The Student Room Group
Reply 1
Hey! I applied to Oxford, Imperial, Kings, Warwick, Bristol, and Kings to study Mathematics and Computer Science.. this is my personal statement:

"When asked why I like Mathematics, I realised that it is all down to my personality. Being a composed, explicit person, I enjoy the challenge of questions with unequivocal answers. My character’s orderly side draws me enthusiastically towards neat solutions, my creativity gives rise to my acceptance of new ideas and my positive mind results in my wish to succeed. All questions have definite answers; we just need to construct ways of reaching them.

Mathematics at AS Level opened my mind to several new areas of algebra, sequences and series, and functions. I keenly welcomed the new techniques and enjoyed all aspects of the course. Some of my favourite areas, however, were trigonometry and calculus; it was fascinating to see how trigonometric functions come together in a few simple identities! Being new to the methods of differentiation and integration, I spent extra time going over examples, which soon became clear in my mind. I look forward to investigating these topics further in the A2 modules.

In addition to retaining a strong interest in Mathematics, my fascination for computers has grown. Nevertheless, I was unsure of whether or not I wanted to pursue a joint honours course of Mathematics with Computer Science, or a single degree course of Mathematics. My decision to apply for the joint course was confirmed after I attended a number of Computer Science Summer School courses in London.

Joining Dubai College has given me the chance to explore new horizons. Responsibilities, such as being a prefect and Year 7 liaison, have made me realise our importance in the school as sixth formers. I am currently in the process of completing my Duke of Edinburgh Gold award, for which I successfully finished an 80km expedition through the mountains of Mauritius. I will never forget the feelings of pure enjoyment and adventure; it was truly a challenging experience!

Although A Levels take up a great deal of time, I manage to maintain personal fitness by horse riding daily. I routinely enter dressage and show jumping competitions throughout the U.A.E., where I frequently achieve a medal place. Riding horses brings on a sense of freedom and allows me socialise out of school.

I have also obtained an understanding of what it is like to work amongst a large group of people through working in various companies around Dubai. These included Barclays Bank, Prolab Digital and Palms Nursery. I particularly benefited from my experience at Barclays, as it introduced me to many fields, such as trading, accountancy and exchange, and taught me to appreciate the evident need for teamwork.

Although I am still unsure of the path I will take after graduating, I know that having a Mathematics/Computing degree will give me many transferable skills. I am currently investigating a number of regions that appeal to me, which include actuarial science and further postgraduate study. For now, I intend to approach the future positively and have many exciting thoughts. I hope to encounter new opportunities, make new friends and rise to the challenge of university!"


Hope it helps! :smile:

*Tara*
Reply 2
Here is a maths personal statement by meepmeep, a member of UK-learning.
Reply 3
Weirdo

Although A Levels take up a great deal of time, I manage to maintain personal fitness by horse riding daily. I routinely enter dressage and show jumping competitions throughout the U.A.E., where I frequently achieve a medal place. Riding horses brings on a sense of freedom and allows me socialise out of school.


HEY! another horse fan! Did you get an offer from Oxford? I'm hoping to go to Oxford (grades permitting) in oct to study Physics (don't know which college yet as I was made an open offer) and am a keen horse rider! You ever played polo? I'd love to try it, perhaps I'll be able to have go thorugh the uni - you never know I might be good enough to make the team! <laughs sarcastically>. I like dressage mainly but my horse isn't really designed for it and he prefers the showjumping. We only do competition at my yard however as we don't have any transport and there's nowhere within hacking distance. Check ou my site: http://www.hoofbeat.tv if you want 2 see pics etc.

