MIT

I am most intrigued by the prospect of studying the human brain in connection with a major course of study in the department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT. As a musician with an interest in human cognitive development and learning, I have always been fascinated by the manner in which we produce and appreciate music, by the differences from person to person in that regard, and by the apparent relationship between musical aptitude and mathematical abilities. More particularly, as a pianist, I am interested in the apparent similarity between composing for the piano and computer coding.

The department at MIT that appeals to me the most is the department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. I hope to have the opportunity to study the conceptual applications of mathematical and computer modeling as they may apply to the analysis and understanding of neurological processes and mapping. As an amateur musician who enjoys improvising on the piano, I have often been struck by apparent similarities purely on an intuitive level, between musical composing and computer coding. The department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT would be the perfect place to investigate that apparent connection empirically.

Although you may not yet know what you want to major in, which department or program at MIT appeals to you and why? (100 words)

Since discovering the department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences through reading the MIT News to learn about interdisciplinary education at MIT, I have been particularly interested in that department, especially the way that cognitive processes pertain to computer coding. I am interested in the apparent similarities in the processes and conceptual applications of mathematical and computer modeling as they may relate to the empirical analysis and understanding of neurological networks and processes. As a pianist who enjoys composing and improvising, I am intrigued by the similarities between music and mathematics and hope to have the opportunity to study that issue.