Blog posts on college admissions by Arjun Seth
Getting into the right high-school can improve your chances of getting financial aid from a college of your choice.
I met with a rising high school junior in New Delhi earlier today. He had been admitted to United World College, Pune but his parents weren't sure and didn't confirm with the school. The kid seemed perfect for UWC with a great academic record and all-around extra-curricular interests. The family is looking for financial-aid when he applies to colleges for Fall 2014 admissions and it made sense to be in a good 'Davis Scholar' partner school like UWC, Pune. I persuaded the family to re-consider their decision and hope they take the right call.
To learn more about UWC and the Davis UWC Scholars program see the following links: www.davisuwcscholars.org/ and www.uwcmahindracollege.org
Volunteer with Kid Powered Media
Kids helping kids. How awesome is that?
Kid Powered Media is a not for profit organization that helps disadvantaged kids help themselves by teaching them to write, produce and act in socially-relevant, educational films.
If you have experience in film, the creative arts, social work and education we offer a dynamic and rewarding experience, whether teaching our staff how to become better videographers, working with children through our Kid Powered Classes, helping a group of youth act in front of the camera or a variety of other opportunities.
Contact.
By telephone
+91 9717101629
or by email
UChicago has released their 2013 supplement essay prompts. Have fun.
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“A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies.” –Oscar Wilde.
Othello and Iago. Dorothy and the Wicked Witch. Autobots and Decepticons. History and art are full of heroes and their enemies. Tell us about the relationship between you and your arch-nemesis (either real or imagined).
Inspired by Martin Krzywy, admitted student Class of 2016.
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Heisenberg claims that you cannot know both the position and momentum of an electron with total certainty. Choose two other concepts that cannot be known simultaneously and discuss the implications. (Do not consider yourself limited to the field of Physics).
Inspired by Doran Bennett, AB’07.
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Susan Sontag, AB’51, wrote that “Silence remains, inescapably, a form of speech.” Write about an issue or a situation when you remained silent, and explain how silence may speak in ways that you did or did not intend. The Aesthetics of Silence, 1967.
Anonymous submission.
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“...I [was] eager to escape backward again, to be off to invent a past for the present." –The Rose Rabbi by Daniel Stern
Present: pres·ent
1. Something that is offered, presented, or given as a gift.
Let’s stick with this definition. Unusual presents, accidental presents, metaphorical presents, re-gifted presents, etc. — pick any present you have ever received and invent a past for it.
Inspired by Jennifer Qin, AB’16
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In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, pose a question of your own. If your prompt is original and thoughtful, then you should have little trouble writing a great essay. Draw on your best qualities as a writer, thinker, visionary, social critic, sage, citizen of the world, or future citizen of the University of Chicago; take a little risk, and have fun.
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So where is Waldo, really?
Inspired by Robin Ye, AB’16.
Volunteer with Center for Civil Society
The Centre for Civil Society is an independent, non-profit, research and educational organisation devoted to improving the quality of life for all citizens of India by reviving and reinvigorating civil society.
Volunteering at CCS varies from promoting youth programs, advocacy of CCS campaigns, media interaction, event management, visits to educational institutions and campuses for presentations, conducting telephone interviews, word processing, file management, updating database information.
Fill in the CCS Volunteer Application Form and send it to volunteer@ccs.in
ALL GRAPHIC DESIGNERS & STUDENTS: Your chance to design the logo for a historic Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs..
ALL GRAPHIC DESIGNERS & STUDENTS: Your chance to design the logo for a historic Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs... And be recognized in 8 countries and the Commonwealth Secretariat (DEADLINE - 13 June 2012. Send your entries to caayecontest@gmail.com
1. This contest is only open to individual (not company, groups, associations, etc)
2. Entrance for this contest is FREE
3. Multiple submissions per participant is allowed.
4. Each submission must contain 1 logo & 1 tagline.
5. Winner of this contest must agree to take on the contract valued at $200 to develop CAAYE
corporate branding package(design of name cards, presentation template, letterhead and other
required materials in corporate branding). The payment will be released upon satisfactory
completion of task.
6. All submission to be in JPEG format. If you are selected as winner, we will request that you release
the original format
7. Participants need to submit the design and tagline via email to caayecontest@gmail.com with the
participant full name, email, contact no, country, age
8. Logo and tagline must reflect the Commonwealth Asia Alliance of Young Entrepreneur (CAAYE) spirit:
• Young entrepreneurs aged 18-40
• Multicultural entrepreneurs from 8 Commonwealth Countries (India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh,
Maldives, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia)
• Comprising of reps from various youth organisations
• Working together to promote youth entrepreneurship
• Represent an amalgam of some of the following characteristics : Collaboration ; Youth ; Spirit of
Enterprise ; Dynamism; Success despite constraints ; Forward looking ; Inspiration ; Creators;
Mentorship ; Change Agents ; Collaborative Teams ; Force Multipliers ; No boundaries in thought ;
Freedom ; New Age Innovation
9. All submission must be received by 12noon (Malaysia time GMT + 8), Wed 13 June 2012.
10. All decisions are final. No appeal will be entertained
for information on Alliance see www.caaye.com
Preview versions of the CommonApp 2012-13 are now available
Preview versions of the 2012-13 First-Year and Transfer Applications are now available. Each form highlights differences from the previous year applications. The 2012-13 Common App Online will launch on August 1. Until then, please use these .pdf versions to familiarize yourself with the applications.
