosophy. While this can most certainly compose a major on its own, the study of philosophy holds grand ties to the study of psychology (as well as constituting the basis of almost every area study). Morals, thought, perception, cognition, and conscience are concepts which hold a lot of weight; their answers seem to be smirking at us from the observable universe. The higher the concentration of matter or knowledge, the further away the answer becomes. As a student at the University of Chicago, I would continue to chase these answers.
- UChicago encompasses more internship and research opportunities than there are students to fill these spots. This means that if I were to attend, I would be given the resources to pursue my interests. I will take advantage of these research opportunities, potentially alongside Jean Decety, to fit my interest in answering the questions of morals, human behavior, and the psychology of offenders. Decety has already done this in his findings of more gray matter in those who have committed, or attempted, homicide. Participating in his research, or research similar to his, will provide me with the foundation for my future endeavors. Research is the spoon which feeds curiosity.
- My future endeavors include, but are not limited to:
- Exploring my interests in psychology and law
- Working towards my Bachelor of Arts in psychology
- Enjoying the herbivore meals at the Dining Commons
- Meeting other diverse thinkers and scholars
- Becoming a member of, and/or exploring: Active Minds, Animal Welfare Society, appUP, ArtShould, Calvert House Tutoring, Climate Action Network, and many more.
- Napping in every chair at Harper Library
- Working on psychological research studies
- Discussing whether or not cereal is soup in a core humanities class
- Obtaining my Ph.D. in one of the four areas of psychology offered
- Observing UChicago students alongside the gargoyles
- The University of Chicago’s taste in curiosity is remarkable. Curiosity is the intangible foundation of UChicago, and its students are transforming it into tangible objects, research, and education. I too wish to participate in this transformation—my reasoning I have sketched in these notes