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Sample:
Statement Of Purpose
Sample
SOP's
Physics
The Physics Student admitted to MIT, Princeton, Berkeley, Stanford
Statement of Objectives
Applicant's name: Ivan Ivanov
Department and Degree: Physics, PhD
When I was a tenth-grade high school student, I used to always ask
my teachers: "Why do different branches of physics seem so
unrelated? They must be similar to each other!", but they
didn't appear to be interested in the question. I believed that I
was the only person trying to find the answer until I got
acquainted with a professor of theoretical physics at XX
University. He told me that analogies between different areas of
physics do exist and that many scientists are exploring them. I
cannot forget my excitement when I talked to him and found that I
wasn't alone in my attempts to solve the puzzle. Since then every
step in my life brings me closer to the answer.
In 1998 I entered Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT).
As a winner of XXIX International Physics Olympiad in Reykjavik,
where I received Gold medal and a special prize for the best
solution of a theoretical problem, I was admitted without entrance
exams. There, in addition to a thorough standard course of study,
I have taken a number of elective advanced physics and math
courses. One of my hobbies was to solve complicated non-standard
problems in physics, calculus and group theory. I also attended
advanced lectures on topology and differential geometry at
Independent University of Moscow. My hard work paid off: in 2000 I
earned the highest score in MIPT's Physics and Mathematics
Olympiads among all 2100 undergraduates of MIPT.
At the same time I gained my first research experience: I proved a
theorem of high importance in calculus regarding Whitney's
extension problem and my results were published in Mathematical
Notes, one of the top Russian mathematical journals.
I spent my 3rd year at the Institute of Theoretical and
Experimental Physics specializing in particle physics. I actively
participated in weekly seminars on gravity and quantum field
theory (QFT). I especially enjoyed making presentations on topics
such as instantons in modern QFT, entropy of black holes, and
conformal field theory.
I was fascinated by beautiful mathematical constructions of QFT
and string theory, but I also became interested in deep
interconnections between QFT and Condensed Matter physics. In
order to get to the bottom of these interconnections, I decided to
deepen my knowledge of Condensed Matter theory. Therefore in
September 2001 I joined the theory group at the Landau Institute
and spent my 4th year there. It was the most interesting year of
my studies at MIPT as the requirements at the Landau Institute are
extremely high. For instance, in order to pass the exam on
Diagrammatic Techniques, I solved about fifty complex problems
such as finding quantum correction to the conductivity of
two-dimensional system with the help of diagrammatic methods.
Problems involving a combination of both High Energy and Condensed
Matter Physics are of special interest to me, for example, quantum
Hall effect, superconductivity, and modeling of cosmological
phenomena in condensed matter systems. My Bachelor's thesis called
"Even denominator Hall states" was in the field of
fractional Hall effect. There I described the analogies between
Moore-Read Pfaffian state and liquid helium. Currently I am
working on a research project under the guidance of Prof. X. We
are exploring properties of fermion zero-modes living on vortices
in unusual superconductors.
During my years at MIPT I have acquired research experience not
only in Condensed Matter, but also in QFT. About a year ago I met
a graduate student who was working on asymptotically free
theories. Soon we became collaborators. We have developed some
aspects of principal chiral field model and are currently
preparing a paper for submission to JETP Letters.
I am convinced that I should continue my education at
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. First, I would like to get
more experience with superconductivity and quantum Hall efect.
Research in these areas is very active at Condensed Matter group
of MIT. Study of strongly correlated systems by Prof. Lee, Prof.
Wen and Prof. Levitov is of particular interest to me. Second, MIT
High Energy group is also extremely strong. I believe that
communication with such experts would be priceless for my
education.
I am confident that graduate study at Massachusetts Institute of
Technology would be a great step towards my goal and the
experience gained at MIT will allow me someday to get to the core
of connections between different branches of Physics.
Ivan Ivanov
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