Shantanu Garg, CMC- Personal Statement
Shantanu fittingly wrote about the political, philosophical, and economical aspects of a major problem. He also wrote about his long-term goals and how he would achieve them. Interestingly, he mentioned some eminent professors of the college and the way their work would help him. Shantanu wrote about two extremely interesting internships and their effects on him.
Shantanu Garg, Claremont McKenna College
Personal Statement, 1-2 pages on what you hope to gain from the PPE program and what you will bring to the PPE program.
As my car painfully crawled through the mayhem that is Delhi traffic, an adage transcribed on a gas station board caught my attention. “In the world we hear about a lot of ‘great’ men”, it said,” but only a few ‘good’ men.” While I pondered the profoundness of the quote, an emaciated mother knocked on my window, pleading for money to feed her starving baby.Normally the pragmatic economist in me would induce me to callously ignore this pathetic human state that was completely undeserved. He would argue that even if I wanted to be altruistic, I could gain more utility by donating the money to a more effective charity.But at that moment a question, invoked by the adage, prodded my conscience. What would a good man do? What would Kant, Gandhi, or Muhammad Yunus -- good men who I look up to –do in my position?The answer was not obvious.On further reflection, I realized that this impasse did not reflect shortcomings on behalf of Kant’s, Gandhi’s or Yunus’ ideology, but it stemmed from my narrow application of their philosophies.Just like the six blind men who, feeling different parts of an elephant, fail miserably to agree upon the description of its exterior, I could not hope to overcome my moral blindness by assuming the role of only a philosopher or a politician or an economist.I had to see the whole picture.In order to achieve an all-encompassing perspective, I had to integrate philosophy, politics and economics into one.By doing PPE I hope to achieve that holistic lens that will make me see the whole elephant clearly.Empowered and enlightened with this clear vision I hope to see the world as a beautiful impressionist painting in its entirety, rather than individual clusters of haphazard brush strokes.
This summer I learnt two important things about myself from my two internships at E&Y and UNDP. Firstly I learnt that I do not like being one dimensional. At E&Y I worked with the Risk Advisory Services with a specific client; a job which was definitely an enriching experience, but ultimately became mundane and overbearing. At UNDP I had to establish inter-linkages between their various projects on governance, convergence, climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity. Here I observed first-hand the philosophical and economic thinking that goes behind the enactment of a social service project, and the ultimate political will that is required for its successful implementation. Apart from being intellectually stimulating, the multifaceted nature of this internship excited me. At UNDP I learnt why I wanted to do PPE. Secondly this summer I got a direction towards my life goal. As Mahatma Gandhi said “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”, I learnt that I want to be one of the “few good men.”I do not seek fame or power or money, instead I strive to conscientiously do the right thing. A good man’s conscience always compels him to serve his society. It is this conscience of mine that feels slighted when I see a poor mother deprived of the basic right to provide for her baby, while I sit in an air-conditioned car merely three feet away. Such stark inequalities of life are wrong and unjust.
Gandhi’s words, “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” echo in my mind. To pacify my wounded conscience,I pursue change in the society that forms an intimate part of my identity. I seek to fundamentally change Indian society. I want to make a difference at the grass-roots level – perhapsas a politician, maybe as a social worker or even as a government servant. Each role, however, undeniably relies upon philosophy, politics, and economics. To effect change I know I need to be well-rounded,to hold a firm set of socially-enriching convictions, and to possess a robust analytical skill set that a program like PPE can develop in me. It is a skill set that will make me a logical thinker, a convincing writer, an eloquent speaker, a critical reader and an ardent listener; a skill set that is essential to the pursuit of excellence in any profession – but mine especially.Even the thought of being involved in perpetual discussion with a class of keen studentsabout the world’s most ingenious texts, guided by professors who are experts in their fields, truly fascinates me. Ultimately the idea that over 3 years I could be discussing the political implications of “Development as Freedom” with Professor Hurley, understanding the ethical dimension to the problem of growing population with Professor Elliot after reading “Population and Development”, and using AmartyaSen to defend Galbraith'sviews in “The Affluent Society” while in a tutorial with Professor Blomberg, captivates my intellectual appetite.
To best illustrate my life perspective, I will draw from the ethos of India which has shaped the person I am today. Mahatma Gandhi once famously stated that, “The soul of India lives in its villages.” I have spent almost my entire childhood in a pastoral or semi-urban setting. My father’s job profile as an Indian Administrative Officer (I.A.S) has acquainted me with the real India, the India of villages; the one that is scantily advertised but forms the crux of a billion-person nation. My father’s postings have taken me to some economically backward and underdeveloped districts; districts where the Human Development Index (HDI) for Education, Health and Income was as low as 0.5. These were places where basic necessities such as competent drainage systems, constant flow of electricity,and clean streets were not longed for – they were unheard of. My life has exposed me to the everyday adversities a common Indian has to overcome in order to survive an unyielding and chaotic system which the elite take for granted. It has also shown me the resolve, resilience and faith of the poorest people; people who have reached the zenith of spirituality. Furthermore, I have been allowed to assess the intricacies of a bureaucratic institution fraught with sycophants, under the table dealings and red tapism. I have had a personal glimpse into Indian politics where democracy works because it has very harmoniously adapted to the undemocratic rigid social structures of the past; a system where people go to the polling booths not to cast their vote but to vote their caste. To further enhance my knowledge and broaden my viewpoint, this winter I will be living in a village which has become the epitome of sustainable development in India. HereI will be working with the renowned social activist Anna Hazare who spearheads the anti-corruption movement in India.
