Admission Essay on "Academic Preparation the University Seeks to Enroll"

Quoted Instructions for "Academic Preparation the University Seeks to Enroll" Assignment:

All three essays use no more than a total of 1,000 words. Essay one at least 600 words (at most 630 words). Essay two and three limited to about 200 words (195 to 205 words).

Write the personal statement in a natural style. Present the information and ideas a focused, thoughtful and meaningful manner. Support the ideas with specific examples. A personal statement that is simply a list of qualities or accomplishments is not usually persuasive.

Question One: (at least 600 words, at most 630 words)

Focus: Academic Preparation

Rationale: The University seeks to enroll students who take initiative in pursuing their education (for example, developing a special interest in science, language or the performing arts; involvement in educational preparation programs including summer enrichment programs, research, or academic development programs such as EAOP, MESA, Puente, COSMOS or other similar programs.) This question seeks to understand a student's motivation and dedication to learning.

Question: What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the field developed and describe any experience you have had in the field - such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities - and what you have gained from your involvement.

Question Two: (limited to about 200 words: 195 to 205 words)

Focus: Potential to Contribute

Rationale: UC welcomes the contributions each student brings to the campus learning community. This question seeks to determine an applicant's academic or creative interests, and potential to contribute to the vitality of the University

Question: Tell us about a talent, experience, contribution or personal quality you will bring to the University of California.

Question Three: (limited to about 200 words: 195 to 205 words)

Focus: Open-ended

Rationale: This question seeks to give students the opportunity to share important aspects of their schooling or their lives, such as personal circumstances, family experiences and opportunities that were or were not available at their school or college, which may not have been sufficiently addressed elsewhere in the application.

Question: Is there anything you would like us to know about you or your academic record that you have not had the opportunity to describe elsewhere in the application?

The following is my personal information for question one: (at least 600 words)

I was from Hong Kong two years ago as an international student, not an immigrant.

My intended major is computer science. (Undergraduate)

I would like to consider computer engineer as a career for my entire life. Moving towards this goal, pursuing computer science major at the University of California is a decision of mine.

I had a various interests when I was a kid. I liked playing table tennis, playing Chinese music, and swimming. However, since 12-year-old I was absorbed in computer science after I received a computer as a birthday gift. After then, my primary hobbit was dealing with computers. Writing programs and reading computer books become my favor. In grade 10, I was elected to be computer club president in my secondary school. While others played computer games, I wrote a computer game. The first game I wrote is a 2-D fighter plane shooting game, which was written by C language and run in MS-DOS. I distributed the game to the club members, and they all love to play it. In 1996, the government appointed my high school to be one of the first schools in Hong Kong to integrate information technology into classrooms and campus life. I participated the project as a student helper. I wrote a homepage and a commodity-tracking program for the student society.

. After graduating from high school, I worked as a table tennis coach in order to save money for studying aboard. During that period, I wrote a series of article ¡§How to Write a Game Using C Language¡¨ in computer magazine ¡§Hong Kong PC Education¡¨. I was trained in a Microsoft Authorized Training Center and got the MSCE (Microsoft Certificated Engineer) Certificates. Also, I competed in Hong Kong Computer Game-Maker Challenge. In the challenge, my team wrote a fighting game ¡§Killer¡¨. Although we lost, I gained great experience about writing a team project program. After I came to United States, I competed in Google Code Jam Competition and Topcoder Open, where I competed with programmers around the world about algorithms. Also, I am now participating in Topcoder Single Round Matches at least once a month, where I meet many programmers and exchange algorithm experience.

In 2003, I came to United States as an international student. In the first half year, I studied in a program provided by American Language Institute, which gave me a chance to study in San Diego State University¡¦s undergraduate courses as an Open University student. I took three Computer Science classes and two Math classes. I was among the best of the successful candidates in all classes. Then, I transferred to San Diego Mesa College. In there, I¡¦ve the excellent performance on studying, overall GPA 3.7. I got A and A+ on all the major requirement courses.

During the summer, I took some courses in the University of California San Diego Summer Session. One of the classes I took in there is Basic Data Structure, where I meet other computer science students in UCSD. I maintain the first place in the class and finally got an A+. It gives me confidence that I am able to succeed in University of California.

Information for question two: (200 words limit)

What I can bring to the learning community is my experience gained from the extracurricular activity.

1) Major related

a) I have competed in many algorithm contests, e.g. Google Code Jam, Topcoder Open and Topcoder Single Round Matches, which are like ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (AAN ICPC), I can contribute in the university team for ACM ICPC.

2) Table tennis

a) I was in School team from grade 5 to grade 13, and I was captain from grade 6 to grade 13.

b) I was in Hong Kong Youth Team from grade 8 to grade 9

c) I was in District Team from grade 6 until leaving Hong Kong

d) I am now practicing at San Diego Table Tennis Association, I am now one of the best players in San Diego

e) I won several Hong Kong secondary school interschool competitions.

f) I worked as a table-tennis coach after high school for 4 years before coming to the United States.

g) I can contribute in the university table tennis team.

2) Chinese Orchestra (grade 7 to grade 12)

a) I played Erhu (a Chinese violin) in school¡¦s Chinese orchestra from grade 7 to grade 12), and I was the Erhu soloist of the orchestra from grade 9 to grade 12.

b) I was Chinese Music club president in high school (grade 10)

c) The orchestra won the second place in Hong Kong Secondary School Chinese Music Competition in grade 9.

d) I can contribute in promoting Chinese music and culture.

Information for question three: (200 words limit)

Like other people, I often make mistake. But what distinguishes me from others is that I can realize the mistake and such improve myself. (I want to explain why I was failure in a Biology class) (I got all A in all classes except the following two.)

1) I got a F in a Biology class, in UCSD Summer session (It is a general education class, not a major core class). The failure of the class is due to my ignorance of the traffic in United States and time planning. In that summer, I studied in both San Diego State University Open University and UCSD summer session, so I lived in a dorm of San Diego State University. I didn¡¦t have car at that time, so I took bus to UCSD every class day, normally two hours per trip. The final exam of the Biology class was on Saturday, and I didn¡¦t know that the time schedule of bus is different from weekdays, since the bus¡¦s time schedule in Hong Kong is the same in weekdays and in weekends. I waited for the bus at the same time as normal, but the buses came late during each transfer, and as a result I was almost one and half late in the final exam. And finally I got a F. I was very sad about that, but I realized that it is my fault of not getting enough information about the traffic and not having a good time planning. After that, I gain enough information and make a good time planning for every important event. I am never late in every class, examination or meeting again. Also, I bought a car to prevent taking bus again. (I took another Biology class in UCSD Summer session in the following year and got an A-).

2) I got a C in a speech class in San Diego Mesa College. I had some accent when I came to United States. Though I was good at reading and writing English because most textbooks in Hong Kong are written in English, but my speaking skill is not so good because I had no chance of practicing speaking in Hong Kong. After getting a C in the speech class, I realized that I have to improve my speaking skill in order to communicate with others and work well in school. So, I invited a native friend to help me practicing speaking. We discussed about society issues and academic issues at least two hours every day. Also, I participated in many college activities to meet friends and learn how to communicate using English in every situation. Now, I am able to speak English fluently. In the college level English class in Mesa College, I was able to discuss issues well with other native students and got a grade A.