maths personal statement oxford

Sample Math Personal Statement (Oxbridge)

by Talha Omer, M.Eng., Cornell Grad

In personal statement samples by field | personal statements samples by university.

The following personal statement is written by an applicant who got accepted to top graduate programs in math. Variations of this personal statement got accepted at Oxford, and Cambridge university. Read this essay to get inspiration and understand what a top math school PS should look like.

Sample Math Personal Statement for Oxbridge

The challenges involved in problem-solving have always been vital to my passion for studying Mathematics. However, the first beauty of mathematics I observed was in my childhood when I first encountered Geometry.

It was a simple but exciting problem relating to circles; thus, I got myself attached to the subject. I have always been a bright student in Mathematics, and later on, I realized that Mathematics is my thing. Besides Mathematics, no other field grabs my attention. I have also won the National Calculus competition in my country.

Throughout my voyage, I have kept my studies limited to the curriculum. Still, I have also explored different things, which gave me significant exposure to what we have accomplished in Mathematics and what is left for us to do.

I eagerly want to contribute to the development of Mathematics. My current area of research is regarding simplicial complexes, which borrow ideas from Graph Theory and Combinatorics. I want to pursue my education by enrolling in the Math program at Oxford and eventually do Post Doctorate in Pure Mathematics. My area of interest lies in Algebraic Topology and Algebraic Geometry. I want to become a researcher and devote my life to the nourishment of Mathematics.

Aside from that, I am very fond of the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer Conjecture, which motivated me to choose the abovementioned areas. I learned about this conjecture when searching for methods to determine the solutions of polynomials having two variables. After digging further into things relating to this conjecture, I was amazed and startled by the beautiful work of Bryan Birch, Peter-Swinnerton Dyer (pioneer of the conjecture), Louis Mordell, Gerd Faltings, Manjul Bhargava, and Victor Kolyvagin. Their astonishing and brilliant results grabbed my attention, and I got myself attached to the conjecture.

It is surprising that different branches of Mathematics, such as Number Theory, Topology, and Algebraic Geometry, are connected abstractly. In my leisure time, I’m continuously exploring what has been accomplished so far regarding this conjecture and developing the background of Mathematics that I would need to understand and work on the conjecture. I’m eagerly looking forward to meeting this challenge in life.

Accomplishing such dreams in my country is nearly impossible as we have limited resources and no exposure to modern tools of Mathematics. However, I am much inspired by Oxford University and find it an ideal place for me to pursue my further education. Oxford has a phenomenal reputation globally and has played a significant role in current research and development of Mathematics.

I am very fond of Professor XYZ and Professor XYZ, currently members of the senior faculty at Oxford. There are of research that coincides with my area of interest. Professor XYZ’s work on 3-Dimensional Topology and Differential Geometry is advanced. His lectures on youtube are very insightful and give an excellent understanding of the subject.

On the other hand, Professor XYZ’s expertise in the subject of L-functions would help me understand the BSD conjecture. Besides that, the atmosphere of Oxford is also very appealing as it focuses on the character-building of its students. There are several societies at Oxford for this purpose, one of which is the Oxford Invariants Society. Such activities keep the student attached to people outside their field and allow them to communicate knowledge between them. The exposure of a student is bound to increase in such an atmosphere. Unfortunately, the universities in my country lack such activities, and I dreamed of such an atmosphere. It would be an honor to educate myself in such an ideal institute under the supervision of the mentioned Professors.

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Motivation for Maths

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Suggested Subject Resources

Whether you need inspiration for your personal statement, something to think about before your interview or whether you are simply intellectually curious, you might find the suggested reading and resources below useful and entertaining. They are intended to give you an idea of the kind of material you might engage with during a course at Oxford. We've also included links to the University's current research to give you an idea of how academic research can impact upon society.

Remember, these are only suggestions for further reading, so please don't feel restricted to only reading what we recommend! We have also compiled the best of our cross-curricular digital resources to support learning and exploration in our Digital Resource Hub .

You can also enjoy an insight into what it's like to study at Oxford by exploring our free podcasts and videos. These include public lectures covering a wide range of subjects, plus teaching resources, interviews with leading academics, and more. You can watch and listen on your computer, or download files via our podcasts page .

You may also like to have a look at our Medium channel for articles about Oxford research, covering topics from the weirdest plants in the Botanical Garden to how to teach a computer to recognise your cat.

Archaeology and Anthropology

Suggested reading for Archaeology and Anthropology .

You may also like to take a look at the website Discover Anthropology .

Oxford research:

Reconnecting Indigenous Nations with their Material Heritage
Who Needs Migrant Workers
Endangered Archaeology video

Biochemistry (Molecular and Cellular)

Read the recommended reading list for Biochemistry.

At present we do not produce a reading list for students applying for Biology but we encourage you to read New Scientist , National Geographic or any other Biology materials which you find interesting.

Putting ticks on the map
Poetry in motion
Defeating dengue with GM mosquitoes
The loneliness of the long-distance seabird
Balancing conservation and commerce in the world’s forests
The surprising uses of silk
Bringing back the large blue butterfly - Jeremy Thomas
Preserving Endangered Trees: A Chilean case study
Jatropha Curcas in the Global Race for Biofuels
Peru's Data Collectors
Researching the Reef: fish and coral of the Caribbean

Biomedical Sciences

Introductory Reading for Biomedical Sciences .

Bringing together universities, industry and the NHS to benefit people in the Oxfordshire region and beyond
Restoring Sight With Gene Therapy
Cooling babies to save lives
Innovative genomics
Helping diabetes sufferers
Transforming the diagnosis of Tuberculosis
Mending broken hearts
The million women study
Helping the brain to control Parkinson’s
Combining cultures
Preventing strokes

Research videos:

The TOBY Trial - Cooling Babies
Tackling and tracking TB through DNA analysis
"Bionic eye" trial in Oxford
Fighting Arthritis: the development of anti-TNF therapies
The Paternal Age Effect: Identifying reproductive risks

Introductory reading for Chemistry .

You may also like to read Chemistry World magazine , and view other resources from the Royal Society of Chemistry .

Turning orange into grapefruit
Fuel cells inspired by nature video
Chemistry in the garden video

Classical Archaeology and Ancient History

There is no reading list for students applying for Classical Archaeology and Ancient History, as we encourage students to engage with whatever they find interesting about the ancient world. If you are interested in Classical Archaeology and Ancient History, this will include the historical and archaeological evidence through which we learn about that world.

As well as visiting your local museum, or other museums, you may wish to explore some websites which have excellent links to historical and archaeological materials, such as the British Museum or Oxford’s own Ashmolean Museum's collection highlights , or the BBC Radio 4 archives , for example for the programme ‘In Our Time’, covering material from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome .

There are also many social media sites which you can join such as Classics Confidential, Classics Outreach and Classics International.

Classics for the people
Endangered archaeology video
Conserving by copying: 3D Printing Tutankhamun's Tomb video

There is no reading list for students applying for Classics, as we encourage students to read as widely as possible about any Classics materials they find interesting (in literature, history, philosophy, archaeology, and/or philology), and to think critically about their reading. You may also wish to explore some websites which have excellent links to materials about the ancient world, such as the British Museum or the BBC Radio 4 archives , for example for the programme ‘In Our Time’, covering material from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome .

Classics and English

For the English Literature element of the course, we recommend that you read as widely as possible, and think critically about all the texts – literary or not – that you read. Read more about this in our examples of interview questions . You can find literary resources on our Great Writers Inspire site . You may also like to look at literary websites and listen to radio programs such as BBC Radio 4's ' In Our Time '.

