Cambridge students break down their Personal Statements SECRETS TO SUCCESS (Natural Sciences)

Francis Madden

15 Sept 202228:56

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this insightful video, Francis interviews Poppy, a Cambridge graduate, about crafting an effective personal statement. Poppy, who specialized in Natural Sciences with a focus on Physics, shares her successful application strategy. She discusses the importance of expressing genuine motivation, engaging with scientific developments, and showcasing relevant experiences and skills. The conversation highlights the value of drafts, concise language, and reflecting on how personal experiences align with academic and career aspirations, providing a roadmap for prospective university applicants.

Takeaways

📚 Start Early: Poppy began drafting her personal statement in the summer before year 12, which helped identify gaps in her content.
🔍 Reflect on Interests: She emphasized the importance of writing about subjects genuinely interesting to the applicant to avoid potential interview pitfalls.
📝 Drafting Process: Poppy's first draft underwent significant changes, focusing on concise language and content relevance.
🌟 Highlight Motivation: The personal statement should clearly convey the applicant's motivation for studying their chosen subject.
🔬 Engage with Science: Poppy attended lectures and read scientific magazines to stay updated with developments in physics.
🏆 Showcase Achievements: Listing academic and extracurricular achievements can demonstrate an applicant's dedication and capability.
📖 Discuss Readings: Mentioning specific books and chapters, like 'QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter' by Richard Feynman, can showcase depth of understanding.
💡 Emphasize Skill Development: Poppy highlighted how her experiences developed tangible skills like research analysis and communication.
🏛️ Cambridge-Specific Tips: For Cambridge applicants, the SAQ (Supplementary Application Questionnaire) is an opportunity to express why the Cambridge course is a good fit.
🤝 Seek Feedback: Poppy recommended getting feedback from various sources, including family, teachers, and peers, to refine the personal statement.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the discussion in the transcript?
-The main topic of the discussion is about writing a personal statement, specifically for applying to Cambridge University, with a focus on natural sciences and physics.
Who are the speakers in the transcript?
-The speakers are Francis and Poppy, both of whom studied at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
What did Poppy study at Emmanuel College?
-Poppy studied natural sciences with a specialization in physics, often referred to as 'viznatsky'.
How did Poppy approach writing her personal statement?
-Poppy approached her personal statement as a physics personal statement, focusing on her main interest and relevant experiences, and used the SAQ (Supplementary Application Questionnaire) to discuss her broader interest in sciences.
What is the SAQ and how did Poppy use it?
-The SAQ is a supplementary document that allows applicants to Cambridge to add a couple of hundred words about why the Cambridge course is good for them or why they are a great candidate. Poppy used it to talk about her broader interest in sciences and why she wanted to do natural sciences specifically.
What was the process Poppy followed when writing her personal statement?
-Poppy started by writing a list of everything she had ever done that could be relevant, then sat down with the list and thought about what was most key to her. She aimed to be concise and ensure that everything she included could be discussed in an interview.
How did Poppy's first draft of her personal statement compare to the final draft?
-The overall structure stayed the same, but the final draft was more concise and included more content. She used the SAQ to add extra details about her broader interest in sciences.
What advice does Poppy give about the first sentence of a personal statement?
-Poppy advises to express why you want to study the subject genuinely and to avoid cliches. She suggests starting with a catchy or attention-grabbing sentence without being too extreme.
What is LIGO and why was it mentioned in the transcript?
-LIGO stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory. It was mentioned because Poppy attended a lecture day where Dr. Stephen Fairhurst, a LIGO data analyst, spoke about topics including relativity, black holes, and dark matter.
What did Poppy do during her work experience at the Cavendish Laboratory?
-During her work experience, Poppy assessed the weather forecasting abilities of 19th-century storm glass through detailed statistical analysis of a year's data. This experience boosted her love for independent research.
What book did Poppy read and why did she choose it for her personal statement?
-Poppy read 'QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter' by Richard Feynman. She chose it because she found it recommended somewhere and it was a classic book that many people read and included in their personal statements.
What achievements and extracurricular activities did Poppy list in her personal statement?
-Poppy listed awards she won in the Mathematical Olympiad for Girls, Senior Math Challenge, Kangaroo Merits, Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, and the B-P-H-O-A-S Physics Challenge. She also mentioned her role as editor of the physics section of her school science magazine, being a physics mentor and tutor, and volunteering for the Ogden Trust Extreme Physics for year 10 students.
How did Poppy's intellectual curiosity extend beyond the classroom?
-Poppy's intellectual curiosity extended beyond the classroom through her involvement in performing arts, playing violin, participating in school orchestra, taking part in plays, captaining her lacrosse team, and completing her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.
What advice does Poppy give for getting feedback on a personal statement?
-Poppy advises to get feedback from as many people as possible, including family, teachers, and friends. She emphasizes that if three people suggest the same change, it's likely a change that should be made.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction and Personal Statement Writing Process

