ESSAY_Engineering_into_Law

I was terrified upon entering my first class at the top-ranked engineering specialty school in the country. My sudden terror stemmed from the fear that perhaps I had made a mistake in choosing a school infamous for its grueling academic rigors. Even worse, maybe the admissions committee had made a horrible mistake in accepting me. What if I weren’t really qualified? Fleeting thoughts swept through my mind that a simple desire to study math and science would not be enough to see me through. Maybe I was better suited to a liberal arts education, where I felt more assured of success based on previous accomplishments After two summers practicing my verbal communication skills as an intern in the California State Legislature and tow rewarding years of speech and debate in high school, perhaps i had chosen the wrong college and the wrong course of study.
Not surprisingly, my perspective has undergone significant change since entering Harvey Mudd college more than three years ago. The confidence I drew from the solid math and science foundation I received in high school quelled my initial fears of inadequacy. I will graduate this spring with a degree in engineering, just as I had planned during my first year of undergraduate study. But my intentions for employment are not the same as they originally were, I initially sought to become an aerospace engineer, but my goals have been altered and redefined numerous times as I have changed and grown through the course of my undergraduate experience. These goals have finally converged and become and endeavor to apply my technical background to the field of law. Fortunately, Harvey Mudd provides a unique curriculum that fits my new plans perfectly.
As one of the top engineering schools in the country, Harvey Mudd boasts an engineering course schedule that is unorthodox and very effective. Degrees are not offered for specialized areas of engineering; instead, the focus is general, with a solution systems approach. The motivation behind this approach is that all engineering problems, in all disciplines, can be modeled in similar fashions and solved by similar techniques. Therefore, I have a strong systems engineering background that is supported by classes in chemical, electrical, mechanical, materials, and computer engineering. This broad base of knowledge is particularly well suited to the application of law to technology because I am familiar with a wide variety of scientific disciplines and concepts.
In addition to my strong scientific background, I have a liberal arts education that is likely to be unequaled by other technical applicants to law school. Harvey Mudd’s curriculum requires that one-third of the classes must be taken in the humanities. A strong background in the social sciences is an essential part of Harvey Mudd’s engineering education, not only to develop an appreciation for different kinds of knowledge, but also to foster consideration of the social relevance and consequences of scientific endeavors. This is a fundamental understanding that many scientists lack. The required exposure to these areas of knowledge and study had an immense effect on defining the person who I am. In any other scientific institution, I would not have chosen to place such a strong emphasis on liberal arts because I was so technically oriented. The experience has induced many positive changes in me. Now I realize the importance of a well-rounded background that supports and accepts many different schools of thought, because I understand the extreme impact that the social and technological sciences have on each other.
I was first introduced to the concept of blending science and the law last year when I participated in Harvey Mudd’s engineering clinic. I worked in a term with tree other students on a project commissioned by Irvine Ranch Water District( IRWD ). We designed a system that allowed IRWD to be the first in their field to achieve a reliable continuous monitoring operation. When I learned that they had taken steps to patent our design, I began researching the field of patent law. This led to a strong desire to pursue my studies in the area of law.
That desire has been further enhanced by my current involvement in the engineering clinic. This year I am the team leader for a project with TRW, a global manufacturing company that plays a leading role in the aerospace industry. My team is studying a new technology for reducing the structural-acoustic coupling of honey-comb panels, which are used in the construction of spacecraft. Part of our project has involved the research of patents on various applications of honeycomb panels because TRW is interested in securing a patent of our design should we develop a viable solution that does not infringe on the rights of another. This quickly led me to realize that the protection and preservation of the expression of ideas is essential in any industry which hopes to foster the development of new ideas and technical advancement. My personal interest in the protection of ideas is constantly strengthened as I gain more insight into the integral role that law plays in the technological growth of our society. I feel that my educational and clinical experiences have been particularly well tailored for the pursuit of a career in this aspect of the law.
