I recently finished my personal statement. How is it?
Also, I am worried that I didn't write enough about physics and am planning to replace the second paragraph (the RI lecture) with one about 'Brief answers to the big questions'. Should I?
I have copied it out, as the upload doesn't work:
I have always been interested in the story of the laws that govern the universe. This is especially true for theoretical physics, with how it’s mathematical links manage to entwine seemingly unrelated areas. To consolidate these interests, I have pursued a range of super curricular activities.
Just this year, I was selected to attend a variety of lectures organised by The RI on the everyday applications of mathematical techniques. Here, we learnt how the size of universe was measured through intrinsic techniques gradually increasing in scale, how chaos theory can be applied to the forecasting of the weather, and the mathematics of correlation and Bayes’ theorem. I also learnt a variety of critical thinking skills through solving a variety of game-theory dilemmas, such as the market stall problem. Each was at the level and rate of a typical lecture, equal parts demanding and engaging, making me excited for what lies ahead.
Wanting to learn more about experimental technique, I attended a lecture on the discovery of neutrinos, seeing how scientists utilised Feynman diagrams and the technology of their time to confirm their discovery. I enjoyed learning the challenge of detecting something that was seemingly undetectable, especially since it parallels our current problems with dark matter and dark energy. Overall, I feel it was quite motivational and inspiring, showing that even the impossible can be done. However, I wanted to learn more about particle physics, so I studied more deeply into it. I fell down a rabbit hole describing the symmetries of the universe, the significance of a 5-sigma result in the search for the leptoquark, and how finding a heavier, sterile neutrino could explain the quirks of the neutrino's current model. Altogether, I learned how researchers conduct and verify tests to check the validity of our current models, and it has fascinated me to the point where I am driven to conduct said experiments myself.
However, it is not just the physical experiments that beguile me, as last year I had chosen to study a Millennium problem as an artefact for my EPQ. I decided to study the history of the Riemann hypothesis, though I would later read up on Fermat's last theorem and the Navier-Stokes equation in my own time. Here I learnt how one absurdly difficult mathematical problem was replaced by a more tangible one, and how it connected mathematicians and physicists studying wildly differing topics. I also learnt a variety of university-level techniques including modulus, mobius inversion, and asymptotic functions. This ultimately culminated in a book inspired by the likes of 3Blue1Brown and Randall Munroe which acted as a Layman’s guide to problem solving at the highest mathematical level. Through this thoroughly enjoyable experience, I learned how to better manage my time, find inspiration, and research efficiently, all techniques that will be useful in university-level dissertations.
Outside of these formal experiences, I still enjoy finding patterns. This is best exemplified through my love of books, as I have read a multitude of them varying in topic and length. One of my personal favourites is on Feynman, describing how he used his unique critical thinking skills to navigate through life’s problems. It is possible that his love of music has inspired my own, as I am currently dabbling in music theory, finding how a song’s various lifts and dips are connected. Though I am also dabbling in etymology, the intangibility of art fascinates me more, especially as I have invested the time in teaching myself how to draw. I also enjoy challenging myself by reading books on quantum physics and hawking radiation. Balancing schoolwork with my personal interests requires discipline and commitment to both parties. I feel physics will fit well here as a persistent challenge, allowing me to easily explore previously untouched depths.