The Science of Life: College Admission Essay Sample

The small, fluffy bundle of feathers quivered in the palms of my hands. I brought the tiny budgerigar up to my face, my almond-shaped eyes meeting his bright, beady ones. My 6-year-old self marveled at his vibrant plumage: a brilliant green that stretched across his wings, fading into a soft baby yellow. From the gentle curve of his beak to his long swishy tail – he was flawless. Only the warmth radiating from his body and his thumping heartbeat against my skin could convince me that this perfect little creation was indeed alive. As I gazed at my new pet, I was awe-struck, brimming with curiosity. Seized with the desire to learn anything and everything about the little bird, it was at that particular moment that my love for biology surfaced for the first time. Although that initial wonder I felt could be interpreted as the simple naiveté of a young child, it quickly blossomed into a full-blown obsession with the science of life.

As a child, I always had an endless supply of questions, and eagerly sought out the answers in whatever I could get my chubby hands on. I grew up with anatomy coloring books, picture encyclopedias, and countless episodes of PBS. For my tenth birthday, I was presented with my very own toy microscope. Made of cheap glossy plastic, it magnified by no more than x10. However, I still spent hours examining self-prepared slides of translucent onion skin, hoping for a peek at the building blocks of nature. As I grew older, PBS was replaced by Discovery Channel, and my encyclopedias by monthly issues of National Geographic. From engineering E.Coli bacteria to glow in the dark by injecting them with pGLO jellyfish plasmids to performing a fetal pig dissection, I had also brought my insatiable curiosity as a child to my high school biology courses.

For me, the most intriguing aspect about the study of biology has always been the vast realm of the unknown, the millions of unanswered questions. Biology is forever growing, evolving, and the reality is that we may never truly be able to fully explain all of life’s mysteries. While this concept may be unsettling to some, I find it incredibly exciting. The knowledge that there will always be room for the further pursuit of answers fuels my passion for the study of biology. At Cornell, the College of Arts and Sciences presents the ideal environment for my intended major in Biological Sciences. The extensive selection of biology courses offered, reinforced by a strong liberal arts education, promise a rich and balanced academic experience. Then Honors Program in biological sciences would allow me to work closely with Cornell faculty in pursuing an individual research project, allowing me to further explore the unanswered questions in the world of biology. Enrolling as a student at Cornell would give me the opportunity to satisfy my curiosity while also pursuing my ultimate passion.