- Most students choose their intended major or area of study based on a passion or inspiration that’s developed over time – what passion or inspiration led you to choose this area of study?
(300 word maximum)*
多数学生选择专业或研究方向是基于长期培养的热情或灵感——是什么热情或灵感促使您选择这个研究领域？（300字以内）*
我想说，每个人都有自己独特的接触计算机的路，它们都充斥着机缘巧合。而我的路很简单，和游戏脱不开干系。从幼儿园开始我就用电脑玩各种游戏，比如愤怒的小鸟等。不过那个时候我还没接触到任何开发相关的内容，纯粹只是把电脑当作一个生活的要素。在小学毕业那会，我接触到了跳舞的线这款游戏，玩法是通过点击屏幕来控制一条线躲避各种障碍。非常巧，当初如果在网上搜索相关视频，能看到很多非官方的玩家自制的关卡。我当时瞬间清醒地意识到，如果普通玩家能自制一些东西，那我是不是也可以？于是我去网上搜各种教程。19年那会的我还没有现在这么聪明，当初我纯纯是个菜鸟，找个资源都要找半天。虽然我看到很多人都在自制跳舞的线关卡，但是很少有人分享他们的源代码或者教程。所幸我还是找到了一个视频，内容仅仅是简单的讲解代码是怎么写的等等。我看他们用的是Unity 3D这个软件我也就跟着下载了。当时的我什么也不知道，代码也看不懂，只能把视频里出现的字符一个一个挨个抄下来。真的功夫不负有心人，我成功实现了让线拐弯的逻辑以及碰撞障碍的逻辑。虽然在现在看来这啥也不是但对于当时的我来说已经是里程碑式的进步了。随后我跟着许多视频用这种“抄代码”做了好多不同的小游戏，慢慢的我也就会写代码了。没错，我的代码完全就是“抄代码”学来的。后来我逐渐认识到了Github，第一次用它是下载一个MC模组，后来慢慢会用了。我一直做了好多跳舞的线自制关卡，后来游戏停更了我还在做，一直到2022年，后来23年开始做一款自己的独立音游，再到现在已经具备许多开发能力了。游戏构筑了我90%的计算机能力，回顾它们，这似乎一切都是机缘巧合，可能当初如果我没有接触那些游戏，或者恰好没点开那些视频，我就不再是今天的我。当然在未来我还是会继续深究这个领域，毕竟不论是过去还是现在，实现一个功能的成就感依然是我最大的动力来源而且可能在将来也永不破灭。
I’ve come to believe that everyone finds their own way into computer, and those paths are full of serendipity. Mine is simple, it’s inseparable from games. I’d been playing all kinds of games such as Angry Birds on a computer since kindergarten. Back then I had no exposure to development, and the computer was just part of everyday life.
Around the end of elementary school I discovered a game called Dancing Line, where you tap the screen to control a “line” avoid obstacles. Once I searched online, I found several unofficial, player-made levels. I had a flash inspiration, if ordinary players could make these things, why couldn’t I? So I started hunting for tutorials. In 2019 I was a total newbie, it could take me half a day to track down a single resource. Lots of people were building custom levels, but very few shared source code or tutorials. Eventually I found one video that briefly explained how the code worked. They were using Unity 3D, so I downloaded it. I understood almost nothing at first, so I literally copied every character on the screen, line by line.
Hard work pays off. I got the line to turn, and I got collision with obstacles working. That may sound trivial now, but for me at that time it was a milestone. I kept following videos and “learning by copying,” building lots of little games until the code started to make sense. Yes, my programming skill really did begin with copying code.
Later I discovered GitHub. The first time I used it was to download a Minecraft mod, and from there I gradually learned my way around the platform. I kept making Dancing Line levels, even after the game stopped getting updates right up through 2022. In 2023 I began building my own indie rhythm game, and by now I’ve picked up a relatively solid set of development skills.
Games account for about 90% of my computing ability. Looking back, it all feels like chance: if I hadn’t played those games, or clicked on those videos, I might not be who I am today. And I’m not done. I plan to keep digging deeper into this field, because sense of accomplishment of getting something to work. And I hope, far into the future, it remains my strongest motivation.
