Ok, so I'm applying to several Research Experience for Undergraduates (or REU's as they call them), and I have to write an essay for each application. So if anybody wants to, and please don't feel obligated or anything, here is the essay that I wrote for your  criticism and editing pleasure:

Write a brief essay on your academic and career goals, and what you hope to gain from an REU program. There are no length requirements, but we suggest you aim for 200-500 words. 

I am Jeffrey Doak, a junior at Missouri State University. I am majoring in physics and mathematics. After I graduate in the spring of 2009, I am planning on going to graduate school and getting my doctorate in physics. From there I would like to go on to do basic research. Right now I am unsure of what I want to focus my research on. I’ve always envisioned myself going into theoretical research and uncovering just how the universe works, but recently I have been opening myself up to the idea of doing more experimental work. I’ve realized that I really like doing things in labs, and while I do well in classes, I’m not sure that’s what I want to do for the rest of my life. Of course, all this is based on the assumption that experimental physics is like lab classes and theoretical physics is like lecture classes. But, I haven’t done any real research, be it experimental or theoretical, to really confirm what I want to do. This is the biggest reason I want to participate in this internship; I want a chance to experience some kind of research and verify that this is indeed what I want to do for a living.

I would also like to figure out what sub-field of physics I am most interested in. Right now I find quantum mechanics fascinating, and I would like to be involved in a project dealing with quantum physics in some way, be it fundamental principles or applications thereof. Another area of research I’ve recently discovered is computational physics. I use computers a lot, and I find the idea of using computers to do physics research very appealing, so I would be interested in getting more experience with this as well. All told, this internship would provide me with valuable research experience and help me define my future goals.


Thanks for your help, if you feel like it. Toodles.

I have a test tomorrow. It's a good thing that I'm writing here instead. But I don't like to study, so here I am, and oh what fun. It probably isn't good that doing one problem takes me half an hour or so. Though that does mean I won't have to do a complete problem on the test. Plus it's open book and note, so I won't have to derive anything. So I guess I'm not too worried.

I also had a test today. It was pretty good. Heh, I finished near the end of class and was beginning to check my work, when the teacher told us that we could take it home and finish it. I know myself, and I realized that, having finished the test, I wouldn't look over it again before turning it in, so I turned it in at the end of class. I'll feel pretty stupid if I messed some stuff up and don't do well. But if I do, I'll be, to borrow the phrase, "a BAMF." I know I'm weird, but I really enjoy kicking a test's ass. Plus, if I do good on a test, I feel good twice; first if I know I did good coming out of the test, and second when I get the results of the test. Like I said, I'm weird. But tests to me are sort of like performances to music majors (perhaps, I suppose I can't say for sure seeing as I'm not a music major) in that they're how I measure my success and growth in the area of my 'expertise.' Except that I won't have to take tests when I grow up.

I accidentally wrote out bamph just now. Thats how it should be spelled. Despite the fact that it's an acronym. It could be "Band Aids, My Personal Healer," or "Boy Are My Peppers Hot!"

I registered for classes on Monday. My schedule's pretty sweet. I have four physics classes (one is research), and two math classes. Also, it just so happens that theses classes give me huge chunks of the day free, like 9-12 MWF, 1-4 MWF, and 10:30-4 TR. Of course, I do have class from 4-5 or 4-5:15 every day. Which kinda blows, but each of the classes I'm taking have just one section, so I guess I should be glad nothing conflicted.

Ok, so now I ought to go to bed; gotta be rested for my big day tomorrow! Sarcasm is tricky online. Hmm, oh well.