I think that through my journey from a school where one had to sit on the groundto one of the most elite schools in India I have had the opportunity to observe each strata of the Indian society which has honed my insight into human nature and made me perceptive. I have learned to adapt, to value and to appreciate life. I am sure that my experiences will provide a very distinctive voice in the PPE class; a voice for the real India which is rarely heard.I am an Indian who cherishes an ancient golden past, who also acknowledges the discrepancies and shortcoming of the present, but ultimately one who realizes the limitless potential that India holds to contribute to the world in the future. I can relate to ethical philosophies and their impact on society, the divide between political theory and political practice, and the need for sound economic policy because I have lived it. I have experienced first-hand the need for a PPE education. If given an opportunity to study PPE, I would be the balanced voice of reason that would provide the dimension of service and economic development to the lively debates. I would diligently work towards forming agenuine opinion after respectfully taking into consideration all aspects of the argument, including my own pre-formed beliefs. But once formed unless challenged by reason, I would vigorously argue till the end. Through PPE I will slowly form a balanced and reasonable set of convictions, which I will then defend with complete honesty using the skill set that PPE inculcates in me. Ultimately I intend to use PPE as a tool to reach conclusions regarding certain questions in life. Philosophical question like what do good men do? Political and economic questions like how do good men do it? Questions that will define the kind of good man I want to be.
.
Shantanu Garg, Claremont McKenna College
Personal Statement, 1-2 pages on what you hope to gain from the PPE program and what you will bring to the PPE program.
As my car painfully crawled through the mayhem that is Delhi traffic, an adage transcribed on a gas station board caught my attention. “In the world we hear about a lot of ‘great’ men”, it said,” but only a few ‘good’ men.” While I pondered the profoundness of the quote, an emaciated mother knocked on my window, pleading for money to feed her starving baby.Normally the pragmatic economist in me would induce me to callously ignore this pathetic human state that was completely undeserved. He would argue that even if I wanted to be altruistic, I could gain more utility by donating the money to a more effective charity.But at that moment a question, invoked by the adage, prodded my conscience. What would a good man do? What would Kant, Gandhi, or Muhammad Yunus -- good men who I look up to –do in my position?The answer was not obvious.On further reflection, I realized that this impasse did not reflect shortcomings on behalf of Kant’s, Gandhi’s or Yunus’ ideology, but it stemmed from my narrow application of their philosophies.Just like the six blind men who, feeling different parts of an elephant, fail miserably to agree upon the description of its exterior, I could not hope to overcome my moral blindness by assuming the role of only a philosopher or a politician or an economist.I had to see the whole picture.In order to achieve an all-encompassing perspective, I had to integrate philosophy, politics and economics into one.By doing PPE I hope to achieve that holistic lens that will make me see the whole elephant clearly.Empowered and enlightened with this clear vision I hope to see the world as a beautiful impressionist painting in its entirety, rather than individual clusters of haphazard brush strokes.
This summer I learnt two important things about myself from my two internships at E&Y and UNDP. Firstly I learnt that I do not like being one dimensional. At E&Y I worked with the Risk Advisory Services with a specific client; a job which was definitely an enriching experience, but ultimately became mundane and overbearing. At UNDP I had to establish inter-linkages between their various projects on governance, convergence, climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity. Here I observed first-hand the philosophical and economic thinking that goes behind the enactment of a social service project, and the ultimate political will that is required for its successful implementation. Apart from being intellectually stimulating, the multifaceted nature of this internship excited me. At UNDP I learnt why I wanted to do PPE. Secondly this summer I got a direction towards my life goal. As Mahatma Gandhi said “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”, I learnt that I want to be one of the “few good men.”I do not seek fame or power or money, instead I strive to conscientiously do the right thing. A good man’s conscience always compels him to serve his society. It is this conscience of mine that feels slighted when I see a poor mother deprived of the basic right to provide for her baby, while I sit in an air-conditioned car merely three feet away. Such stark inequalities of life are wrong and unjust.