- Many students pursue college for a specific degree, career opportunity or personal goal. Whichever it may be, learning will be critical to achieve your ultimate goal. As you think ahead to the process of learning during your college years, how will you define a successful college experience?
(300 word maximum)*
许多学生进入大学是为了获得特定学位、职业机会或实现个人目标。无论出于何种原因，学习都将是达成最终目标的关键。当你展望大学阶段的学习历程时，你将如何定义一次成功的大学经历？
（最多300字）*
如果让我回答，一次成功的大学经历并不在于课程拿多少A或者GPA多少，这些是我们在高中甚至初中就应该具备的学习能力。而大学真正的目的在于能否在学习与探索的过程中真正改变自己，让自己能尝试更多曾经甚至当下认为不可能的一步。本科毕业后我打算直接与大学同学或者志同道合的人一起组团开发独立游戏。虽然我现在没有具体计划但我相信在大学的学习中我肯定会产生无数有趣的点子。当然这种事情只要找一个会相关技能的高中生来都能做，但关键是如何进入下一步。我现在制作游戏的目的无非就是因为自己喜欢，也就是对于完成后作品的期待，但是这并不能解释我为什么要去做。这正是我一直所追求的“打动人心”。我需要系统性的了解计算机或者游戏开发的思维和逻辑，我需要知道为什么我要做一个东西，并且其他人对这个东西会产生怎么样的想法。当我毕业时，如果我能清晰地知道自己行动的原因，并具备用技术创造意义的能力，那么这段大学经历就算是成功了。因为它让我成为了一个更有思想和行动力的人。
If I were to answer, a successful college experience is not measured by how many A’s you earn or what your GPA is, those are learning skills we should already have developed in high school, even middle school. The true purpose of college is to see whether, through study and exploration, you can genuinely change yourself and dare to take steps you once, perhaps even now, thought impossible.
After finishing my undergraduate studies, I plan to team up with classmates or like-minded peers to develop independent games. Although I don’t yet have a concrete plan, I’m confident that my college learning will spark countless compelling ideas. Of course, in theory you could find a high school student with the right skills to do something similar, so the real question is how to take the next step.
Right now, I make games simply because I love it, because I’m excited about what I might create, but that alone doesn’t explain why I should do it. What I’ve always pursued is to move people. I need a systematic understanding of the thinking and logic behind computer science and game development. I need to know why I’m making something, and how others might respond to it.
By the time I graduate, if I can clearly articulate the reasons behind my actions and possess the ability to create meaning through technology, then my college experience will have been a success, because it will have made me a person of deeper thought and greater initiative.
- Consider your application as a whole. What do you personally want to emphasize about your application for the admission committee’s consideration? Highlight something that’s important to you or something you haven’t had a chance to share. Tell us, don’t show us (no websites please).
(300 word maximum)* 请全面审视您的申请材料。您希望向招生委员会重点强调申请中的哪些内容？突出对您而言重要的事项，或您尚未有机会展示的亮点。请用文字阐述，而非展示（请勿提供网站链接）。
（最多300字）*
其实我有一个很明显的特点，但我不好说它是帮助了我还是拖慢了我的效率。如果你去Bilibili上搜索音游企划，你能找到一大堆那种带有游戏玩法的游戏企划视频，其中很多玩法都是无效创新，混乱不堪。当然这些企划的想法是好的，但是如果你再过一年去看，很多企划可能已经杳无消息了，甚至有的企划都还没有开发，就只用PPT展示了几个玩法之后就消失了。几年前我亲眼看到这些，我在想，如果我也开发一款音游戏，会不会也出现这种情况。如果真的出现了，那么和我一同开发的人会怎么看待我，我又应该如何对他们的期待负责。于是在开发Domain Ehcoing（当时的项目代号还叫Project Athmyx）的时候，我翻了很多不同的音乐游戏，对比了很多玩法之后才敲定了这款游戏的核心玩法。我需要保证它一定有创新性，但是又不能是乱创新，亦或是为了创新而创新。在那之后我花了一两个月的时间创作了游戏的Demo（只有关卡播放），并且验证了这个项目的可行性。到这我才松了口气，我把视频发到网上，找了一些对此感兴趣的人一起做接下来的工作，并且最后完成了这款游戏。类似这样，为了万无一失，在做重大决策之前我一定会做很多细致的研究，尽最大可能保证我的时间不被浪费。我的脑子里经常出现乱七八糟的点子，有好多都是不现实的。不经过那些验证我会浪费很多时间。当然这样效率可能比较低，但也算是我的一个特点了，总比那些想到什么就做什么最终大概率失败的人要好。
To be honest, I have a very distinctive trait, though I’m not sure whether it helps me or slows me down. If you search for “rhythm game proposals” on Bilibili, you’ll find tons of pitch videos that showcase gameplay, many of those mechanics are ineffective innovations, messy and unfocused. The ideas are well-intentioned, of course, but check back a year later and many projects have vanished without a trace. Some never even reach development: after a few PPT slides showing off mechanics, they simply disappear.