Dramatic research
Making Britain
Digitising Jane Austen's fiction manuscripts
On the joy of not rehearsing Shakespeare video

Classics and Modern Languages

Please view the guidance on the FAQs section of the Modern Languages faculty website under the heading 'How best to prepare for the entrance procedure'. You can also find reading lists on the individual pages of the following languages:

Modern Greek
Shedding new light on Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin
Writing Brecht, living well

Classics and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

You may also wish to explore some websites which have excellent links to materials about the ancient world, such as the British Museum or the BBC Radio 4 archives , for example for the programme ‘In Our Time’, covering material from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome .

Suggested reading for Asian and Middle Eastern Studies can be found on the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies website by following the relevant links below:

BA in Arabic
BA in Sanskrit
BA in Persian
BA in Turkish
Recreating an experience of ancient Egypt
Helping the UK understand China

Computer Science

Introductory reading for prospective applicants to Computer Science can be found on the departmental website.

You may also like to look at our GeomLab website which will introduce you to some of the most important ideas in computer programming in an interactive, visual way through a guided activity.

Securing the internet of the future
Putting out ‘Digital Wildfires’ before they take hold
The friendly face of robots
Safety by design
Computers at the heart of the matter
60 Years of Computer Science
Oxford and Cybersecurity 1 – the Internet and Policy
Oxford and Cybersecurity 2 – Trusted Computing
Oxford and Cybersecurity 3 – The Academic Edge

Computer Science and Philosophy

Introductory reading for prospective applicants to Computer Science can be found on the departmental website.

There are many introductions to philosophy: Myles Burnyeat and Ted Honderich’s ‘Philosophy’ as it is a very useful collection. Martin Hollis ‘An Invitation to Philosophy’ and Simon Blackburn’s ‘Think’ are also recommended but feel free to pick up any introductory or beginners’ text.

Earth Sciences

At present we do not produce a reading list for students applying for Earth Sciences but we encourage you to read New Scientist , National Geographic or any other relevant materials which you find interesting.

Preserving an exceptional fossil site for future generations
Understanding oil-rich strata
Influencing global policy on mercury
Reducing toxic mercury emissions video
Tracking Life 40 Degrees South video
Volcano hunting, Italy to Peru video

Economics and Management

An indispensable introduction to economic analysis, both for those who have not studied it at school and for those who have is ‘The Economist’ or the Economics pages of newspapers. Paul Krugman’s writings are highly recommended. Begg, Fischer and Dornbusch’s ‘Economics’ is one of the introductory textbooks widely used at Oxford.

You can find the Economics reading list and Management reading list online.

Oxford research:

The value of mutuality
Geometry to the rescue
Research led to Supreme Court ruling on removal of UK employment tribunal fees video
The surprising uses of auctions video

Engineering Science

At present we do not produce a reading list for students applying for Engineering Science but we encourage you to read any relevant materials which you find interesting. Here are some online resources you may like to use to test your knowledge:

Isaac Physics : this website contains lots of maths and physics problem solving questions.
British Physics Olympiad : this website contains lots of past papers and solutions of problem solving type questions.
Next time, education centre : this website contains some quite fun questions designed to make you think about physical concepts.
I want to study Engineering : this website is just as useful for all applicants not just those applying to engineering.
Brilliant.org : this website has some resources to test your mathematical and physics knowledge.
Providing the technology for ‘space refrigerators’
Improving hospitals’ ‘early warning’ systems
Data scientists to the rescue
Driverless cars video
Delivering drugs better - using sound video

English Language and Literature

English and modern languages.

Please visit the guidance on the FAQs section of the Modern Languages faculty website under the heading 'How best to prepare for the entrance procedure'. You can also find reading lists on the individual pages of the following languages:

European and Middle Eastern Languages

Please visit the guidance on the FAQs section of the Modern Languages faculty website under the heading 'How can I prepare myself for the entrance procedure?'. This advice can be applied to both the European and the Middle Eastern elements of the course. You can also find reading lists on the individual pages of the following languages:

Suggested reading for Asian and Middle Eastern Studies can be found on the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies website by following the relevant links below:

Experimental Psychology

Please view the suggested reading for Experimental Psychology. This document also includes reading suggestions for those interested in the Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics course.

Research videos:

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies: Using evidence to change policy
Spread the word
How people with depression see faces
From the Minds of Babes: New frontiers in paediatric pain

The following list is suggested as a starting point and is not exhaustive and nor does it mean that you must read these.

Barthes, Roland , Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography (Vintage)
Crow, Thomas, The Rise of the Sixties: American and European Art in the Era of Dissent (Everyman )
Stallabrass, Julian, Contemporary Art: A Very Short Introductions (Oxford University Press)
Smith, Terry, Contemporary Art: World Currents (Laurence King Publishing)

We strongly encourage all students to attend exhibitions and look at art works as much as possible. Public art galleries like Tate Modern, the Whitechapel, and the Serpentine in London, the Ikon in Birmingham, the Liverpool Tate, the Whitworth in Manchester, the Baltic in Gateshead, the Arnolfini in Bristol, and Tramway in Glasgow are all excellent places to see contemporary art and to find out more about it.

Other excellent resources include:

the UK-wide exhibition listings
the online edition of the US journal Artforum
the excellent repository of moving image and sound art, called UBU Web

It is also a good idea to look at journals such as:

An indispensable introduction to contemporary issues in Geography is the Royal Geographical Society 'Geographical Magazine'. Reading 'The Economist' is also highly recommended.

Managing the risk of surface water flooding
Smartphones become Smart Stones
The value of a green and pleasant land
Getting critical
How changes to inland waters impact regional climates
Calculating the risks of coastal flooding and cliff erosion
How global warming is changing tropical forests
Climate Network
Avoiding infrastructure failure
Stopping floods on the cheap: A success story from Yorkshire

The best way to prepare for a History degree is to read the history books which interest you, either related to your school work or ranging beyond it – and be prepared to discuss your views of those books and their arguments. To find such material, you might want to follow up on references made in your school or college text books, or your History teacher may also be able to recommend particular works for you to read on topics that you find most interesting.

You may also like to explore the websites of public institutions which have excellent links to historical materials, such as the British Museum or BBC Radio 4 archives .

Lastly, delving into some historical sources can be a great way to develop your ideas and understanding. You could try exploring literature, art, music or even films produced by different societies, and consider what these can tell us about the people of that time.

Looking back to understand the recent economic crisis

History (Ancient and Modern)

There is no reading list for students applying for Ancient and Modern History, as we encourage students to read as widely as possible about any period of history, ancient and/or modern, that they find interesting. (View 'History' above). For the ancient world, you may also wish to explore websites which have excellent links to historical materials, such as the British Museum or Oxford’s own Ashmolean Museum , the BBC Radio 4 archives , for example for the programme ‘In Our Time', covering material from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome .

History and Economics

An indispensable introduction to economic analysis, both for those who have not studied it at school and for those who have is ‘ The Economist ’ or the Economics pages of newspapers. Paul Krugman’s writings are highly recommended. Begg, Fischer and Dornbusch’s ‘Economics ’ is one of the introductory textbooks widely used at Oxford.

History and English

One good way of broadening your historical horizons is to read one of the popular History magazines: History Today or BBC History , which has weekly podcasts . You may like to look at the books which are being reviewed in the quality press. You may also like to explore the websites of public institutions which have excellent links to historical materials, such as the British Museum or BBC Radio 4 archives . Lastly, delving into some historical sources can be a great way to develop your ideas and understanding. You could try exploring literature, art, music or even films produced by different societies, and consider what these can tell us about the people of that time.

