From 7832a6435d0dedeaeef1c69f84197947cc3cbe5f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Holden Rohrer Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2020 03:21:21 -0400 Subject: tech essay #1 v1 --- application/06_tech_essays | 60 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----- 1 file 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. -- cgit