There are lazy brothers, fun brothers, absent brothers, and smart brothers….but what does it take to be a good brother? Ever since my little sister was born, I have been trying to answer that. And in the process of doing so, I have matured into the person I am today. Being a good older brother is difficult: you have to be exemplary but not overbearing, you have to be a friend but not entirely permissive, you have to be...

Two Supercolliders?! More than 800 labs?! Needless to say, the resources available to Yale researchers are simply mind-blowing. Getting involved with research is something that is important to me. I am interested in Yale’s STAR program for minorities. The program is very intense and would help me develop my ability to present and write about the research I am conducting. In addition, the Perspectives in Science and Engineering would allow me to meet and talk to leaders in the scientific...

Nothing represents my eclectic background quite like my Pandora playlist. From Diplo (Electronic music superstar), to Juanes (Colombian pop sensation), to Matisyahu (Jewish rap artist), and Led Zeppelin (classic rock), my playlist sums up how diverse my upbringing has been. The first genre that I can remember enjoying was English rock/alternative. At the time, I was an elementary and middle-school student still refining my English. I learned to love rock music because it was clear and easy to understand....

Of all the things Columbia has to offer, I think the most important to me is the fact that Columbia allows students to become experienced in cutting research in their field of study. From meeting top professors in various engineering disciplines in Art of Engineering during freshman year, to the huge array of labs available, Columbia is oriented towards making sure that its students are up to date in scientific research. That being said, I am very interested in conducting...

During my childhood, I moved several times, and as a result, the only constant people in my life were my mom, dad, and sister. The rest of my family resides about 2618.4 miles from me in Bogota, Colombia. These mere three people are the reasons that I am who I am. For example, my sense of passion and vocation is entirely a result of my family. My parents’ work ethic and modesty humbles me. They went from running their own company...

Olin is a different kind of learning institution. I think that it is more collaborative and in-tune with the world than any other engineering school. At Olin, I would be excited to start working on relevant engineering projects from my first semester. Not having the standard set of prerequisite classes makes me think that I will be able to get more out of my time at Olin. In addition, Olin’s project-based teaching forces students to leave the classroom/ lab...

Colombia's history is plagued by a wide-range of issues: the colonial conquests, to the raging civil war, and the modern-day drug and guerrilla war. To me one man stands out as a true advocate for a better country, author Gabriel Garcia Marquez. “Gabo” was a man who swept the country and the world with his narratives inspired by his (my!) troubled country. In the end he showed the world that Colombians are capable of great things despite hardships. He made...

To me, it is important to not just be in the “bubble” of my college but to realize that my education has a context. I would be excited to learn at the Gordon Institute. This institute’s unique course offerings would help me balance my engineering education with a business mindset. I want to have the ability not just create solutions but to market, sell, and work with others. Being a nerd is one thing, but being a nerd who...

When learning psychology, I am interested in the scientific basis used to quantify human emotions. For example, psychologists use statistical studies to classify human cultures as either individualistic or collectivist. Individualist communities stress the value of self-achievement and independence. To contrast, collectivist societies focus on group well-being and the ties between people. America is an individualist society and countries such as Japan and China are collectivist. But where did this leave me and my fellow Colombians? When this question first...

I mean this for all schools you apply to...really do your homework before you go about writing an essay. Far too many times admissions officers are given generic essays for the "why us" portion ranging from "it's a good school" to "I love the city." That's...