本文作者同時獲得了劍橋大學、愛丁堡大學、圣安德魯斯大學和華威大學等四所英國名校的錄取通知書。
Computer Science Personal Statement
From listening to music to writing computer applications, computers have formed an integral part of my everyday life and have been an endless source of fascination for me. What originally sparked my interest in the deeper aspects of computing was learning how to use programming languages to solve real-life problems; for example, I recently created a program that identifies the roots and vertices of polynomial equations in order to check my answers to maths questions. The ability to develop a deep understanding of computer science and mathematics would enable me to solve more complex problems, and would also prepare me for a career in research and development of artificial intelligence and natural language processing.
Studying Further Mathematics has allowed me to prepare for the many mathematical challenges posed in and around computer science. I have found topics such as differential equations, algorithms and iteration to be particularly interesting. The understanding of cognitive processes given by my Psychology course has inspired me to think of ways in which computers may be able to mimic human thought through artificial intelligence. In addition, since one of the most important parts of human thought is the ability to communicate, computational linguistics and speech synthesis both appeal to me greatly. Studying French at school and undertaking private study of linguistics, and particularly phonetics, has deepened my understanding of natural languages. This again has inspired me to think how this could be applied systematically to intelligent systems.
I particularly enjoy setting myself problems to solve using computers. For example, I have made a cipher for text encryption, whereby the encrypted text looks as if it were a foreign language. With each revised version I made the algorithm for encryption more and more complex. I have also looked into operating systems, and recently developed a simple text-based operating system with some basic I/O functions. This gave me insight into how computers can be programmed at a low level, and how software can interact directly with memory and other hardware. I also helped set up an online business; it was my job to design and code the website, and the experience I gained has been invaluable to me.
Reading articles from 'The New Turing Omnibus' has introduced to me more aspects of computer science, such as the use of computers in mathematical research, and applications to areas of medicine. What really inspired me was the article on computer vision. The complexity involved in interpreting three-dimensional images, even when detail is minimal, is a fascinating challenge. I also enjoyed reading 'The Pleasures of Counting' as it uses many real-life examples to which mathematics and computation can be applied, and its section on codes was of especial interest to me.
Outside of school, I have a keen interest in music. For example, I play the piano and the classical guitar at Grade 5 standard, and I have co-hosted a sponsored 24-hour radio show to raise money for ChildLine. In addition, I thoroughly enjoy travelling to and learning about the cultures and politics of foreign countries. In February 2008 I undertook two weeks of work experience in a French library and stayed with a French family, which helped me to develop a better fluency in the language.
I believe I am an ideal candidate to read this degree because of my strong passion for problem-solving, mathematics and computing. This will drive me to achieve great results and to contribute to the academic environment that university study would provide me with.
