In this article, you'll find how I would answer some sample Student Portrait Sheet questions. You can try to break down the things that you think worked and didn't work, and use these examples to help you think about what unique qualities you have and how you can answer these questions yourself.
Sample TJ Student Portrait Sheet Responses:
What is a subject you’re interested in?
The brain has long intrigued me. I am astonished that sublime emotional experiences and great intellectual pursuits are rooted in the simple firing of neurotransmitters and bits of DNA. Access to complex technology during my internship enabled me to help map the very “program” that underlies consciousness. Reading primary articles from my mentor’s neurobiology reading list inspired me to understand the very source of behavior on a molecular level. Ironically, the brain became somewhat of a puzzle to me – something that meticulously choreographs our every action and demonstrates immense capacity to learn, yet something we understand so little about
What else do you want us to know about you? Please describe something that you have not talked about yet.
“No way!” I stammered, holding a euthanized mouse that seemingly refused to accept death: it tossed and turned violently as its autonomic nervous system continued to fire off signals. The poor creature was born lacking the vital Sox11 gene in its cortical cells, thus becoming an unwitting ally in my quest to learn brain development. Over the next week, I stained the tissue samples with fluorescent antibodies and visualized cell structure under a microscope. Though unforgettable, the experience was typical during my research internship, in which I became astonished that sublime feelings and intellectual pursuits are all rooted in the simple firing of neurotransmitters and bits of DNA. With access to transgenic technology, I could help map the very “program” that makes us conscious. My curiosity to delve deeper into the realms of the brain and personal passion to serve humanity ultimately draw me into medicine as a career path.
What is something you’ve done outside of classes?
Put simply, debate, for me, is a transformational experience. On our Lincoln Douglas Debate team, frustration over perplexing work is transformed into team spirit, budding ideas are transformed to full-fledged arguments, and sleepy eyes are transformed into determined ones, ready to audaciously question the status quo.
As a devoted four-year member and now captain, I have helped the team itself transform in both quantity (by growing it from five students to over seventy) and quality (by mentoring several younger classes of students). I have led the club in a leadership capacity since my 10th grade and have taught debate, judged rounds, and written an expansive handbook, to which every novice debater refers for learning the fundamentals. I revamped our team’s curriculum to include drills to enhance public speaking and cross-examination skills. To spur interest in debate, I created an introductory curriculum this past summer and coached my local middle school debate club. Although the debate is one person against the other, I tell incoming debaters that the team’s support is omnipresent, whether in addressing their endless late-night philosophical quandaries about Derrida or congratulating them on their performance.
Amid all this, I myself have been transformed: From every judge, teammate, and opponent, I have learned something new; I take pride in the fact that over the years, I too became a role model for others in the community. My fondest hope is that they can enjoy a similar transformation.
In our classes at Ace Learning VA, we give you several sample essay prompts, review them in class, and provide you individualized attention and help to guide you to highlighting out your best qualities in your writing. Over a few weeks, you can notice a big difference in how you exemplify your best qualities in writing, and how you can put your best foot forward in your writing. Just fill out a form and let us know that you're interested in learning how to write better, and we'll get back to you and answer any of your questions.
As always, I hope this was helpful. You can let me know if you have any other questions and you would like me to write a blog post to answer them. All the best, and thank you so much for reading! - Naman
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