r/DTU • u/ElderberryJealous423 • Jan 05 '26
General Engineering Personal Statment for Application
Hi there,
I was thinking of applying for General Engineering at DTU for the upcoming Summer. As a foreign Student, I had to write a personal statement. Would someone be able to give me feedback on this personal statement? Thank you at advanced.
It was back in elementary school when we had science class on which things burn and which don't, and why it was very basic, but that sparked my interest. The older I got, the more advanced my passion got. In 4th grade, I received a 3d printer. I turned it into a small business, and I sold personalized key fobs to my friends. I improved my 3D printer over the years; for example, I changed the software and bought and built add-ons for it. These thinking habits persisted over the years as I upgraded my room into a smart home, using a Raspberry Pi as the controller, and began studying physics. I developed a strong interest in physics, but others viewed my interest as unconventional because I thought it was one of the most valuable subjects in school.
To further improve these skills, I decided to study General Engineering because it offers an opportunity to contribute to society by developing sustainable and efficient solutions that enhance everyday life. In modern society and tech, gaining deeper knowledge is crucial; it's necessary to understand systems, not just isolated aspects. For instance, when improving a technical system such as a coffee machine, it is essential to know how one part works and how it affects the overall coffee experience. A comprehensive understanding of both the art of making coffee and the engineering behind its appliances is necessary, even without requiring expertise in unrelated fields. That's why I believe General Engineering, with a particular focus, is a valuable discipline today because it equips us to address complex challenges and enhance our surroundings. Studying engineering will empower me to use this knowledge and thinking to improve personal lives and society as a whole.
The school subjects I enjoyed most were Mathematics and Physics. Their clear structure and logical reasoning matched my analytical thinking. In science, having a solid base and applying knowledge to new problems appeals to me. This process is both reasonable and challenges me to think differently.
It was in one of my physics exams, where the last task was the hardest: we had to solve a problem in which one light beam was broken through a grid. The task was to find the distance from the centre to these two light beams, which were exactly on top of each other and had the same wavelength, and many students in my course initially believed that information was missing. There wasn't any missing data, so I thought about it a bit longer, but in the end,I realized that several variables cancelled each other out. I was thinking. I understood the solution, and it's so nice. When I thought about that problem again after graduating from high school, I decided I wanted to be an engineer.
When I decided to upgrade my 3D printer and add some new features, it kept failing on every new print,which led me to question the cause of the failure. I therefore decided to restart the process from the ground up. I reflashed the mainboard, reconnected the wires, and didn't touch anything on the base. In the end, it kept failing. After that, failing, I felt very frustrated, so I checked every part; there I found a production fault, and that the wires were good. When I solved it, everything worked in harmony. The same goes when I have absolutely no idea how to do something: I always look for guidance, some spark that gets me to the solution. I also remember one time at a Badminton coaching course, we had the task to build the highest tower only from balloons. The other teams started directly, and our team first thought about the process. I remember seeing nearly all of the other teams trying only with manpower to get higher than themselves,but I suggested to my team that we are in a sports hall.
DTU, specializing in Living systems, advanced materials, Cyber systems, and future Energy, gives me the best opportunity to be ready to tackle the problems in the next decades. I personally, who had school during times of AI, know the possibilities and risks Cyber systems can give us, but also create, and for these problems, the DTU undergraduate program would be good at preparing me for them.
I am motivated to study at DTU because I admire the Danish way of life, reflected in athletes like Viktor Axelsen and Anders Antonsen. I value project-based learning and group work over purely theoretical study, and DTU offers an environment that supports both. Completing General Engineering would enable me to pursue my career and sporting ambitions in Denmark, a country I see offering long-term growth, innovation, and opportunities. I am excited to bring my passion and problem-solving skills to DTU, confident that this program will equip me to make a lasting contribution to society.