Seeing this firsthand years ago, I asked myself: if I make a rhythm game, will the same thing happen to me? If it did, how would my collaborators view me, and how should I take responsibility for their expectations? So when I began developing Domain Echoing (then codenamed Project_Athmyx), I examined a wide range of music games and compared many systems before deciding on the core gameplay. I needed to ensure genuine innovation without being reckless or innovating for its own sake. After that, I spent a month or two building a demo (just the level player) to verify the project’s feasibility. Only then did I breathe a sigh of relief. Then I posted a video online, found people interested in joining the next stages, and finally finished the game.
In cases like this, to leave as little to chance as possible, I always conduct meticulous research before making major decisions, doing everything I can to ensure my time isn’t wasted. My head is constantly buzzing with all kinds of ideas, many of them unrealistic. Without that validation step, I would lose a lot of time. This approach may be less efficient, but it’s part of who I am—and it’s still better than jumping on every impulse and, more often than not, failing.
Purdue University
Early Action · November 01, 2025
1. How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom? (Respond in 250 words or fewer.)* 普渡大学提供的机会将如何支持您在课堂内外的发展？（请用250字以内作答。）*
对于我一个想要在计算机科学领域深究的学生来说，普渡大学比起其他大学有很多得天独厚的条件。虽然在普渡计算机专业中也和其他大学一样有丰富的Tracks可供选择并且我的兴趣也是Software Engineering Track，与很多学校不同，普渡大学允许大一就参与科研，并且这个机会不局限于校内甚至不局限于学期时间，暑假也可以做。进入普渡大学后我很希望我能很快地接手一些这种科研，毕竟实践是检验真理的唯一标准。另外，我觉得我非常适合参与普渡大学的The Data Mine社区。这个跨学科学习的研究社区接受各种学生并让学生们在一起共同学习。并且还有机会与企业合作，这能让我直接面对真实的问题，积累经验。这正是我乃至所有计算机科学的学生都需要。还有一个很细节的点就是我们甚至有机会住在同一个宿舍。这种形式非常利于成员之间的沟通，很显著地提升了研究的效率。这个形式和我在今年暑假参加的CMU的NSHGA项目非常相似，那也是我非常难忘的时光。我一定会积极参与到The Data Mine。最后普渡大学的许多活动比如BoilerMak等等我都非常感兴趣。普渡大学能给予我的帮助在科研和实践方面都有巨大的优势。
For a student like me who is determined to explore the field of computer science in depth, Purdue University offers many unparalleled advantages compared to other institutions.
Although Purdue’s Computer Science program, like many others, provides a variety of specialized tracks, and my primary interest lies in the Software Engineering Track, what truly sets Purdue apart is its openness to research opportunities even for freshmen. Unlike most universities, Purdue allows students to engage in research projects from their first year, and these opportunities are not limited to on-campus or semester-time only; they extend into the summer as well. After enrolling, I hope to quickly take part in such research experiences, as practice is, after all, the only test of truth.
Moreover, I believe I am an excellent fit for “The Data Mine” community at Purdue. This interdisciplinary learning and research community welcomes students from diverse backgrounds to collaborate and learn together. It also provides opportunities to work with corporate partners, allowing students to tackle real-world problems and gain invaluable experience, something every computer science student truly needs. A particularly appealing aspect is that participants often live in the same residence hall, fostering constant communication and significantly enhancing research efficiency. This setup strongly reminds me of the NHSGA program at Carnegie Mellon University I attended last summer, which was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I would be eager to actively participate in The Data Mine.
