Economics Personal Statement

Example 1
Examination of any quality newspaper will probably demonstrate

that more of the headlines address economic problems than any other

topic.

The importance and relevance of economic related disciplines to the

modern world have led me to want to pursue the study of the subject at a

higher level. I am particularly interested in the behaviour of firms and

organisations from an economic point of view and I have based my A-

level coursework in this field.

During my study, I have come across many real life complexities

and while attempting to explain these theories, I have developed a keen

interest in analysing and understanding how the world of business is

influenced by economics.

I have created an economics revision website for A-level and GCSE

students. It is primarily intended to help younger students gain an

understanding of core economic principles but has also helped me

improve my own computer and presentational skills.

I regularly read newspapers and economic publications to keep up to

date with economic developments and I am able to use my mathematical

and analytical skills to apply different economic theories to a range of

real-life economic situations.

Last year, I took part in an economics and business project called

Young Enterprise in which I set up a small company and sold products to

students at our school.

I enjoyed the chance to put some of my business economic theory

into practice and was able to enhance my management and

communication skills. I also gained a distinction in the associated exam.

To gain practical experience in the workplace, I worked for two

weeks at a small software company specialising in financial software. I

currently have a part time job and this has taught me much about

teamwork, responsibility and time management in the workplace.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, swimming, sketching and solving

puzzles and logic problems. I have redesigned and been responsible for

the maintenance of my school’s website.

I believe that I will gain a highly marketable set of skills from the

study of economics at university. I have found economics to be a

challenging and diverse discipline and I am interested in both macro and

micro economics. It is this variation of perspective, combined with its

real world importance, that makes economics an appealing subject to

study at university.

Mathematics and Computer

 Science Personal Statement
Example 2
When asked why I like Mathematics, I realised that it is all down to

my personality. Being a composed, explicit person, I enjoy the challenge

of questions with unequivocal answers.

My character’s orderly side draws me enthusiastically towards neat

solutions, my creativity gives rise to my acceptance of new ideas and my

positive mind results in my wish to succeed.

All questions have definite answers; we just need to construct ways

of reaching them.

Mathematics at AS Level opened my mind to several new areas of

algebra, sequences and series, and functions. I keenly welcomed the new

techniques and enjoyed all aspects of the course.

Some of my favourite areas, however, were trigonometry and

calculus; it was fascinating to see how trigonometric functions come

together in a few simple identities!

Being new to the methods of differentiation and integration, I spent

extra time going over examples, which soon became clear in my mind. I

look forward to investigating these topics further in the A2 modules.

In addition to retaining a strong interest in Mathematics, my

fascination for computers has grown. Nevertheless, I was unsure of

whether or not I wanted to pursue a joint honours course of Mathematics

with Computer Science, or a single degree course of Mathematics.

My decision to apply for the joint course was confirmed after I

attended a number of Computer Science Summer School courses in

London.

Joining Dubai College has given me the chance to explore new

horizons. Responsibilities, such as being a prefect and Year 7 liaison,

have made me realise our importance in the school as sixth formers.

I am currently in the process of completing my Duke of Edinburgh

Gold award, for which I successfully finished an 80km expedition

through the mountains of Mauritius. I will never forget the feelings of

pure enjoyment and adventure; it was truly a challenging experience!

Although A Levels take up a great deal of time, I manage to maintain

personal fitness by horse riding daily. I routinely enter dressage and show

jumping competitions throughout the U.A.E., where I frequently achieve

a medal place. Riding horses brings on a sense of freedom and allows me

socialise out of school.

I have also obtained an understanding of what it is like to work

amongst a large group of people through working in various companies

around Dubai.

These included Barclays Bank, Prolab Digital and Palms Nursery. I

particularly benefited from my experience at Barclays, as it introduced

me to many fields, such as trading, accountancy and exchange, and taught

me to appreciate the evident need for teamwork.

Although I am still unsure of the path I will take after graduating, I

know that having a Mathematics and Computing degree will give me

many transferable skills.

I am currently investigating a number of regions that appeal to me,

which include actuarial science and further postgraduate study.

For now, I intend to approach the future positively and have many

exciting thoughts. I hope to encounter new opportunities, make new

friends and rise to the challenge of university!

English Personal Statement

Example 3
I have always been fascinated by the way writers can influence, and

even manipulate readers emotions by their expression of thoughts, and by

their ability to encourage the expansion of our imaginations and

understanding.

My favourite authors include Phillip Pullman, Caroline B. Cooney

and also Ian McEwan, whose novels are inspiring because of their

enviable lucidity and innovative character development.

It is my love of literature that has stimulated me to write creatively

for pleasure. I therefore want to study English further as a catalyst for my

own writing and to extend my knowledge of a subject for which I have

developed a passion.

My love of drama inspired me from a young age to take part in

school productions by competing with over a hundred girls in auditions

and successfully securing parts. I performed in the production of Othello

at the Greenwich theatre two years ago, which was not only a privilege

but also an exhilarating experience in communicating my interpretation to

a large audience.

I am enthusiastic about all my studies and have therefore decided to

continue with four A Levels. My subjects have enabled me to enhance

and develop many skills. English Literature has furthered my knowledge

of the stylistic devices employed by a variety of writers.

In addition I have developed the skill of arguing cogently and

effectively through my own writing. Biology and Psychology have

primarily helped me to acquire the skill of interpreting and learning

complex factual information. Both subjects have developed my

understanding of ethical and contemporary issues, and have thus

complemented my study of English.

My study of History has allowed me to pursue my passion for

investigating the past by retracing the steps that have led to our present

circumstances. The subject offers me opportunities in abundance to

formulate my own explanations, whilst emphasising the importance of

open-mindedness in appraising the perspectives of other historians.

I pursued my interest in history this summer by applying to the

UCL/British Library summer school of Revolutions, and was selected,

together with thirty-five other sixth formers across the UK. There I was

given the inspiring opportunity to attend lectures given by recognised

experts who were at the cutting edge of their field of study.

Furthermore I was given the rare opportunity of handling primary

material, which I found overwhelming given that many of the documents

I studied were over four hundred years old.

I play an active part in my school and have consequently been

involved in many extra-curricular activities. I was appointed a prefect,

and discharged my responsibilities with sensitivity. I am currently on the

schools sixth form committee. My role here is developing my confidence,

leadership skills and capacity to work co-operatively as part of a team.

By participating in a debate as part of the University Access

Programme I have become more articulate in expressing my views. I have

mentored a younger student, an experience that proved to be particularly

rewarding when she acquired greater confidence in her reading.

In addition I am a Millennium Volunteer and look forward to the

prospect of teaching IT to a variety of people with physical or learning

disabilities in my vacation period. I am a conscientious, sensitive and

committed student and am confident that I have the qualities and skills to

succeed at university. I look forward to the challenge of a demanding

degree course, and to the opportunity to play a significant role in

university life.

