Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of
time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn
more? (650)
I find this concept captivating not because of its complexity but because of its
simplicity. Eight notes and a finite set of instruments, still we never seem to run out
of music; The coastline lying in a finite ellipsoid yet can’t be measured; The number
of ants currently roaming the earth are finite but can’t be counted. It’s not the lack of
curiosity that has limited us to not knowing why we don’t run out of music, or why
we can’t exactly measure the entirety of the coastline present. It’s due to a concept
much bigger, infinity. Invisible, incalculable and inestimable. Bigger than the sun, the
solar system, and unsurprisingly bigger than the universe. Unfound as a number, alive
as an idea. An idea so beyond our understanding that mathematics breaks when we
try to process it as regular algebra. Indivisible by itself.
I find that when I think about infinity I seem to lose the sense of reality. I was intrigued
by the concept of infinity starting from middle school when my teacher in Cambridge
(Grade 5) introduced me to its name and the weight it held. In awe, I researched about it
and found out about the endless numbers of paradoxes based on the concept of infinity
(Zeno’s Paradox, Infinite Hotel, etc.). To learn more about it I bought a book of
paradoxes (named Einstein’s Riddles) in 5th Grade that was not only centered around
infinity but also many other problems posed by mathematicians around the world. They
allowed me to dive into the depths of infinity, igniting curiosity within me about how the
immeasurable is present in the measurable. This was the first time I was inclined to know
more about a concept in such depth. I saw many videos and found many sources of
intellectual questioning that I use even to this day (VSauce, Numberphile, Reddit, etc.). I
found while the cardinals (Natural Numbers) of everyday objects are finite, they
ultimately end where ordinals begin. This was the first time I co-related about how we
have an unending desire for things, experiences, and moments. I never would've thought
that something could be bigger than itself and that blew me away. I found it intriguing
and I couldn’t wait to completely understand it. I wish to pursue an understanding of this
unending concept. There still exists research waiting to be done on the subject. For
example, there are still calculations that we haven’t been able to process numbers such as
Rayo’s Number.
When something finite contains infinity I find it to be very amusing. Because what
professedly is going on forever is finite in totality. Infinity is our lives, as our
experiences and moments are endless but the duration of our existence is circumscribed
by our bodies. It’s the emotion we contain and it’s the potential we truly have. Infinity
doesn’t originate from something we don't understand, it starts with something as simple
as a single unit. It’s the everlasting expansion of this unit that we seemingly are unable to
grasp. While trying to figure out how many numbers I could successfully fit into this
extraordinary set I found myself losing track of time. Because ultimately if I were to start
this journey, I would lose my consciousness trying to comprehend it.
(580
words)
CARNEGIE MELLON
Most students choose their intended major or area of study based on a passion or inspiration
that’s developed over time – what passion or inspiration led you to choose this area of study?
(300 word maximum)
The passion which initially led me to be attracted to computer sciences was being able to help
those who weren’t as fortunate as me. I feel that if I was in their place, I would’ve wished for
external support that would ultimately make me independent. Using computers for the
advancement of civilization and affecting social change can be empowering for many.
As a ten-year-old, I was gifted a laptop by my father. My intellectual questioning about various
subjects and inherently curious tendencies made me want to learn more from the internet.
Due to my father’s foresight, I found avenues such as Scratch ( beginner coding platform ) as an
engaging enterprise since 5th grade. Spending hours on end trying to make better my projects and
heighten my skills. My computer teachers were surprised by my ability to code and how I had
learned to make such programs by myself. At the end of the year, I was given the opportunity to
teach my 5th-grade class how to make a game. It was a surreal experience for me, especially
when my peers submitted their projects to me! Soon after I grew out of Scratch, I tried to make a
website for my mother who at that time had just started her small clothing business. I was able to
set up her website. It was great to help her at that time and later on, I helped with the
E-Commerce side of the website as well. Later on, due to that website, I made various websites
for numerous charitable organizations whose mission I believed in. Organizations such as
Project Prakash, which helps near-blind children regain their eyesight and help their prospective
career. I feel that computers have the power to affect social change like no other. The magnitude
of the internet’s reach is unprecedented. Within this reach lies the opportunity to bring the right
resources to the right people at the right time.
Many students pursue college for a specific degree, career opportunity or personal goal.
Whichever it may be, learning will be critical to achieve your ultimate goal. As you think ahead
to the process of learning during your college years, how will you define a successful college
experience? (300 word maximum)
Personally, a successful college experience for me would be one where I can better my critical
thinking, open up my worldview, see things from perspectives I can not currently imagine, and
develop my character to be a better human.
A Beautiful Mind, one of the best films I’ve ever watched. Based on the life of Carnegie Alum,
John Forbes. After watching the movie, I wanted to know more about his work. Just to be
reminded that he was the mind behind Game Theory! Attending a college like Carnegie Mellon
will allow me to learn from the best the world has to offer and give me the ingredients to
achieve my goals.
