help with maths personal statement
hi!
im applying to study maths in 2025, aiming for cambridge.
i havent always known i wanted to study maths, in fact i didnt even choose maths when i chose my a levels. i took up maths about a month late, and then further maths 3 months late. i had no issues with catching up - i finished 1st in the year in both maths and fm in our end of years - and i know i am 100% sure i want to do a maths degree.
im currently writing my personal statement, and im unsure whether i should mention that i wasnt taking maths to start with. i have a draft written which doesnt include that, but i wondered if i should explain how i 'rediscovered' maths for myself after being so adamant i wouldnt take it for a level. i dont have a profound story, i just didnt like maths when i was being forced to do it for gcse, and slowly fell back in love with it, mostly thanks to having a really amazing teacher.
im assuming my school reference will mention that i took up maths late, as it does show that i was able to catch up all the work i missed in 4 months, and i think it could come across as me trying to hide it if i dont mention it in my personal statement. i could of course talk to my maths teacher and ask her not to mention it in my reference.
any help / advice would be much appreciated, thank you!
im applying to study maths in 2025, aiming for cambridge.
i havent always known i wanted to study maths, in fact i didnt even choose maths when i chose my a levels. i took up maths about a month late, and then further maths 3 months late. i had no issues with catching up - i finished 1st in the year in both maths and fm in our end of years - and i know i am 100% sure i want to do a maths degree.
im currently writing my personal statement, and im unsure whether i should mention that i wasnt taking maths to start with. i have a draft written which doesnt include that, but i wondered if i should explain how i 'rediscovered' maths for myself after being so adamant i wouldnt take it for a level. i dont have a profound story, i just didnt like maths when i was being forced to do it for gcse, and slowly fell back in love with it, mostly thanks to having a really amazing teacher.
im assuming my school reference will mention that i took up maths late, as it does show that i was able to catch up all the work i missed in 4 months, and i think it could come across as me trying to hide it if i dont mention it in my personal statement. i could of course talk to my maths teacher and ask her not to mention it in my reference.
any help / advice would be much appreciated, thank you!
Original post by shinyduck21
hi!
im applying to study maths in 2025, aiming for cambridge.
i havent always known i wanted to study maths, in fact i didnt even choose maths when i chose my a levels. i took up maths about a month late, and then further maths 3 months late. i had no issues with catching up - i finished 1st in the year in both maths and fm in our end of years - and i know i am 100% sure i want to do a maths degree.
im currently writing my personal statement, and im unsure whether i should mention that i wasnt taking maths to start with. i have a draft written which doesnt include that, but i wondered if i should explain how i 'rediscovered' maths for myself after being so adamant i wouldnt take it for a level. i dont have a profound story, i just didnt like maths when i was being forced to do it for gcse, and slowly fell back in love with it, mostly thanks to having a really amazing teacher.
im assuming my school reference will mention that i took up maths late, as it does show that i was able to catch up all the work i missed in 4 months, and i think it could come across as me trying to hide it if i dont mention it in my personal statement. i could of course talk to my maths teacher and ask her not to mention it in my reference.
any help / advice would be much appreciated, thank you!
im applying to study maths in 2025, aiming for cambridge.
i havent always known i wanted to study maths, in fact i didnt even choose maths when i chose my a levels. i took up maths about a month late, and then further maths 3 months late. i had no issues with catching up - i finished 1st in the year in both maths and fm in our end of years - and i know i am 100% sure i want to do a maths degree.
im currently writing my personal statement, and im unsure whether i should mention that i wasnt taking maths to start with. i have a draft written which doesnt include that, but i wondered if i should explain how i 'rediscovered' maths for myself after being so adamant i wouldnt take it for a level. i dont have a profound story, i just didnt like maths when i was being forced to do it for gcse, and slowly fell back in love with it, mostly thanks to having a really amazing teacher.
im assuming my school reference will mention that i took up maths late, as it does show that i was able to catch up all the work i missed in 4 months, and i think it could come across as me trying to hide it if i dont mention it in my personal statement. i could of course talk to my maths teacher and ask her not to mention it in my reference.
any help / advice would be much appreciated, thank you!
Its kind of hard to give definitive advice, though Id simply mention it as a leader into what you find interesting about maths. Its hardly woth trying to hide and as long as you concentrate your personal statement on supercurriculum stuff that youve done / why youre passionate about maths, a line or two about whats happened is fine.
Similarly, deciding what you want to do as you go through y12 is hardly unusual.
I take it you know about the cambridge supercurriculum stuff
https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/files/publications/super-curricular_suggestions.pdf
and about the step stuff
https://maths.org/step/assignments
(edited 1 month ago)
Just a reminder: don't post any of your personal statement on the forum as it will be flagged by plagiarism checkers.
Original post by iL1L
Just a reminder: don't post any of your personal statement on the forum as it will be flagged by plagiarism checkers.
Agreed. It was meant as a disclaimer and deleted that bit.
(edited 1 month ago)
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