Summer Calculus and it's Interdisciplinary Role

Hi!

I need some help with this statement of purpose for a summer term, I was wondering if someone could look it over for me?

Thanks!

Summer Calculus and it's Interdisciplinary Role

A while back, when I applied for Columbia's Summer High School Program, I remember writing about my fascination with interdisciplinary studies. Now, years later, I still stand by that assessment of the academics. While people often say that 'the more you learn, the less you know', I personally have never seen it as something to hinder my desire to explore interdisciplinary studies. In fact, I feel that that in itself has been more of a motivation for me to study various disciplines. In realizing how there is so much more for us to learn as we explore other fields of academia, it makes me wonder why scholars would not be stimulated to try to understand how everything comes together to make our world function. It only demonstrates that in turning a blind eye to disciplines that we feel unnecessary to our major or concentration, we are fooling ourselves. You cannot understand Biology without Chemistry and you cannot understand Political Science without History. It is not about having a foundation of knowledge but having a reliable source of knowledge. In trying to specifically specialize in one thing and ignoring the rest, is purposely blinding oneself to the reality of things. Everything in the world is co-dependent.

As a student who seeks to study evolutionary genetics, I cannot help but see how there is so much to understand about biology, chemistry, anthropology, geography, and almost every other discipline out there. I feel that if I were to solely dedicate myself to only study the necessary than I would simply be lying to myself. It's cliché to say that 'we never stop learning' and taking to that in account scares me enough to feel the obligation in learning more than what's asked of me. I refuse to study inside a bubble of falsities where I can pretend that by completing the requirements of a major I will fully comprehend the intricacies of genetics, evolution and the human genome.

In taking only a single class for the summer, I will have the opportunity to concentrate in laying out an excellent mathematical foundation for the sciences. Calculus, I believe, will greatly benefit my future studies in the physical sciences since it will support numerical and analytical thinking in my studies. It is with great incentive that I look forward to a summer term at Columbia University.

Is this supposed to be your topic? If so, you need to rewrite your essay to focus more on how Calculus connects to other disciplines. At the moment, what you have is mostly an essay on how interdisciplinary studies are worthwhile, which is a different topic. Only the third paragraph even mentions Calculus. On the bright side, you might still be able to use some of the material you already have if you can tie it in to Calculus in some way.

In April of 2007 , when I applied for Columbia's Summer High School Program, I remember writing about my fascination with calculus as it relates to other disciplines. Now, years later, Today, I still feel compelled to make that my focus as I continue my academic process. stand by that assessment of the academics.

Maybe like that?

Right after that sentence, give an example of how you will move closer to that goal by using SPECIFIC resources that are at their school. Show how your clear plan requires you to be accepted into their program.

See, this part is too general: As a student who seeks to study evolutionary genetics, I cannot help but see how there is so much to understand about biology, chemistry, ... almost every other discipline out there.

I think you should put this in a word doc and use the Enter key over and over to divide it into a list of sentences. Chop the weak ones, and put the remainder into a good, strong sequence. Then, add an attention grabber at the start, a brilliant piece of introspection at the end, and shape it back into an essay of three paragraphs.

Good luck!! Also, please go give a few other members your reaction to their essays. :)