History and Modern Languages

History and Politics

Politics is a very wide-ranging subject. In addition to newspapers and weeklies, Jonathan Wolff’s 'An Introduction to Political Philosophy' is recommended; and also, for interesting and up-to-date insights into recent political developments in a number of countries, the series of texts produced by Macmillan publishers at regular intervals called ‘Developments in British (French, German, East European etc.) Politics’ .

You may also like to explore the websites of public institutions which have excellent links to historical materials, such as the British Museum or BBC Radio 4 archives .

History of Art

A reading list for prospective applicants to History of Art can be found on the History of Art departmental website .

You may also find it interesting to explore the following resources:

BBC Radio 4 'In Our Time' - Culture archive
BBC Arts coverage

Human Sciences

Introductory reading lists can be found on the Institute of Human Sciences website .

Who needs migrant workers

We recommend that you start by reading the court reports in broad sheet newspapers.

As the reading lists for the degree course change each year it isn't always advisable to buy text books in advance, but you may find one or more of the books from this list useful when preparing your application Introductory reading for Law . It can be useful to look at the list of law academics on the departmental website and follow the links to their latest publications. All lecturers have their own lists, which change from year to year and include books and journal articles.

You may also like to read the BBC's website Law in Action , and download their podcasts. Other recommendation are the Guardian's law pages and the Counsel magazine .

Research led to Supreme Court ruling on removal of UK employment tribunal fees
Tackling Adolescent to Parent Violence
Research in Westminster: Human Rights law and the treatment of rape victims

Materials Science

There is no set text and students should read widely around the subject. Introductory reading for prospective applicants to Materials Science can be found on the departmental website.

Students may also wish to read the New Scientist magazine which may be available in your school or local library.

Running an internet search on Nanoscience or Nanotechnology will give useful background information in the sciences. Here are some further resources to test your knowledge:

Isaac Physics : This website contains lots of maths and physics problem solving questions.
British Physics Olympiad : This website contains lots of past papers and solutions of problem solving type questions.
Next time : This website contains some quite fun questions designed to make you think about physical concepts.
I want to study Engineering : This website is just as useful for all applicants not just those applying to engineering.
Brilliant.org : This website has some resources to test your mathematical and physics knowledge.

Oxford research:

A new material for reconstructive surgery

Mathematics

Reading lists for prospective Mathematics applicants can be found on page 12 of the departmental prospectus, available to download from the Maths Department website .

Influencing HIV/AIDS policy in India through mathematical modelling
Helping the ‘Greeks’ to run faster
Mathematics in the design and manufacture of novel glass products
Mathematical solutions for industry
Sharing the beauty of networks video
A computer model of the heart video

Mathematics and Computer Science

Reading lists for prospective Mathematics applicants can be found on page 12 of the departmental prospectus, available to download from the Maths Department website .

Introductory reading for prospective applicants to Computer Science can be found on the departmental website. You may also like to look at our GeomLab website which will introduce you to some of the most important ideas in computer programming in an interactive, visual way through a guided activity.

Mathematics and Philosophy

Reading lists for prospective Mathematics and Philosophy applicants can be found on page 18 of the departmental prospectus, available to download from the Maths Department website .

Mathematics and Statistics

Reading lists for prospective Mathematics and Statistics applicants can be found on page 12 of the departmental prospectus, available to download from the Maths Department website .

Statistical expertise in drug discovery

Prospective students for Medicine may like to start by looking at the introductory reading list below. You may also be interested in the Oxford Medical School Gazette, for more information about the Gazette and subscription offers for Sixth Form students please visit the Medicine website .

Introductory Reading for Medicine

The TOBY Trial - cooling babies
"Bionic eye" trial in Oxford
Fighting Arthritis: the development of anti-TNF therapies
The Paternal Age Effect: Identifying reproductive risks

Modern Languages

Please view the guidance on the FAQs section of the Modern Languages faculty website under the heading 'How best to prepare for the entrance procedure'. You can find reading lists on the individual pages for of following languages:

Modern Languages and Linguistics

You can also download the Introductory reading list for Linguistics .

Improving treatment of speech disorders
Saving the world’s threatened languages
Voice analysis for everyone: health monitoring by phone video

Please refer to this recommended reading list for Music .

Medieval plainsong gets a contemporary makeover
Composing Opera for Children
Searching for Schumann video

Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

Suggested reading for Asian and Middle Eastern Studies can be found on the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies website by following the relevant links below:

BA in Arabic
BA in Chinese
BA in Japanese
BA in Persian
BA in Turkish

Suggested reading lists for BA Egyptology and Near Eastern Studies, BA Hebrew Studies and BA Jewish Studies are currently in development and will hopefully be available in the near future.

Philosophy and Modern Languages

There are many introductions to philosophy: Myles Burnyeat and Ted Honderich’s ‘ Philosophy ’ as it is a very useful collection. Martin Hollis ‘ An Invitation to Philosophy ’ and Simon Blackburn’s ‘ Think ’ are also recommended but feel free to pick up any introductory or beginners’ text.

Please visit the guidance on the FAQs section of the Modern Languages faculty website under the heading 'How best to prepare for the entrance procedure' for the Modern Languages element of this course. You of also find reading lists on the individual pages for the following languages:

Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)

We always recommend that students read widely around their subject, deepening their knowledge and understanding, to help prepare for their application. Tutors will be looking for evidence of students' academic potential, as well as their commitment and motivation for their course, so will certainly be looking for evidence that a student has really engaged with their subject, and has a passion for studying it. This is particularly important for courses like PPE, as many students will not have studied any of these three subjects at their school or college.

The very best preparation is a reasonable grasp of the workings of the social and political world in which we live. For PPEists, reading newspapers, watching TV and listening to radio news and current affairs programmes are not optional activities – they are crucial to success at the subject. Students should read a good quality daily newspaper, and ‘ The Economist ’ weekly is also highly recommended – this offers unparalleled quantity and quality analysis of current events.

Politics is a very wide-ranging subject. In addition to newspapers and weeklies, Jonathan Wolff’s ' An Introduction to Political Philosophy ' is recommended; and also, for interesting and up-to-date insights into recent political developments in a number of countries, the series of texts produced by Macmillan publishers at regular intervals called ‘ Developments in British (French, German, East European etc.) Politics ’.

An indispensable introduction to economic analysis in use both for those who have not studied it at school and for those who have is ‘ The Economist ’ or the Economics pages of newspapers. Paul Krugman’s writings are highly recommended. Begg, Fischer and Dornbusch’s ‘ Economics ’ is one of the introductory textbooks widely used at Oxford.

Oxford research:

Philosophy and Theology

At present we do not produce a specific Theology reading list for people who are considering making an application, though we always advise prospective candidates to read beyond what they are reading in school and to explore areas that interest them.

Empires of Faith video

There are many suitable sources for reading. Popular science books are normally readily available at your local library, as are copies of the New Scientist or other scientific periodicals. Anything that takes your interest will be valuable; we have no set reading list.

However, for general preparation prospective candidates can view the suggestions on the Physics department website . We also recommend maths preparation .

There is also lots of information on the internet, on sites such as www.physics.org or through some of the excellent science blogs. The University of Oxford publishes a science blog and our department also runs a project called Galaxy Zoo which is part of the Zooniverse community of projects , which allows members of the public to contribute to astrophysics research. Large scientific organisations such as CERN and NASA publish a lot of good material online, for example the Astronomy Picture of the Day website . Here are some further resources to test your Physics knowledge:

Isaac Physics : This website contains lots of maths and physics problem solving questions.
Brilliant.org : This website has some resources to test your mathematical and physics knowledge.

iTunesU can also be a very useful resource, as it has a range of physics content, from public talks to undergraduate lectures, from a variety of reputable sources.

