Topic: Please provide information which you feel will be of interest to the selection panels of the program.
Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.
I was introduced to the fundamental concept of Economics as a child, when my father answered my naïve questions, in particular at the time that the price of my favorite sweet spiked. As I have grown older, I have been able to see and understand economic concepts at work in the world around me, which have ignited my passion. Since moving to China from Korea after the age of 13, I have been able to observe the intense economic growth of this country at first hand, witnessing the rise in living standards alongside the polarization of wealth.
I love the euphoria of solving challenging problems, no matter how long they take. I find abstract concepts, such as fractal theories and their uses particularly interesting. Using fractal dimension to achieve maximum efficiency in the antenna industry makes me marvel at the depth of Mathematics required. Attending an international school in China has provided me with great opportunities to deepen and widen my mathematical knowledge. I have participated successfully in Maths competitions, such as AMC and UKMT, hosted by different countries. Preparing for competitions allowed me to face entirely new types of questions and to discover plenty of brilliant ways to approach those problems.
Economists predict how markets will change and how firms will behave in the future. I read about Game Theory and its basic idea: in certain strategic situations, there are a finite number of choices firms can make. As simple as it may sound, economists can infer a lot from one firm's decision. Although I am studying the economy of an ideal world where one factor can change without altering any other variables, I am delighted whenever I read a real world article and apply the economic concepts I have learned. For example, how the tense relationship between South and North Korea is doing damage to their GDP and long-term development.
As an IB Economics and Maths student, I want to take a mathematical economics course at university level because it combines these subjects and offers me understanding of the close relationship between them. Economic theories can be represented and analysed by using various mathematical methods and I aim to understand them more profoundly by studying the maths behind them. For example, by studying complex calculations of the marginal and average costs of goods, I see how firms accurately predict their future prospects.
One of the great merits of attending an international school is that I have friends from many different countries. As a group, we discuss economic issues relevant to our own countries. It is really interesting to see how everyone suggests different approaches to similar problems. The most recent topic was Japan's reaction to the rising Yen. We had a heated debate on the idea of government intervention. Not only did we come up with possible solutions, but we also evaluated one another's ideas. This regular discussion helps me think like an economist and to review what I have learned, and to widen my views of the global economy.
My extracurricular activities also have an educational benefit. Regardless of the amount of homework I receive, I always make time to play my guitar and attend band practice. For me, the best way to relieve occasional stress is to shred some cheerful riffs and liven up my mood. I play in a band that won first place in the Battle of the Bands of my school. Being in a band requires preparation for performances and leadership to motivate everyone involved. Twice a month, I write for the school newspaper and supply some "fun" Maths problems for each issue. I feel my articles are worthwhile whenever I read some comments on them and attempts at the problems.
I am planning to continue these activities at university, for they have now become part of my life. I look forward to studying mathematics at increasingly high levels and believe I can enrich the university community with my contribution.
Is my essay off topic? it has been suggested and I am really worried.
Thank you very much for your time and help.
Wow! You essay looks great. I think they'll appreciate the fact your so dedicated and excited about the topics you study, and the immerse cultural additions you can bring to their community. It's also a good thing you talked about applying what you learn to real life situations, after all that's what educations about. I think you wrote a great essay, and i'm truly jealous of your writing skills.
Thank you very much, Bimmer 97!!
One question though, do you think that this information will be of interest to the selection panels?
That's my main concern ..:(
Thanks!
I think ur essay is good, but unfortunately slightly off topic. It's only my opinion though. U did explain about ur aspiration and stuff well, but not the world u come from. This essay would be a great one, if they asked you to write about your academic goal and interest.
I suggest you write more about your the world you come from, instead of about yourself all the time. Perhaps you can write about China, and how living there has made an impact on you.
It can be on topic with a few adjustments. The world you come from made you understand the importance of having a healthy economy.
I like the essay until you get to this sentence:
Economists predict how markets will change and how firms will behave in the future. This is a statement of the obvious. So, it is better to give a sentence that tells the reader how the world you come from makes you want to be able to predict market changes. That is how to stay focused on the topic.
And at the end of the essay, explain again about your intention to use your knowledge to avoid the economic distress you experienced in the world where you grew up.
:-)