The CS program having the best faculty will allow me to maximize my potential. As CMU is
one of the few universities giving research opportunities to undergraduate students. Computer
science at CMU will allow me to have summer experience with research, which will work to
better my ability in programming.
Having a large impact on society and making a social impact while affecting the magnitude of
change that people like John Forbes have been able to do is my ultimate goal. Attending a
college like Carnegie Mellon will allow me to learn from the best the world has to offer, it will
allow me access to the brightest peers I could ask for. Having enterprising peers at Carnegie
will also be helpful as it gives me the perfect opportunity to enterprise amongst the best.
Harvard
Your intellectual life may extend beyond the academic requirements of your particular school.
Please use the space below to list additional intellectual activities that you have not mentioned
or detailed elsewhere in your application. These could include, but are not limited to,
supervised or self-directed projects not done as school work, training experiences, online
courses not run by your school, or summer academic or research programs not described
elsewhere. (150)
I built an E-Commerce website for my mother’s small business under the guidance of sources
such as YouTube and Khan Academy. Subsequently, I was given the opportunity to make a
website for Project Prakash, an organization whose mission I believe in. Helping underprivileged
near-blind children recover their sight and have prospective lives ahead. I also designed and led a
program for HCL Foundation which was based on helping the underprivileged students (7 th, 8th
Grade students) in Karnataka during the pandemic. The program entailed me creating worksheets
and tutoring these children as the schools weren’t capable of doing do themselves at the time.
Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences.* (150)
Since I was 7 years old, when without preparation, I performed a song in front of a crowd with
more than 100 people. It was majorly luck as I went up to the stage where the band had been
performing one of the songs I had learned in my vocal lessons. Later on, I also performed at
Harvard during its talent show conducted for their students but I was given an exception.
Subsequently, I performed at MIT the next week, due to an audience member liking my
performance and giving me the opportunity to perform there as well. Primarily as a hobby, I
had started to make my own music as well. My first project was making a song explaining
EdJustice Organization’s ( helping underprivileged students in Bihar) Mission in a song. I aim
to put out my own album soon. I’ve taught myself how to play the piano as well as guitar. I’ve
also taught music to a group of underprivileged children in rural Bihar.
What specific plan do you have, if any, for using the education you hope to receive? (50)
Through learning computer science at Harvard I wish to carry forward my passion for
affecting social change and helping the greater good. I wish to help my country in social
endeavors such as climate change, unemployment, and future problems that are yet to be
conceived.
NYU
We would like to know more about your interest in NYU. What motivated you to apply to NYU?
Why have you applied or expressed interest in a particular campus, school, college, program,
and or area of study? If you have applied to more than one, please also tell us why you are
interested in these additional areas of study or campuses. We want to understand - Why NYU?
(400 word maximum) *
NYU
We would like to know more about your interest in NYU. What motivated you to apply to NYU?
Why have you applied or expressed interest in a particular campus, school, college, program,
and or area of study? If you have applied to more than one, please also tell us why you are
interested in these additional areas of study or campuses. We want to understand - Why NYU?
(400 word maximum) *
From the Gallatin School of Individual study to the location of NYU. There are innumerable
reasons why I wish to pursue my studies at NYU. The school provides the best faculty of
business and enterprising peers which ultimately help me enterprise later on. The location of the
school serves a purpose like no other, being at the heart of New York City and the hub of finance
for the world NYU will accelerate my career like no other. Ultimately, I wish to pursue my
passion for tech entrepreneurship and help create long-lasting social impact and NYU will
provide me with the ingredients to do so.
My first encounter with the city of new york and the opportunities it held came when I visited
back in 2015, during my father’s degree at Harvard. Soon, I found out about NYU and the
importance it plays on the Financial sector. With the highest number of international students, I
find NYU to be a new worldview. I want to see the perspectives other students bring at NYU
and open my horizons in terms of thinking. I am interested in the BS in Business, Technology,
and Entrepreneurship, as well as BS in Buisness. Both of the programs respectively give me the
best education and insight in the form of clinical professors. I am intrigued by the insights the
leading people in finance bring to the table. The internships that the Office of Career
Development provides will be beneficial to me as I prefer experiential learning over any other
form of education.
Located at the center of the financial capital of the world, NYU will give me access to
opportunities that will allow me to advance my career. Also being able to see people working in
different areas will give me more insight into what I want to do later on in life. When I visited
the campus back in 2015 I was amazed by the location of the campus and I liked it very much.
Finally tying it all together, my end goal is being able to pursue my passion of tech
entrepreneurship and attending NYU will allow me to do so. I wish to create social impact
through my education at NYU not just helping me gain an education for myself but for my
country as well. There are persistent problems in India such as unemployment, climate change
and etc, which need to be addressed. Education at NYU will allow me to become capable to do
exactly that.