I would travel to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway. My interest in biology is rooted in a fascination with resilience, and this vault is the ultimate symbol of humanity's effort to preserve life against future catastrophe. I would want to understand the immense logistical and scientific challenge of safeguarding the world's agricultural biodiversity. Speaking with the scientists there about the process of seed preservation would be more valuable than any textbook, connecting my academic interest to a tangible, global mission of protecting our future.
Prompt 2: The most interesting fact I ever learned from research was…
Q: How to select a compelling fact?
A:
Choose a fact from a field you are passionate about.
The fact should be specific, not a general concept.
Example: "The discovery that tardigrades can survive in a vacuum reshaped my view of biological resilience."
Q: How to structure the 650-character answer?
A:
Sentence 1: State the fact clearly.
Sentence 2: Explain its significance or why it surprised you.
Sentence 3: Connect it to a larger personal or academic interest.
Q: What are common mistakes?
A:
Choosing a widely known or trivial fact.
Failing to explain why the fact is interesting to you.
Stating the fact without personal reflection.
Q: What is the final check?
A:
Is the fact genuinely interesting and non-obvious?
Does your explanation reveal something about your mind?
The most interesting fact I learned was that trees in a forest can communicate and share resources through a vast underground network of mycorrhizal fungi. This "Wood Wide Web" completely changed my perspective on nature. I had always seen a forest as a collection of individuals competing for sunlight, but this fact revealed it to be a collaborative, interconnected community. It sparked my interest in ecology and systems thinking, showing me that the most important connections are often the ones hidden from view. It is a powerful metaphor for how communities should function.
Prompt 3: In addition to my major, my academic interests include…
Q: How to select your interests?
A:
Choose 1-2 specific academic fields.
Explain the connection or contrast with your major.
Example: "My focus on economics is informed by an interest in moral philosophy, specifically theories of resource distribution."
Q: How to structure the 650-character answer?
A:
Sentence 1: Name the academic interest(s) directly.
Sentence 2: Provide a specific reason or question that drives this interest.
Sentence 3: Briefly explain how it complements your primary academic goals.
Q: What are common mistakes?
A:
Listing hobbies instead of academic interests.
Choosing interests that are too generic.
Failing to connect the interest back to intellectual growth.
Q: What is the final check?
A:
Does the answer portray you as a curious, multi-faceted student?
In addition to my major in Computer Science, my academic interests include philosophy, specifically ethics. I am fascinated by the technical challenge of building artificial intelligence, but I am equally compelled by the ethical questions it raises. How do we design algorithms that are fair and unbiased? What moral frameworks should guide autonomous systems? Studying philosophy will provide the critical thinking skills to complement my technical knowledge, allowing me to build technology that is not just powerful, but also responsible and humane.
Prompt 4: My favorite thing about last Monday was…
Q: How to choose your Monday moment?
A:
Pick a small, specific, sensory detail.
Connect the moment to a personal value (curiosity, connection, calm).
Example: "The rain hitting my window," not "it was a rainy day."
Q: How to structure the answer?
A:
Sentence 1: State the moment directly.
Sentence 2: Describe the action or observation.
Sentence 3: Explain the feeling or insight it produced.
Q: What are common mistakes?
A:
Choosing a generic event ("hanging out with friends").
Trying to sound overly profound about a simple thing.
Forgetting to connect the moment to a personal quality.
My favorite thing about last Monday was finally fixing the wobbly chair at my favorite table in the library. For weeks, it had been driving me crazy. During a study break, I flipped it over and saw the problem was just a single loose bolt. I borrowed a wrench from the janitor and tightened it in less than a minute. The quiet, solid feeling of the chair sitting perfectly flat on the floor was incredibly satisfying. It was a small victory, but it brought me joy to solve a persistent little problem and make a tiny corner of the world a little bit better.
Prompt 5: Something you might not know about me is…
Q: How to choose your "something"?
A:
Pick something not on your activities list.
It should be memorable and authentic.
Example: "I am a competitive speed-cuber," or "I can identify most local birds by their song."
Q: How to structure the answer?
A:
Sentence 1: State the fact clearly and directly.
Sentence 2: Give a brief, interesting detail about it.
Sentence 3: Hint at a quality it reveals (patience, curiosity, creativity).
Q: What are common mistakes?
A:
Stating something already obvious from your application.
Trying to be funny but coming across as flippant.
Choosing something that is too common or generic.
Q: What is the final check?
A:
Is it genuinely surprising?
Does it add a new, positive layer to your profile?
Something you might not know about me is that I can identify over 50 local bird species just by their songs. It started as a challenge to myself during my daily walks, using an app to learn the different calls. Now, I cannot walk through my neighborhood without hearing a complex symphony of chirps, whistles, and trills. This hobby has taught me the art of patient listening and to pay attention to the beautiful, intricate details of the world that are often hidden in the background.
Prompt 6: Because we know that diversity benefits the educational experience of all students, the University of Maryland values diversity in all of its many forms. This includes (but is not limited to) racial, socio-economic, gender, geographical, and sexual orientation. We are interested in hearing about your own individual life experiences. In a few sentences, will you please describe how you have learned, grown, been inspired or developed skills through one or more components of diversity.
Q: What is the prompt's core task?
A:
Connect a personal experience to a form of diversity.
Show a specific outcome: learning, growth, or skill development.
Focus on your action or change in perspective.
Q: How to choose your story?
A:
Select one specific component (socio-economic, geographical, etc.).
Pick a story where you actively engaged with a different perspective.
Example: "Tutoring a student from a different economic background taught me about resource disparity."
Q: How to structure the answer?
A:
Sentence 1: State the experience and the diversity component.
Sentence 2: Describe your action or observation.
Sentence 3: Explain the specific skill or growth that resulted.
Q: What are common mistakes?
A:
Making a generic statement about diversity's value.
Telling someone else's story instead of your own.
Failing to show a specific, personal outcome.
Q: What is the final check?
A:
Does the story show, not just tell?
Is the outcome concrete (e.g., "I learned to listen")?
Working at a local grocery store has been my most meaningful experience with socio-economic diversity. My coworkers range from high school students like me to single parents working two jobs and retirees supplementing their income. Listening to their stories during our breaks has taught me more than any textbook could. I have learned about the daily challenges of navigating public transportation, the stress of unexpected medical bills, and the resilience it takes to build a life with limited resources. This experience has inspired me to study public policy and has given me a deep sense of empathy.
