Scientific Goals: College Admission Essay Sample

For my seventh birthday, my grandma gave me a "Grow Your Own Crystals" kit. I was instantly obsessed. I set out to discover every different type of crystal I could create. It was breathtaking to watch powders transform into beautiful crystalline shapes through a simple chemical reaction. It inspired me to experiment more. I moved my laboratory to the kitchen, and I don't know how many times my mom had to clean up after one of my "concoctions". I would spend hours mixing, measuring, and upgrading until I was satisfied with my creation. It went so far that my parents jokingly called me a "mad chemist" but I reveled in the title.

When I began high school and could finally take an entire class devoted to chemistry, I was ecstatic. When Dr. Gonzalez, my teacher, suggested that I skip straight from Honors to AP Chemistry, I jumped at the chance. She is one of the most inspiring people in my life. Dr. Gonzalez has a Ph.D. in chemistry and is a former college professor. In her class I was actually experimenting, doing titrations, and learning how to think about the chemical world in a complex way. It was the first time I was able to see what chemists do in the real world, and it was better than any "kitchen experiment" I had done. I had no inkling of what I wanted to be when I grew up, but as soon as I took this class I started to get an idea. I wanted to be a biochemist, but that has evolved into chemical engineering. What appeals to me about being a chemical engineer is that they conceive and implement new ideas in chemistry, and I think that with the right tools I have the potential to do that as well.

What amazes me about chemistry is that all matter is just different arrangements of the same few subatomic particles. There are endless substances and chemicals that can be created through the power of chemistry and I want to use that ability to enhance processes already in place. I think that, a majority of the time, if something is working, people don’t seek to improve it; however, I believe that by improving on what we already have is what has led to many technological advancements. During the summer, I was able to hear Professor Mark Davis speak about his research revolving around organic macromolecules that could be used as vehicles to transport cancer drugs throughout the body. No new drugs were required, but by creating a novel delivery process the success of the treatments increased dramatically. When I think of the abundance of systems and structures that can still be improved, I want to be the one behind those innovations, working my way through new breakthroughs in the hands-on world of chemistry.