At first glance, my grade point average may not appear to be especially competitive for application to post-graduate programs. I would point out, however, that Harvey Mudd College enforces a rigorous academic schedule that does not produce high grades( see enclosed pamphlet ). While most engineering students at Harvey Mudd struggle to achieve the average 3.00 GPA without participating in any extra-curricular activities, I have both excelled academically and become involved in many other aspects of college life. Much of my time is devoted t the Society of Women Engineers and the Claremont Intervarsity Christian group, and I still have been able to attain a 3.11 overall GPA. Furthermore, my 3.13 major-specific GPA exceeds the average engineering GPA of 3.05. In a school where nearly 40 percent of the student body are National Merit Scholars, more 90 percent ranked in the top tenth of their high school graduating class, and the practice of grade inflation in nonexistent, i have overcome the odds to excel in my studies and earn dean’s list distinction for three out of five possible semesters. In fact, the only semester that my grade point average fell below 3.00 occurred during a period when I underwent surgery and missed a substantial amount of class.
Besides excelling in a top-ranked engineering program, I have found success else where at Harvey Mudd. While less than 30 percent of my classmates are women, I have been able to acquire several leadership roles, including one year as treasurer of my dorm. The most challenging leadership position I have encountered is that of team leader for my senior engineering clinic project with TRW. This time consuming commitment has been an invaluable resource for gaining experience in the areas of company/project-team communication, the treatment of proprietary information, and the fostering of team unity and productivity. All of these areas have presented challenges that I have had to overcome. For example, a lack of motivation and effort in one member of the team recently caused a rash of animosity and disrespect among the other team members. This naturally led to a breakdown in relations and a slowing of productivity and enthusiasm. I was faced with the job of confronting the person who was not pulling her weight, providing her with opportunities to become more active and redeem herself in the eyes of the team, and convincing the team to grant consideration and help make her role an inclusive one. While these events were taking place, I also had to ensure that we were making satisfactory progress and meeting the company’s expectations. This was a tough experience for our team, and we recovered from it and are much more efficient now, It is satisfying to look back and realize that I was able to lead us out of a bad situation and restore team unity so that the project could continue.
The challenges I have faced at Harvey Mudd are incredible, and to overcome them has reinforced the strength and persistence that will ensure success in my future endeavors. I am very fortunate that my unique education at Harvey Mudd has prepared me so well to continue my studies at[name of law school] while still providing me with what I feel is the best engineering
education possible. I look forward to beginning in a new field of study and eventually blending the two challenging educations into one exciting career.


 이 에세이는 지원자의 학부의 학점 체계와 엄격한 학사 일정을 설명하는 데 아주 적절핚 정황을 보여준다. 여러분의 학교가 일반적인 학교와 다르다면, 반드시 입학 담당자에게 설명핛 필요가 있다. 그들은 미국 내(다른 나라는 말핛 것도 없고) 수천 개 대학에 대하여 모두 알 수는 없다. 그들은 필요에 의해 커리큘럼 내용과 성적을 해석하는 표준적인 해석방법을 개발하였다. 만약 여러분의 학교가 특수하다면, 학점과 경험을 어떻게 표준과 다르게 해석해야 하는지에 대핚 설명을 제공하는 것이 여러분의 책임이다.
 공학과 과학 프로그램으로 유명핚 학교치고는 특이핚 일이지만, 자기 학교의 커리큘럼이 교양과목에 특히 강하다는 사실을 지적하고 있다.
 여기서 지원자는 출신 대학의 학점을 이해시키기 위핚 설명을 제공하고 있다. 이 대학은 2차 세계 대전 이전부터 학점을 부풀리지 않은 몇 안되는 – 리드 대학과 ㅅ외트모어 대학이 또다른 예인데 - 미국 내 대학중의 하나이다.( 전쟁 후에 군복무자를 위핚 대학교육으로 고등 교육의 면모가 영원히 바뀌었다. ) 만약 지원자가 이 문제를 지적하지 않았다면 입학 담당자는 이 사실을 알지 못했을 것이다.
 이와 같은 경험은 법학 대학원을 포함핚 대학원 학장들이 점점 더 관심을 기울이고 있는 지도력과 팀을 훈련하는 능력을 보여준다.