Physics Personal Statement
My decision to pursue a degree in Physics came simply as the conclusion of my natural academic and vocational inclinations; my fascination for natural phenomena has been present ever since I can recall. Such curiosity developed with age and has been more sharply focused into the areas of modern Physics, by the overall background my study of Higher Level Physics in the International Baccalaureate has provided and by the reading of more specialist writings on areas such as the philosophy of physics, quantum mechanics and chaos by authors such as Paul Davies, Roger Penrose and Stephen Hawking. This further reading has enabled me to understand the demands of university level physics; not only in conceptual complexity, but also in the research-oriented approach I ultimately plan to embrace, particularly in the growing field of molecular nanotechnology.
Inside school, the involvement in drama productions throughout the whole of my school career, including three operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan, has helped me reinforce my interpersonal skills and acquire confidence in communication, not mentioning the personal satisfaction derived by both the rehearsals and the performances. For this effort I received half colours in drama. The realization of the operettas also provided me with the opportunity to join the school's four-part choir, which has performed in various school concerts and inter-school festivals as well as for Prince Andrew in his visit to the college, and recorded songs for the school's audio CD. In addition, I have been a dedicated electric guitar player for the last five years, performing in school concerts with the college's rock and jazz groups, and have found in this instrument a powerful method of artistic expression.
Furthermore, my participation in the annual Spanish Department literary contest in various years has strengthened my creative side; having won prizes that enabled me to reach the ADCA inter-school competition, also winning in the short story category. Additionally, I have received in three occasions the 1st prize for the General Knowledge Warden's paper and, finally, as a reward for my IGSCE examination results, full academic colours.
My interest in information technology prompted me to obtain skills beyond those of the school curriculum in areas such as programming, HTML and graphic design which will certainly prove to be extremely useful in future university studies in the same manner as they do presently: my programming ability permitted me to develop a program which modeled numerical data for my physics extended essay on relativistic Doppler redshift. Likewise, I was able to construct a complete web site for a relative's company, including the design of the logos and motifs, a deed which also served as valuable work experience. With my expertise in computers, I offered myself as voluntary Student Help-desk for the school's computing Central Service Facility in order to aid the younger students with any problems their laptop computers may present, responsibility which provided me with the opportunity to work with a range of people, getting to know other students and gain more useful work experience.
The International Award programme allowed me to learn a variety of skills in camping and hiking, as well as in first aid, and more importantly has permitted me to share exciting experiences with both school mates and teachers in walks going up to 4900m in the Peruvian Andes. Having led some of these expeditions, I have attained significant leadership qualities as well as having experienced the close comradeship a team develops in the barren conditions we came across. More recently, I have been practicing Kendo, the art of the Japanese swordsmanship, the most antique of all Japanese martial arts and arguably the most demanding as well. The rigorous practice of this art has not only enabled me to widen incredibly my cultural horizons, but also to grow and mature as a human being, not mentioning, the successful completion of the examination leading to the 5th kyu certification.
Reading has always been an important and enjoyable activity for me.
Besides the scientific oriented texts mentioned, my favorite reading is 19th century English literature. Dickens' Great Expectations and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brönte are among some the recent books I have completed and have particularly impressed me because of their peculiar insight on the nature of love. Additionally, Nietzsche's"Thus Spake Zarathustra" has definitely helped broaden my vision on human nature and related philosophical matters.
Whilst my interests, experiences and skills will certainly contribute to and enrich various aspects of university life, it is however because of my skill and true, enthusiastic, fascination of physics, that I feel capable of not only successfully completing the degree course, but also of achieving important contributions through dedicated research in a near future.
Comments
General Comments:
This personal statement would need a lot of work. It focussed far too heavily on involvement in activities completely unrelated to physics. Though often recommended to be 60% about your subject usually. For physics, you can afford up to 80% on your subject. Although the writing was acceptable, the sentence structure was overly complex due to a lack of punctuation. Once again a reminder that your personal statement is most likely to be read by a physics academic who will be judging you on your understanding of physics so it is sensible to make that the bulk of your statement.