History Personal Statement

Example 4
Recently, I found out that my grandma was gambled into slavery for

seven years. She escaped her prison and made her way back to Hong

Kong, 300 miles south. I was amazed at how courageous she was. This

personal discovery led me to read Jung Chang's 'Wild Swans' which made

me both proud and ashamed of my heritage. Like most countries China

has a brutal history yet the courage, will and determination shown by

some of its individuals is astonishing. I am fascinated by the role of the

individual within the sweeping events of history. From the accounts of

soldiers in the trenches of WWI in 'The Soldier's War' by Richard Van

Emden, the fictional 'Birdsong' by Sebastian Faulks, to the account of a

holocaust survivor who I heard speak at a seminar in Bristol, organised as

part of the 'Lessons From Auschwitz', and whose forgiveness and

compassion was breath-taking, I was inspired to visit the WWI

battlefields and Auschwitz itself. These experiences changed the way I

look at history and made me question my own morality and faith and

realise that history is more than fact. Reading Primo Levi's 'If This Is

Man' made me realise that losing touch with humanity is how some

survived the Holocaust: "At the moment we care about nothing", and that

the will to survive can override all else, making me consider the moral

ambiguity of human behaviour. A trip to Bletchley Park inspired me to

consider the technological advancement scientists made in times of need;

from nuclear weapons and rockets to radar detectors. The Germans' use of

the enigma machines led to Alan Turing's invention of Colossus, laying

the foundation for modern computer technology.

I am especially interested in the changing position of women in

society and took the opportunity to investigate the role and status of

women in Elizabethan England for my AS English Literature coursework.

The strong contrast of John Knox's 1558 statement that "woman in her

greatest perfection was made to serve and obey man" and Elizabeth

taking the throne that same year, struck me sharply. Similarly the

punishments meted out to female collaborators in France after WWII as

explored in The Economist article 'Sleeping With the Enemy' and 'Women

and the Second World War in France' by Hanna Diamond, illustrated the

on-going injustices towards women throughout our history.

I enjoy uncovering links across time and comparing similarities and

differences throughout history. From my studies, I have seen a continuity

and repetition of events. For example, the recent use of chemical weapons

on Syrian civilians reminded me of Germany during the 1940s when

Hitler killed his own civilians. Chancellor Bulow in the 20th century and

Cardinal Wolsey in the 16th both advised their monarch in foreign and

domestic affairs. Yet when the Monarch lost trust in their appointed

advisor, both lost their position of authority. For me it seems that human

behaviour seems destined to repeat itself, despite our technological

advancements.

Taking part in Model United Nations has been a great way to explore the

links between past events and current situations through research and

formal debate. I enjoyed researching

China's position on human rights, especially given their recent history, in

preparation for debating the issue and found an ally in the DPRK

delegate.

I enjoy both hockey and tennis and play for my school as well as a

local club. I am also a keen musician and am working towards my Grade

8 Piano as well as singing in a chamber choir. Having completed both the

35 and 45 mile Ten Tors Dartmoor Expedition, the most physically and

mentally demanding challenges I have undertaken, I decided to

participate in an Expedition to the Himalayas this summer.

To understand why events happen, I think it's vital to put them in

their context. History constantly leads us into new areas of investigation

and I am very much looking forward to further expanding these areas of

interest at degree level.

Biomedical Science Personal

Statement Example 5
Looking back to when I was studying GCSE’s I remember fondly

my science classes and recall my enthusiasm to participate and absorb the

knowledge being taught by my teachers. These classes exposed me to a

lot of different and amazing topics, Homeostasis being one of them which

held my attention and curiosity completely. This process intrigued me due

to the biological reactions that are linked between every organ, tissues

and cells of our body which keep us alive. Studying Biomedical Sciences

would teach me a vast array of different topics like Anatomy, Cellular

Biology and Pharmacology which would give me a further understanding

on the functions of life.

Studying Biology at A- level has answered only a few of my queries

about the human body and has improved my analytical skills. Studying

chemistry at A- level has improved my logical skills as we learned

complex chemical reactions like the formation of aspirin from acid

anhydrides.

I have completed the EPQ which is on “How does antibacterial

resistance happen and can it be replaced by alternatives?” This topic

involved researching about the different mechanisms on how antibiotic

resistance is spread between bacteria which caused a new strain of

antibiotic resistant bacteria. Researching and completing my EPQ

improved my organisational skills which I believe is essential for this

university course. I have also read several articles like “Hepatitis C-

working towards a treatment” by Rebecca Grey which is from the

Biological Sciences Review and “World's first malaria vaccine on course

for 2015” which is by Andy Coghlan which is from the magazine New

Scientist, these articles are very informative and have increase my

knowledge of diseases.

At my college I am a Subject Representative for Biology. This

involves me planning and organising learner forums which allow us to

recommend to teachers how to improve the teaching of Biology. Also as a

subject representative I helped introduce new students to the Biology A-

Level course.

I have completed my work experience at Royal Brompton Hospital

and at a GP’s surgery. These work experiences were in different

environments which taught me different skills and knowledge. In the

hospital work experience I got to observe a real CT scan of a patient

suffering from cystic fibrosis.

Seeing the image of the lungs of a cystic fibrosis sufferer and

comparing it to the lungs of a normal person fascinated me and it makes

me want to understand how the excess build-up of mucus in the cystic

fibrosis sufferer affects the biological reactions in the body. At the GP’s

surgery I had got to witness an electrocardiogram of an elderly person

which helped me understand the different stages of the heart cycle.

I volunteer at a charity shop every week. This has helped me to

contribute to my community. Working at the charity shop has improved

my communication skills a lot as I am dealing with many varied

customers. I have also raised money for charities for example I helped to

raise over £300 for the “Catholic Worker Farm” I did this by advertising

around the school by making posters and having a short presentation at

tutorial.

I am also part of the College’s Debating Club in which we debate

often about current topics. I came in second place in the colleges debating

tournament which was held at my college. This has helped to make me a

more confident and articulate person.

I was elected unanimously for my College’s Student Council which

reflects my leadership skills and I was also part of my College’s girl’s

football club; this helped to improve teamwork skills and motivational

skills.

Finally In conclusion I believe that if given the opportunity I can

flourish into a successful student excelling in every avenue of the topic

that I will be chosen to study. I believe studying about the human body

and life is a never ending journey because as we evolve so does science

and the people who research it.

Mathematics and Economics

Personal Statement Example 6
As Pythagoras may have said, (Ambitious)2 + (Bold)2 = (Critical

thinker)2 makes a perfect student and is what I strive to be. From the

simple Pythagorean to the complex Fermat's Last Theorem, mathematics

is a never ending branch of study which I enthusiastically enjoy studying

and why I wish to pursue it even further at university.

It all started from the young age of 6, and the fulfilment I felt once I

had memorised up to my twelve times tables. From then on it was clear

that a course with a significant mathematical content is the only path for a

person such as myself, as the satisfaction of solving a difficult question

after several failed attempts could not be beaten.

I feel certain that the logical approach to problem solving inculcated

by my years of studying maths will serve me well in all of my future

studies.

After being the only person who achieved an A* grade for

Mathematics in Year 11 at my school, it was then I thought that I should

challenge myself by taking A Level Further Maths as well as Maths, and I

also continued to take all 4 of my subjects for A2.

Although this is challenging, I find that this will enable me to

effectively deal with the amount of work during university. Economics is

a subject which took my interest while I was doing research into selecting

my A Level options two years ago, but it is now safe to say I love it as

much as I love maths. I am part of the Economics club at college and find

it enjoyable as well as useful.

We discuss current economic issues such as the recent fall in

unemployment in the UK, how the inflation rate is currently within the

target and how it can be kept at 2.7%, and other interesting issues. My

favourite branch of economics is macroeconomics, as during my summer

AS exams I found that revising for my Economics Unit 2 exam became

less of a chore and more of a 'hobby'.

