In recent years, technology has evolved exponentially and i am fortunate to be living in a time of such great innovation and invention. Throughout my life, l have experienced the increasing effect that technology has on our society and on the way in which we live our lives each day. l have, therefore, had a strong interest in how new technology is created, built and used. When I received my first laptop, I was fascinated by the ability of the machine, prompting me to begin researching how the computer worked. Since that day, computing has been a large part of my life. As l looked deeper into the world of computing, I discovered the vast possibilities of computers and the capability of its software. Having recognised the potential and the massive impact that computers and software have on our lives, I quickly realised that computer science was my greatest passion.

At AS/A level, I took mathematics, further mathematics, compute ' '~ . and physics. These

su qects ave taug me inva I . . 'l s w um I have applied to my own personal computer science projects. Mathematics and further mathematics have been essential to me, as l have gained a deep understanding of numerical and algebraic manipulation, as well as a number of other advanced mathema ‘ al concepts. These skills are extremely useful when developing efficient and accurate software. Additionally, the skills that l have gained in physics have given me a better understanding of physical concepts, knowledge which is essential for games, simulators and so on. Finally, computer science has equipped me with more depth knowledge of the theory behind computers, such as how they are built and how the work at the lowest levels. Moreover, it has supplemented my programming skills, enabling me to produce higher quaiity code, given that I better und ~ and how the code will be used by the computer.

Outside of school, I regularly engage in personal computing projects, including both software and hardware aspects of computer science. I have learnt Java and C# to a good level, as well as basic C/C++, and I am very familiar with computer internals, having built/modified many computers. These projects have enhanced my knowledge of the subject and have encouraged my desire to study the subject. I have taken part in a number of taster courses and King’s College London, including a hackathon, wherein I developed a complete application as part of a team in a short period of time. v This event helped me build valuable interpersonal skills, including communication and teamwork, as well as improving my skills as a programmer. l have also attended a number of public lectures held at University College London, especially those related to the field of computing, such as a lecture about computers working at the speed of light. These lectures have focused on topics which l do not learn in school, allowing me to gain additional knowledge about computing. Furthermore, the lectures have given me a taste of the steep learning curve to be expected at university which is something that I am greatly anticipating when starting university. Lastly, l have taken part in work experience with Talbot Underwriting Ltd., where l worked with the software testing team at the firm. This experience gave me insight into what software development is like in the real world and allowed me

to practise my skills in a professional situation. W