Comments on the statement:
My decision to pursue a degree in Physics came simply as the conclusion of my natural academic and vocational inclinations; my fascination for natural phenomena has been present ever since I can recall. This reads much like the cliched "from a young age" Such curiosity developed with age and has been more sharply focused into the areas of modern physics, lower case for the general subject and upper case if you are referring to a specific course or module. by the overall background my study of Higher Level Physics in the International Baccalaureate You should not refer to your studies without detailing anything within them that particularly interested you as it is written elsewhere on your UCAS statement what subjects you take. has provided and by the reading of more specialist writings on areas such as the philosophy of physics, quantum mechanics and chaos by authors such as Paul Davies, Roger Penrose and Stephen Hawking. I would like to see discussion of the book rather than general listing. Explain the physics, with a relevant example that you found interesting. This further reading has enabled me to understand the demands of university level physics; not only in conceptual complexity, but also in the research-oriented approach I ultimately plan to embrace, particularly in the growing field of molecular nanotechnology. This is their judgement and not yours I wouldn't put it so strongly.
Inside school, the involvement in drama productions throughout the whole of my school career, including three operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan, has helped me reinforce my interpersonal skills and acquire confidence in communication, not mentioning the personal satisfaction derived by both the rehearsals and the performances. For this effort I received half colours in drama. If you are going to say you got half colours you should explain them in a more general way. The realization of the operettas also provided me with the opportunity to join the school's four-part choir, which has performed in various school concerts and inter-school festivals as well as for Prince Andrew in his visit to the college, and recorded songs for the school's audio CD. Did they do this whilst you were in the choir? In addition, I have been a dedicated electric guitar player for the last five years, performing in school concerts with the college's rock and jazz groups, and have found in this instrument a powerful method of artistic expression.
Furthermore, my participation in the annual Spanish Department literary contest in various years has strengthened my creative side; having won prizes that enabled me to reach the ADCA inter-school competition, also winning in the short story category. You have already demonstrated your creative side and at this point you should be discussing physics. Additionally, I have received on three occasions the first prize for the General Knowledge Warden's paper and, finally, as a reward for my IGSCE examination results, full academic colours. How is this relevant to your study of physics?
My interest in information technology prompted me to obtain skills beyond those of the school curriculum in areas such as programming, HTML and graphic design which will certainly prove to be extremely useful in future university studies in the same manner as they do presently: my programming ability permitted me to develop a program which modeled numerical data for my physics extended essay on relativistic Doppler redshift. Likewise, I was able to construct a complete web site for a relative's company, including the design of the logos and motifs, a deed which also served as valuable work experience. With my expertise in computers, I offered myself as voluntary Student Help-desk for the school's computing Central Service Facility in order to aid the younger students with any problems their laptop computers may present, responsibility which provided me with the opportunity to work with a range of people, getting to know other students and gain more useful work experience. Although it is very overwritten, the content of this paragraph is generally good.
The International Award programme allowed me to learn a variety of skills in camping and hiking, as well as in first aid, and more importantly has permitted me to share exciting experiences with both school mates and teachers in walks going up to 4900m in the Peruvian Andes. Having led some of these expeditions, I have attained significant leadership qualities as well as having experienced the close comradeship a team develops in the barren conditions we came across. More recently, I have been practicing Kendo, the art of the Japanese swordsmanship, the most antique of all Japanese martial arts and arguably the most demanding as well. The rigorous practice of this art has not only enabled me to widen incredibly my cultural horizons, but also to grow and mature as a human being, not mentioning, the successful completion of the examination leading to the 5th kyu certification. More extra curriculars? You have mentioned very little physics so far.
Reading has always been an important and enjoyable activity for me. Explain why this is important for physics and expand on it. Furthermore this should not be a separate paragraph.
Besides the scientific oriented texts mentioned, my favorite reading is 19th century English literature. Dickens' Great Expectations and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brönte are among some the recent books I have completed and have particularly impressed me because of their peculiar insight on the nature of love. Additionally, Nietzsche's "Thus Spake Zarathustra" has definitely helped broaden my vision on human nature and related philosophical matters. What relevance does this have?
Whilst my interests, experiences and skills will certainly contribute to and enrich various aspects of university life, it is however because of my skill and true, enthusiastic, fascination of physics, that I feel capable of not only successfully completing the degree course, but also of achieving important contributions through dedicated research in a near future. OK finally back on topic.