Near-perfect distance measurement
Cheaper, smaller, super-resolution
To the Zooniverse and beyond
Particle accelerator physics for the masses
A revolution in solar power technology
How to be certain of uncertainty in climate and weather forecasts
How do quantum physicists affect industry? video

Physics and Philosophy

However, for general preparation prospective candidates can view the suggestions on the Physics department website . We also recommend maths preparation .

There is also lots of information on the internet, on sites such as www.physics.org . or through some of the excellent science blogs. The University of Oxford publishes a science blog and our department also runs a project called Galaxy Zoo which is part of the Zooniverse community of projects , which allows members of the public to contribute to astrophysics research. Large scientific organisations such as CERN and NASA publish a lot of good material online, for example the Astronomy Picture of the Day website . Here are some further resources to test your Physics knowledge:

Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics (PPL)

Please follow this link for the suggested reading list for Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics. This document also includes suggested reading for Experimental Psychology.

Building consensus on Developmental Language Disorder
Voice analysis for everyone: health monitoring by phone

Religion and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

At present we do not produce a specific Religion and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies reading list for people who are considering making an application, though we always advise prospective candidates to read beyond what they are reading in school and to explore areas that interest them.

Theology and Religion

You may also find it interesting to explore the BBC Radio 4 archives of the ' In Our Time ' program, especially the Religion and Philosophy archives .

Empires of Faith

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The Worcester Bookshelf project is all about sharing books that we love about our subjects with you. We suggest books that we love - you tell us what you think of them. Every term we will release a new list of six books that our tutors and academics would like to share with you. If you are in year 10, 11 or 12 at a UK state school and would like to find out more, simply email [email protected] .

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Successful Personal Statement For Cambridge Mathematics And Physics

Last Updated: 6th April 2022

Author: Rob Needleman

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it.

Today, we are looking through a Mathematics and Physics applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Cambridge University. The Mathematics and Physics Course at Cambridge offers the opportunity to study a wide range of subjects: everything from abstract logic to black holes.

Read on to see how this strong Personal Statement addresses both maths and physics to showcase a high level of their ability.

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement:

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

INTERVIEW + REJECTED

Enrolling on our Oxbridge Maths comprehensive Programme will give you access to Personal Statement redrafts.

Your tutor will give you actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.

Mathematics And Physics Personal Statement

Since childhood, I’ve always loved complex puzzles, logical problems and challenges. Later on I discovered mathematics and physics which offered a lot of interesting problems and I enjoyed spending time on them. I loved the fact that real-life events, such as throwing a ball, could be described by a virtual language created by humans. However the most impressive fact for me was when I discovered that mathematicians and physicists can predict events just by solving equations. That’s is when I decided that maths and physics are what I want to do in life to contribute to the world.

Even though my passion in mathematics started very early, I have struggled to get to where I am now. When I got into Bratislava’s best gymnasium in mathematics I found myself at a position I had never been before. That was the first time I wasn’t the best in mathematics in our class, in fact I was one of the weaker students in this field. However over time I made my way to the top, but I still couldn’t surpass my classmates. When I got to the 5th grade, I realized why I didn’t succeed. That year we got a new mathematics teacher and she opened my eyes and showed me the beauty of maths. The most important thing that happened that year however was when I won the regional mathematics Olympiad and they invited me to KMS which is a camp for people interested in mathematics. There I realized that the school mathematics is just a fraction of the possibilities in this area. However the thing that I believe helped me in mathematics is that I started enjoying it. Rather than solving a Sudoku or crossword puzzle I was solving geometry problems. Since then I have won many prizes including bronze medals from the Middle European Mathematical Olympiad and the International Mathematical Olympiad.

Besides maths and physics I also love playing the piano and practicing Kung Fu. I have played the piano for 13 years and my personal favourites are Chopin’s Nocturnes. I may not be great at it, but playing the piano helps me relax and forget about my worries for a while. I practice Kung Fu mainly for health. My favourite style is Bagua. I learned that Kung Fu is not only a martial art, but a way of living. Besides Kung Fu and the piano, I also enjoy teaching kids interesting facts or problems in mathematics. During school, I teach a mathematics club and I want to teach the kids that mathematics isn’t just numbers.

Every summer I help organize a mathematics day camp for children. Mathematics may be the subject which I’m best at, but I don’t want to be ‘just a mathematician’ in the future. Since I was little, I’ve always wanted to do something great like solving global issues or inventing something useful, however I realize that it is very hard to achieve this with pure mathematics. People advised me to go study economics and financial mathematics so I could have a good job and earn money, but that is not what I want to achieve in life. My goal is to shape the world and make it a better place for future generations. This is the reason I want to study physics or engineering. I started doing physics two years ago and since then I participated and won some competitions including the Regional Physics Olympiad. To be better at physics I started reading Feynman’s lectures which helped me a lot, but also taught me that there is much to learn out there about the world. The reason why I want to study in the UK is because there are many opportunities compared to Slovakia. I have many friends who study there and heard from them that it’s an amazing experience. The most important fact, though, is that in the UK I can study and work with people who are ambitious. I know what I want to achieve in life, and even though I don’t yet know exactly how to get there or where ‘there’ will be, I believe that a UK university education will steer me in the right direction.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

Successful Personal Statement For Law At Cambridge

Successful personal statement for economics & management at oxford, successful personal statement for natural science (physical) at cambridge, successful personal statement for economics at cambridge, successful personal statement for land economy at cambridge, successful personal statement for chemistry at oxford, successful personal statement for geography at oxford, successful personal statement for classics at oxford, successful personal statement for law at oxford, successful personal statement for classics at cambridge, successful personal statement for engineering at cambridge, successful personal statement for philosophy at cambridge, successful personal statement for veterinary medicine at cambridge, successful personal statement for psychological and behavioural sciences at cambridge, successful personal statement for psychology at oxford, successful personal statement for history at oxford, successful personal statement for physics at oxford, successful personal statement example for computer science at oxford, successful personal statement for english at cambridge, successful personal statement for oxford english language and literature, successful personal statement for modern languages at oxford, successful personal statement for engineering at oxford, successful personal statement for natural sciences (biological) at cambridge, successful personal statement for ppe at oxford, successful personal statement for dentistry at king’s college london, successful personal statement for medicine at cambridge.

Download our Free Personal Statement Starter Guide

Good Points Of The Personal Statement

This is a very good statement. The statement is well-written and structured. The student describes their life experiences without making the statement sound like a list of achievements. This is achieved because the student explains every experience described, rather than listing their life experiences with no context. It is clear that the student has many talents and achievements, and these are stated in a humble manner that does not make it seem as though the student is bragging. It is clear that the student is aware of the significance of their decision to study outside of their native homeland and the challenges that this will bring. The student explains their reasons for applying to study a dual honours course and does not neglect either discipline.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

The student uses the word ‘gymnasium’ instead of school/college. Whilst this may be the term used in Slovakia, in the UK a ‘gymnasium’ is a place where people exercise and its use in this statement is somewhat confusing. The way in which the student writes about their personal experiences makes the statement sound somewhat like an autobiography.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This is a very good statement. The student clearly has personality and a high level of ability. Strange terminology used can be excused due to the fact that the student’s first language is not English, and that the vast majority of the statement is very well-written.

