Online Portfolio - Katelyn Ludwig, Boston, MA
Writing Samples
Excerpt from my application essay to Emerson College (September 2004):
When I first entered the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1999, I had no idea what to expect out of my collegiate experience. I was the first person in my immediate family, as well as in my father’s entire family, to attend college full-time. I applied as a computer science major because I was a quick learner with technical aptitude determined to achieve a lucrative degree that seemed to ensure job security. I was accepted into the major’s highly selective Talent Advancement Program designed for incoming freshman with exceptional academic abilities, but I quickly realized that the focuses of the computer science program were computer systems, computation theory, and artificial intelligence. The rigidity of the major was stifling, and, regretfully, I left the program after one semester. This departure marked the beginning of a period of self-discovery, punctuated by a variety of interdisciplinary courses that eventually led me to select English as my major. Within a few weeks, one of my professors suggested that I join the Professional Writing and Technical Communication (PWTC) concentration. My entrance into these classes ushered in the most academically steadfast years of my college career.
The PWTC was designed to present an intense introduction to various ways of studying and critiquing theories and practices of information design. The focus of the program involved understanding and utilizing written and electronic communication forms. Additionally, the PWTC provided intense study of multiple software programs and computer platforms. While this general overview did interest me, I was more excited by the glimpse of the creative possibilities of electronic and paper publications. Specifically, I enjoyed the whirlwind tour of digital graphic design, image production, and web page design, as well as the opportunity to hone my skills in content creation, editing, proofing, and publishing. My favorite course by far was Advanced Software, a course specifically designed to provide each student with a familiarity in a variety of software programs. While most students simply completed the requirements of the course, I spent a great deal of my free time doing extra work on assignments, redeveloping my class website, and helping other students with their projects in the lab. At this point, I realized that I wanted a career in new media development and production.
In addition to helping me realize my professional goals, the PWTC assisted in concretely defining my attributes as a collegiate student, creating my identity as a goal-oriented, motivated, hard-working and successful academic. My increasingly difficult workload was juxtaposed with a full-time job and part-time tutoring at The Writing Center at UMass. In order to be a success in all three areas, I became adept at multi-tasking, maintaining self-imposed strict organization and high standards for all my work, whether professional or academic. My goals were realized when I graduated cum laude in 2003 with a BA in English; however, I was undecided about whether to continue academic studies in a graduate program. The PWTC courses provided me with a concentration in the field, while my major had focused in developing strong communication skills. I lacked the formal education necessary to try to enter my intended career field, but I was extremely dedicated to integrating new media studies into my life. Based on this, I took a year off to determine what I wanted to do with my education and my career path. After reflecting on my personal and academic development as an undergraduate, I concluded that I belong in a graduate program, and began intimately researching schools.
I was in search of a program that was both innovative and engaging in scope, particularly one that would integrate my excellent written and verbal communication skills, my technical aptitude and familiarity, and my creative and artistic sensibility. After searching through hundreds of programs, I came across Emerson College’s MA in Media Arts. Immediately, I realized that the objectives of the program aligned perfectly with the material that I had enjoyed studying throughout my undergraduate career. While this basic premise thrilled me, I became more overjoyed when I looked at the details of the program.
First, and most importantly, Media Arts encourages the crossover between the different focuses within its program. Throughout my undergraduate career, I have been searching for interdisciplinary courses and programs that combine several of my interests. Although I would chose to focus in new media, I have an interest in audio production and development. Thanks to the flexibility of this MA, I would be able to pursue a very personalized degree designed specifically for me. Secondly, Emerson College boasts that it contains the largest Digital Production Lab in New England dedicated to new media technologies. The fact that the school has significantly invested in my area of academic interest shows that the program is well-developed and supported. Emerson is the only school I have found that enumerated detailed specifications of its professional production facilities. Lastly, Emerson has an ideal location in historic and beautiful Boston, Massachusetts. I have visited the city several times, and I fall in love with it every time I return. I have always dreamed about moving to an urban area, full of opportunity, culture, and people. Attending Emerson College will also help me realize that dream.