tech essay #1 v1

1 files changed, 54 insertions, 6 deletions

diff --git a/application/06_tech_essays b/application/06_tech_essays
index 9c570a2..e1863ef 100644
--- a/application/06_tech_essays
+++ b/application/06_tech_essays
@@ -1,10 +1,52 @@
+/* sed '/^>> /d'|tr '\n' ' '|sed 's/  /\n/g' */
+vim: spell tw=72
 Each are 50--300 words.
 
-Why do you want to study your chosen major [Computer Science]
-specifically at Georgia Tech?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Why do you want to study your chosen major [Computer Science and
+Mathematics] specifically at Georgia Tech?
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Project Euler first enamored me with the wonderful world of
+computational mathematics.
+The majors I want to study at Georgia Tech, Computer Science and
+Mathematics, both deal in "problems."
+In either research or most genuine productive work, these "problems" are
+of large (sometimes indefinite) scope, but Project Euler's mini-problems
+mimic the problem-solution cycle that so stimulates my mind.
+>> "stimulates the mind" sounds like it's from the 1890s because
+>> Sherlock Holmes said it (about cocaine), but I don't know how to
+>> replace it.
+I yearn to work on this variety of problems with more structure than
+>> "variety" in the sense of "sort"
+autodidactically.
+>> is this sentence out of place?
+As much as I enjoy the theory in either of these fields, the legitimate
+products derived from the completion or progress of a problem are far
+more rewarding, and I want to continue working on these sorts of
+problems in Tech's great academic and social environment.
+
+I've been fortunate to take classes from some great professors at Tech
+>> "take classes" -> learn?
+like Dr. Greg Mayer, who is just brilliant.
+His individual enthusiasm and clarity alone motivates me to go to Tech,
+but the atmosphere he cultivates represents the institution as a whole.
+>> I want to add more here, but I'm not sure what
 
+I've also been part of a small number groupchats run by Tech students
+for specific classes or for this year's online-only situation, and I
+have seen one of the most supportive and honorable student groups I
+could envision.
+One student has so much trust in the Tech community that they have given
+away their personal credentials to the class textbook.
+>> fraud??
+Another group organizes weekly virtual movie nights, a heartwarming
+display of the overwhelmingly supportive and positive Tech community.
+I sincerely hope I can continue to participate in this fantastic group.
+
+>> pfft these aren't unique to Tech, good professors and good students?
+>> I mean, this is entirely true, but do I need to mention the
+>> institutional stuff like competitions, hackathons, etc, or would that
+>> come off as insincere?
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 All applicants must choose one of the two questions below:
 
@@ -19,14 +61,20 @@ All applicants must choose one of the two questions below:
 
 I like (1).
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+>> Recommendation I'm going off of: talk about something you've worked
+>> on.
+>> !!WARNING!! This is WAY insufficiently revised: I've heard that every
+>> word should have importance, and..uh..they don't.
+>> There also isn't a hook or anything here.
+>> Is this a bit too ideologuey or is that appropriate to the question?
 I love freedom.
 Not exactly a controversial statement, I know.
 >> "I'm aware"?
 But my view of freedom does appear to be fairly unpopular.
 I believe firmly in free software---programs that can be edited,
 distributed, and run however the user chooses.
-The list of open source programs is surprisingly long, but there is
-still work to be done.
+The catalogue of open source programs is fortunately long, but there is
+still much work to be done.
 
 I've contributed lightly to software freedom by using it, participating
 in the community, and writing some free software.
@@ -42,7 +90,7 @@ overall---it has decent buildings, addresses, streets.
 But it doesn't have businesses listed, forcing my community to rely on
 manipulative, closed data sources like Yelp or Google---whom have abused
 their influence to extort businesses and manipulate customers.
-And in less priveleged areas, cartographic data is scarce and groups
+And in less privileged areas, cartographic data is scarce and groups
 like the Humanitarian OSM team can have concrete impacts on communities
 around the globe.