StanfordEngine,
Stanford
B.S., Mechanical Engineering
Tony Stark Wannabe; Love Robotics, Cooking, Politics, and the Planet!
Features Included
26
Essays
12
Schools
14
Scores
6
Advice
10
ECs
0
Sports
Results, Essays, and Advice
Accepted
Waitlisted or Withdrew
Denied
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Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
Applied for a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Accepted and Enrolled Legacy: NoSchool Specific Essays
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.Personal Statement657 WordsCareer aspirations, Development of personal values, Extracurricular passion, Interest in tech/engineering, Love of outdoors, Story central to identityThe sense of touch is central to the human condition. I don't believe it’s possible to fathom an existence without being able to touch or feel the physical world around us. We share intimacy with loved ones primarily through touch. We rest at night on soft beds that can only be enjoyed through touch. We complete virtually all of our daily functions with our hands, utilizing touch. We exist in the physical realm only because touch tells us how...The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest254 WordsAs a legislative director on the Confront the Climate Crisis campaign, one of the skills I’ve enjoyed learning most has been derived out of necessity: compromise. Our campaign has lofty and idealistic goals—we are attempting to pass two pieces of self-written progressive climate change legislation which establish a 15-person environmental task force to create a comprehensive climate plan for one of the most conservative states in the nation. I’ve had to learn to balance our sky-high aims...Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why.Supplemental Essay: Issue of personal significance245 WordsMy basement is my favorite place in the entire world—I spend more hours there than any other place in my home, including my own bed. The reason? My basement is no ordinary cellar. Over the years, I have transformed it into a workshop and machine lab fit for the likes of Tony Stark. It is full of equipment and tools such as rotary sanders, drills, electric saws, and even a 3D printer, most of which was thrifted from garage...Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate – and us – get to know you better.Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school244 WordsI am the foil character to a picky eater—I’ll gladly eat almost anything and everything. And while I certainly love the experience of a nice sit-down restaurant, we as college students likely won’t have the time or money to eat out much. Instead, I bring something even better to the table—my culinary abilities. I have always felt at peace in the kitchen, and I hope to share my love for it with you. While it will...What is the most significant challenge that society faces today?Supplemental Essay: Issue of personal significance52 WordsA fundamental lack of understanding that our choices affect everyone. When a man dumps used paint into the river, he poisons drinking water downstream. When a woman refuses to get vaccinated, she threatens her neighbors’ health. People don’t recognize that choices have consequences—not just for themselves, but for others too.How did you spend your last two summers?Supplemental Essay: Issue of personal significance50 WordsAs a legislative director on the Confront the Climate Crisis Campaign, my team and I spent hundreds of hours drafting and advocating for climate change legislation at the Indiana Statehouse. We have been in constant communication and collaboration with dozens of senators and representatives in both Indiana and Washington DC.Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family.Supplemental Essay: Extracurricular activity52 WordsWhile we spend countless hours building robots, my robotics team’s core mission has always been to positively impact our community. We’ve kickstarted many local initiatives, such as a deaf student coding club, a Unified Robotics team for children with disabilities, and a summer STEM program for Boy and Girl Scouts.Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford.Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay49 WordsI am looking forward to having creative freedom to pursue individual passion projects in my spare time. Stanford offers this through its several makerspaces, such as Lab64 and the Product Realization Lab. These makerspaces will provide me with the equipment and resources I need to dream, tinker, and create.What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest45 WordsIt would have been enlightening, quite literally, to have witnessed humankind’s likely accidental creation of man- made fire. This discovery was the first true instance in which man tamed the elements—only the beginning of our endless conquest to harness the world around us.Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.Supplemental Essay: Strong beliefs/principles346 WordsAs a legislative director on the Confront the Climate Crisis campaign, I’ve had to learn critical leadership skills out of necessity, the most important of which has been compromise. Our campaign has lofty and idealistic goals—we are attempting to pass two pieces of self-written progressive climate change legislation which establish a 15-person environmental task force to create a comprehensive climate plan for one of the most conservative states in the nation. I’ve had to learn to balance...Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest350 WordsMy basement is my favorite place in the entire world—I spend more hours there than any other place in my home, including on my own bed. Over the years, I have transformed my basement into a workshop and machine lab fit for the likes of Iron Man. It’s full of equipment and tools such as rotary sanders, drills, electric saws, and even a 3D printer, most of which was thrifted from garage sales or store clearances, or even...What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest362 WordsI am self admittedly quite the nerd. However, there are always two sides to every coin, and I’d least like to hope that I’ve got a bit of flair and pizzaz in my persona. This Elvis Presley side of my spirit manifests itself into music: specifically, my skill with the saxophone. The saxophone is after all just about the least nerdy instrument in existence—even the most reclusive, socially-awkward fellow alive merely has to throw on a pair...Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school354 WordsMy sense of touch defines who I am. From a young age, I’ve adored the hands-on, tangible nature of building, tinkering, and creating, which is why I’ve always known I’d become an engineer. However, there is another touch that is far more important than the physical—the sense of being “in touch”: an understanding of, attunement with, and respect for the world around us. The Iroquois people of North America were in touch with nature. They maintained...Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech?Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay303 WordsI seek a university which provides opportunities to allow students to exercise their creative freedom. Georgia Tech excels at this. As a world-renowned research university, Georgia Tech can provide resources, equipment, and mentors to further my pursuit for an engineering education centered on actively doing rather than passively observing. I can already envision the long nights I will spend in the Flowers Invention Studio—the largest university makerspace in the country. With tools from laser cutters to waterjets that are...Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests?Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay558 WordsDone are the days of high school where I learned so much knowledge but learned so little about applying that knowledge. I seek a university which provides opportunities to allow students to exercise their creative freedom outside of the classroom while using what they learned from within the classroom. The University of Michigan excels at this. In fact, I don’t plan on abandoning my personal passion projects upon arrival to college. As a world- renowned research university, UMich can...In the past 3 to 4 years, what experience(s) have you had (inside or outside of the classroom) related to your selected first-choice major or academic interest?Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest151 WordsI have a basement workshop with hundreds of tools and machines such as sanders, drills, saws, and even a 3D-printer, most of which were thrifted at garage sales or clearances. In the workshop, I have constructed projects from a giant remote controlled submarine with a camera to an electric ornithopter, which have been demonstrated at Maker Faires across the country. I spend more hours in my workshop than I do in my own bed. Moreover, I am Vice President of...How does your selected first-choice major relate to your future career goals?Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest150 WordsI chose this path of mechanical engineering not only because I love it, but also because I owe it to this planet. Unfortunately, engineers have long played a role in the disruption of the balance between humanity and Mother Earth. Technology ranging from the atomic bomb to Agent Orange to single-use plastics have led humans to poison the planet we should hold dear. As a rising mechanical engineer at UIUC, it will be my mission to innovate in ways that...You have selected a second-choice major. Please explain your interest in that major or your overall academic or career goals.Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest155 WordsThe Hubble Deep Field is the most important photograph humankind has ever taken. During Christmastime of 1995, the Hubble Telescope aimed at the darkest part of the night sky - a frame the size of Roosevelt’s eye of a dime held at an arm’s length away. The subsequent image was truly a feast for the eyes. Thousands upon thousands of new galaxies of all different shapes, sizes, and hues appeared - demonstrating the beauty and wonder of the universe...Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community, or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT.Supplemental Essay: Extracurricular activity306 WordsAs the vice president and tech lead of my robotics team, I ensure that not just our robot, but also our team, functions like a well-oiled machine. On our robot, that means literal grease. But for the dozens of people on the team who are each working on different parts of the robot at different paces, communication is the oil that prevents our team’s figurative gears from grinding. I must be able to foster effective communication so that these...The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society. Please share how you believe your experience at UT-Austin will prepare you to Change the World after you graduate.Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay301 WordsThe most meaningful way I will impact the world is through my longtime vision of shifting the focus of engineers from creating machines that are substantial to ones that are sustainable. To achieve this goal, I must attain a world-class engineering education that I can expand not just in, but also out of, the classroom. I am seeking a university which provides resources and opportunities to allow students to exercise their creative freedom, and UT Austin excels at this. I...Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest298 WordsI’ve never stopped being a tinkerer. Over the years, I have transformed my basement into a workshop and machine lab fit for the likes of Tony Stark. It's full of equipment and tools such as rotary sanders, drills, electric saws, and even a 3D printer, most of which was thrifted from garage sales or store clearances, or even loaned from my robotics team. Inspired by Iron Man himself, I’ve always seen a little bit of myself within him....Explain your vision, ideas, or goals for how you hope to shape your honors experience while at Purdue. Please put this in the context of the four pillars which are the foundation of the John Martinson Honors College.Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school514 Words"Resolved: The Purdue Admissions Committee should accept Jonathan Siskind into the Honors College". That is certainly no ordinary college essay intro. However, this is no ordinary essay prompt, and this is no ordinary applicant. In fact, an applicant such as this one knows better than to bore the admissions reader with any old mind-numbing 500-word wall of text. So today, I will be analyzing the prompt through the lens of a high school debater—a role which I am immensely...Please describe the interdisciplinary nature of your chosen field of study and how it complements or supports other fields. (Examples: You might describe how your work in a liberal arts career may impact or inform the work of an engineer.)Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest496 WordsFor far too long, engineers have ignored the impacts of their work on the natural world. Before building the Three Gorges Dam, few engineers expected the massive environmental repercussions it would have on the surrounding ecosystem. It was only after the construction of the dam was complete when officials realized how it disrupted migration patterns of marine life, polluted the region's most critical rivers, and even triggered earthquakes and landslides because of the extreme mass of water concentrated in such...Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences.Supplemental Essay: Extracurricular activity251 WordsIn a successful robotics team, it's not just the robot, but also the team that must function like a well-oiled machine. As the vice president of West Lafayette FRC team 461, I've learned that while grease is the literal oil for our robots, effective leadership is the figurative oil that makes our team's gears go round. Throughout my four years on the team, I've learned to be an effective leader by delegating tasks among our team's members so that we could...Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected.Supplemental Essay: Intellectual interest100 WordsI chose this path of mechanical engineering not only because I love it, but also because I owe it to this planet. Unfortunately, engineers have long played a role in the disruption of the balance between humanity and Mother Earth through technology from the atomic bomb to Agent Orange. As a rising mechanical engineer at Purdue, it will be my mission to innovate in ways that reverse the damage to our only home by bridging the gap between engineering and...How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom?Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay95 WordsI seek a university which provides opportunities to allow students to exercise their creative freedom. Purdue excels at this. I can already envision the long nights I will spend in the Bechtel Innovation Design Center. With tools from laser cutters to waterjets that are inaccessible anywhere else, it will be a perfect haven to turn my ideas into reality. Furthermore, I plan to take an active role in undergraduate research through Purdue's leading robotics program in ME. I am looking...School Specific Advice
More Essays
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General Admissions Advice
What set me apart from other applicants98 WordsYour essays are CRITICAL!!!! In my opinion, they are the most important part of your application, so they deserve to be treated as such. Don't slop them together. Spend...Recommended summer activities during high school and college184 WordsFind something you are actually interested in and commit to it. Don't try to copy the activities that I and others on this site have written about. Just because it worked for me doesn't mean it will work for you. It is fake, and colleges will see through it. Don't think the only way you...My advice about getting recommenders125 WordsIt takes effort on your part to get strong letters of rec. Commit energy and time into building strong relationships with a select 2-3 teachers starting in sophomore or early junior year. A good grade in their...My insights about AP (Advanced Placement) courses and exams116 WordsI took too many. There's a certain threshold where enough is enough. I took 12 AP exams (7 in junior year alone), and I was immensely overwhelmed and stressed. I was taking AP classes for the...How to deal with the stress of applying to college113 WordsYou know this already, but DON'T PROCRASTINATE! Starting in September, put aside 30 minutes every day to start cranking out essays. It might seem daunting at first, especially if you are applying to a...Misconceptions I had about college before attending321 WordsRewording the prompt a bit: misconceptions I had about college admissions. Let me give you a scary fact: the average application file is looked at for less than five minutes by an admissions officer at a top university. Your entire four-year high school career boiled down to five minutes. The college admissions process is bonkers. It is off-the-wall crazy. It is nonsensical. It is way more random than you think it is. And most importantly, its results don't say anything about you. Don't take it to heart if you get rejected by your top school or your top ten schools....
High School Performance
College Classes In High SchoolUnweighted GPA3.96RankTop 5%
Academic Performance in High School Steady
Test Scores
Highest SAT1550SAT Score DetailsOther SAT ScoresSAT Prep
SAT IIs
AP / IB Classes and Scores
Details12 classes and scores
Sports
Extracurriculars
ActivitiesOther Club/Activity, Robotics, Other Club/Activity, Environmental, Debate Club/Team, Robotics, Environmental, Science/Math, Science/Math, Music: Instrumental
Elaborate on Extracurriculars or Work
Experience & Awards
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