Finally, events such as BoilerMake and many others hosted at Purdue greatly excite me. Purdue’s unique environment offers immense advantages for both research and hands-on practice, providing exactly the kind of support I need to grow as a computer scientist.
2. Briefly discuss your reasons for choosing your major and your interest in studying at this campus location (Indianapolis or West Lafayette). (Respond in 250 words or fewer.)* 简要说明您选择该专业的理由，以及对在该校区（印第安纳波利斯或西拉斐特）就读的兴趣。（请用250字以内作答。）*
自初中时期我就对电脑产生了浓厚的兴趣。我对计算机科学的兴趣与能力几乎都是游戏开发培养的。本科毕业后我打算直接与大学同学或者志同道合的人一起组团开发独立游戏。虽然我现在没有具体计划但我相信在大学的学习中我肯定会产生无数有趣的点子。亦或是加入某个新兴游戏工作室承担主要开发内容。目前我还未接触任何商业化内容，在毕业后我的首要目标就是朝向商业化游戏发展。商业化不仅仅是赚钱，还能收集更多的资源和人力资源，制作出更大体量的游戏。而普渡大学的计算机专业能够实在地帮助到我这一点。在普渡大学我能认识很多志同道合的学生，并且计算机专业课的知识足够让我成为一个有实力的游戏开发者。我选择西拉斐特的原因主要是因为其系本部Lawson Computer Science Building的资源是一众大学中独有的，而且它与企业的合作非常紧密。我觉得我在普渡大学西拉斐特校区能度过非常成功的大学时光。
Since middle school, I have been deeply interested in computers. Nearly all of my interest in, and ability with, computer science has been cultivated through game development. After earning my bachelor’s degree, I plan to form a team with classmates or other like-minded people to develop indie games. Although I do not yet have a concrete plan, I believe my studies in college will spark countless ideas. Alternatively, I may join an startup game studio and take on major development responsibilities. I have not worked on commercialization yet, so my first goal after graduation is to move toward commercial games. Commercialization is not only about making money, it also helps gather more resources and talent to build larger-scale titles. Purdue’s Computer Science program can tangibly help me achieve this. At Purdue, I can meet many like-minded students, and the CS coursework will equip me to become a capable game developer. I choose West Lafayette mainly because the department headquarters, the Lawson Computer Science Building, offers resources that are unique among universities and maintains very close ties with industry. I believe I will have a very successful undergraduate experience at Purdue’s West Lafayette campus.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Early Action · November 01, 2025
1. Explain, in detail, an experience you’ve had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major. This can be an experience from an extracurricular activity, in a class you’ve taken, or through something else.* 详细描述过去3至4年间与您首选专业相关的经历。该经历可来自课外活动、所修课程或其他途径。（请用150字以内作答。）
2023年末我灵光一现，想要开发一款音乐游戏。和我做其他事的动力一样，想象这件事成功带来的成就就驱动了我。我第一次制作如此纯粹的和节奏相关的游戏，制作过程略显生疏。这款游戏是3D下落式音游，首先要用BPM把时间和音乐节拍直接互相转换，所有的动画都基于拍数来创作，这样才能保证游玩时的延迟非常小。一个关卡播放器就耗费了我不少力气，选关界面也花了我不少时间，每个章节里有若干关卡，每个关卡又有若干不同数量的难度，并且章节，关卡，和难度它们分别还有独立的解锁方式。当然最让我头疼的还是关卡编辑器。在此之前我对Unity Editor一窍不通，后来是慢慢看教程和docs才搭建出一个简陋的编辑器，直到现在它还只有一些基本功能。
At the end of 2023, I suddenly had the idea to develop a music game. As with everything I do, my motivation came from imagining the sense of accomplishment that success would bring. It was my first time creating a game purely centered on rhythm, so the development process felt somewhat unfamiliar at first.