I prefer analysing items as a whole rather than individual sections, so

by default macroeconomics was more desirable in comparison to

microeconomics. Economic models fascinate me such as the simple

growth model by Robert Solow, which can explain long run economic

growth within one diagram.

When attending Cambridge University's mathematics master class

during my first year, it was the financial aspect of mathematics that

interested me the most. I then started reading The Undercover Economist

by Tim Harford, and found myself asking questions such as "why do poor

countries stay poor?" and "will deficit ever be cleared?" and wanted to

study why the economy is as it is.

Aside from studying, I spend my time working part time as a GCSE

Maths tutor at a tuition centre, tutoring Maths privately and a Maths

mentor at my college. I find great contentment in teaching others

something I love and passing on my knowledge to people. Educating

minds is a skill, and to be able to possess such a gift is highly valuable to

me and something I wish to continue after university.

During autumn 2012 I took part in the National Citizen Service for

Waltham Forest. It was an enjoyable experience throughout and I learned

many skills such as teamwork, leadership, and determination which is

crucial for an individual. It also allowed me to think independently when

planning the community project, as we had to organise the whole project

ourselves.

Organisational skills are vital in life especially as a student and

generally as an individual. I also had to overcome my extreme fear of

heights when doing outdoor activities such as zip wiring as challenging

myself is rewarding as well as enjoyable.

I am the first person in my family to apply for university, and have

great motivation to do well and potentially go on to postgraduate study as

well. I believe that my academic ability, outside work, and most

importantly my determination for both mathematics and economics,

would make me a successful student and great asset to your university.

Economics and Politics Personal

Statement Example 7
"I killed the bank": the last words of Andrew Jackson, former

president of the US, after he had vetoed to renew the charter and

withdraw all federal deposits from banks causing them to bust. Real

money was backed with gold shortly after, causing the greatest economic

boom in history for the US where no income tax was implemented.

Studying this period led me to question the importance of national

banks and government policies. I was intrigued to find out that private

individuals own the Federal Reserve, creating an illusion for the

American people. This sparked my initial interest in global affairs, and

how economics is essential in helping us understand politics and how the

past shapes the future.

I have always had an interest in how the world works. Taking

Economics at A Level has enabled me to understand the basic economic

tools and strategies governments have at their disposal to control the

economy. Looking at how politician's choice of theories created wide-

ranging repercussions on the economies at that time has made me want to

understand more about economic theory today.

Geography has developed my interest in a sustainable future,

through minimising poverty globally and encouraging a just system to

eradicate corruption. Being a keen mathematician has made me curious

about how we can create models for the current economic climate we live

in.

As an avid reader of the Economist I like to keep up-to-date with the

latest current affairs, and my other reading also supports my interests. For

example, I have particularly enjoyed Bernays' "Propaganda", who

cleverly used products to appeal to the public's emotions rather than their

rationality and ironically turned them into the irrational mob he feared.

This made me curious about the worst-case political scenario of

totalitarianism, which steered me towards George Orwell's "1984". His

intentions were to guide America away from communism, and the

dangers it can wreak on the economy. This type of authoritarian state

propelled me to think of alternative solutions to a safe, free and anti-

poverty stricken society.

Being a Pakistani, international politics was going to be an

inevitable part of my life. Pakistan has been plagued with on-going

conflicts internally and externally. Since the War on Terror, there has been

both civil and political pandemonium. Being in allegiance with America

only worsened the fact in my view, as their aid has landed into the hands
of corrupt officials in exchange of their loyalty, rather than education.

Pakistan has been looking for financial aid, while America made use

of their geographical location to invade Afghanistan. However, attacks

within the border from US drones has caused outrage and tension, as a

viable solution is needed to cease this war.

What fascinates me is how there is a rising interdependence between

nations and in the future we may see conflicts that could cause hazardous

effects globally. I would like to develop this phenomenon deeper in

university.

Outside school I've taken part in Young Enterprise as managing

director of my group. This responsibility has helped me cope under

pressure and see practically how vital it is to be organised.

Participating in "Punjabi Club" has enhanced my communication

skills, while I found it refreshing expressing my culture to those who can

relate. Performing in an assembly has boosted my confidence and public-

speaking skills which I hope to apply to my course.

It's only from knowing where we have been, that we can know

where we should go. By opting for this area of study, I'll be diligent and

have an eclectic view of my surroundings in whatever career I shall

pursue in the future.

Spanish and Economics Personal

 Statement Example 8
My aspiration to study Spanish and Economics has not only been

influenced by my curricular education but also from experiences I have

had throughout life. I am intrigued in the effects caused by the failing

Euro zone, and I consider communication among speakers of different

languages essential in progressing forward. I regard them not as subjects,

but life skills.

Languages have always fascinated me. Recognition of their

importance led me to take French GCSE, and Spanish ab initio on my

International Baccalaureate diploma. My interest pushed me beyond the

beginner’s level requirements and I leapt at the chance to take part in an

exchange in Spain. I believe languages cannot be purely learnt by

textbook, which motivated me to spend my gap year volunteering in

Honduras with Project Trust, for which I independently raised £5000 by

organizing events in my college and community, and through contact with

local organizations. This unique opportunity allows me to experience the

culture first-hand and I converse in Spanish constantly. Being the sole

teacher of Second Grade, and teaching adult English classes twice a

week, has helped me to develop a more mature outlook. I take joy in

reading Spanish literature, and Neruda’s poetry, for me, shows perfectly

the beauty of the language, especially in ‘Puedo Escribir’. My passion for

culture and language extends to its wider context and how it affects our

view of the world. This inspired me to write a Theory of Knowledge

essay discussing the statement, ‘The language we have does more than

communicate our knowledge, it shapes what we can know.’ I found the

essay stimulating to write, as I have read texts on language such as

‘Through the language glass’ by Guy Deustcher.

I began the formal study of Economics on my IB course where I

developed a strong interest in international economics. I have always

been mindful of global issues, reading publications such as The

Economist. My understanding of Economics has helped me to identify

their impact in the world. By living on the local wage of Honduras, I can

view the issues and effects of economic policies in the developing world

from a different perspective. I have observed the dependence of Honduras

on American FDI and primary-exports, which has inspired me to develop

my knowledge, and has deepened my passion to find solutions. I wrote an

extended essay in Economics, a 4,000 word research essay on the market

failure caused by alcohol in my hometown, Mansfield. The process of

organizing and executing my own research of this situation extended my

understanding and appreciation of Economics. In June 2011, I voluntarily

attended Economics lectures at the University of Nottingham, which

consolidated my decision to pursue the subject further.

Commitment, organization and independence are all vital qualities

of a successful student; I developed these as an active member of my

college. I was representative for my tutor group, being a voice of the

students in staff meetings. My gap year is also a prime example of these

qualities, as I have adapted to an unfamiliar culture and language, whilst

independently supporting myself for the first time. In my spare time, I

participate in the Duke of Edinburgh award, and completed my gold

expedition in Norway in 2011, which required £2000 fundraising. I take

pleasure in volunteering for numerous charities such as ‘Nottinghamshire

Hospice’, and my local church. I was a member of my school netball

team for 7 years; I am a qualified sports leader and netball organizer. In

addition, I am a keen ice skater, and took classes outside of college,

progressing to NISA level Gold.

I have always wanted to be fluent in another language and expand

my horizons outside the UK to the wider world. I hope to be the first

person from my family to attend university, and a degree in Spanish and

Economics will open many doors for me in the future. I look forward,

with enthusiasm, to the prospect of studying what I love.

