Whilst participating in the Maths Open Day at the Centre of Mathematical Sciences today, I had the pleasure speaking to a lovely family, the son of which is applying to Cambridge. We discussed college choice, preparation, importance of olympiads – many topics, inspiring me to start writing about applying to the University of Cambridge (for reference, I am currently a second-year Mathematics undergraduate at Trinity College – the best college, haha).
One of those topics was on writing personal statements. The 4000 character monograph detailing your achievements and ambitions; why the university should choose you. And so, I promised to add my own personal statement to my website – here it is in all its glory. Good luck for your application, Tony!
This personal statement was for my 2016 application to Trinity College, Cambridge for Mathematics.
Personal Statement
Mathematics is unique. Not only for its logic and rigour, not only for the satisfaction when one solves a problem, but also for the joy of being able to spread astonishing results.
My experience being selected into the International Mathematical Olympiad Squad last year has broadened my knowledge significantly, due to my work over an extensive range of topics. In fact, ever since I began to tackle difficult problems, my passion for mathematics has never stopped developing. I have always enjoyed taking part in competitions and this year, it culminated in my selection to represent the UK at the Balkan Maths Olympiad. In Tirana, our team of six solved many problems; an interesting one concerned a rectangle of orthocentres, which we solved during a lengthy wait at passport control! In the competition, I solved three out of four problems to achieve a Silver Medal. It was pleasing to see a problem that used the more esoteric Wilson’s Theorem, about which I had fortunately read a few years ago.
Due to my performance in the British Maths Olympiad Round 1, with full marks last year, I was selected to participate in the Joint Hungary-UK IMO Training Camp, working with Hungarian students in problem-solving sessions and lectures. I learnt how to communicate clearly using appropriate, but not excessive, notation when necessary. Indeed, I greatly enjoy teaching and collaborating with others. Having been selected as a moderator on Brilliant.org, a thriving online mathematics community, I answer questions and have contributed over sixty problems, many of which have been featured. At school, I hosted the ‘Maths Club’ for two years, creating olympiad-style problems to broaden the younger students’ knowledge.
In the summer of Year 12, after a sudden interest in Turán’s Theorem, I held a lecture on Graph Theory. I went through seven topics, including basic Ramsey Theory (monochromatic triangle in K6, coloured red and blue) and planar graphs, leading ultimately to the Six (not four!) Colour Theorem. There was an emphasis on accessibility, with the audience being given interactive challenges, such as drawing K3,3 without crossing. Over twenty people attended across the years, and they each received a handout that I created with further problems.
I have had various successes in other Olympiads as well. This year, I achieved a Gold in the Biology and Chemistry Olympiads. I achieved a score in the top five of the country in the Y12 Physics Challenge, and received a ‘Roentgenium’ award in the Y12 Cambridge Chemistry Challenge. I have a passion for computing and was invited to the IOI selection camp due to a score in the top 15 in the UK. It is truly wonderful to see the importance of mathematics.
Being Deputy Head Boy of my school, I have improved my leadership and communication qualities. My commitment to the school is extensive, not only in mathematics, but also in music and House competitions. I greatly enjoy playing the piano and achieved a Diploma at the age of 12. I have played in several concerts, both at school and for charities, including one for the Japanese earthquakes this year. Every year, I have been involved in House Events such as chess and writing; having participated in House Public Speaking for five years, I won the competition in Year 11. I am also a keen player of squash and badminton.
A professor once said to me that ‘maths is a tool’. But for me, mathematics is not simply a tool. It is a pure and beautiful essence of truth, meticulously constructed from its axioms, from which one can even prove incompleteness theorems that demonstrate its limitations. I would greatly relish the opportunity at university to further my knowledge of mathematics.
Michael Ng 