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1	Supplimental College Essays
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3Purdue
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5How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom? (Respond in 100 words or fewer.)
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7The multitude of tracks offered by Purdue for computer science really compels me, in particular the Machine Learning Track, since I would like to take it up at a higher level during my undergraduate study. 
8Aside from the coursework itself, I was interested in some of the clubs that Purdue offers to its students; namely, the Computer Science Undergraduate Student Board and the PACGA club. This will not only allow me to pursue computer science in the classroom, but will also facilitate my passion outside of it as well. 
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10Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected. (Respond in 100 words or fewer.)
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12Computer Science has always fascinated me, be it trying to figure out how the video games I toyed with tick, or how computers made the user interfaces that we knew so well.
13From my 9th grade onwards, I was put into a proper computer science class, and I started acing the courses, getting straight A*s throughout my IG internal exams. 
14This summer, after interning at a startup called CodeWave, and building my own app, I have been even more determined to pursue computer science, because I now know the impact computers can make on people when used properly.
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16Santa Clara University:
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18Briefly describe how you learned about Santa Clara University. (150 words maximum)
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20Dr Shoba Krishnan is a very good family friend of mine, and it was through her that I learnt about Santa Clara University. She had visited my house around 5 months ago, and was talking to me about college prospects and in general about what I planned to do after high school. 
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22Santa Clara University's strategic vision promises to educate citizens and leaders of competence, conscience, and compassion and cultivate knowledge and faith to build a more humane, just, and sustainable world. What aspect of SCU’s strategic vision appeals to you? Why? (between 150 - 300 words)
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26Virginia Tech:
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281.	If there is something you think would be beneficial for the Admissions Committee to know as we review your academic history, please take this opportunity to explain.
29<copy paste UIUC reason for grade drop here>
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311.	If you could have any superhero power, what would it be and why?
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33The question of which superpower I’d choose is a rather tricky one, because in this make-believe context, I can transcend to a post-human state far beyond my imagination. But I’d assume those choices come with their drawbacks, be it an obligation to cater to the world’s every whim, or being bound to doing “the right thing”, no matter how trivial it is, or whatever I’d have to sacrifice to make that happen. 
34So instead of fulfilling my 6th grade fantasies of blowing up the school in various creative, albeit hardly practical, means, I’d opt for the ability to be decently luckier than the norm.
35Not only does my choice of power mitigate the need for me to “save the world” from great evils, but it also enables me to live a better-than-average life.
36I’ll admit – I’m a bit clumsy, and I have the amazing tendency to stub my toe, and other random parts of my body, on just about everything under the sun. I feel that this power will relieve me of these perennial annoyances. It will also give me just a little bit of a boost in anything I do. Trying to fix the car? It gets done in one shot! Coding a tough project? No bugs my first time through!
37Being able to choose what I do with my life is a very important part of who I am. Ever since I was small, my parents taught me the importance of independence, and always let me take the final call in important life decisions; be it changing schools or choosing colleges to apply to. With a power that does not directly threaten anyone, I would not have any higher authority to report my life to; I’d be free to go about and pave my path on my own terms, decide what I do with my future. And when it all comes to a close, wouldn’t the best power be the one to change your fate?
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401.	What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What's the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?
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43Teen-based movies suck. They always seem to show high school as either this utopian version of what the schooling system is, or hell on earth. Either way, it gives us these odd preconceived notions of what our life in the senior years is going to be like. 
44What those movies don’t tell you is the sheer complexity of what exactly happens during that time.
45I’d love to see a movie based on a real teenage life, where students struggle to manage deadlines and social relations at the same time, or where students stay up till 2 in the morning studying for an irrelevant test. I want the movies to show the hardships of this life, the adult responsibility forced upon us with none of the privileges; the school politics that would befuddle even the most wizened senators. That is the hardest part about being a teenager; you’re thrust out into a simulation of the real world, and expected to fend for yourself.
46But honestly, it’s not as bad as I’m describing it. While there is certainly the pressure to excel, and the dogma that you have to perform academically to succeed at life, being a teenager does have its redeeming qualities. For me, at the very least, I feel that the safety net that your parents and friends provide is invaluable, if not the single best part about being a teenager. When it comes to actually being an adult, failure is be all end all. But as a teenager, even if you fall down, you can bounce back with minimal damage done. You don’t have to worry about failure, heck you should probably cherish those isolated instances of defeat, because failure is the best teacher.
47So, for any prospective teenager, I’d just advise them to take it as it comes. There’s no rush to get out of school. Enjoying the moment, and learning to have fun in everything you do is arguably far more important than what SAT score you’ll get 10 months in advance. I’d also advise them to not get disheartened, since being a teenager does have some disillusioning moments. But most importantly, I’d tell them that you can’t go lower than bedrock, you can only bounce back up.
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50University of southern California:
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53Describe something outside of your intended academic focus about which you are interested in learning. (250 words)
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55While computer science deals with the future, and how it can be improved, History takes a 180, and focuses on the past instead.
56I suppose that’s why I’m so interested in history, it’s orthogonal to the logic-based, emotionless world of computer science, and as such, the mouldable, perspective-driven analyses that history brings to the table are fascinating.
57While the subject as a whole is very appealing to me, I find that there are certain areas within History itself that could require some exploration.