Biology Personal Statement

Example 9
From a childhood fascination with prehistoric life to the creation of
my science revision YouTube channel (MrBioTom1), my enthusiasm for

biology continues to be a major focus and joy in my life. As a child of six

reading books about dinosaurs and birds I found comparing their anatomy

intriguing and was fascinated to learn that dinosaurs evolved into the

birds we see today. I could see the links between prehistoric raptors and

modern birds of prey, such as the similarities between the feet of

velociraptors and eagles. I remember the excitement I felt about biology

at a young age. Now, as a senior prefect with special responsibility for

science, I welcome the opportunity to support younger pupils and help to

run the prep school science club. I love to see how excited children feel

looking at something as simple as cells through a microscope. My

YouTube channel has received much positive feedback, with comments

such as "I would never have passed without you" and it is both

challenging and rewarding to help many people, since my channel has

now had over 20,000 views.

My main area of interest in biology is evolution. Observing the

diversity of life makes me eager to learn more about how it developed

and to pursue research in this field leading to a professorship and

lecturing at university. I also find studying organisms and ecosystems

absorbing. News about the EBC-46 drug for the Devil Facial Tumour

Disease, one of only three contagious cancers, interested me. This is

threatening the Tasmanian devil population and could affect the whole
ecosystem but a drug that can treat the tumour in a day is important

progress. I enjoy learning about the function of organ systems and

molecular and cellular processes. It amazes me that any movement in the

body occurs from the diffusion of sodium, potassium and calcium ions in

the nervous system. This system and its effects on animal behaviour are

of particular interest. In Manning and Stamp Dawkins' An Introduction to

Animal Behaviour I was intrigued by summation leading to the "warm-

up" effect (such as dogs only scratching after receiving sufficient stimuli).

Learning about biological molecules such as proteins, a key part of

genetics, confirms the value of chemistry in understanding molecular

biology. Studying maths, including statistics, is relevant to biology as

recording and interpreting data is essential for experiments, such as when

I sampled a freshly mown lawn and an overgrown area and could

confidently compare and contrast them.

To further my understanding of the handling, behaviour and welfare

of both domestic and wild animals I worked at a Cat's Protection League

adoption centre and the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance

Service. The former was of particular interest in view of the charity's

recent initiative to improve the understanding of cats' behaviour by

studying their body language. During my work with WRAS I enjoyed

responsibility for a variety of animals. I participated in the rescue of a fox

with severe burns to its nose and paws which we were able to care for
until well enough to be successfully released. I found this experience and

the knowledge that I had helped extremely rewarding.

My self-discipline and motivation have grown by achieving a black

belt in Karate and learning two musical instruments. I have gained

confidence singing in competitions and in my school choir and playing

leading roles in plays and musicals thereby learning to work well in a

team as well as individually. This has helped me in group experiments

and preparing class presentations, such as my homeostasis research topic.

I aspire to undertake research into evolution and to contribute to the

world of science and can't wait to pursue the study of this compelling

subject.

Economics Personal Statement

Example 10
Choosing an undergraduate degree in economics is a result of my

deep seated curiosity to know why economies are they way they are; why

oil prices in my country, Pakistan, rapidly fluctuate whereas economies

like USA and China continue to strengthen despite recessions. Studying

economics in A levels has strengthened my desire to go further in this

field, introducing me to key concepts that have formed the basis of the

world's economic systems.

 Mathematics has developed problem solving skills within me and

aided me in analyzing economic problems of today's world to the roots of

the causes behind them. Laws form the base of any system- all economies

are governed by various laws. Studying law as a subject, especially

contract law has helped me to understand how businesses and firms

operate within a framework of certain rules and regulations and how

contracts are formed and implemented within the world of business and

economics.My subjects keep me completely focused on the degree I hope

to pursue.

Outside academia, I have engaged myself in various extracurricular

activities. I have attended a Seeds of Peace Mock Parliament three day

session- here I represented the Finance minister of India- this required me

to study various economic problems to their core and hence come up with

viable solutions. Dramatics has given me a platform to make my voice

heard and has helped me develop good public speaking skills.

I have acted in two annual school plays of middle school: 'The

Hollow' and 'Strictly Confidential' and participated in the Seeds of Peace

Annual Drama Competition in which my school secured third place. I

have been part of the management team and many school events-these

have taught me how to handle things under pressure and in an organized

manner. I was also a reserve member of the Asian Regional Space

Settlement Design Competition team from my school where I worked

under the Business and Costing section.

Pakistan, being a third world country is ridden by poverty and

disease and from a young age I have attempted to make a difference in

this by working with non-government organizations. My first experience

in social work was with the organization PAHCHAAN, which works

towards protection and empowerment of children against abuse and

neglect. Later, working with Rehel Foundation as a teacher for cancer

patients in Children's Hospital Lahore further strengthened my desire to

help and educate those less fortunate than myself. These experiences

cultivated my interest in Development Economics and bred my desire to

find a theory that could be applicable to Pakistan.

My thirst for academic excellence has not gone unrewarded- I have

acquired a 100% merit scholarship in A levels. I have moved beyond my

text books in order to further affiliate myself with the subject-I am an

avid reader of The Economist, Time Magazine,and The Times,all of

which keep me up to date with current economic affairs.

I am a frequent visitor of the UK and this makes the transition to

U.K comfortable and exciting. It makes me feel a sense of homeliness.

This past summer I had the opportunity to visit many universities there

including LSE and UCL. Apart from its enriched culture and heritage, the

UK is home to some of the best universities of the world. I wish to be part

of such a system-studying economics at a prestigious university will aid

me in gaining the knowledge I need to contribute to my nation and to the

world.

Geography Personal Statement

Example 11
In a dynamic world, the study of geography is increasingly

important. The diversity of the subject and the interaction between the

physical environment and human population is becoming even more

evident with climate change and globalisation influencing our everyday

lives.

Visiting Iceland allowed me to appreciate this relationship between

physical and human geography. I enjoyed exploring the Hellisheidi

geothermal power station, which harnesses anatural energy source via a

flash-steam power plant. Geothermal energy not only saves Iceland £63

million annually in oil imports but lessens contributions to global

warming. Likewise, the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull fissure eruption fascinated

me, reflecting the ability of a physical phenomenon to affect the wider

human population, with 107,000 flights cancelled causing major

disruption to the global economy. Most concerning was the disturbance to

developing economies like Zambia, whose flower and vegetable industry

experienced huge daily losses reflecting the vulnerability of an

increasingly globalised world.

My interest in the rapidly developing issue of globalisation led me to

read Stiglitz's 'Globalisation and its Discontents'. Having studied the role

of the IMF and World Bank in Economics, I found Stiglitz's intense

criticism persuasive. The many examples of failed economic policy, from

Russia's transition to a market economy to the Argentine financial

collapse, make me question the value of these organisations. I find it

remarkable to see that China-the world's fastest growing economy and

most favoured destination for foreign direct investment-declined any IMF

funds and has thrived despite economic downturns.

Having achieved full UMS points in my geography AS level, I took

a particular interest in the vulnerability and effects of natural hazards in

different regions. A recently published article by the BBC revealed that

Shanghai has been identified by The Coastal City Flood Vulnerability

Index as the 'most vulnerable to flood risk' of nine cities. Initially it

surprised me that geographically challenged Dhaka scores as less

vulnerable to flood risk than wealthy Shanghai. However, this new index

takes into account 19 physical, social and economic factors demonstrating

the complexities of vulnerability.

