Empowerly

Student Profile

Please submit a one page, single-spaced essay that explains why you have chosen Carnegie Mellon and your particular major(s), department(s) or program(s). This essay should include the reasons why you’ve chosen the major(s), any goals or relevant work plans and any other information you would like us to know. For freshmen applying to more than one college or program, please mention each college or program to which you are applying. 

One more week and my Indonesian friend, [name], would have lost his right leg. [name] had broken his right leg but it had taken doctors five weeks to provide a basic diagnosis. Unfortunately, the reality of his situation is true for millions of people living in developing countries that are plagued with an inefficient healthcare system, lack of medical professionals, and rising health costs. The conventional wisdom that these  problems can be solved by increasing funding or redistributing resources can only be so effective. 

I wanted to tackle this problem using a  innovative and unorthodox approach. I co-founded [name], a medical imaging software company that uses machine learning to accurately identify bone fractures on x-rays. I integrated technology, entrepreneurship, and business to approach one of the world’s growing health problems: timely and efficient healthcare.

When I visited Carnegie Mellon University, I found an institution that shared my ideology that true innovation and research in society occurs when one anticipates and stays ahead of the marketplace. The Tepper School of Business is one of few colleges that offers a quantitative, technical, and specific undergraduate business degree with leadership skills preparing me for an ever-evolving 21st century.

At Tepper, I want to major in Finance and Entrepreneurship with a minor in Health Care Policy, while also taking classes in the School of Computer Science. The unique interdisciplinary approach would allow me to develop a complete and competitive skill set. Specifically, for my startup, [name], I will be able to better understand the machine learning component. This perfect academic trifecta and the comprehensive curriculum covering modeling, data feeds, behavioral decision making, and innovative research will provide me with intellectual resources for life no matter where my entrepreneurial endeavors take me, from healthcare disruption to algorithm-based security trading.

Because of my interest in The Tepper School of Business, I was excited to discover that there was an exclusive Tepper Alumni event in the D.C area about the new Tepper Quad presented by the Dean, [name] himself. I contacted the alumni coordinator and expressed my interest in the event and he graciously extended me the invitation! I was beyond excited; I was able to get an insider's look into the new Tepper Quad, meet alumni, and, more importantly, understand the school’s vision for the next 100 years. The vision was the perfect combination of technological innovation, management science, analytics, and leadership that would not just adapt to innovation but be the driver of change. After all, the School of Computer Science originated from the Tepper School’s basement, similar to the garages of wildly successful startups, as [name] joked during the event.

From “Wednesday Night Coffee” to “Waffle, Coffee, and Professor,” this small-knit community will be a family. Outside of the classroom, I look forward to competing for the Tepper Venture Award, as I hope to receive mentorship from Professor [name], a seasoned entrepreneur in healthcare innovation. I can see myself working late into the night at the Schwartz Center in the new Quad, collaborating with the Machine Learning Department for diagnostic imaging, or studying for a test for my “Investment Analysis” class.

I want to join the Tepper community to learn how to be a successful, responsible, and analytical entrepreneur creating social and economic value for the individual and society. A Carnegie Mellon experience will be much more than an education; it is a preparation for the future.