Gandhi’s words, “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” echo in my mind. To pacify my wounded conscience,I pursue change in the society that forms an intimate part of my identity. I seek to fundamentally change Indian society. I want to make a difference at the grass-roots level – perhapsas a politician, maybe as a social worker or even as a government servant. Each role, however, undeniably relies upon philosophy, politics, and economics. To effect change I know I need to be well-rounded,to hold a firm set of socially-enriching convictions, and to possess a robust analytical skill set that a program like PPE can develop in me. It is a skill set that will make me a logical thinker, a convincing writer, an eloquent speaker, a critical reader and an ardent listener; a skill set that is essential to the pursuit of excellence in any profession – but mine especially.Even the thought of being involved in perpetual discussion with a class of keen studentsabout the world’s most ingenious texts, guided by professors who are experts in their fields, truly fascinates me. Ultimately the idea that over 3 years I could be discussing the political implications of “Development as Freedom” with Professor Hurley, understanding the ethical dimension to the problem of growing population with Professor Elliot after reading “Population and Development”, and using AmartyaSen to defend Galbraith'sviews in “The Affluent Society” while in a tutorial with Professor Blomberg, captivates my intellectual appetite.
To best illustrate my life perspective, I will draw from the ethos of India which has shaped the person I am today. Mahatma Gandhi once famously stated that, “The soul of India lives in its villages.” I have spent almost my entire childhood in a pastoral or semi-urban setting. My father’s job profile as an Indian Administrative Officer (I.A.S) has acquainted me with the real India, the India of villages; the one that is scantily advertised but forms the crux of a billion-person nation. My father’s postings have taken me to some economically backward and underdeveloped districts; districts where the Human Development Index (HDI) for Education, Health and Income was as low as 0.5. These were places where basic necessities such as competent drainage systems, constant flow of electricity,and clean streets were not longed for – they were unheard of. My life has exposed me to the everyday adversities a common Indian has to overcome in order to survive an unyielding and chaotic system which the elite take for granted. It has also shown me the resolve, resilience and faith of the poorest people; people who have reached the zenith of spirituality. Furthermore, I have been allowed to assess the intricacies of a bureaucratic institution fraught with sycophants, under the table dealings and red tapism. I have had a personal glimpse into Indian politics where democracy works because it has very harmoniously adapted to the undemocratic rigid social structures of the past; a system where people go to the polling booths not to cast their vote but to vote their caste. To further enhance my knowledge and broaden my viewpoint, this winter I will be living in a village which has become the epitome of sustainable development in India. HereI will be working with the renowned social activist Anna Hazare who spearheads the anti-corruption movement in India.
I think that through my journey from a school where one had to sit on the groundto one of the most elite schools in India I have had the opportunity to observe each strata of the Indian society which has honed my insight into human nature and made me perceptive. I have learned to adapt, to value and to appreciate life. I am sure that my experiences will provide a very distinctive voice in the PPE class; a voice for the real India which is rarely heard.I am an Indian who cherishes an ancient golden past, who also acknowledges the discrepancies and shortcoming of the present, but ultimately one who realizes the limitless potential that India holds to contribute to the world in the future. I can relate to ethical philosophies and their impact on society, the divide between political theory and political practice, and the need for sound economic policy because I have lived it. I have experienced first-hand the need for a PPE education. If given an opportunity to study PPE, I would be the balanced voice of reason that would provide the dimension of service and economic development to the lively debates. I would diligently work towards forming agenuine opinion after respectfully taking into consideration all aspects of the argument, including my own pre-formed beliefs. But once formed unless challenged by reason, I would vigorously argue till the end. Through PPE I will slowly form a balanced and reasonable set of convictions, which I will then defend with complete honesty using the skill set that PPE inculcates in me. Ultimately I intend to use PPE as a tool to reach conclusions regarding certain questions in life. Philosophical question like what do good men do? Political and economic questions like how do good men do it? Questions that will define the kind of good man I want to be.
.
Shantanu Garg, CMC, on an ethical dilemma
Shantanu wrote this essay about a significant event or ethical dilemma. Through this essay, he has written upon an extremely painful and touching incident. The way he dealt with the situation shows how unwavering he is about his integrity. He did the right thing in the face of adversity and stood by his beliefs- even though he broke tradition.
Shantanu Garg, Claremont McKenna College
My Longest Night
I feel lost. The alien ambience makes me feel uneasy. My housemates and I have shifted into our renovated hostel. I have recently acquired my Prefect’s Study; a perquisite of my position, a single room meant for my own moments of peace. But as I enter my private haven I don’t feel exuberant. Instead I feel lonely and completely detached. The barren walls, the austere looking iron bed and the despondent street light coming through the curtain-less window perturbs me, much like the mental turmoil churning my insides. The fact that my Headmaster, a stern, but just disciplinarian has recently questioned my integrity as a prefect because of recent events, threatens my sense of self. He has humiliated me, has made me feel inadequate and worse has aroused self-doubts about my actions as a prefect. I feel completely lost.
It all started with a minor complaint. One of my seniors, about to graduate from school, was chatting with some juniors who casually mentioned their distress at getting bullied by a classmate of mine. Though the senior felt that the matter was serious and required my utmost attention, I thought otherwise. After 4 years of being in the same dormitory, I thought of this classmate in question as an amiable and upright man, a favorite amongst the juniors. What surprised me more was that such serious accusations were not made directly to a competent authority but to a graduating student, which in my eyes just undermined the gravity of the accusation. So, initially I passed it off as a common rumor that crops up from time to time. However on my senior’s insistence I felt duty bound to investigate the matter further.
