As I deliberately draw back the taut string of my recurve bow, a faint groan from the strained wooden limbs manages to drown out the commotion of the hundreds of spectators and competing archers. I have attained a state of consummate mental clarity, and every element of the crowded, sunny field fades away except for the small yellow circle twenty yards away. Tensed for my first shot of the day, I can feel the tinges of disquietude tugging at the...

My preference to matriculate at Rice University’s Brown School of Engineering is supported by my desire to pursue higher education in a field whose components have always interested me. Throughout my life and academic career thus far, math has invariably been my favorite subject, its applications in the world holding a particular intrigue. When considering potential future fields of study, I am drawn to engineering due to its excellent versatility—I’ve encountered teachers, programmers, and even lawyers with...