I think your instincts are right on this one. I think go for the "study mathematics" drum, and all the different cool things that could involve doing. I particularly like your idea for "research questions I find interesting" which would give them a flavour of what the point of it all.
I'd certainly ignore the career path/job spec request. I imagine the teacher has sent generic guidance which would be useful if you were a doctor/lawyer/accountant, but not much help in your area. Mathematics doesn't strike me as a subject that has an obvious, singular career path or job spec, so describing what you, personally, have done in a factual sense is potentially irrelevant (on top of having found it comes out sounding rather uninspiring).
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-01 03:37 pm (UTC)I'd certainly ignore the career path/job spec request. I imagine the teacher has sent generic guidance which would be useful if you were a doctor/lawyer/accountant, but not much help in your area. Mathematics doesn't strike me as a subject that has an obvious, singular career path or job spec, so describing what you, personally, have done in a factual sense is potentially irrelevant (on top of having found it comes out sounding rather uninspiring).