Personal Statement:Food science 1

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

From a young age I've always wanted to know how and why the things around me work. Science was my favourite subject throughout primary and secondary school, and I still love studying Biology, Chemistry and Psychology at A level. The reason I excel in these subjects is largely because I find them incredibly interesting and I love learning new things. I always knew that I wanted to go to university and study a scientific subject and when a family member described her experiences of studying food science, I knew it would be the perfect course for me.

I've always loved baking and cooking, as a result I often cook for my family. This means I know the importance of the nutritional value, convenience, safety and shelf life of foods. Food Science is relevant to our everyday lives, and that’s what makes it so interesting to me. The food industry is the largest industry in Europe. I'm eager to be a part of this important industry and to help further research in how to produce better quality food. Without research that has already been done, we would all be living a much poorer quality of life. We have to be able to trust the people who produce the things that we eat. To work with food is a huge responsibility. One day, I'd love to be able to see a food product on the shelf of a supermarket and know that I had helped to produce it. Because of this, I want to learn exactly how those working within the food industry ensure the quality of their products and the scientific processes involved.

The more I learn about Food Science the more it interests me. After visiting universities on open days and attending tester lectures and demonstrations I’m really looking forward to finding out more about how our food is produced.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

My interest in science probably stems from other members of my family who also have an enthusiasm. When I was a child, my dad always used to spend long car journeys sharing his knowledge of anything from animals and plants to how a car engine works. He was always willing to answer my many questions and always encouraged me to explain to him anything I had learned at school. My brother and I shared a subscription for the New Scientist magazine before he moved to university. He also lent me books such as "Bad Science" by Ben Goldacre, which I enjoyed very much because they made me look at how science is presented in the media in a different way.

For my Extended Project Qualification, I am producing an essay on why many food manufacturers have stopped using artificial food additives, a subject which is vastly important to people who care about what they eat. I will be analysing articles and documentaries on the subject and assessing whether they give an unbiased view of food additives. The EPQ will prepare me for the work I will do at university by requiring me to be organised, and while completing it, I will learn valuable methods of researching and presenting information. I hope it will also help me with my future career by giving me a further knowledge of the food industry.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

The people who know me would describe me as very responsible, thoughtful and mature. Outside of school, I am a youth leader at church, a position that means I help organise and participate in weekly activities that can range from playing volleyball to learning how to cross stitch. This has taught me to be versatile, prepared and considerate of the needs of those around me. The adult leaders know that I am someone they can rely upon not only to be at the activities on time and prepared but also to be a good example to the younger girls. Aside from this, I also have to be ready to support the girls I am responsible for if they are having any problems. They can approach me because they know that I am a down to earth person who can give them sensible advice on how to deal with difficulties in any area of their life. Attending early morning classes at 6:30 AM every school day has taught me perseverance and also how to manage my time effectively.

Universities applied to:

• Northumbria
• University of Leeds
• University of Nottingham
• Coventry
• University of Reading

Grades achieved:

• Biology (A2) - B
• Psychology (A2) - B
• Chemistry (A2) - C
• General Studies (A2) - GB

How personal statements have changed?

The current personal statement format, with three 'scaffolding' questions, was introduced by Ucas in September 2025. This personal statement was submitted before then, using the old essay-style format. It has been carefully edited into the three-question format, with all of the original wording kept.

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