Dear the Rice Committee on Admission,
I’m a transfer applicant to Rice University. While I was completing the transfer application, I realized that the application did not fully represent me. Thus, I would like to seize this opportunity to tell you more about me and my reasons for wanting to transfer.
I came to the United States from China more than six years ago. At first, I could not speak any English which made adapting to the new environment very difficult. I remember vividly my mother taking me to Rice’s campus during my first weekend here in America in order to motivate me. As I was strolling pass by its mesmerizing architecture, I immediately knew that was is where I wanted to go.
For me, education feels like a race. When asked to describe my high school experiences, I would proudly say that I finished the race like a champion. While my peers were raised in the American culture and taught the Western ways of thinking, I stood alone with my Chinese ways of understanding the world. I had to learn everything that they knew and took for granted in a compressed four years. Starting the race from far behind, I picked up my pace little by little. I believe that if I was given more time, I could have been the best. Knowing that I could overcome any challenge thrown my way, I thought I was ready to come to Rice.
However, I was not accepted. At first, I blamed this “failure” on my late start as an American student since I did not have the credential and experiences that my peers had. But looking back, I have had the most unique experiences and have made the most out of every opportunity. When I was still attending junior high school in China, I had the honor to be among one of the first to join the Junior Communist League. Despite the convention, which entails that the league members do what they are told, I took initiative and organized the first fundraiser that our chapter ever had. It is quite amusing to think of those twelve-year-olds walking around, and knocking on doors with shoeboxes in their hands and asking for donations. But the fundraiser was a success. We raised fifty US dollars for under-privileged children in China. After I came to America, I participated and organized a few fundraisers for a women’s shelter. However, even though the same initiative and leadership still resided in me, I was unable to do anything as successfully as I did seven years ago. I believe that I will be able to utilize my qualities through Rice’s programs and student organizations. With its welcoming environment and an active, diverse student body, Rice offers endless opportunities.
Even though the news of me not being able attend Rice was disappointing and heartbreaking, it was never discouraging. I started my college race at full throttle and finished the first semester with a beautiful score. Initially, I thought I worked hard because I was preparing to re-apply to Rice, but discovered later that this is who I am: a perfectionist who never gives up.
While I will be deeply honored if I can have the privilege of attending your prestigious institution, I know now that the acceptance will not define me. Instead, it will signify a new beginning and a new race, one in which I will finish with my best ability.
I would like to thank the Rice Committee on Admission for giving me this opportunity to reveal more about myself.
2007-03-28
07:02:26
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7 answers
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asked by
Sam
1