Stuck at undergrad essay's topic choice

Custos
Tue, 17 Dec 2013 12:10:20 +0000

Hi.

First, “ethical dilemma” essay.
I’ve thought one, but I’m really not sure if I should write it. My school (boarding) once had 3,000- students but only, like, 12+ lines in dining hall for dinner, so the lining problem was very serious. Sometimes one could have to wait for thirty minutes if they chose to queue, possibly starving. I didn’t like eating high-sodiumed humbergers or instant noodles, so…
is “lining, suffering from your stomach vs. cutting in line(joining up with friends) when lots of people do that” a proper ethical dilemma?

Another one is the “describe an unusual way in which you have fun” essay.
Well, I’m not so silly to “cater to” schools I apply, but perhaps I’m really asking for Caltech’s preference of students here… I’ve finished two, and both are rather unusual and both I really enjoy, so I can’t decide which to use. (And both, well, are irrelevant of technology, maths or natural sciences)
The first is that I translate lyrics to sing my favorite songs in any other languages I’ve learnt. e.g. Latin. By “translate” I mean I make the outcome fit the song’s rhythm, tunes, morae, stress…etc. So I can make some sound as if they were originally written in that target language.
The second is that I try to solve or figure out answers to questions I find or encounter in linguistics, by reasoning, researching, using data and evidences, conjectures…etc. Basically anything I want to know. e.g. What was a convincing pronunciation of Greek letter zeta in early antiquity.

Any advice, suggestions and reasons would be greatly appreciated.

FYI, I’m applying for physics, international applicant.