<p>I would really appreciate any comments on my U of M supplemental essay #2, it’s still in it’s beginning stages but any and all critiques are welcome!</p>
<p>Prompt:
Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests?</p>
<p>Essay:
I have always had a passion for science, however I had never concluded how I wanted to pursue this passion upon graduation until my sophomore year in high school. During my sophomore year I became exposed to a fresh and inspiring field of science– chemistry. I was awed by the broad spectrum of information chemistry covered; from the way light is produced to the production of the food on our plates, chemistry began to explain the physical world around me through a completely new perspective.
As a result of my curious nature, I decided to join the New Jersey Chemistry Olympics team the following year to further advance my interest in chemistry through research. Intrigued by the artistic aspect of chemistry, from the precise structures of molecules to the vibrant colors of complex ions and precipitates, I only found it fitting to join Event 7— Info Search. In this event I was required to research and calculate precise bond angles, hybridization, bond length, resonance, structure, and relative atomic size of a large, complex molecule, Rivastigmine. Having acquired this knowledge through my own research, rather than from a teacher in the classroom, gave me a unique satisfaction in that I was able to build upon my existing knowledge of chemistry through my own thought, questioning, research, and experimentation.
This experience has helped me narrow down my passion for science to not only a passion for chemistry, but also for research. At University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, I hope to take this passion and curiosity and apply it not only in the classroom, but also in the laboratory. University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) would help me further my passion for research by partnering with University of Michigan researchers to conduct real experiments to help broaden my perspective on the physical world around me. Judging by the student tasks and responsibilities from previous UROP projects, students are not simply used as laboratory assistants, but rather as actual researchers who get to conduct real research ranging from the study of thin films using positronium annihilation lifetime spectroscopy to ultra intense laser analysis. The Michigan Research Community also permits select students to attend the National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR). Such an opportunity would be instrumental in furthering a solid network of connections that would be beneficial later on in my professional career as well as developing valuable presentational skills.
At University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, I aspire to build upon the information I learn in the classroom, developing new perspectives and discovering more about the physical world around me. </p>