On further scrutiny, I realized how my classmate had been sadistically exploiting the juniors. These revelations appalled the whole school community. What he had been doing covertly for months, amounted to sexual harassment. He had also used my name, to intimidate the juniors and prevent them from revealing his atrocious behavior. He had indirectly made me an accomplice. His behavior just strengthened my conviction to take the extreme step that would end his career at school. I reported him to the school authorities.
Now to understand the implication of this step, one does not have to venture deep into the psyche of an average Doon school student. The first thing you learn, when you enter the gates of Chandbagh, is how to keep your mouth shut; how to never report or ‘sneak’. The principles of sacrifice, sharing, and unity among students are imbibed into your head as a boarding school survival technique as serious as the other traditions of this historical school. Though I do agree that this sounds astonishing, this aspect forms an integral part of being a ‘Dosco’ and makes the experience special.
So what may seem as an obvious step taken by me against the student, created much furor amongst the student community, especially our seniors and ex students, even though his acts were unpardonable. I was an outlaw, responsible for breaking the sanctimonious law of sneaking. Though I was supported by a few, cracks of self doubts started appearing in my conviction. My headmaster’s accusation and label of an incompetent prefect, only made me feel more ostracized. I seemed to be in the wrong for everyone, except the people who mattered most, the victims of the abuse.
The morning bell relieves me from my disturbed thoughts. The room now feels welcoming. The barren wall looks enchantingly white and the bleak streetlight has given way to the heartwarming glow of the sun. The refreshing smell of a spring morning, just adds to the overall aura of serenity. I lie absorbed in this moment of peace, reluctant to leave the comfort of my bed. The feeling of being lost, though subdued, still lingers.
There is a knock at my door. It is a junior who was a victim. I remember a time, when his casual gait exuded confidence and when his jovial nature cheered up any dead soul. But now, his confidence missing and his laughter lost, he himself looks like a wreck, pale and lifeless. He just reminds me of an ordeal far more disturbing than mine.
“Shantanu get up! The Junior Squad is ready” he says. I am surprised. There is something in his voice that I had not expected, something that had been missing before. His voice carries conviction; a belief that everything will be redressed. Something that now reminds me of what I have to do. Ten minutes later, I walk briskly along the main field, ready to lead my juniors for the P.T competition.
Shantanu Garg, Claremont McKenna College
My Longest Night
I feel lost. The alien ambience makes me feel uneasy. My housemates and I have shifted into our renovated hostel. I have recently acquired my Prefect’s Study; a perquisite of my position, a single room meant for my own moments of peace. But as I enter my private haven I don’t feel exuberant. Instead I feel lonely and completely detached. The barren walls, the austere looking iron bed and the despondent street light coming through the curtain-less window perturbs me, much like the mental turmoil churning my insides. The fact that my Headmaster, a stern, but just disciplinarian has recently questioned my integrity as a prefect because of recent events, threatens my sense of self. He has humiliated me, has made me feel inadequate and worse has aroused self-doubts about my actions as a prefect. I feel completely lost.
It all started with a minor complaint. One of my seniors, about to graduate from school, was chatting with some juniors who casually mentioned their distress at getting bullied by a classmate of mine. Though the senior felt that the matter was serious and required my utmost attention, I thought otherwise. After 4 years of being in the same dormitory, I thought of this classmate in question as an amiable and upright man, a favorite amongst the juniors. What surprised me more was that such serious accusations were not made directly to a competent authority but to a graduating student, which in my eyes just undermined the gravity of the accusation. So, initially I passed it off as a common rumor that crops up from time to time. However on my senior’s insistence I felt duty bound to investigate the matter further.
On further scrutiny, I realized how my classmate had been sadistically exploiting the juniors. These revelations appalled the whole school community. What he had been doing covertly for months, amounted to sexual harassment. He had also used my name, to intimidate the juniors and prevent them from revealing his atrocious behavior. He had indirectly made me an accomplice. His behavior just strengthened my conviction to take the extreme step that would end his career at school. I reported him to the school authorities.
Now to understand the implication of this step, one does not have to venture deep into the psyche of an average Doon school student. The first thing you learn, when you enter the gates of Chandbagh, is how to keep your mouth shut; how to never report or ‘sneak’. The principles of sacrifice, sharing, and unity among students are imbibed into your head as a boarding school survival technique as serious as the other traditions of this historical school. Though I do agree that this sounds astonishing, this aspect forms an integral part of being a ‘Dosco’ and makes the experience special.
So what may seem as an obvious step taken by me against the student, created much furor amongst the student community, especially our seniors and ex students, even though his acts were unpardonable. I was an outlaw, responsible for breaking the sanctimonious law of sneaking. Though I was supported by a few, cracks of self doubts started appearing in my conviction. My headmaster’s accusation and label of an incompetent prefect, only made me feel more ostracized. I seemed to be in the wrong for everyone, except the people who mattered most, the victims of the abuse.
The morning bell relieves me from my disturbed thoughts. The room now feels welcoming. The barren wall looks enchantingly white and the bleak streetlight has given way to the heartwarming glow of the sun. The refreshing smell of a spring morning, just adds to the overall aura of serenity. I lie absorbed in this moment of peace, reluctant to leave the comfort of my bed. The feeling of being lost, though subdued, still lingers.