In Geographical Magazine, an article regarding the matriarchal

society of the Mosuo people of China's Yunnan Province led me to

develop an enthusiasm for the geographies of feminism. This ethnic

group has no word for 'father' or 'husband' and land, property and

possessions are all owned by each household's Grandmother. The social

premise that siblings live together more harmoniously than sexual

partners interested me, as it is the opposite of most societies including the

majority Han, who dominate 92% of China.

During work experience at the London Aquarium, I enjoyed my time

within the conservation area advising visitors about the 'Good Fish

Guide'-a consumer guide to sustainable seafood from the Marine

Conservation Society. This led me to further my knowledge about

conservation by reading Martha Honey's 'Ecotourism and Sustainable

Development'. The negative impacts of ecotourism and the failure of

many schemes to provide a sustainable conservation solution in

theGalapagos Islands particularly interested me, having chosen

'Biodiversity under Threat' as one of my A level modules.

Music is an artistically and intellectually stimulating outlet and I play the

cello and piano.When I was 14, I was awarded the Marguerite Swan Prize

for achieving the highest marknationally in grade 8 cello, reflecting my

determination and commitment. I have also volunteered as a learning

mentor for a child with dyslexia at the Skinners Kent Academy, assisting

with reading and writing. This helped me appreciate educational

differences and their ramifications.

My desire to study geography is absolute and I relish the opportunity

to further my knowledge of both physical features and human activities.

Psychology Personal Statement

Example 12
“If she’s smart she will study Medicine.” This is an unwritten rule in

my culture - all Nigerian parents want their children to become doctors.

What becomes of the aspiring psychologist in the family? I met a junior

doctor, at an educational conference, who wanted to specialise in

psychiatry.

We discussed recent research questions in psychology like how do

children acquire language and is there a genetic origin of schizophrenia?

The exploration of such topics sparked a desire to study psychology at A

Level. However the content covered in my psychology classes did not

settle my curiosity in neuropsychology.

Instead I found that in the writings of Oliver Sacks. In Sacks book

‘The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat’ he spoke of “Mr

MacGregor” a man who had lost his proprioception - which is thought to

be our sixth sense. This case particularly intrigued me as it provoked

further questions to consider. What if I did not have any awareness of my

body parts? How would life change?

Another interesting feature of the case was that Mr Macgregor’s

illness stemmed from Parkinsonism. I relish the opportunity to investigate

the consequences of brain damage, whilst developing my knowledge of

behavioural neuroscience. I want to examine the structure of the brain in

greater detail using specialist neuroimaging equipment.

I look forward to analysing how different processes in the brain

affect cognition and behaviour, such as cases described by Sacks in his

writing.

I take a very scientific approach applying my biological knowledge

to psychology. Observing different biological structures during lab work

allowed me to increase my precision and perseverance; skills I know I

will need during my degree.

Psychology considers all aspects of human nature enabling me to

examine human behaviour in greater depth using both qualitative and

quantitative measures. Biology however, is the study of functions and

systems that make us up as humans; I challenge this reductionist method

of study. We are more than simply a combination of organs.

The case of Phineas Gage is an extraordinary one to me. Gage

surviving is one thing, but the fact that experienced a personality change

added to my fascination with the case. How can having a tamping iron

propelled at great force through your brain cause such a drastic

personality change? A biologist can tell you how Gage survived but only

a psychologist can explain the change in behaviour.

 Recently through following BBC Radio 4’s Mind Changers podcast,

I am able to link case studies I have read in class to a real life setting. One

episode that interested me looked at Julian Rotter’s locus of control. I

learnt that I was externally minded and began to expand on theories from

social psychology. Through listening to the podcasts I was inspired to

look for psychology in my own community.

I play an active role in my college and was recently elected chair of

the student body council, a task which has fuelled my interest in social

psychology by helping me understand conformity and leadership.

Volunteering for Teenage Cancer Trust has had a strong impact on me; I

am able to understand the power of the human brain and behaviour

through communicating with and helping extraordinary people.

In March I directed my own charity event as a part of my EPQ. The

‘Teens with Talent showcase’ raised awareness and over £2,000 for

Teenage Cancer Trust, demonstrating my dedication and commitment to

the cause.

My involvement in extracurricular activities only strengthens and

validates my academic record, showing I can manage time well which I

believe has prepared me for a rigorous psychology degree. University

now offers me the opportunity to be inquisitive and pioneering.

It offers the chance to be involved in ground breaking research in

behavioural psychology, with lecturers and professors who are experts in

their field. It is that single thought that drives me.

Architecture Personal Statement

Example 13
Growing up in post-soviet Belarus I wasn't surrounded by the

architectural wonders - all the buildings were dull and grey, therefore

from early childhood I started drawing and making houses of my dreams.

I have been travelling a lot throughout my life and in every city I

found buildings which truly excited me, for example: The Russell Hotel

in London, The Selfridges Building in Birmingham, Trulli houses in

Alberobello, 0-14 "Cheese" Tower in Dubai and El Capitolio in Havana.

While studying in Oxford, occasionally I tend to walk around

narrow streets getting enchanted by laconically combined romanesque,

gothic and modern architecture. I was always interested in how architects

come to such great ideas and develop them from an initial concept to the

final piece.

To learn the basics of sketching I completed the academic drawing

course in Minsk Art School. There I gained skills in understanding light,

penumbra, reflex and shadow, had to apply perseverance and diligence

while perfecting my pencil still lifes.

In Oxford, on the contrary, I explored color theory and 3D, while

inspired by Andy Warhol and Scott Specht. Being a committed art student

I make sure my projects are firstly carefully planned, then made in a

relatively short period of time and aren't left until they meet all my

objectives.

I enjoy combining techniques and materials, e.g. making a house

model led me to use balsa wood, foam board and plastic. I have compared

the effect of drawing a building in Minsk both in dull and in bright colors,

evaluating the outcome and becoming a stronger critical thinker in the

process.

Finishing specialized school in physics and mathematics, while also

participating in Olympiads like "Kangaroo" and "Zubrenok", I developed

sound technical skills, which I think are equally important for an

architect. While solving physical problems and conducting various

experiments I consolidated my theoretical knowledge and improved

reasoning skills.

Taking IB Geography opened my eyes on the issues of

environmental contamination, fast-growing population and scarcity of

resources. My viewpoint on the world has altered after I read "Green

Architecture" by James Wines - I have learnt that two-fifths of fossil fuels

and a quarter of the wood harvest are used for construction purposes. To

me it is of major concern; there is a huge necessity to modify the

architectural processes in order to provide sustainable environment for

next generations.

In my Extended Essay I researched artistic ways of development of

Belarusian Straw Art, which, as I concluded became symbolic for the

country. I got inspiration from folk craftsmen and enjoyed every minute

of the investigation, developing evaluating skills.

During summer, I had an internship with Aresa Service in Minsk that

lasted 2 weeks. I saw different sides of the profession and was convinced

that being yourself in a creative way, listening and understanding the

client, cooperating with engineers and builders is what I'm looking for.

As well as witnessing barely noticeable progression of new

buildings I was involved in the process of reconstruction of Vankovich's

homestead, watching the ways in which heritage can be preserved.

In parallel to my interest for built environment, I am keen about

many more things. I have been playing tennis for 7 years, learning finding

the fastest and at the same time the most strategic way to beat the

opponent.

