[Sora]

Hi guys,

Not sure if this is where this question belongs, but I am 100% certain I want to do Maths at one of the top 10 universities, and I was wondering what extra-curricular activities are good to help with things like my personal statement to get in, extra learning and just generally interesting things to do that involve maths.

I noticed my personal statement will be very boring, since I don't really do anything (I'm not as boring as I sound :P) and I wanted to spend my summer doing something practical rather than wasting it all just going to my work and earning a few pounds.

Any ideas will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Sora

[Sora]

(Original post by sheeesh)
You could put stuff like reading popular maths books, Maths Challenge and the other maths competitions, tutoring in maths, helping out in younger students' maths lessons. To be honest I doubt most maths admissions tutors do more than skim read the PS, if at all so it doesn't have to be mindblowing. You can also work your job into the PS and relate it to a maths degree, e.g. it might improve your problem-solving skills or whatever.

Which books would you recommend?

And how can I work, working at a shoe shop, into my PS? :P

[Intriguing Alias]

(Original post by Sora)
Which books would you recommend?

And how can I work, working at a shoe shop, into my PS? :P

Try 'A Concise Introduction to Pure Mathematics' - you'll be able to find more on Oxford and Cambridge reading lists, for example.

You can't.

[Sora]

I'll look it up ;D

How do I get entered into those challenges as well? I've never heard of them O.o

[Outsanity]

Look up the "Maths Leadership" Award and see if you can get your school involved. My school ran it when I was doing my A-levels a couple of years back and it involved teaching less able students, organising maths events for Primary school kids and individual project work. Sounds like it might be something similar to what you're looking for.

[desijut]

There's not really much except stuff like maths challenge and reading books. The only thing you need to portray is that you love maths

[number23]

(Original post by Sora)
Hi guys,

Not sure if this is where this question belongs, but I am 100% certain I want to do Maths at one of the top 10 universities, and I was wondering what extra-curricular activities are good to help with things like my personal statement to get in, extra learning and just generally interesting things to do that involve maths.

I noticed my personal statement will be very boring, since I don't really do anything (I'm not as boring as I sound :P) and I wanted to spend my summer doing something practical rather than wasting it all just going to my work and earning a few pounds.

Any ideas will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Sora

hi, i applied to some of the 'top 10' for maths (oxford, durham, st andrews, bristol and warwick) and didnt have alot of maths related activities

i did get into the UNIQ maths summer school and mentioned one maths book I think

the main thing is getting an A* in maths ideally and A (or A* :P) in further maths, but if you want, and can find it, maybe look for an internship in an accountancy firm, medical firm (look into medical statistics) etc.

good luck!

[Sora]

The "Maths Leadership" Award looks pretty good. It's similar to the idea I had of asking my maths teacher if I could help her in her classes when I have a free lesson, so I could help the lower school with maths on an informal level, rather than them having to ask a teacher.

[Jackfinance17]

Hi, I don't believe work experience or any extra curricular are really gonna help you at all in the top universities for Mathematics, that might be one of the reason why I am going of it :P I am as boring as you are haha. But do read some books about mathematics, such as "What is mathematical analysis", "Solving mathematical problems" etc. And aiming for A*A* for both Maths and Further Maths because top unis requires both to A*. You can also start look into university level textbook now, which is what I do.

[Sora]

I think I'll just stick with reading a couple of books over the summer for now. I'll ask about the Summer School thing when I go back to school tomorrow.