There is a knock at my door. It is a junior who was a victim. I remember a time, when his casual gait exuded confidence and when his jovial nature cheered up any dead soul. But now, his confidence missing and his laughter lost, he himself looks like a wreck, pale and lifeless. He just reminds me of an ordeal far more disturbing than mine.
“Shantanu get up! The Junior Squad is ready” he says. I am surprised. There is something in his voice that I had not expected, something that had been missing before. His voice carries conviction; a belief that everything will be redressed. Something that now reminds me of what I have to do. Ten minutes later, I walk briskly along the main field, ready to lead my juniors for the P.T competition.
Shantanu Garg, CMC: an essay on a leader he admires
Shantanu chose somebody who has largely been ignored by popular culture but has had a massive influence on the way the world works. Through this essay, he has shown that he greatly respects and hopes to embody the qualities of Ashoka, who was a brilliant statesman, humanitarian, reformer, secularist, philosopher, and much more. The fact that Shantanu has chosen to highlight the aspects of Ashoka’s personality in great detail speaks well for his personality: he’s sure to be a brilliant and sensitive leader.
Shantanu Garg, Claremont McKenna College
Please enter your analytical essay on the essay page provided. There is no minimum or maximum length requirement, but the Admission Committee expects a thoughtful and analytical response to the following: Leadership is a constant theme and emphasis at CMC. In fact, one of the ways we describe CMC students is “Leaders in the Making.” Identify and discuss a person, fictional or nonfictional, who has helped shape culture and thought. You may select someone from any field: literature, the arts, science, politics, history, athletics, business, education, etc.
"This world and the other are hard to gain without great love of righteousness, great self- examination, great obedience, great circumspection, great effort .... For this is my rule, to govern by righteousness, to administer by righteousness, to please my subjects by righteousness, and to protect them by righteousness." First pillar edict of Ashoka To simply put, if there is one period in history, I want to witness or one historical figure whose personality traits I want to inculcate, then it has to be that of Ashoka’s (who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from 269 BC to 232 BC). In my books Ashoka has always been the quintessential leader; an inspiring visionary who had the courage to lead by example and to vigorously pursue his dreams with righteousness and compassion for even the most subjugated beings. But what has always astounded me and in my eyes has truly elevated him to the podium of greatness, as noted by Princep and Balsham (two historians), is his surprising humility and blatantly simple philosophy of life. At a time when kings claimed to be autocratic god like creatures, who ravished kingdoms and accumulated wealth, here was an extraordinary monarch who patiently worked for the welfare of his people and publicly confessed to his mistakes. No wonder that even after 2000 years, when the ‘exalted majesties’ cease to exist, the powerful presence of an emperor monk still seems to reverberate through his edicts. Ashoka, who was able to combine in himself the complexity of a king and the simplicity of a Buddhist monk, has had a most profound impact on human thought and culture. Since childhood, Ashoka was an adroit warrior with an exemplary intellect, a favorite of his grandfather’s; Chandragupta Maurya. Developing into a merciless general and an astute statesman, his rise to power was relentless. He even earned the title of ‘Chanda Ashok’ (heartless or cruel Ashok) when he killed his own brothers to inherit the throne. Soon the pitiless warrior started invading other kingdoms. But just as he reached the pinnacle of his glory as a conqueror, the destructive Kalinga war made Ashoka realize the vanity of warfare and made him embrace the philosophy of ahimsa (non violence). According to legend it was his inability to give life to a dead child that invoked compassion in the warrior king and transformed him into history’s most enlightened ruler. He started a new campaign to win the fight for goodness, kindness, tolerance and gentle living. He was now called ‘Dhamma-Ashok’, the righteous Ashoka, as he started laying the foundation of a welfare state. Ashoka’s vision was pioneering. He wanted to build an egalitarian society on the foundation of righteousness. He expected his people to live by the rules of virtue and understand moral behavior, so that they could enjoy the blessings of ‘non-injury, self control, equable conduct and gentleness’. These principles he called Dhamma – the laws of good conduct and moral living drawing inspiration from Buddhism. But like many others he wasn’t just an otherworldly dreamer, but every inch a philanthropist pragmatic administrator who was able to organize an efficient and humane government unmatched in history. Instead of conquering other smaller kingdoms, Ashoka made them respected allies. He also reformed the judicial system making it just and giving amnesty wherever possible He created the world’s first large class of civil servants, built India’s Grand Trunk Road, established work and land settlement programs among other things. Furthermore he rubbished the notion of divine kingship and sought to seek the approval of the Buddhist Sangh (council) thus introducing accountability for his actions and establishing a reign where welfare was given utmost priority. A man who recognized the sanctity of life, Ashoka sought welfare for even the most deprived. A staunch advocate of vegetarianism, he banned poaching, established protected forest areas and planted trees. In an act of enlightened governance – unmatched by modern states- Ashoka provided free health care not only to his subjects but also to animals. Furthermore he provided his weak neighbors with humanitarian help including doctors, engineers, hospitals and medicinal herbs, an altruistic foreign policy atypical of that time. Ashoka also led by example. Propagating vegetarian he banned the killing of animals in his own palace. Now instead of hunting or pleasure trips, he went