This Personal Statement for Maths and Physics is a great example of how to showcase a high level of ability. The candidate’s interest and achievements are clearly shown which is vital to Admissions Tutors.

Remember, at Cambridge, these Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

You can find more successful personal statements and our expert guides on our Free Personal Statement Resources page.

Our expert tutors are on hand to help you craft the perfect Personal Statement for your Cambridge Mathematics and Physics application.

With our Oxbridge Maths Premium Programme, we help you craft the perfect Personal Statement , score highly on the STEP and teach you how to Interview effectively .

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12 Personal Statement FAQs and answers!

There is often a large amount of confusion surrounding how to write personal statements, especially when it comes to oxford and cambridge and other top research universities., every year, we have thousands of students ask us what qualities go into making a successful personal statement., to help, we have broken down this question into 12 of the most frequently asked questions our prospective students ask when they are trying to draft their personal statements., 1. how do i write the introduction.

Introductions are often disappointingly generic. To help you achieve more specificity and concision, the best way to write a good personal statement introduction is to complete the rest of it first. When you are getting started on the first draft, it can be overwhelming to begin at a blank page, but discussing your achievements and interests – relevant to the courses and universities you are applying to – can help you clarify what your motivation to study the subject really is. Then you can come back and explain the reasons behind your passion for Mathematics, Anglo Saxon literature or your subject of choice.

2. How many books should I talk about?

This question can be answered in various ways depending on the subject you intend to study. Clinical scientific subjects will not require many book mentions, however, Arts and Humanities personal statements for Oxbridge see a great benefit from discussing at least two books in detail, with further reading mentioned.

It’s also important to remember that academic sources shouldn’t be only limited to books. A well-rounded personal statement discusses specific theories, touches on lectures you have attended or essays and articles you have read to gain a better understanding of specific academic points rather than a general discussion. One of the biggest pitfalls students fall into when drafting Oxbridge personal statements is getting stuck waffling about general points around a subject of interest. To avoid getting stuck in general chatter, try to use only specific examples in your personal statement.

Centrally, admissions tutors want to see that you know you are getting yourself in for. Only reading a couple of books from their introductory list will therefore not tantalise them; try to follow your interests in a bit more depth and look at readings and ideas which are representative of degree level material.

3. What do I do if I have no work experience?

Referencing work experience in your personal statement is dependent on the subject you intend to study. A rule of thumb is to ask yourself whether you think an academic in the faculty you are applying to will think your work experience was relevant for the course. If you are applying to study History, for example, your two-weeks at an accounting or law firm organising files will be of little interest.

For Medicine, work experience is integral not only to the application process but will help build a strong personal statement. When applying to a vocational subject such as Medicine, where possible you should always ensure you are able to reference at least one work experience placement held. If you don’t have any work experience and your personal statement is due, make sure to arrange some and refer to this in the future tense in your personal statement when talking about your upcoming placement.

Work experience can also be useful for other more vocation-leaning subjects, such as architecture and engineering. More widely, doing work experience is extremely useful to help you begin thinking about what you might want to do with your career, and can build highly useful skills, but, unless it is relevant to the course content, it is unlikely to proffer you any credit for university admission.

4. How long should I talk about extra-curricular activities?

Leading research universities are looking for your potential to succeed on the course you are applying for. Nevertheless, two applicants who seem academically matched might be distinguished from each other by their ability to balance their time with several other things. Do include what you do outside of academia, then, but keep non-relevant activities mentioned to a minimum rather than an exhaustive list. This might mean sacrificing some of the things you do outside of your course and focus on those few things you do most often, or to the highest level. (N.B. Your reference might be able to discuss some of your extra-curricular activities too, and you don’t want to overlap this material).

What you do mention, try to link to your subject. This might be easy, as with an English literature student who has directed lots of theatre, or less easy, such as a maths applicant who plays the violin to a high level. Nevertheless, making these links convincingly can bring originality and creativity to your statement.

5. How can I tailor it for different courses?

Subjects like HSPS at Cambridge or Classical Archaeology and Ancient History at Oxford might make it tricky to tailor your statement for different courses. Oxford and Cambridge are very understanding of this, and specific guidance can usually be found on faculty websites about their expectations.

However, as a rule of thumb, focus on the areas of convergence between the courses you are applying for. If these differ in title, then avoid stating the title of the course in your statement and instead refer to the disciplinary area or focus instead. This involves: a) making sure the courses you are applying for are sufficiently similar to give you a chance of doing this, and b) doing your research on the course content and options so that you are covering the appropriate material.

This research stands even if you are applying for the same titled course everywhere. English, for example, is taught very differently at Oxford to Bristol, and focusing on an interest which does not feature in either course will result in your application being put aside.

Doing this research early can also help you to direct your reading and research to build material for your personal statement which speaks to all your choices.

6. How should I talk about my other A-level subjects?

Lots of students are told to discuss the skills they have gathered from their A Level subjects, but we caution around this; your UCAS application includes a full list of A-Level subjects studied, and your school reference will discuss your A-Level abilities. Talking about the time management or analytical skills you gained from studying history, and the logical skills you gained from physics, can therefore come across as ‘fodder’ which could have already been inferred.

You can, however, talk about how other subjects provide further insight into the course or subject you’d like to study. For example, students who have taken Classics that intend to study English Literature at university can talk about translating texts, such as the Aeneid, and how this helped gain a greater understanding of classical influence in modern English Literature. As with the whole statement, the more specific you can make this, the better.

7. How long should it be?

This is an easy one. Your personal statement should be at most, 4,000 characters or 47 lines, whichever you meet first. Although it can be shorter, we strongly recommend taking full advantage of the available space. Ideally, you want your first draft to be much longer so you can cut down and edit your personal statement to be shorter, rather than using general waffle or struggling to fill the space.

Cutting it down is usually relatively easy, but it might take an outside eye to see the ‘wood from the trees’. Any non-relevant, generic material, anything which is likely to be in many other statements, and frilly, decorative language or repetition can all be chopped down.

If you find you are struggling to reach 4,000 characters or 47 lines, you probably need to revisit the body of your personal statement and discuss more subject-specific content. You may, alternatively, need to go back to the research and reading phase of writing.

8. What formatting should I use?

The final version of your personal statement will be submitted in a digital form with no formatting options, so there is no need to worry about formatting. That means you won’t have to decide what font or colour to use and there is no need for styles such as bold or italics. If you do include these, they won’t appear in the submitted version.

Your school should already have discussed best practice for writing your personal statement but as a reminder – do not write your statement draft in the real form! As with any content that is going to be submitted digitally, you should write it in a word document first (Microsoft Office, Google Docs, Pages, etc) where you can save a copy locally to your computer (and back-up regularly). This way, you can avoid the devastating loss of your best statement draft due to an accidental refresh or the internet dropping out.

9. How many paragraphs should it be?

There is no set-in-stone rule for the number of paragraphs but generally, a well-structured personal statement will be broken up into five or six paragraphs and be easy to read. Admissions tutors will need to comprehend your statement very quickly, so structure with this in mind.

A frequently-successful structure follows this pattern: an introduction, two to three course/subject-specific main paragraphs, a penultimate paragraph detailing your extracurricular activities, and then a final summary paragraph. The final two paragraphs are sometimes pushed together to form one.

10. Will they find out if I slightly…exaggerate my talents?

Yes! Your personal statement for Oxford and Cambridge should be considered a springboard for your interview and you could and should expect to be questioned about any single detail of it. At Oxbridge Applications, every year, we have students that approach us in January who are upset that their Admissions Tutor spent 20 minutes focused on a certain author when “I only mentioned that book briefly as a side note”.