Francis introduces himself and Poppy, who studied natural sciences at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. They discuss the qualities of a good personal statement for Cambridge, focusing on Poppy's experience. Poppy shares that she wrote her statement with a focus on physics, despite applying to natural sciences, and used the Supplementary Application Question (SAQ) to discuss broader scientific interests. She emphasizes the importance of starting early, listing relevant experiences, and being prepared to discuss any content in an interview. The conversation highlights the iterative process of drafting and refining the personal statement.

05:01

🌌 Expressing Motivation and Engaging with Science

Poppy discusses the importance of conveying motivation in a personal statement, using her own as an example. She describes how she expressed her interest in physics and the reasons behind her choice. The paragraph also covers her engagement with scientific developments, such as reading scientific magazines and attending a lecture day focused on relativity and gravitational waves. Poppy emphasizes the value of demonstrating a genuine interest in learning and being open to new ideas, rather than merely showcasing knowledge.

10:02

🏆 Extracurricular Activities and Practical Experiences

In this paragraph, Poppy talks about her involvement in science-related extracurricular activities, such as entering essay competitions and participating in work experience at the Cavendish Laboratory. She explores the interdisciplinary nature of science and the practical applications of physics, highlighting her essay on invisibility cloaks and her research project on 19th-century storm glass. The discussion underscores the importance of tangible experiences and the skills developed through these activities, such as research analysis and communication.

15:03

📚 Reading and Reflection on Scientific Literature

Poppy shares her experience of reading 'QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter' by Richard Feynman, inspired by her interactions with scientists at the Cavendish Laboratory. She reflects on how the book challenged her understanding of basic phenomena like reflection and refraction through quantum electrodynamics. The paragraph emphasizes the value of reading and critical thinking in deepening one's appreciation of scientific concepts and the importance of being able to discuss specific ideas from the literature.

20:04

🏅 Awards and Contributions to the Scientific Community

Poppy lists her academic achievements and contributions to the scientific community, including winning awards in various science challenges and serving as an editor for her school's science magazine. She also mentions her role as a physics mentor and tutor, showcasing her enthusiasm for promoting science among students. The paragraph demonstrates her commitment to the subject and her ability to balance academic pursuits with extracurricular involvement.

25:05

🎓 Extracurricular Involvement and Personal Growth

In the final paragraph, Poppy discusses her extracurricular activities beyond science, such as playing the violin, participating in sports, and completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award. She emphasizes her ability to thrive under multiple challenges and her intention to approach her undergraduate degree with the same motivation. The conversation touches on the importance of showcasing well-roundedness and the ability to balance academic and personal interests.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Personal Statement

A personal statement is a written document typically required as part of a university application, where the applicant expresses their interest in and aptitude for the course they wish to study. In the video, it is the central topic discussed, with the interviewee sharing insights on crafting an effective statement that helped her get into Cambridge. The personal statement is portrayed as a critical tool for showcasing one's motivation and suitability for higher education.

