Brown Writing Supplements

Why are you drawn to the area(s) of study you indicated in our Member Section, earlier in
this application? If you are undecided or not sure which Brown concentrations match
your interests, consider describing more generally the academic topics or modes of thought
that engage you currently.

I've never been what you'd call a "normal" student. When the day came to dissect fetal
pigs in freshman-year biology, I jumped right in and examined the formaldehyde-soaked organs
with excitement while my classmates stood back in disgust. Nowadays, I spend my Fridays at the
James Madison University biology department, helping a neurobiology professor research the
reflex responses of rats' tails. In layman's terms, I zap rat tails with lasers. For science. And I
absolutely love it. It's not what my friends would consider fun, but I wouldn't trade the work
I'm doing for anything in the world. Fields such as biology and neuroscience have a great
potential for exciting development. They provide a sense of discovery, which is something that I
yearn for in all that I do. Science is my passion, and studying biology or cognitive neuroscience
at Brown will help me follow that passion.

Tell us where you have lived - and for how long - since you were born; whether you've
always lived in the same place, or perhaps in a variety of places.

I am from paint brushes, turpentine and canvas.
From a three-story house, a little too tall for
Mom to climb without complaining of her back.
From candles, just blown out,
Smoke curling up from blackened wicks.
I am from the sharp citrus scent of the grapefruit tree in the backyard,
Eleven years worth of hurricanes and sunny days,
Giving way to holly leaves and cardinals of a home new and unknown.
Im from dancing in the rain,
Singing along to old records and falling asleep with the lights still on.
And I cant wait to see where Im going next.

We all exist within communities or groups of various sizes, origins, and purposes; pick one
and tell us why it is important to you, and how it has shaped you.

What man raised pigeons after- BOOM. My shaking hand holds the now-lit buzzer. I
call out "..Mike Tyson!"
Thats correct, the reader responds, penciling in ten points on the scorecard. The
students sitting beside me turn and smile. I beam back. Scholastic bowl. Eighteen students, four
teams, one family.
When I joined scholbowl, I didnt realize the effect my teammates would have on me.
Theyve provided a place for personal growth and pushed me to perform better than ever before.
During practices, we joke around; however, in competitions theres no time for silliness. My
team is, well, freaking awesome at what we do: win.
Through scholbowl, Ive learned to embrace my competitive side. Ive learned that Walt
Whitman is always relevant, and Thomas Edison was kind of an asshole. But mostly, Ive
learned that camaraderie is the most important thing. I will treasure the friendships Ive made in
scholbowl forever.

Why Brown?

I was first attracted to Brown because of the open curriculum. Choosing classes without
restriction allows students freedom for personal and academic growth. The atmosphere that the
open curriculum creates goes beyond the fact that I can take whatever classes I want; it instills a
mindset of curiosity and exploration. However, there's more to Brown than an open curriculum,
and I know that what Brown offers me goes beyond the classes I will take. Places like The Sarah
Doyle Women's Center will provide me with a way to advocate for the rights of women as well
as learn more about the roles of gender in society, a passion of mine. Brown's neuroscience
department is one of the best in the country; I would be honored to take offered classes. I want to
get involved in Professor John Donoghues research regarding the reflexes of paralysis. Brown is
a different school. It embraces the unique and fosters free thought. And honestly, I'm different. I
do things with naivety and an open mind and provide an individual perspective on everything I
do. Brown is a perfect fit for me, and I'm going to prove it when I come to school here next year.