However, you DON’T need to be an expert, or even particularly knowledgeable, about a particular idea or author to mention it in your statement. If you are questioned about an aspect of an author’s work you have mentioned which you are unsure about, then be intellectually honest and say so, but try your best to have a go given what you already know about them or similar authors/ideas.

This is not only the case for authors/books mentioned, but also if you put forward a highly ambitious or critical view in your statement. If you want to argue that Marx was totally wrong, then you better be ready to defend your view in a nuanced way. The bottom line is: stay intellectually honest and err on the side of modesty; academics tend to become less rather than more sure about the ‘truth’ the further they delve into their subject matter.

11. How many teachers should check my personal statement?

Preferably, you will get your drafted personal statement checked by at last two of your teachers or guidance advisers. One should be subject-specific who can check over the content of your paragraphs and the other can be from a different department to provide feedback on grammatical accuracy and quality of the statement.

Getting guidance from second and third parties can be useful ensure you retain editorial control, and that your voice and taste runs through the statement. If you try to include everyone’s different opinion, you can quickly end up with a jumbled statement that no longer reflects on you and your communication style and strengths.

Make sure you leave plenty of time between completing your first draft and the Oxbridge personal statement deadline ensuring you have time for others to check it over and you can make changes as necessary.

12. Should I start my personal statement with a quote?

‘Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.’ Oscar Wilde.

How much have you learned about me from reading Wilde’s words?

Quotes are used each year by applicants who end up getting offers from top universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. It’s not necessarily going to bring your application to an end. Quotes are also awarded marks in certain A Level subjects, if you have taken the time to remember them and give them a bit of context.

However, your personal statement gives admissions tutors the chance to hear your voice, and to get a sense of what you might be like as a student on their course. By definition , using a quote – i.e. someone else’s words – is not personal. It is therefore preferable to avoid using a quote unless it’s absolutely essential. Using a quote doesn’t make YOU sound more interesting.

Before you decide to use a quote, think long and hard. If you would really like to use a quote, try to make it as pithy and concise as possible, and make sure it elevates and builds on what you are saying; that it expresses something you couldn’t have otherwise expressed on your own. (Also, by ‘quote’, we are not talking about specific concepts or theories – these are absolutely fine to include.)

Driven by 20 years of research and first-hand experience in guiding thousands of applicants, our consultations provide an honest and detailed assessment with guidance on individual personal statements.

If you would like to speak to one of our oxbridge-graduate advisors about your own personal statement, contact our oxbridge advising team on +44 (0)207499 2394 , email at [email protected] , or request a callback to discuss your situation., explore oxbridge applications, request a callback, application resources, related content, finding time to read, your guide to oxbridge interviews.

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The idea of proof has always held a real fascination for me. The process of starting from a simple set of axioms and deriving almost any mathematical truth (putting Godel to one side) is what truly separates Mathematics from any other subject. It is the closest we can ever get to absolute truth, and therein lies its sheer beauty and the reason it is the only subject for me. Of course, it's also a good deal of fun.

I have tried to extend my Maths as much as possible beyond the classroom, and whenever I do so I uncover either some completely new and intriguing area of Mathematics or a very neat trick I hadn't thought of in more familiar territory.

One example of this is my attendance at weekly lectures given by the department of Mathematics at Bristol University, covering topics from the Mathematics of juggling to quantum mechanics, although some of my favourites have been those on the less exotic "inequalities", which taught me a lot about thinking about problems creatively.

I also attended a summer school run by the National Academy of Gifted and Talented Youth at the University of Durham, where I spent two weeks being introduced to various approachable first year undergraduate topics such as proof by induction, Markov chains and using Maple.

This experience not only allowed me to discover areas of Mathematics I would not otherwise have encountered, but also gave me a small taste of university life, as there was a large number of us living in one of the colleges.

I am also involved in the UKMT mentoring scheme, whereby each month I am given a sheet of questions in areas not touched on at A level, such as geometry and number theory, giving me a good opportunity to explore new mathematical ideas myself, and gain a much deeper appreciation of the interconnections within Mathematics and the creation of proofs.

I am a member of the school's Maths team and we are regularly successful in competing against teams from other schools in the area. I also attend STEP sessions at local schools when available, as I find the questions much more interesting than the standard A level ones, and thinking about how to solve them has greatly improved my rigour in approaching problems.

Among the mathematical books I have read, I enjoyed "Godel, Escher, Bach", which gives a good grounding in axiomatic reasoning and formal systems, whilst at the same time pointing out their major flaw. I also liked "To infinity and beyond" by Eli Maor, which deals with the concept of infinity, its implications and its paradoxes, both in Maths and elsewhere.

I particularly enjoy the pure side of the A level syllabus, especially trigonometry and calculus, as they involve a certain degree of proof and introduce new concepts.

I believe my other academic subjects all complement Mathematics as they are about finding ways of describing reality, be it through language in French or through equations and models in Physics and Chemistry. I find Critical Thinking especially relevant as it is about the construction of sound logical arguments, an art lying at the heart of Mathematics in proof. I have achieved an A grade in all modules across all my subjects.

In my spare time, I practise kickboxing, and have competed in various local competitions. As a volunteer, I am involved in a year seven Maths mentoring scheme and help at a homeless shelter.

I enjoy travelling, and will be going to Nicaragua for a month after my A levels to help in a small village, explore the local jungles and volcanoes and practise my Spanish. I lived in France from the ages of 9 to 12, and learnt to adapt to a new language and culture.

I very much look forward to exploring the new ideas of University level Mathematics, and playing a full part in University life.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by popa_dom for application in 2005.

popa_dom's university choices Oxford University The University of Durham University College London The University of Warwick Imperial College London The University of Edinburgh

Green : offer made Red : no offer made

Degree Maths at Oxford University

Related Personal Statements

Thats one hell of a ps. yeah.

Tue, 08/08/2006 - 00:00

Thats one hell of a ps. yeah u sound like a geek but ur applying to top unis...and got all offers so who cares??!!

Hey popa dom.could u possibly

Thu, 13/09/2007 - 16:58

Hey popa dom.could u possibly post ur email address so i can get in touch with u, as i need some help with my personal statement. i would be very grateful for ur help!

Hey popa_dom, could you

Sun, 30/09/2007 - 21:21

Hey popa_dom, could you please give me your email address because I think I am in love with you. <3

Thu, 04/10/2007 - 20:19

Thu, 15/11/2007 - 05:47

that's pretty impressive-you managed to seem genuinely interested in math and i alwasy wondered how people could convey that in a ps. In fact, I never understood how people could be so interested in math. congrats on the offers. Good luck.

guy above. he got in2 oxford

Fri, 17/10/2008 - 16:02

guy above. he got in2 oxford i think that might say something for the quality of the personal statement.....

Thu, 06/11/2008 - 14:59

please cud i hav ur email address as i need help wiv my ps? thx

i reli need help do u mind

Sun, 16/11/2008 - 16:07

i reli need help do u mind givin me ur emaill addy? plz thx

fantastic personal statement

Mon, 24/11/2008 - 20:29

fantastic personal statement ... one of the best on this site

French and Maths?

Thu, 09/07/2009 - 22:45

How would French complement Mathematics, I just dont get it.

French and Mathatics..!