The game is a 3D falling-note rhythm game. I began by using BPM to directly convert time into musical beats, ensuring that all animations were created based on beat counts to keep gameplay latency minimal. Building the level player took a lot of effort, and designing the level-selection interface was equally time-consuming. Each chapter contains several levels, and each level includes multiple difficulty modes, all with their own unlocking mechanisms.
The most challenging part, however, was the level editor. Before this project, I knew almost nothing about the Unity Editor. By watching tutorials and reading documentation, I gradually built a simple custom editor, which still only supports basic functions for now.
2. Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them.* （请用150字以内作答。）描述你从伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校毕业后的个人和/或职业目标，以及你选择的首选专业将如何帮助你实现这些目标。请简要说明你对未来职业发展的规划，并阐述你认为该专业如何支持你实现这些目标。
在选择CS作为Major的同时，我会选择Game Dev作为Minor。本科毕业后我打算直接与大学同学或者志同道合的人一起组团开发独立游戏。虽然我现在没有具体计划但我相信在大学的学习中我肯定会产生无数有趣的点子。亦或是加入某个新兴游戏工作室承担主要开发内容。目前我还未接触任何商业化内容，在毕业后我的首要目标就是朝向商业化游戏发展。商业化不仅仅是赚钱，还能收集更多的资源和人力资源，制作出更大体量的游戏。而UIUC的计算机专业能够实在地帮助到我这一点。在UIUC我能认识很多志同道合的学生，并且专业课的知识足够让我成为一个有实力的游戏开发者。
In addition to majoring in CS, I will choose Game Dev as my minor. After graduating, I plan to team up with classmates or other like-minded people to develop indie games. Although I don’t have a concrete plan yet, I believe I will generate countless interesting ideas during my studies. Alternatively, I may join an startup game studio and take on major development responsibilities. I have not engaged in commercialization yet, so my first goal after graduation is to move toward commercial games. Commercialization is not only about making money, it also helps gather more resources and talent to build larger-scale titles. UIUC’s CS program can help me do exactly this. I can meet like-minded students there, and the coursework will equip me to become a capable game developer.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Early Action · November 01, 2025
Why do you want to study your chosen major and why do you want to study your major at Georgia Tech?* 你为何选择攻读该专业？又为何选择在佐治亚理工学院攻读该专业？* 300 words
在选择CS专业的同时我会选择它的Media Thread。本科毕业后我打算直接与大学同学或者志同道合的人一起组团开发独立游戏。虽然我现在没有具体计划但我相信在大学的学习中我肯定会产生无数有趣的点子。亦或是加入某个新兴游戏工作室承担主要开发内容。目前我还未接触任何商业化内容，在毕业后我的首要目标就是朝向商业化游戏发展。商业化不仅仅是赚钱，还能收集更多的资源和人力资源，制作出更大体量的游戏。而GIT的计算机专业能够实在地帮助到我这一点。在GIT我能认识很多志同道合的学生，并且专业课的知识足够让我成为一个有实力的开发者。当然除了这些之外GIT相比于其它大学还有独天得厚的条件。CREATE-X这个成熟的一站式的创业体系绝对是对我这类人群的绝佳资源。同时其创业环境也能喜迎更多人进而促成团体的诞生。并且我了解到GIT有专门的游戏开发社团VGDev，在里面我能轻松找到朋友。诸如此类的资源我觉得对于我有特殊意义上的帮助，来到这里不仅仅是系统性学习知识，这种独特的环境是GIT最吸引我的点。
While majoring in Computer Science, I plan to choose the Media Thread. After graduation, I intend to form an indie game team with classmates or other like-minded peers, or join an startup studio in a core developer role. Although I don’t yet have a detailed roadmap, I’m confident that my university studies will spark countless ideas. I currently have no experience with commercialization, so my first post-graduation goal is to move toward commercial game development. Commercialization isn’t just about revenue, it also brings access to resources and talent, enabling larger-scale projects.
Georgia Tech’s CS program can tangibly help me achieve this. At Tech, I’ll meet many peers who share my interests, and the curriculum will equip me to be a strong developer. Beyond coursework, Georgia Tech offers distinctive advantages: CREATE-X is a mature, end-to-end entrepreneurship ecosystem, an ideal resource for someone like me, and its startup environment attracts collaborators and catalyzes team formation. I also understand that Tech has a dedicated game development club, VGDev, where I can readily find teammates and friends. Resources like these are uniquely meaningful to me. Coming here is not only about systematic learning, this distinctive community environment is what most attracts me to Georgia Tech.
