It was another long Saturday afternoon and I had few options but to remain at home with my toys, desperately seeking new narratives for them. On that day alone, Dinosaur had avenged his brother twice while Spotted Cow had met his fate at least five times. Even they seemed bored. I heard the jangle of keys, and looked up to see my father heading toward the garage. I wondered whether I could get him to play with us when he...

Using the quotation below as a starting point, reflect on the role that culture plays in your life. “Culture is what presents us with the kinds of valuable things that can fill a life. And insofar as we can recognize the value in those things and make them part of our lives, our lives are meaningful.” - Gideon Rosen, Stuart Professor of Philosophy, chair of the Council of the Humanities and director of the Program in Humanistic Studies, Princeton University. ...

Having lived in Pittsburgh all my life, I know firsthand that CMU is one of the best universities in the world. Throughout my years, I have formed several bonds with the outstanding students, faculty, campus and programs there. Thus, it is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to apply to such an excellent university this year. I am applying to the School of Computer Science as my first choice for several reasons. The first is simply that I have...