From 1ac44abb33804ce0f295e2ac9e3537ba27b5eee3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Holden Rohrer Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2020 17:18:42 -0400 Subject: essay #1 ver2 --- application/06_tech_essays | 59 +++++++++++++++++++++++----------------------- 1 file changed, 29 insertions(+), 30 deletions(-) (limited to 'application/06_tech_essays') diff --git a/application/06_tech_essays b/application/06_tech_essays index e1863ef..da7dea5 100644 --- a/application/06_tech_essays +++ b/application/06_tech_essays @@ -5,47 +5,47 @@ Each are 50--300 words. 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. +"You should check out this website. It's called Project Euler," my +friend Holden told me in fourth grade. +>> feels like a humble-brag +Project Euler is a list of math puzzles that require a computer to +solve, and I fell in love with the problem-solution paradigm. +Project Euler's "challenges" require experimentation, careful critical +thought and develop general and domain understanding. +I have worked with much more complex systems than the mini-problems +Project Euler presents, but the identify-fix-check debugging modality +fits the "problem" paradigm remarkably, as does exploratory mathematics. +I want to major in Computer Science and Mathematics at Georgia Tech +because both subjects deal in this sort of problem, and I want to +continue innovating and exploring in this analytical paradigm. -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 +Through Tech's Dual Enrollment program, I've been fortunate to take +classes from some great professors at Tech, especially in math. +In my second year of Dual Enrollment, my teacher Dr. Mayer organized a +class conference to help develop our sense of how combinatorics fits +into the wider world. +As he walked around the room, he was genuinely interested in each and +every project's presentation of a unique problem space. 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?? +The math class-specific groups I'm a member of is extremely deliberate +about not sharing answers but still enthusiastically share hints about +the fundamental course material. 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. +I sincerely hope I can continue to participate in this welcoming +institutional culture, especially through the in-person activities like +the student-run hackathons. +>> The hackathons are a footnote. Is that okay? >> 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? +>> probably include, but there's no room (... words) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ All applicants must choose one of the two questions below: @@ -63,8 +63,6 @@ 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. @@ -102,4 +100,5 @@ Like Wikipedia opening up encyclopedic information to everyone, the "democratization" of geographic data improves widespread groups' condition, and I want to help, by contributing my effort to making people more free. +>> make the Wikipedia bit bigger ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- cgit