University of Maryland
Early Action · November 01, 2025
At the University of Maryland, we encourage our students to go beyond the classroom to engage in opportunities that further both their academic and personal growth.
To tell us more about yourself, please complete the following prompts using only the space provided (Maximum 650 characters).
If I could travel anywhere, I would go to…* 如果能去任何地方旅行，我会选择……*
东京，日本。有机会去参加Comiket展览。
Tokyo, Japan. I had the opportunity to attend the Comiket exhibition.
The most interesting fact I ever learned from research was…* 研究中最让我感兴趣的事实是……*
在我做那个通过排队论解决学校食堂拥堵问题的研究时，我收集的食堂净人数数据其实并没有想象中的多。然后我亲身经历到的那种感觉远比数据难受得多，我觉得这种主观上的夸大来判断一个研究结果非常有意思。
The most interesting fact I ever learned from research was that perception can exaggerate reality. When I was doing my research on solving cafeteria crowding problem with queueing theory last semester, I discovered that the actual number of people in the cafeteria was far smaller than what most students, including myself, had imagined. Experiencing the crowd firsthand felt much worse than what the data showed. I found it fascinating how our subjective feelings could distort our understanding of an objective situation.
In addition to my major, my academic interests include…* 除主修专业外，我的学术兴趣还包括……*
数学，物理，语言学
Math, Physics, and Linguistics.
My favorite thing about last Monday was…* 上周一最让我开心的事是……*
我的前同学邀请我万圣节去他们学校玩（那天我们学校放假，他们学校举行全天活动），我准备画几张签绘带给他们
My former classmates invited me to their school for their this year’s Halloween event. Since my school has a day off that day, I’m planning to go and bring a few signed sketches I drew for them.
Something you might not know about me is…* 你可能不知道的是……*
我是男生但是我所有音乐作品里的女声Vocal都是我完成的。这是因为我训练了一个声音模型，把我的Vocal转换成女声再加以调整。
I’m male, but all the female vocals in my music are actually performed by me. That’s because I trained a voice model to convert my own vocals into a female voice and then fine-tuned the results.
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.* 马里兰大学深知多元化能丰富所有学生的教育体验，因此珍视各种形式的多样性。这包括（但不限于）种族、社会经济背景、性别、地域及性取向等。我们期待了解您独特的个人经历。请用几句话描述您如何通过多元化元素中的一个或多个方面获得学习成长、受到启发或发展技能。*
在我9年级时我们年级唯一的印度人遭到了几乎所有人的嫌弃。很多人都不和他交流甚至做出一些恶意举动，我在当时非常反感这类行为，由于我和他在同一节英语课，我经常和他交流和学习。好在大多数人并不会因为这样而排斥我。虽然我一直都非常接受多元化，不过在此我也学习到了…包容不仅仅是口头上的理念，而是要真正实践才能做到。我意识到一个包容的环境不是自然存在的，而是需要每个人去维护与创造的。
When I was a freshmen, the only Indian student in our grade was shunned by almost everyone. Many people refused to talk to him and even acted maliciously toward him. I felt deeply uncomfortable with those behaviors. Since we were in the same English class, I often talked and studied with him. Fortunately, most people didn’t exclude me for doing so.
Although I had always believed in diversity and inclusion, this experience taught me something new that inclusion is not just an idea to talk about, but something we must actively practice. I realized that an inclusive environment doesn’t exist naturally. Instead, it has to be built and maintained by everyone.
When I was a freshmen, the only Indian student in our grade was shunned by almost everyone. Many people refused to talk to him and even acted maliciously toward him. I felt deeply uncomfortable with those behaviors. Since we were in the same English class, I often talked and studied with him. Fortunately, most people didn’t exclude me for doing so. Although I had always believed in diversity and inclusion, this experience taught me something new that inclusion is not just an idea to talk about, but something we must actively practice. I realized that an inclusive environment doesn’t exist naturally. Instead, it has to be built and maintained.