Wed, 26/08/2009 - 23:25

This is to the comment regarding the "I dont get it".... Thats why your not going to oxford.. read the ps again.. and then if you still dont get it, well hell no hope for you son.. and the ps is great.. look forward in seeing at oxford

Fredrick Samuel Powl

Mon, 07/09/2009 - 00:09

Talk about intimidating! This personal statement puts my achievements to shame...academically and extra-curricular stuff! Although, looking at the uni offers..it obviously makes a difference...am quite worried now though...=S... Well Done anyway!

by the way what were ur exam

Sat, 03/10/2009 - 23:46

by the way what were ur exam results like?

What was the interview like

Sun, 04/10/2009 - 12:28

What was the interview like for getting into Oxford?

WOAHHHHHHHH AINT DIS TOO LONG

Wed, 21/10/2009 - 16:50

649 words ??

Thu, 12/11/2009 - 21:51

Hey isn't limit 400 words ? So how did you get away with this personal statement which has almost 650 words?

I am asking this because I am quite desperate to get my shortened as it is 520 words and I have already cut out a lot of things that I would really like to keep in it. And I still have to cut it more!

In reply to the previous commenter

Sun, 22/11/2009 - 16:09

This statement has 3,749 characters(with spaces) and 43 lines. The maximum is 4000 characters(with spaces, i think) or 47 lines. Whichever comes first. Use your word count, and maybe you could add some of those removed words back in. It tells you the limits on the UCAS website.

amazing!!, but please can you help me !!

Mon, 08/02/2010 - 23:30

i went to oxford today, and personally from what i have seen, i would do anything to get in!! At the moment, i have done duke of Edinburgh bronze award, i won a u15 chess championship in my county, i do volunteering for y10's at my school, im gonna get 4 A's at A level, i did the Marathon duo 5000m for charity, i really need help in what else to do, im in y12 btw, if you suggest reading math books could you clarify which books, im also hoping to do a open university course in maths

Wed, 18/08/2010 - 10:33

That is BRILLIANT! im not surprised you got offers from all of 'em! What you said about geekiness is ok, cos thats what they are after :)!

Sun, 12/09/2010 - 11:27

how did you apply to 6 unis when ucas only permits 5 applications?

Fri, 01/10/2010 - 15:40

I think sime time ago UCAS allowed to apply for 6 universities...

This ps is seriously good. I

Thu, 07/10/2010 - 22:03

This ps is seriously good. I don't really understand why some people thought it merited negative comments but I think it's pretty great. I mean, you got your interest in the subject across and it wasn't your typical, 'I have done all these things' oxbridge application either. :)

That's the best personal

Fri, 15/10/2010 - 15:13

That's the best personal statement i've read! Seriously, all that extra work and stuff! Bloody amazing.

WOW! Did you make your oxford

Tue, 17/05/2011 - 20:47

WOW! Did you make your oxford offer? I hope so - you sound brilliant!

I'm going to rate you

Fri, 01/07/2011 - 13:53

3|45(4+2i) stars

Why was 6 afraid of 7?

Thu, 22/09/2011 - 15:43

Why was 6 afraid of 7? Because 7, 8, 9.

Q: What do you get if you

Thu, 22/09/2011 - 15:45

Q: What do you get if you divide the cirucmference of a jack-o-lantern by its diameter? A: Pumpkin Pi!

Q: Why do you rarely find

Q: Why do you rarely find mathematicians spending time at the beach? A: Because they have sine and cosine to get a tan and don't need the sun!

An infinite crowd of

Thu, 22/09/2011 - 15:47

An infinite crowd of mathematicians enters a bar. The first one orders a pint, the second one a half pint, the third one a quarter pint... "I understand", says the bartender - and pours two pints.

mathematics

Tue, 10/04/2012 - 10:49

its gorgeous you know!

Wed, 27/06/2012 - 12:24

EMAIL ADDRESS!!!

Thu, 12/07/2012 - 10:32

the one you put up there is really not working... i keep getting error replies. have you changed your email id?

I think I'm in love with you.

Wed, 26/12/2012 - 16:43

I think I'm in love with you. Seriously.

The beginning is brilliant!

Tue, 09/07/2013 - 19:39

The beginning is brilliant! how did you think of such a punchy opening?

PRACTICE, NOT PRACTISE

Mon, 23/09/2013 - 08:42

wow... Packed all the lovely

Mon, 07/10/2013 - 03:40

wow... Packed all the lovely information neatly. Power of maths? hahaha. and catchy opening :)

No wonder why you got into

Thu, 17/10/2013 - 09:28

No wonder why you got into Oxford! :O :O ...I wanted to ask something. After getting an offer from all of these universities, were you invited for an interview? If you were, what kind of questions did they ask? Were they A level course related questions, outside the syllabus questions or personal choice interests questions and nothing related to the syllabus? Many Thanks :)

not stereotyping

Thu, 20/03/2014 - 14:48

I don't know why I'm reading this in an indian accent.

Wow... just wow. I do not

Thu, 10/07/2014 - 10:40

Wow... just wow. I do not know what to say. This is the best personal statement that I have read.

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Mathematics personal statements

Mathematics degree personal statement example (2a) Oxford application

This is a real personal statement written by a student for their university application. It might help you decide what to include in your own. There are lots more examples in our .

Mathematics, in my mind, has always represented how I think about the world. I decided from a young age that it would shape my future career and therefore my degree choice. I realised early on that mathematics and statistics play an important role in every aspect of life. They supply the methods which created the structure of the modern human world and the means by which it is continually being improved. More specifically though, it is the everyday effect that mathematics has on human life that I am intrigued by and that I would most like to study in detail.

My love of mathematics really began in primary school when I had the opportunity to take part in the UKMT Junior Maths Challenge. At the age of 10 I achieved a Gold Certificate. From then on I was focused on studying mathematics and committed to achieving in the subject. I took my mathematics GCSE in Year 10, which was unusual in my school. In Year 11 I also won the award for the best overall GCSE results. This shows that whilst I specialise in mathematics, I am versatile and willing to work hard. I always relish being stretched academically and take pleasure in working with new information and techniques.

I was hooked by the first year A Level mathematics and further mathematics courses and the insights they have given me have really engaged me. For example, the manipulation of algebra and spotting opportunities to use methods to make a solution more beautiful, is fantastic. The whole process of gradually improving and streamlining lines of algebra through substitution, factorisation and other methods is highly rewarding, especially when the answer isn't obvious at first.

Calculus is another fascinating part of the course. Learning to differentiate and integrate more complex equations has opened my eyes to additional everyday applications of calculus. I am really looking forward to studying these at university.

I have enjoyed learning how the areas of maths I am studying are applied to real life problems. For example, how the Poisson model helps supermarkets design their checkout sections and staff rotas. Similarly, insurance, banking and gambling sectors use probability to assess risks and logistics companies utilise discrete mathematics and linear programming to minimise expenditure and maximise profit. University will give me the chance to explore these even further.

I recognise the value of other aspects of my life. I am enjoying studying Spanish as an A-level choice. I also studied music at GCSE level and since then, through independent study, I have achieved a high merit at Grade 7 electric guitar. I am also independently working towards my Grade 8 bass exam. I qualified as a football referee and officiated for Barnsley FC and Sheffield Wednesday FC Academies. This shows I am trustworthy and responsible and that I have an ability to work individually under a high level of pressure. It also means I can be assertive and stick to any decisions I make that are open to interpretation. As a referee I need to use my good interpersonal skills to resolve confrontation and explain my judgements. I have also volunteered as a music tutor to people aged between 7 and 18 and I am currently teaching an 8 year old on a one to one basis. This requires a lot of patience and the ability to motivate people to continue their practice. Since August 2008 I have been employed by the Co-operative Group as a Customer Sales Assistant. In a recent manager review I was said to show “a level of maturity far beyond [my] years”.