on religious tours, visiting various parts of the empire to spread the words of Dhamma among his people. His astuteness as a leader is substantiated by his rock edicts which are the first written documents that have survived from ancient India to elucidate his thought process. Ashoka’s impact on world religion is also marked. Buddhism became widespread under his reign. It was Ashoka who through his magnanimous acts made sure that the sound of Dhamma would never die down. Ashoka’s edicts testify the pains that the great king took to spread the ‘Gift of Dhamma’. He sent monks, including his own children all over the world to spread Buddhism. Soon the Buddhist King was propelled to a position only second to Buddha, in the hierarchy of Buddhism. However what stands out is the tolerance Ashoka displayed towards other religions, a thinking so advanced of his time. He appointed ‘Dhamma Mahamantras’ to instill Dhamma as a positive moral force, unbiased in its outlook and approach, which ensured harmony among all religions. Ashoka, in spite of being a Buddhist king, never made Buddhism his state religion. These acts establish him as a staunch secularist and mark a golden era where no civil mutiny or religious discord was ever recorded. But perhaps the most enduring and relevant aspect of his legacy that inspires me is his idealism. Ashoka had a choice. A choice between what was easy and what was right. And by choosing what was right Ashoka has shown that not only can a state be defended, but it can also thrive through a legacy of peace, tolerance and ahimsa (non-violence). This legacy was later replicated by the likes of Gandhi and Martin Luther King. Two thousand years ago Ashoka was able to transform from a bloodthirsty warrior to an enlightened teacher. A man who put down the sword after winning the battle, Ashoka’s greatness lies in the fact that he made the most difficult conquest of all- conquest of the self. Something that made him advanced not only in his time, but in all times.
Shantanu Garg, Claremont McKenna College
Please enter your analytical essay on the essay page provided. There is no minimum or maximum length requirement, but the Admission Committee expects a thoughtful and analytical response to the following: Leadership is a constant theme and emphasis at CMC. In fact, one of the ways we describe CMC students is “Leaders in the Making.” Identify and discuss a person, fictional or nonfictional, who has helped shape culture and thought. You may select someone from any field: literature, the arts, science, politics, history, athletics, business, education, etc.
"This world and the other are hard to gain without great love of righteousness, great self- examination, great obedience, great circumspection, great effort .... For this is my rule, to govern by righteousness, to administer by righteousness, to please my subjects by righteousness, and to protect them by righteousness." First pillar edict of Ashoka To simply put, if there is one period in history, I want to witness or one historical figure whose personality traits I want to inculcate, then it has to be that of Ashoka’s (who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from 269 BC to 232 BC). In my books Ashoka has always been the quintessential leader; an inspiring visionary who had the courage to lead by example and to vigorously pursue his dreams with righteousness and compassion for even the most subjugated beings. But what has always astounded me and in my eyes has truly elevated him to the podium of greatness, as noted by Princep and Balsham (two historians), is his surprising humility and blatantly simple philosophy of life. At a time when kings claimed to be autocratic god like creatures, who ravished kingdoms and accumulated wealth, here was an extraordinary monarch who patiently worked for the welfare of his people and publicly confessed to his mistakes. No wonder that even after 2000 years, when the ‘exalted majesties’ cease to exist, the powerful presence of an emperor monk still seems to reverberate through his edicts. Ashoka, who was able to combine in himself the complexity of a king and the simplicity of a Buddhist monk, has had a most profound impact on human thought and culture. Since childhood, Ashoka was an adroit warrior with an exemplary intellect, a favorite of his grandfather’s; Chandragupta Maurya. Developing into a merciless general and an astute statesman, his rise to power was relentless. He even earned the title of ‘Chanda Ashok’ (heartless or cruel Ashok) when he killed his own brothers to inherit the throne. Soon the pitiless warrior started invading other kingdoms. But just as he reached the pinnacle of his glory as a conqueror, the destructive Kalinga war made Ashoka realize the vanity of warfare and made him embrace the philosophy of ahimsa (non violence). According to legend it was his inability to give life to a dead child that invoked compassion in the warrior king and transformed him into history’s most enlightened ruler. He started a new campaign to win the fight for goodness, kindness, tolerance and gentle living. He was now called ‘Dhamma-Ashok’, the righteous Ashoka, as he started laying the foundation of a welfare state. Ashoka’s vision was pioneering. He wanted to build an egalitarian society on the foundation of righteousness. He expected his people to live by the rules of virtue and understand moral behavior, so that they could enjoy the blessings of ‘non-injury, self control, equable conduct and gentleness’. These principles he called Dhamma – the laws of good conduct and moral living drawing inspiration from Buddhism. But like many others he wasn’t just an otherworldly dreamer, but every inch a philanthropist pragmatic administrator who was able to organize an efficient and humane government unmatched in history. Instead of conquering other smaller kingdoms, Ashoka made them respected allies. He also reformed the judicial system making it just and giving amnesty wherever possible He created the world’s first large class of civil servants, built India’s Grand Trunk Road, established work and land settlement programs among other things. Furthermore he rubbished the notion of divine kingship and sought to seek the approval of the Buddhist Sangh (council) thus introducing accountability for his actions and establishing a reign where welfare