Meanwhile, I used to be captain of handball school squad for 2 years

what taught me how to apply leadership skills in real-life situations and

work in team. Being part of the Orientation this year I got a chance to

show my enthusiasm for helping people and communicating with them.

I was also responsible for singing competition, picking up good

singers, jointly writing up lyrics and achieving 2nd award at the end.
Combining creative and logical skills in order to design human habitat in

harmony with nature - this is what I expect from connecting my future

with architecture.

History Personal Statement

Example 14
Visits to the national museums of Knightsbridge and the

Smithsonian ignited my interest in history. My desire to study history was

nurtured following visits to the Normandy beaches which prompted me to

research the Second World War and its origins. My interests have

widened to encompass economic, political and social aspects of medieval,

modern European and Asian history. School study of the Crusades,

concentrated on the Frankish campaigns and politics, inspired me to

explore a wider Islamic perspective not covered at school. I was

particularly struck by the complexity of the politics within the Levant,

leading me to explore the web of state-affairs that formed the backbone of

Frank-Byzantine distrust and Islamic divisions, shown by the numerous

warring Caliphates and emirs.

This genuine interest generated a desire to further my historical

knowledge of other cultures, particularly that of the Samurai, a culture

alien to many westerners. Learning outside school, the elaborate history

of the Sengoku Jidai and the Meiji Restoration particularly caught my

attention. The similarities between Sengoku Jidai Japan and the Muslim

Levant during the crusades stood out. For example, the first great unifiers,

Nur ed Din and Oda Nobunaga, were both succeeded by their generals,

Saladin and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, not their family heirs. Furthermore, the

deep political fractures in the Levant and Japan kept each region in

turmoil and beyond unification. How Japan became a global superpower

so quickly following the Meiji Restoration and how the culture of the

Samurai continued through the 20th century provides an area of ongoing

study.

I am an enthusiastic reader of leading historians, such as Stephen

Turnbull and Thomas Asbridge. During the course of my studies, I have

also read original sources, such as The Alexiad, which provides a

contrasting view to modern historical interpretations of, for example, the

Byzantine view on the Frankish crusaders. Furthermore, I have heard

John Guy speak on Tudor economics during a lecture tour, and visited the

National Archives, seeing artefacts such as the Valor Ecclesiasticus and

Henry VIII’s will.

My work experience at the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers museum,

Tower of London, in 2012, deepened my ambition to study history. This

intellectually stimulating week helped me to develop my knowledge of

research and archiving. It also demonstrated at first hand the value of

preparatory research and interview planning. Specifically, I gained

particular insight into historical episodes whilst reading original material.

Furthermore, my contribution to the museum’s ‘Speak to Me’ oral history

project was challenging but has given me the fulfilment of helping to

create a lasting historical legacy. Being at the centre of such work was

truly fascinating and bolstered my passion for history, whilst adding

invaluable skills for future research and study.

In February 2012 I reached the National Final in RBS’ School’s

Brightest Business Brain, after finishing 6th out of over 1500 other

entries. I have been a committed and reliable Deputy Managing Director

of my school’s Young Enterprise team. This team won the county

competition. My work ethic and reliability has been recognised with my

appointments to Senior Prefect and House Captain, giving me a

responsibility for hosting prospective parents around the school,

organising House events and their supervision. I am currently in the Gold

DofE programme with only my residential to complete.

I am the Captain of my school U19 basketball team and a senior

member of the school’s successful rugby XV. All of these activities have

developed my skills of organisation, team work, clear logical thinking,

creativity, resilience and presentation. Intellectual curiosity and academic

rigor motivates me to study history. I hope this passion will provide me

with a fulfilling pathway to a future career, when I can employ the skills
of historical analysis, comprehension and communication.

Philosophy Personal Statement

Example 15
One area of philosophy I find particularly exciting is the philosophy

of mind, which I was first introduced to while reading Descartes'

'Meditations'. I was fascinated by the problem regarding how interaction

can take place between the mind and body without some sort of

supernatural "spirit", which opens up great questions.

If the supernatural does not exist and consciousness is caused by the

mere movement of neurons in the brain, then what are we exactly?

Complex fleshy machines? People with damage to the frontal lobe often

do not recall who they were before or even recognise relatives.

They are often described as being a different person, giving the

impression that without the full function of the brain the self is lost. So is

the self an unchanging core or a bundle of sensations and memories? The

evidence suggests the latter, which makes me wonder whether there is

any "I" that is experiencing this consciousness or if it is only true that

"there is thinking going on".

When doing philosophy I am continuously going back to old work

and re-evaluating my ideas based on new things I have learnt, as I believe

that all ideas are open to revision.

For instance, after concluding that the only knowledge we can have

of particulars is that of how they appear to us at the moment we are

experiencing them, I heard of Heraclitus' ideas on time and change from a

history of philosophy podcast and began researching the idea that "no

man ever steps in the same river twice".

I found this particularly intriguing and it made me think that we

cannot have any knowledge of the empirical world due to the permanent

flux we are in, as it leaves the period of our perceptions being knowledge

infinitely small.

However, if this is true, what can we know? Our lives are isolated to

the world of experience, so if there can always be an element of

scepticism in our lives, where is it we draw the line and class something

as knowledge? More importantly, how can we ensure what we claim to

know will not be subject to a paradigm shift?

While preparing for a debate on capital punishment in critical

thinking I read J.S Mill's 1868 speech on capital punishment and

subsequently his book 'Utilitarianism', and found myself reviewing my

somewhat liberal views on the topic. The ideas put forward by Mill

inspired me to take on an Extended Project with title "Should capital

punishment be reinstated in the UK and if so, to what extent?".

As well as looking at capital punishment in light of ethical theories

such as utilitarianism and welfarism I am also focusing on moral

responsibility. Furthermore, I will be relating the philosophical

implications to our society and have done much research into Game

Theory in particular.

I wanted to look at why people make the decisions they do, and thus

how we can ensure they do what is "right". Dixit and Nalebuff's book

'Thinking Strategically' provided ample opportunity for this and made me

question to what extent capital punishment could be used without causing

major political and moral issues.

Relevant solutions are something I try to ensure whenever doing

philosophy, which is why I am adamant on finding a way to implement

my solution into society in an undisruptive way.

My study of mathematics has helped me to develop good logic and I

am particularly interested in paradoxes. I love that, like mathematical

proofs, you can break down a statement and prove each part individually

in order to prove the whole.

Alongside my academic interests I have a real passion for

performance and have acted in numerous shows including those with my

county's youth theatre. This year I took part in the All-England Drama

Festival, reaching the national semi-finals and winning many awards.

Also happy to take an offstage role I was Assistant Director for a

primary school's summer production and the sole make-up artist for a cast
of forty children. My enthusiasm for the arts is something I hope to bring

to university alongside my love of philosophy

Anthropology and Archaeology

Statement Example 16
My interest in culture first started when I began to attend my local

Hindu Temple with my friend in primary school. I was highly interested

in how her surroundings differed from my own and enjoyed immersing

myself in her way of life. I attended a Hindu wedding and was struck at

the contrast to the style of Christian weddings. This conveyed to me how

much marriage in Hindu communities is seen as a social responsibility

and not just a private choice. In later years, I realised how much of my

friend's upbringing influenced her behaviour, mainly her strong sense of

family responsibilities. This was a driving force towards my interest in

anthropology as I felt drawn to understanding more about how culture

influences whole human groups; I am currently undertaking an EPQ on a

comparison of attitudes towards marriage in Korea and the USA.

