Thanks a bunch!! Here it is, hopefully it's not too terrible lol
PROMPT: Describe two or three of your current intellectual interests and why they are exciting to you. Why will Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences be the right environment in which to pursue your interests? 602/650
On days off, I am busy traveling to other worlds. My morning starts with the lapping waves of Homer’s wine-dark sea. At lunch, I picnic in the shady groves of Virgil’s Elysian fields, and in the afternoon, I watch the sun set in Orwell’s eerie dystopia. My desire to explore isn’t limited to literary universes, however. It runs deep into my academic pursuits, from humanities to science. I am drawn to Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences because it offers me the perfect environment to continue these explorations.
The sheer diversity in our world compels me to seek connections. These past four years, I have sought to find the common thread of humanity tying together our complex society. Driven by my passion to understand people, I joined the school newspaper and became fascinated with the field of journalism as I uncovered a new kind of story— not from the pages of a book, but from the people around me. As I continued fervently down this path, researching and sharing stories, insight, and opinions, I discovered my unquenchable desire to learn more about the world around me.
Cornell is just the place for my voracious appetite for knowledge— with 2,400 classes in the College of Arts and Sciences alone, I will never run out of things to learn. I can see myself taking unique, thought-provoking courses like “Anthropology of Money” or “Multicultural Issues in Education”, exploring the ways culture and society play a role in our everyday lives. However, taking classes isn’t enough; I want to have a firsthand look at the workings of anthropology across borders through Cornell’s study abroad program. I am enthralled by the idea of immersing myself in new cultures, and intently curious about the numerous things I will learn along the way. At a school that encourages dialogue and open-mindedness with collaborations like Freedom Interrupted, I know that Cornell will provide me with many eye-opening experiences, regardless of whether I am on campus or oceans away.
My passion for the humanities continues to grow, yet I also hope to go beyond what is encompassed by anthropology and explore other areas of study, like genetics and biology. My interest in science was first roused during spring of freshman year, when I took part in a biology residency program at Penn State University. Amidst the buzz of the centrifuge and the hum of the microscope, I had been absentmindedly running DNA through the process of gel electrophoresis when my interest was suddenly piqued by something the professor mentioned from across the room: epigenetics. As someone who had thought of genes as permanent and unchangeable, the idea that culture and social behavior could affect gene expression was astounding. Further, I was intrigued at the idea that the fields of social and biological sciences could overlap.
At Cornell, I plan to delve deeper into this intersecting area between science and the humanities as I seek to uncover the intricate and ambiguous nature of people both inside the laboratory and out in the real world. Through courses like “Human Evolution: Genes, Behavior, and the Fossil Record”, I will finally have a chance to merge my interests and see the development of human behaviors from multiple perspectives. Better yet, Cornell’s numerous multidisciplinary partnerships will give me an abundance of opportunities to research and work one-on-one with professors and students who share my passions.
With an enthusiastic and engaged community, Cornell is the perfect place for me to venture into the realms of biology and anthropology. In this dynamic environment, I hope to continue my explorations beyond the boundaries of disciplines, cultures, and nations.