💡Cambridge

Cambridge refers to the University of Cambridge, one of the leading universities in the world. In the script, it is mentioned as the institution to which the interviewee applied and was accepted. The video emphasizes the competitive nature of the application process at Cambridge and the importance of a compelling personal statement in securing a place there.

💡Natural Sciences

Natural Sciences is an academic program that encompasses a broad study of the natural world, including physics, chemistry, and biology. The interviewee applied to study Natural Sciences at Cambridge, and the video discusses how she tailored her personal statement to reflect her interest in the subject, particularly focusing on physics.

💡Physics

Physics is a branch of natural science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy. The interviewee's personal statement was primarily focused on physics, indicating her specific interest in the subject. The script mentions how she approached her personal statement with a physics perspective, which was her main interest.

💡Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ)

The SAQ is a part of the Cambridge application process that allows candidates to provide additional information about their academic interests and achievements. In the video, the interviewee used the SAQ to elaborate on her broader interest in sciences and why she chose Natural Sciences over solely Physics.

💡Gravitational Waves

Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime caused by some of the most violent and energetic processes in the Universe. The script mentions the detection of gravitational waves as a scientific development that excited the interviewee, illustrating her passion for physics and the pursuit of new knowledge.

💡Quantum Mechanics

Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory in physics that describes the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic levels. The interviewee's personal statement references a book by Richard Feynman, which discusses quantum electrodynamics, showing her interest in the complexities of physics and her eagerness to explore beyond the basics.

💡Interdisciplinary

Interdisciplinary refers to work that integrates knowledge and methods from multiple academic disciplines. The script describes the interviewee's recognition of the interdisciplinary nature of science, particularly in the development of invisibility cloaks using metamaterials, which involves physics, engineering, and material science.

💡Cavendish Laboratory

The Cavendish Laboratory is the Department of Physics at the University of Cambridge, known for its significant contributions to the field. The interviewee's work experience at the Cavendish Laboratory is highlighted in the video as a valuable opportunity that deepened her understanding of physics and research.

💡Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular activities are pursuits outside of the regular academic curriculum. The script mentions the interviewee's involvement in various extracurricular activities, such as playing violin, participating in sports, and performing arts, which showcase her well-roundedness and ability to manage multiple challenges.

💡Duke of Edinburgh Award

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a youth awards program founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The interviewee mentions completing her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award in the script, indicating her commitment to personal development and achievement outside of academia.

Highlights

Importance of a personal statement in getting into Cambridge, with a focus on natural sciences.

Poppy's background in natural sciences, specializing in physics, and her first-class degree from Emmanuel College Cambridge.

The process of writing a personal statement, starting with a comprehensive list of experiences and interests.

Tailoring the personal statement for specific courses like physics and natural sciences, and the importance of being genuine.

Utilizing the Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ) to emphasize broader interests in sciences for Cambridge applicants.

The evolution of the personal statement from the first draft to the final version, focusing on concise language and content relevance.

Expressing motivation for studying physics and the influence of personal experiences in the first paragraph of the statement.

The significance of staying updated with scientific developments and the impact of attending lecture days on personal statement content.

Incorporating specific scientific concepts, like gravitational waves and space-time, to demonstrate depth of understanding.

The interdisciplinary nature of sciences and its practical applications, as illustrated through the discussion of invisibility cloaks.

Entering essay competitions and the interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving in sciences.

Gaining work experience at the Cavendish Laboratory and its contribution to the personal statement.

The value of independent research and analytical skills developed through work experience and their relevance to university studies.

The influence of reading 'QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter' by Richard Feynman on the personal statement.

Highlighting achievements in extracurricular challenges and their reflection on personal capabilities and interests.

Promoting science through various roles, such as editor of a school science magazine and a physics mentor.

The balance between showcasing intellectual curiosity and the ability to handle multiple challenges in the personal statement.

The importance of seeking diverse feedback on the personal statement and incorporating it effectively.

General advice on personal statements, emphasizing understanding university expectations and showcasing personal strengths.

Transcripts

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