I love being supplied with a problem and tasked to solve it. It leads me on a voyage from thinking about the problem through to beautifying the solution - and it is this journey that engages, enthuses and motivates me to study mathematics at university.

Universities Applied to:

University of Oxford (Mathematics)
Bristol University (Mathematics)
University of Bath (Mathematics)
University of Leicester (Mathematics)
Keele University (Mathematics)

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Oxford Maths Personal Statement/Super Curricular Advice

I’m looking to apply to Oxford for Maths (2023 entry) and I’m looking for some advice on how to start a personal statement, good things to emphasise in it, how to avoid waffle etc. and any good super-curricular work I can do over summer- I’ve got Maths Challenge medals etc. but they’re not exactly super-curricular and I want to do as much as possible.

Also any advice about maths interviews would also be appreciated- Thanks

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Mathematics Personal Statement

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COMMENTS

Maths Personal Statement Example for Cambridge and Oxford
Maths Personal Statement Example for Cambridge and Oxford. 14 Apr. Mathematicians often take A levels that don't involve essay writing. Writing 4000 characters on why an applicant would like to study maths can therefore present a real challenge. Note that the personal statement below does not merely list books.
Successful Oxbridge Personal Statements
Oxbridge Maths 24/25 Entry; Oxbridge Computer Science 24/25 Entry; Oxford Physics 24/25 Entry; Oxford PPL 24/25 Entry; ... Read through a successful Law Personal Statement for Oxford with a full analysis by Oxbridge Tutors. Find out why the Personal Statement helped the candidate to receive an Oxford offer. Read More »
Mathematics personal statements
These mathematics personal statements are written by real students. Among them you will find personal statements that have formed part of successful applications to universities such as Durham, Oxford and Warwick. Bear in mind, these personal statements are presented in exactly the way they were originally submitted to Ucas.
Sample Math Personal Statement (Oxbridge)
Variations of this personal statement got accepted at Oxford, and Cambridge university. Read this essay to get inspiration and understand what a top math school PS should look like. Sample Math Personal Statement for Oxbridge. The challenges involved in problem-solving have always been vital to my passion for studying Mathematics.
How to write a personal statement
1. Before you start. The academic work is the most important reason why we're here, but that also translates into work experiences, internships, volunteering. I think a big part of the personal statement is crafting that narrative of academic self that fits alongside your professional experiences, to give that greater picture of who you are ...
Maths Model Personal Statement
This is a model personal statement by a succesful Oxbridge Maths applicant. Maths, especially pure Maths, feels like another language to me; just as a meaning can be described with words in any number of ways, so can a Maths proof be solved with infinite methods. For this reason, I relish proving generalised equations, as they enhance my ...
MSc in Mathematical Sciences Personal Statement
Your personal statement should be up to 1000 words and should be written in English, otherwise there are no specific formatting requirements. Do not feel you have to use the full 1000 words; a strong statement can be anywhere from 500 to 1000 words long. You should explain your motivation for applying for the MSc in Mathematical Sciences (OMMS ...
How to Write a Great Maths Personal Statement: Expert Tips
Perhaps try: Watching films about maths or mathematics (the most famous examples are. Getting into a podcast about maths (Oxford University has one called. Remember to Keep note of the things you read, watch, and experience that inspire you as you do them; this will help make writing the statement easier.
Maths and Statistics Oxbridge Model Personal Statement
This is a model personal statement by a succesful Oxbridge Maths and Statistics applicant. When first learning about algebra as a child I was fascinated with how the letter X was used to find seemingly unobtainable solutions, e.g. to simultaneous equations. Since then I have enthusiastically studied algebra and been intrigued by how ...
Maths Personal Statement
We will make certain that you do not submit a Maths personal statement with poor grammar, as Cambridge and Oxford would reject it. Reviewed by MathsTutors. Your Oxbridge Maths personal statement will be proofread by a team of tutors who are familiar with what exactly Cambridge and Oxford are looking for. 1-to-1 Feedback Lessons
Guide to Oxbridge Mathematics Interviews
Mathematics Mock Interview Package. If you have any more questions about your application or interview that you would like to discuss with a member of our team, please do get in touch. Call us on +44 (0) 20 7499 2394, or email [email protected]. Book your sessions. Learn everything you need to know about the Oxbridge Interview for ...
PDF Personal statements
Personal statements - oxford PurPose from oxford's point of view, the purpose of the personal statement is to provide additional information in the applicant's own ... counter arguments in texts that they have mentioned as well as their own personal opinion. students applying for maths, or maths based subjects, often worry about what to ...
Suggested Subject Resources
Suggested Subject Resources. Whether you need inspiration for your personal statement, something to think about before your interview or whether you are simply intellectually curious, you might find the suggested reading and resources below useful and entertaining. They are intended to give you an idea of the kind of material you might engage ...
Successful Personal Statement For Cambridge Mathematics ...
Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. Today, we are looking through a Mathematics and Physics applicant's Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Cambridge University. The Mathematics and Physics Course at Cambridge ...
Oxford from the Inside # 120: Writing a Personal Statement: Maths
In this episode, Siam (he/him) asks Ella (she/her) about writing a personal statement for maths. Tune in to find out more!In today's episode Siam discuss wit...
12 Personal Statement FAQs and answers!
If you would like to speak to one of our Oxbridge-graduate advisors about your own personal statement, contact our Oxbridge advising team on +44 (0)207499 2394, email at [email protected], or request a callback to discuss your situation.
How to Apply
3. Register for the Maths Admissions Test. Test details for 2024 are being reviewed, and this section will be updated soon. 4. Make an application through UCAS. We take applications for all Oxford undergraduate courses through UCAS. You'll need to make an account on the UCAS website, and fill in details of your academic history.
PDF OXBRIDGE PERSONAL STATEMENT
mathematical propositions. AS Mathematics and Further Mathematics have revealed a rich variety of mathematics I had not come across before, in particular, calculus, linear algebra and complex numbers. The exposure to these new branches of mathematics has left me with tools but also questions that have driven me towards a degree in mathematics.
Oxford University Personal Statements
Oxford University Personal Statements. We hope our collection of Oxford University personal statements provides inspiration for writing your own. Please do not plagiarise them in any way, or UCAS will penalise your application. Our Personal Statement Editing & Review Services are availble if you feel you need a little extra help.
Maths Personal Statement Example 6
Maths Personal Statement Example 6. The idea of proof has always held a real fascination for me. The process of starting from a simple set of axioms and deriving almost any mathematical truth (putting Godel to one side) is what truly separates Mathematics from any other subject. It is the closest we can ever get to absolute truth, and therein ...
Mathematics degree personal statement example (2a) Oxford application
Mathematics degree personal statement example (2a) Oxford application. This is a real personal statement written by a student for their university application. It might help you decide what to include in your own. There are lots more examples in our collection of sample personal statements. Mathematics, in my mind, has always represented how I ...
PDF Writing your personal statement/statement of purpose for OMMS
Your personal statement should be up to 1000 words and should be written in English, otherwise there are ... You should explain your motivation for applying for the MSc in Mathematical Sciences (OMMS) at Oxford, your relevant education and experience, and the specific areas that interest you and/or you intend to specialise in. It is important ...
Oxford Maths Personal Statement/Super Curricular Advice
I'm looking to apply to Oxford for Maths (2023 entry) and I'm looking for some advice on how to start a personal statement, good things to emphasise in it, how to avoid waffle etc. and any good super-curricular work I can do over summer- I've got Maths Challenge medals etc. but they're not exactly super-curricular and I want to do as much as possible.