Religious Studies introduced me to the concept of cultural relativism,

which opened up for me worlds beyond the limitations of my own

upbringing. Through wider reading I learnt Franz Boas advocated cultural

relativism as a way of overcoming ethnocentric thinking, an idea I also

believe. Finding a way to empathise with others in our multi-cultural

world where globalization brings societies into contact is vital to our

future. My historical studies have been extremely helpful to my interest in

anthropology as I was able to see how attitudes altered over a period of

time due to economic and social changes by studying the USA between

1890 and 1945. I entered the Oxford Fred Walker Essay Prize - marked at

undergraduate level - coming in third place, with Pembroke College

professors complimenting my use of a range of contrasting ideas from

anthropologists, historians and neurobiologists in order to support my

argument that history is not 'one bloody thing after another'. By studying

Classical Civilisation, I developed a strong interest in the ancient world. I

found the cross-culture comparison between attitudes towards women in

ancient Rome and Athens particularly intriguing. This summer I was able

to see archaeological sites of this era at Ephesus and Malta. I loved that

so much could be discovered of these past civilizations through

archaeology and was fascinated at how people of the ancient world were

so similar to people in the present. All of these experiences have shown

me how people's attitudes are so deeply influenced by their surrounding

culture and have made me more aware of my role in society. Although a

new student to my school last year, I have been a dedicated member of

the school community. I've been elected Deputy Head Girl and Editor of

the school paper. I am also an active member of society. I attended the

Dalai Lama's event on 'Stand Up and Be the Change'. This central ideal is

one I am constantly trying to advance as in 2011 I created my own

campaign Iam. Therefore. The campaign aims to challenge people's

perceptions of others and to create awareness of negative stereotypes. It

has gathered over 8500 likes on Facebook and is being sponsored by O2's

Think Big programme. The campaign also won both the photography and

film sections in the 2012 Truth about Youth competition. I have studied

British Sign Language, passing Level 1 and have begun my Level 2

course. I have also accomplished Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh

Award and am completing my Gold. In the summer of 2011 I took part in

National Citizen Service, which brought young people of different social

backgrounds to become more involved in their community. Together we

ran a campaign against ageism. Recently I gained a place with

International Citizen Service to work for 10 weeks in summer 2013 on a

development project in Nicaragua. I will be living in a village with local

volunteers, learning how people manage life with very few material

benefits and helping address health and poverty issues. This will allow

me to immerse myself in another culture and give me a good foundation

to start my anthropology and archaeology degree.

English and History Personal

 Statement Example 17
I believe history inspires optimism. With the state being cut and our

economy weakening we could easily fall to pessimism. I just have to look

within history to see that just over 400 years ago Queen Mary I killed

'rebels' for heresy when they protested, whereas Modern freedoms have

allowed me to protest openly in several Unite marches. During the Tudor

dynasty the aristocracy ruled Britain. However in the 20th century mere

'peasants' like Stalin ruled countries and overthrew kings.

I think literature and history go hand in hand. My A level course has

shown me that such literary periods have been sparked off by historical

events. The pastoral images romantics used in poetry seem to completely

juxtapose the smog and smoke of the Industrial Revolution.The 'dark

satanic mills' in Blake's Jerusalem contrast with 'England's pleasant

pastures' suggesting the romantic poets disliked the destruction industry

did to the environment. History can help us pinpoint when and where the

world changed, but literary periods show how individuals like Blake

reacted to change. Without this, History could just be a list of names

shrouded by new inventions.

I am undertaking the EPQ to develop my understanding of my

Eastern European Heritage. My Grandfather fled Lithuania in 1944 due to

his fear of the advancing Red Army. Many fled Eastern Europe after the
Russian Revolution. The most famous refugees were the Romanov's: the

surviving faction of the Russian royal family. Though Lenin announced

Tsar Nicholas's execution no one was sure if his wife and children

survived. Through my EPQ I hope to discoverwhy the west believed the

Tsar's youngest daughter, Anastasia lived. Alleged Anastasia survivors

inspired successful novels, plays, movies and children's cartoons. The

most famous fraud, Anna Anderson, had a huge following despite the fact

the Tsar's sister, Grand Duchess' Olga and the Tsarina's sister, Princess

Irene of Hesse both deemed her an imposter. The EPQ has developed

important time management and organizational skills essential for

University.

In both History and Literature I obtained the highest GCSE's and

was awarded my school's shield for 'Outstanding Achievements in

English'. I won work experience with a Parliamentary office in South

Australia. Frances Bedford, MP for Flory, gave me the opportunity to

write a parliamentary Grievance. I developed my ability to write a

balanced report and strengthened my ability to work without guidance.

Ms Bedford believed my work was a high enough quality to be read in

Parliament. Working in a female's political office informed me of the

underrepresentation of women in political spheres.

My inquisitive nature pushes me beyond the school syllabus. I have

written for the poet John Siddique's blog and monologues for my local
Drama clubs plays. UCL's History Summer School extended my ability to

argue. I enjoyed being given the freedom to manage my learning and

contributing to the final debate. Owen Jones' lecture on participation

within politics heightened my political understanding. It inspired me to

run for a senior position at my Sixth Form College. This experience

required a meeting with the Head Teacher and a speech in front of the

Sixth Form. My debating skills were enhanced and I improved my public

speaking skills.As a result, I attained the position of Chairperson for the

School Council.

I volunteered at Farnham's Oxfam bookshop and gained access to a

wealth of reading materials.I needed to be well read to assist customers'

choices and through this experience became heavily interested in Russian

Literature. I particularly enjoyed Nabokov's Lolita and Chekov'sCherry

Orchard. I also volunteered in a Year 7 English class where I was left to

monitor a group of boys who found the subject challenging. These

experiences' taught me how to be more responsible, patient, and

persistent. I believe these qualities will allow me to get the grades

necessary for a degree in History and Literature.

Maths Personal Statement

Example 18
 The idea of proof has always held a real fascination for me. The

process of starting from a simple set of axioms and deriving almost any

mathematical truth (putting Godel to one side) is what truly separates

Mathematics from any other subject. It is the closest we can ever get to

absolute truth, and therein lies its sheer beauty and the reason it is the

only subject for me. Of course, it's also a good deal of fun.

I have tried to extend my Maths as much as possible beyond the

classroom, and whenever I do so I uncover either some completely new

and intriguing area of Mathematics or a very neat trick I hadn't thought of

in more familiar territory.

One example of this is my attendance at weekly lectures given by

the department of Mathematics at Bristol University, covering topics from

the Mathematics of juggling to quantum mechanics, although some of my

favourites have been those on the less exotic "inequalities", which taught

me a lot about thinking about problems creatively.

I also attended a summer school run by the National Academy of

Gifted and Talented Youth at the University of Durham, where I spent

two weeks being introduced to various approachable first year

undergraduate topics such as proof by induction, Markov chains and

using Maple.

This experience not only allowed me to discover areas of

Mathematics I would not otherwise have encountered, but also gave me a

small taste of university life, as there was a large number of us living in

one of the colleges.

I am also involved in the UKMT mentoring scheme, whereby each

month I am given a sheet of questions in areas not touched on at A level,

such as geometry and number theory, giving me a good opportunity to

explore new mathematical ideas myself, and gain a much deeper

appreciation of the interconnections within Mathematics and the creation

of proofs.

