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\title{Motivation Statement}
\author{Thomas van Maaren}

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\maketitle
\textbf{Why have you chosen this Master’s programme, and why at Utrecht
University?} 

For my bachelor in mathematics I followed a lot of theoretical
courses. I noticed that these courses where mentally
challenging, but in my perspective lacking in the amount of things you can do with
it in the real world. The computing science courses on the other hand where
less mentally challenging,
but are more practically. In the sense that you can directly use what you learned
in the real world. I originally was very confused at which master I should pick. If
I would choose mathematics I would be mentally challenged, but I would get the feeling
that what I was working on had no real point to it. If I would choose computer science
what I learn will be more usefull, but as I thought back then less challenging. I talked
with dr. Vákár about this. And he said that I could expect the master computing science 
to be more challenging than the bachelor. I therefore decided that it was the best
choice to do a master degree in computer science. I chose Utrecht University
simply because It is convenient for me to travel there. It is also where I followed by bachelor degree.
I consider this to be all in all positive experience and would therefore not refrain from staying here
for a longer time.

\textbf{What is your experience/what demonstrates your interest in this field?}

First of all, I followed a lot of computing science courses at
Utrecht University. Of these courses I found the courses Languages and
compilers and Functional programming
most interesting. Here is a list the of all the computing science courses I have followed and completed:

%\begin{itemize}
%	\item Imperative programming
%	\item Functional programming
%	\item Machine learning (Mathematics course)
%	\item Databases
%	\item Data structures
%	\item Graphics
%	\item Concurrency
%	\item Languages and compilers
%	\item Algorithms
%\end{itemize}

Secondly, having done a bachelor degree in mathemathics will probably give me some insights that many
other students will not have. For my thesis for example I had to understand a lot about cathegory
theory. This turned out to be usefull to understand a language like Haskell, as the whole idea of
Haskell is to be a language built around cathegory theory. Many concepts like monads and functors
are much easier to understand now I know the full mathematical context. Less concretely, I also
think that my bachelor degree has also given me a way of thinking that is very usefull. Being to
reason formally about abstract concepts is something will certainly help me in computing science.

Finally, I also like to spend my free time on computer science. If I have enough time I like
to be busy with writing games in openGL or write a compiler in Haskell or
design a CPU Logisim. Although I find it a bit
hard to find enough time for these kind of projects lately. It does show I have
an interest in computing science
that extends beyond my degree.

\textbf{Which subject areas within this field do you find most interesting and why?}

For my masters I have chosen the ``Programming Technology track". This is
because I found the subjects related to this track like functional programming
and languages and compilers most mentally stimulating. I also felt that these courses where most similar to mathematics courses. I think I will really
enjoy the course
``Advanced functional programming". This is because I really enjoy everything related to functional programming
and I am very excited to learn more about it. I think the course ``Program semantics and verification" will also be interesting as it will combine my interest in giving proofs within mathematics with my interest in functional programming. 

\textbf{What makes it evident that you possess the required qualities for this Master’s programme? }
\textbf{How does this Master’s programme correspond with your career or research ambitions? }

After this master degree I hope to become a software engineer. Many vacancies
require a master's degree or at least many years of work experience. Because I
do not have latter it is more time effective to this master's degree than to
work for a long time. I also think this master degree will give me a lot of
skills and knowledge that
I could really benefit from in my future career. For example the courses
program semantics and verification and language based security are directly applicable in
software development.
\textbf{Reflect on your academic achievements.}

After high school I studied applied mathemathics at Fontys University of
Applied science. I could complete every course with quite little effort. I got
my propedeuse in the first year and I decided to study mathemathics
at Utrecht University. Although this was more challenging I got quite good
marks. At the end of the first year I decided I wanted to do more computer science
subjects. Now I am in my third year and to finish my degree I only need to complete

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