58For one, I’m very curious in ancient monuments. Areas like the Nazca Lines and Easter Island are very interesting, since they are megastructures that would have been seemingly impossible at the time when they were made. 
59The ingenuity of ancient cultures is a very unexplored subject, that has a lot of real world applications. Seeing how we, in the past, made huge monuments that would be logistically impossible today is probably the biggest thing that can come from this. 
60I’d also like to learn more about lost cultures, especially those with very different customs. In particular, I’d like to do more research on the Aztecs. Besides their near incomprehensible names, their culture, writing and even sports are all incredibly different from what I know about my own culture. As such, it would be amazing to learn more about.
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62Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests at USC. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections. (250 word limit)
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64The first video I have of myself is one of my smashing a keyboard with command prompt open. It’s a bit funny in retrospect, that even then I would be obsessed with computers in the way that I am right now. To further my passion for computer science, I did extensive research on programs, and potential courses. 
65Eventually, I stumbled across USC and their curriculum for computer science. The Machine Learning course in particular caught my eye, since I am very interested in areas like AI.
66Another important part of my life is video games. While I play a lot of video games, I’ve always been more fascinated with how the game functions than the game itself. This led me to exploring on my own, figuring out how to manipulate the random number generator on my DS, and making modifications to my PC games. I suppose this interest in tinkering and making things my own way is why I chose the Video Game design course as my secondary major.
67Besides purely academics, USC is located in an optimal location for anyone who wishes to pursue computer science. The proximity of USC to the Silicon Valley makes finding places to work after college very easy. It also allows me to be on the forefront of technology, working with, and contributing to, innovation. Since my dream is to be working with upcoming technology, the University of Southern California is perfect for helping me pursue my academic passions.
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69Describe yourself in three words.
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71Inquisitive, Determined, Kind-hearted
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74What is your favorite snack?
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76Cookies (any kind besides Oatmeal and Raisin)
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80Favorite app/website
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82Xkcd.com
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85Best movie of all time:
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87Sharknado- It’s so silly, I love it
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90Hashtag to describe yourself:
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92#HiHungryImVinay - Dad jokes are fun!
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95Dream job:
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98Planetary Protection Officer (Arguably the coolest sounding job name ever)
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101What is your theme song?
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103Time Leaper by Hinkik
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106Dream trip:
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108Backpacking across Eastern Europe
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111What TV show will you binge watch next?
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11330 Rock
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116Place you are most content?
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118At home, on my window sit-out with a fat book.
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121While scientists yearn to discover the world that exists, Engineers and Computer Scientists seek to create the world that never was. Our faculty and students believe collaborative teams are the key to great accomplishments. Please describe a time in your life (academic, co-curricular, or otherwise) where you had to collaborate to accomplish more than you could alone. (250 word limit)
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123I’m not good at art. It’s not an opinion, nor is it humility. I just cannot draw, paint or sculpt. So to my delight, I was put in a group of like minded people during my school’s fest, except that we had to collaborate to make a 13-foot blob of paper look like an orca in a week. 
124As expected, we were mildly displeased, as we had the artistic prowess of two year olds with finger paint. 
125So we started from the basics, learning to paint and make papier-mâché. By the time figured it out, however, we were 5 days in, and had only 2 left to turn the giant blob into an orca. 
126But we spent those two days productively, building support structures out of PVC pipes and mixing the paint that would be used for the final product. And by Day 6, we’d managed to get everything ready.
127The hardest part of the next day was applying the papier-mâché on the orca: the paper wouldn’t stick to vertical faces, no matter how much we tried. So we added more glue, and with a lot of effort, covered the entire thing.
128We stayed up until 2 AM that night, working hard on painting the sculpture.
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130It was a masterpiece, not just because it looked decent, but because we, a group of students with no prior experience in art whatsoever, came together, and worked as a team to produce something that was worthy of being displayed as the fest’s mascot.
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133Your browser history says a lot about you. Take a moment to think about the time you spend online. Whether it’s browsing an Instagram account, listening to your favorite podcast, subscribing to the best web series on YouTube, or even addressing questions on tech-help forums, we want to know where you spend the most time online, and why. Please share your favorite online destination (via a web address, specific app, social network, etc.) - and describe why in a few sentences. (250 word limit)
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135The French word for someone who surfs the internet is “internaute”, I have a certain affinity for this word, not only because it makes users sound like an astronaut of the web, but it also resonates with me and my habits on the internet.
136It was through my random internet surfing that I stumbled on the web comic xkcd, and more importantly, its “what-if” spin-off.
137While the creator, Randall Munroe, does not update the what-if section very often, it is one of the most interesting and amusing series that I have found on the internet. In it, Munroe answers questions sent in by fans, no matter how outlandish they might be. He roots all of his answers in reality, obeying every law of physics and explaining the (often catastrophic) consequences. 
138One of the main reasons why the series is so alluring to me is because it rekindles my childlike curiosity. After reading a couple of his answers, I was motivated to go and research the answers to some of my questions myself. One hour’s research later, and I learnt about how large of an explosion could be made in a pressure cooker. I didn’t conclude with anything useful, but I did learn about concepts I’d never touch otherwise, like making chemical bonds tighter artificially, or the distribution and materials used in making pressure cookers.
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140While the answers to the questions might be impractical, the love and passion for research, coupled with the odd questions, makes me love the what-if series so much.