As I had always enjoyed puzzles and solving problems, mathematics had always been my favorite subject. Mathematics was logical, and always made sense. However, my curiosity towards mathematics heightened when I learned about proofs. A complete proof meant that the mathematical statement was true and could not be refuted. I was even more intrigued by what constituted a valid proof as I learnt the basics of induction and contradiction. More questions popped into my mind as I pondered over the concepts I learnt. Armed with a new mathematical tool, I found great joy in proving basic formulas like the arithmetic summation formula. I could finally rest at ease knowing that the derivative of sin(x) would always be cos(x) and understanding the principles behind it. When I saw how seemingly difficult questions like why there were an infinite number of primes could be solved with a simple yet creative proof, I was enchanted.
The concept of proof gave me insight as to how applied mathematics stood on the basic fundamentals which could never be shaken. When I was young, I had dreams of creating the next revolutionary gadget. As I realized that mathematics provided the foundation for a wide range of complex functions from optimizing production processes to devising a music composition program, I knew that I wanted to be able to be involved in various fields. To be able to use mathematics to shape the world around us would be a dream come true.
The concept of proof has not only established my understanding of mathematics, but has also made me more inquisitive about why things work in a certain way. My motivation to obtain a university education is driven by my desire to learn.
First, you should write in the present tense (assuming everything still holds true today) : "As I have always enjoyed puzzles and solving problems, mathematics has always been my favorite subject."
I like how your essay shows what a big influence mathematics has on you and how much it has opened your eyes
You may want to base your points around a specific instance, like give a specific example of when math helped "shape the world" for you.
I also think that you should elaborate on how your experiences with math tie in to the bigger picture like you do in the last two sentences; explain more the connection between math and your "desire to learn".
Hi, I am also working on this prompt. I think your essay looks good to me. But the last sentence seems a bit unrelated to the previous part. Perhaps you want to try to link them better.
Thanks for the input. I was writing it and I realized that I didn't really know how to end, so I came up with that. I'll keep working on it.
Thanks once again.
Revised, still not too sure about the last sentence.
As I had always enjoyed puzzles and solving problems, mathematics had always been my favorite subject. Mathematics is logical, and always made sense. My curiosity towards mathematics heightened when I learned about proofs. A complete proof meant that the mathematical statement is true and cannot be refuted. I was even more intrigued by what constituted a valid proof as I learned the basics of induction and contradiction. More questions popped into my mind as I pondered over the concepts I learnt. Armed with a new mathematical tool, I found great joy in proving basic formulas like the arithmetic summation formula. I could finally rest at ease knowing that the derivative of sin(x) would always be cos(x) and understanding the principles behind it. When I saw how seemingly difficult questions like why there were an infinite number of primes could be solved with a simple yet creative proof, I was enchanted.
The concept of proof gave me insight as to how applied mathematics stood on the basic fundamentals which can never be shaken. When I was young, I had dreams of creating the next revolutionary gadget. As I realized that mathematics provided the foundation for a wide range of complex functions from optimizing production processes to devising a music composition program, I knew that I wanted to be able to be involved in various fields. Once, we were investigating the effects of gravity on a ball moving in simple harmonic motion. Through the application of appropriate formulas, we were able to solve the problem. I was captivated by how differential equations could be used to model our world and was captivated by the practicality of mathematics.
The concept of proof has not only established my understanding of mathematics, but has also made me more inquisitive about why things work in a certain way. Mathematics has ignited a desire in me to learn about the world, and I believe that the unique Mathematical and Computational Science program at Stanford will be a step closer to fulfilling my dream.
