A Statement of Purpose

[pteromys]

In September, a professor I've worked with sent me an e-mail suggesting a list of graduate schools he thought I should consider.

On November 17, as I began1 working on applications, I came up hard against the question I was supposed to answer in a "statement of purpose" essay: "Why do I want to study math at this grad school?" Question led to

Comments

[leech]

Speaking of math/music people, one of my inspirations is the recorder teacher at Carleton. I've also sung in many choirs with this fine tenor.

NB: It is vastly easier to pay your bills as a mathematician who does some music than as a musician who does some mathematics. Doubly so if your specialty is composition!

[pteromys]

Huh, wow. I'd known said recorder teacher as my academic advisor from MC05 but not interacted with said tenor--until, funny enough, today by chance at the senior math majors' dinner.

I'll keep your advice in mind--and thanks; that was an aspect about which I knew very little. (I guess it still is, since I know approximately no details.)

[pteromys]

Thanks; that's encouraging. :)

I announced sheet music and a recording on LJ. I also keep an archive (currently very bare, but mabye this summer I'll post some older things from before I had the site set up).