Btw, your personal statement is wicked! Everyone else's that I've read who applied to Oxford is much better than mine - no idea how I got in! lol
Id say that personal statement was quite average really..its full of waffle, something I personally cant stand :tongue:

And how does sitting on a horse jumping around keep you fit? :confused:
Reply 5
thenarbisbanned
And how does sitting on a horse jumping around keep you fit? :confused:


Horse-riding is actually very good for maintaining fitness and if you have ever ridden properly you would understand. Indeed, when someone just sits slouching on the back of a horse (like beginners do) then it does nothing at all for your fitness. However, if someone is riding correctly it requires great muscle tone and good aerobic fitness. Obviously, if you have never been galloping around a x-country course or riding an intricate dressage test with hard lateral movements which require every aspect of your body to be doing its own thing, then you can't know how fit it keeps you. Perhaps you should pop along to your local riding school and have a go? you might find it addictive!
Reply 6
Hoofbeat
HEY! another horse fan! Did you get an offer from Oxford? I'm hoping to go to Oxford (grades permitting) in oct to study Physics (don't know which college yet as I was made an open offer) and am a keen horse rider! You ever played polo? I'd love to try it, perhaps I'll be able to have go thorugh the uni - you never know I might be good enough to make the team! <laughs sarcastically>. I like dressage mainly but my horse isn't really designed for it and he prefers the showjumping. We only do competition at my yard however as we don't have any transport and there's nowhere within hacking distance. Check ou my site: http://www.hoofbeat.tv if you want 2 see pics etc.

Btw, your personal statement is wicked! Everyone else's that I've read who applied to Oxford is much better than mine - no idea how I got in! lol

hey!

yeah... I got an offer from Exeter college to study Mathematics and Computer Science. I'm not sure if I'll get the grades though, as M3 didn't go as well as I'd hoped :frown:

There's a huge polo club near where I ride, but I've never actually played it myself. I used to have a 17'3" belgium warmblood called Illusion, and a 15'3" Irish mare called Rosie, but I had to sell Rosie last September, and Illusion in January before my exams. I haven't riden at all since then. I know someone at Oxford who's continued with horse riding.. she's really enjoying it! As I've been offered a place to study maths though, and haven't actually ever done any further maths, I think my first year's going to be too full-up to take up horse riding again.

*Tara*
Reply 7
Weirdo
hey!

yeah... I got an offer from Exeter college to study Mathematics and Computer Science. I'm not sure if I'll get the grades though, as M3 didn't go as well as I'd hoped :frown:

There's a huge polo club near where I ride, but I've never actually played it myself. I used to have a 17'3" belgium warmblood called Illusion, and a 15'3" Irish mare called Rosie, but I had to sell Rosie last September, and Illusion in January before my exams. I haven't riden at all since then. I know someone at Oxford who's continued with horse riding.. she's really enjoying it! As I've been offered a place to study maths though, and haven't actually ever done any further maths, I think my first year's going to be too full-up to take up horse riding again.

*Tara*


Hey perhaps we can teach each other further maths? I'm a physicist and haven't studied f.maths whereas most people will have! I'm going to try and teach myself P4, P5 & P6 over the summer hols, which shoud be interesting. I'm planning to keep my horse-riding going. My horse (15.1hh coloured called Rocky) will be staying at home (not at my house, but here rather than at uni!) and he'll be getting looked after and exercised and hoping to visit him every 3weeks or so and hopefully compete.
Hoofbeat
Horse-riding is actually very good for maintaining fitness and if you have ever ridden properly you would understand. Indeed, when someone just sits slouching on the back of a horse (like beginners do) then it does nothing at all for your fitness. However, if someone is riding correctly it requires great muscle tone and good aerobic fitness. Obviously, if you have never been galloping around a x-country course or riding an intricate dressage test with hard lateral movements which require every aspect of your body to be doing its own thing, then you can't know how fit it keeps you. Perhaps you should pop along to your local riding school and have a go? you might find it addictive!


Sorry, but theres no way horse riding keeps you as fit as other sporting disciplines :smile:
Reply 9
thenarbisbanned
Sorry, but theres no way horse riding keeps you as fit as other sporting disciplines :smile:


I'm not saying it will keep you as fit as some strenuous sports such as swimming but I do believe it keeps you fitter than a lot of other sports. Riders have very strong upper-bodies and if you ever pop along to a "horse-riders ball" the evening dresses do not look right on women due to their larger shoulders and biceps! Their bums are usually well toned as are their thighs due to many hours spend in the saddle.

I don't believe you can really comment on the fitness aspect if you have never even tried horse-riding.