I am a member of the school's Maths team and we are regularly

successful in competing against teams from other schools in the area. I

also attend STEP sessions at local schools when available, as I find the

questions much more interesting than the standard A level ones, and

thinking about how to solve them has greatly improved my rigour in

approaching problems.

Among the mathematical books I have read, I enjoyed "Godel,

Escher, Bach", which gives a good grounding in axiomatic reasoning and

formal systems, whilst at the same time pointing out their major flaw. I

also liked "To infinity and beyond" by Eli Maor, which deals with the

concept of infinity, its implications and its paradoxes, both in Maths and

elsewhere.

I particularly enjoy the pure side of the A level syllabus, especially

trigonometry and calculus, as they involve a certain degree of proof and

introduce new concepts.

I believe my other academic subjects all complement Mathematics

as they are about finding ways of describing reality, be it through

language in French or through equations and models in Physics and

Chemistry. I find Critical Thinking especially relevant as it is about the

construction of sound logical arguments, an art lying at the heart of

Mathematics in proof. I have achieved an A grade in all modules across

all my subjects.

In my spare time, I practise kickboxing, and have competed in

various local competitions. As a volunteer, I am involved in a year seven

Maths mentoring scheme and help at a homeless shelter.

I enjoy travelling, and will be going to Nicaragua for a month after

my A levels to help in a small village, explore the local jungles and

volcanoes and practise my Spanish. I lived in France from the ages of 9 to

12, and learnt to adapt to a new language and culture.

I very much look forward to exploring the new ideas of University

level Mathematics, and playing a full part in University life.

Mechanical Engineering Personal

Statement Example 19
From a very young age, I had aspirations of becoming an engineer,
because I wanted to build machines that did not require direct human

energy inputs to operate.

I achieved this for the first time a few weeks later, designing a

vehicle that carried it's energy stored in rubber-bands; it wasn't a roaring

success, but the fact that it wasn't perfect only increased my desire to

learn more about engineering.

Soon afterwards, I became a serious motor sport enthusiast, and to

understand the sport more, I began assisting my dad and his mechanic in

the maintenance of our family cars and electricity generator. I quickly

learnt and understood the function of every part of the generator and

before long, my dad ran out of answers to my questions, like: 'Why do

high performance engines often have up to six valves per cylinder when

two would do the job?'. He therefore encouraged me to read further about

engineering, and a few books later, I knew what I was devoting my life

to.

The more I learn about mechanical engineering, the more assured I

become that a career as a mechanical engineer is suited to me. A few

years ago whilst researching for a physics assignment, I discovered that

most cars are 20 to 30 percent efficient at best.

This statistic is unacceptable, and it had a big influence on my

decision to study mechanical engineering, with my focus being engine

design. In addition, learning subsequently of the rotary engine,

continuously variable transmission (cvt), pneumatic and desmodromic

valve control, hydraulics and many other interesting concepts has further

trengthened my decision to study mechanical engineering, and it is my

belief that I really can make a mark in the automobile industry.

After deciding to become an engineer, I set out to find the qualities

necessary for success. In the process, I read about Heinrich Maybach,

Thomas Edison, Isambard Brunel, Ernst von Siemens, and a host of

others. Of all the great engineers I have learnt about, the one that inspires

me the most is Thomas Edison. This is because unlike all the others, he

not only was talented as an engineer; he was also a brilliant businessman.

I believe that success, as an engineer in this day and age, requires

technical competence and a combination of management, leadership,

communication and business skills.

Leadership is something that I have naturally and my school

recognised this by appointing me a senior prefect, which I believe has

further improved my leadership and communication skills. In addition, I

recently set up a maths club in my school where sixth-formers who are

good at maths help pupils from the junior school with their study and

homework. This has improved my communication and presentation skills

tremendously.

Reading Robert Kiyosaki's book, 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad', taught me

the importance of having financial and business skills. To improve these

skills, I volunteered at my local British Heart Foundation shop for a few

months, to understand how charities make money. This turned out to be a

very valuable educational experience.

When I have time outside my curricular and club activities, I am a

very enthusiastic sportsperson. My main sporting interests are football

and the high jump. Presently, I am in the process of starting up a football

team for the sixth-formers in my school, to improve general physical

fitness and to foster a sense of belonging among the new sixth-formers in

my school.

I am also working towards a sports leadership award. In addition, I

am involved in Greenwich council's Gifted and Talented program called

'xtrahot', and I have attended a number of seminars and workshops as part

of the program.

It is my hope that a degree from your university would serve as a

solid base for a successful career in engineering, where hopefully, I

would be involved in the development of new technology for cleaner and

more efficient transportation systems.

Mechanical Engineering Personal

Statement Example 20
I personally feel that there is substantial cachet to be gained by
pursuing the field of mechanical engineering. The diversity present in this

field has attracted me and it is consistent with my enthusiasm for

Mathematics and Science.

It has a lot of scope as well. I have gone through the entire gist of the

course and the specific areas which interested me were Mechatronics,

Robotics and Project Design.

I know what a career in engineering is like, since I come from a third

generation family of engineers. I have been quite impressed by the

teamwork involved in mechanical engineering; how people work in

groups, in order to complete a project e.g. produce a machine which

would curtail the load on laborers and would generate results more

quickly and efficiently.

In my opinion, supervising, problem solving and decision making

play an important role in most of the engineering firms. Studying

Accounting till AS level has helped me to further add to these skills. A

level Physics and Chemistry, through finely planned syllabi, have

provided me a beneficial educational experience.

They have equipped me with adequate knowledge and understanding

so that I could become a confident member of the advanced world of

technology. I have the zeal to develop self inspiration and the talent to

work in a consistent manner. I believe that Science and Mathematics are

cohesive.
 By studying Mathematics, I have gained the skills which help me

solve real life problems and such skills, more importantly, have been

useful in the Science subjects as well. I analyze everything in depth and

once I have spotted my goal, I keep on aiming for it until I succeed.

Due to my interest in these subjects and some others, I scored

excellent grades in O levels and as a result, I got 100% scholarship for

my entire AS and A level course.

At school, I have participated in many extracurricular activities. I am

a member of numerous clubs and societies, which include Science,

Journalism, Music and Community Service. I am the head of the

Mathematics society and my task is to design quizzes.

I have a keen interest in photography and as a member of the

journalism society, I have the responsibility for taking pictures at various

school events. Because of the charisma I possess, I was selected as the

house leader of the school.

Last year I received the Duke of Edinburgh Gold award for 4

activities i.e. social service at Darul-Sakun (home for special children),

outstanding performances in soccer, creative writing (English) and for

completing a project by working with the Agha Khan University Library

as a volunteer.

I am currently doing community service at S.I.U.T (Sind Institute of

Urology and Transplant). I have also played cricket for the school team.
In my free time, I go out for swimming, bowling and sometimes fishing,

or I get involved in indoor activities such as chess or modeling kits,

constructing plastic airplane models, in particular.

The reason I have chosen England for higher education is that I am

aware of the environment and the fact that quality education is found

there. Besides that, I will not have communication problems because my

English Language skills are of the required standard.

I have relished my school life and now I hope to be warmly

welcomed by the more challenging, independent and competitive

university lifestyle.

Once I enter professional life, I would go the extra mile and will try

to come out with a cutting edge over others working in the same capacity

as mine. These small achievements in the ultimate analysis would give a

new impetus to the corporation where I will work by galvanizing it.