Looking for tips on my SOP? I feel like there's something I'm missing.
Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2016 10:47 pm
I'd really appreciate any advice!
Statement of Purpose:
I started my physics education in high school, where I learned to manipulate equations to solve real world systems, finally getting to put math to good use. My enjoyment of high school physics led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in physics at University X. I quickly found myself wanting to learn more. During my sophomore year at University X, I started to become thoroughly interested in the field of particle physics. The idea of understanding the universe at an elementary level really took hold with me, and since then I’ve been keen to learn more.
In the fall of my junior year, I started undergraduate research with Professor John Doe, my freshman physics professor. His work with the Belle Experiment really piqued my interest, giving me insight into a career as a particle physicist. I started learning about the Standard Model, and how to program in Python, in order to model a decay typically found in the KEKB collider. As my education progressed, I was able to learn more in depth theory and history about the field, quickly realizing that I’ve only scratched the surface of what there is to learn. Recently, my research has been creating simulated collision data for the Belle II experiment, the upgrade to the Belle experiment, to explore rarer decays and quarkonium states.
I also decided to pick up a statistics minor to go along with my physics degree. I figured that this would be useful information to have handy, especially when working with large data sets typical of any particle physics experiment. It’s also just interesting to use statistics to observe real world behavior, an idea that would tend to get lost to me while taking the many math and calculus classes required for a physics degree. Applications of statistics have been invaluable to me in my physics classes and undergraduate research.
One day, I would like to pursue a career as a researcher in particle physics, helping myself and others to understand how the universe works at a fundamental level. However, in order to pursue my goal, the next logical step is to continue my education, working towards a Ph.D. in the field.
Throughout my undergraduate education, I have become comfortable working in a lab setting. Working in labs has given me good experience working with common lab supplies in physics in order to measure electrical and radiation phenomena.
Professor Tim Anderson’s work on the CMS experiment involving the Higgs boson and searches for supersymmetry is quite fascinating. One of my interests in the field of particle physics is the large amount that we still don’t understand. Experiments that push towards the boundaries of new physics beyond the Standard Model are what I find most intriguing.
In summary, I believe that my serious intention for the advancement of my education, my past lab work, academic background in various areas of physics, mathematics, and statistics will be beneficial for my graduate studies and research. I believe it would be a good chance to receive high-level education under guidance of strong scientists and excellent teachers and with the help of first-class equipment presented at University XYZ.
Statement of Purpose:
I started my physics education in high school, where I learned to manipulate equations to solve real world systems, finally getting to put math to good use. My enjoyment of high school physics led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in physics at University X. I quickly found myself wanting to learn more. During my sophomore year at University X, I started to become thoroughly interested in the field of particle physics. The idea of understanding the universe at an elementary level really took hold with me, and since then I’ve been keen to learn more.
In the fall of my junior year, I started undergraduate research with Professor John Doe, my freshman physics professor. His work with the Belle Experiment really piqued my interest, giving me insight into a career as a particle physicist. I started learning about the Standard Model, and how to program in Python, in order to model a decay typically found in the KEKB collider. As my education progressed, I was able to learn more in depth theory and history about the field, quickly realizing that I’ve only scratched the surface of what there is to learn. Recently, my research has been creating simulated collision data for the Belle II experiment, the upgrade to the Belle experiment, to explore rarer decays and quarkonium states.
I also decided to pick up a statistics minor to go along with my physics degree. I figured that this would be useful information to have handy, especially when working with large data sets typical of any particle physics experiment. It’s also just interesting to use statistics to observe real world behavior, an idea that would tend to get lost to me while taking the many math and calculus classes required for a physics degree. Applications of statistics have been invaluable to me in my physics classes and undergraduate research.
One day, I would like to pursue a career as a researcher in particle physics, helping myself and others to understand how the universe works at a fundamental level. However, in order to pursue my goal, the next logical step is to continue my education, working towards a Ph.D. in the field.
Throughout my undergraduate education, I have become comfortable working in a lab setting. Working in labs has given me good experience working with common lab supplies in physics in order to measure electrical and radiation phenomena.
Professor Tim Anderson’s work on the CMS experiment involving the Higgs boson and searches for supersymmetry is quite fascinating. One of my interests in the field of particle physics is the large amount that we still don’t understand. Experiments that push towards the boundaries of new physics beyond the Standard Model are what I find most intriguing.
In summary, I believe that my serious intention for the advancement of my education, my past lab work, academic background in various areas of physics, mathematics, and statistics will be beneficial for my graduate studies and research. I believe it would be a good chance to receive high-level education under guidance of strong scientists and excellent teachers and with the help of first-class equipment presented at University XYZ.