was given utmost priority. A man who recognized the sanctity of life, Ashoka sought welfare for even the most deprived. A staunch advocate of vegetarianism, he banned poaching, established protected forest areas and planted trees. In an act of enlightened governance – unmatched by modern states- Ashoka provided free health care not only to his subjects but also to animals. Furthermore he provided his weak neighbors with humanitarian help including doctors, engineers, hospitals and medicinal herbs, an altruistic foreign policy atypical of that time. Ashoka also led by example. Propagating vegetarian he banned the killing of animals in his own palace. Now instead of hunting or pleasure trips, he went on religious tours, visiting various parts of the empire to spread the words of Dhamma among his people. His astuteness as a leader is substantiated by his rock edicts which are the first written documents that have survived from ancient India to elucidate his thought process. Ashoka’s impact on world religion is also marked. Buddhism became widespread under his reign. It was Ashoka who through his magnanimous acts made sure that the sound of Dhamma would never die down. Ashoka’s edicts testify the pains that the great king took to spread the ‘Gift of Dhamma’. He sent monks, including his own children all over the world to spread Buddhism. Soon the Buddhist King was propelled to a position only second to Buddha, in the hierarchy of Buddhism. However what stands out is the tolerance Ashoka displayed towards other religions, a thinking so advanced of his time. He appointed ‘Dhamma Mahamantras’ to instill Dhamma as a positive moral force, unbiased in its outlook and approach, which ensured harmony among all religions. Ashoka, in spite of being a Buddhist king, never made Buddhism his state religion. These acts establish him as a staunch secularist and mark a golden era where no civil mutiny or religious discord was ever recorded. But perhaps the most enduring and relevant aspect of his legacy that inspires me is his idealism. Ashoka had a choice. A choice between what was easy and what was right. And by choosing what was right Ashoka has shown that not only can a state be defended, but it can also thrive through a legacy of peace, tolerance and ahimsa (non-violence). This legacy was later replicated by the likes of Gandhi and Martin Luther King. Two thousand years ago Ashoka was able to transform from a bloodthirsty warrior to an enlightened teacher. A man who put down the sword after winning the battle, Ashoka’s greatness lies in the fact that he made the most difficult conquest of all- conquest of the self. Something that made him advanced not only in his time, but in all times.
Sidharth Gupta, USC, on his prospective majors
Sidharth used two extremely well-regarded leaders of the fields he wanted to apply to. Thus, he shows both his knowledge of the respective subjects as well as his deep interest in them.
Sidharth Gupta, University of Southern California
Describe your academic interests and how you plan to pursue them at USC. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections.
My first love is music. And my second love is the use of words to create magic. I still remember the day I read 'The Fountainhead' by Ayn Rand. The protagonist, Howard Roark, was a man who never compromised on his ideals in architecture. Through her words, Rand portrayed her character's love for architecture in such a way that it made me fall in love with the buildings that I had only read about. I was fascinated by how simple words on a page invigorated my imagination and left me a changed person. I believe that words have the same effect as music; both can provide companionship and change one's state of mind or entire philosophy. Over time, I started writing about my favourite songs and what they meant to me. It was through music that I developed a fascination for the English language. In the mid-60s, a song-writer bridged the gap between literature and music. Bob Dylan did not sing, he told stories. His lyrics, or poems, as he would much rather call them, were thought provoking. Bob Dylan's words inspired me amongst millions. At times I would sit for hours on end contemplating the meaning of songs such as 'Blowing in the Wind' and 'The Times They Are A-Changing'. Bob Dylan once said, 'A person is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do'. Studying at USC would allow me to pursue my academic interests in an environment that strives on creative energy. I would have the opportunity to explore the two aspects of my life that I am fascinated and obsessed by - creative writing and music.
Sidharth Gupta, University of Southern California
Describe your academic interests and how you plan to pursue them at USC. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections.
My first love is music. And my second love is the use of words to create magic. I still remember the day I read 'The Fountainhead' by Ayn Rand. The protagonist, Howard Roark, was a man who never compromised on his ideals in architecture. Through her words, Rand portrayed her character's love for architecture in such a way that it made me fall in love with the buildings that I had only read about. I was fascinated by how simple words on a page invigorated my imagination and left me a changed person. I believe that words have the same effect as music; both can provide companionship and change one's state of mind or entire philosophy. Over time, I started writing about my favourite songs and what they meant to me. It was through music that I developed a fascination for the English language. In the mid-60s, a song-writer bridged the gap between literature and music. Bob Dylan did not sing, he told stories. His lyrics, or poems, as he would much rather call them, were thought provoking. Bob Dylan's words inspired me amongst millions. At times I would sit for hours on end contemplating the meaning of songs such as 'Blowing in the Wind' and 'The Times They Are A-Changing'. Bob Dylan once said, 'A person is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do'. Studying at USC would allow me to pursue my academic interests in an environment that strives on creative energy. I would have the opportunity to explore the two aspects of my life that I am fascinated and obsessed by - creative writing and music.