Personal Statement - English Literature 7

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

I want to study literature because I feel it is one of the most vital parts of modern civilisation. It allows us to make a mark on history, a record of a certain person, time, or place, to pass on a message and provoke others to open their minds and see the world in a different way. I have welcomed the more independent study that comes with being in Sixth Form, as well as the opportunity to cover subjects in more depth. This has furthered my enthusiasm for literature and confirmed my ambition to study it at a higher level.

I read a lot of science fiction, and two of my favourite authors in the genre are Anne McCaffrey and Orson Scott Card. I like the escapism of reading about a different world or time period, and seeing other people’s visions of our future. I also enjoy texts that challenge the reader, such as the attacks on consumerism in ‘Fight Club’ by Chuck Palahniuk – I admire how his bold and direct narrative style builds up to the thrilling conclusion.

I also try to read texts from lots of different genres, and have recently been reading some ‘classic’ texts such as ‘Macbeth’, ‘Great Expectations’ and ‘Lord of the Flies’, which gave me more experience of evolving literary styles. My recent study of the French Revolution in connection with the Romantic poets has helped me further realise how the context of a piece helps us understand it and that knowing the context allows us to empathise with the writer more and comprehend their message. This is also the case with my A2 module on War Literature, where historical information reveals the grim truth of conditions described in Wilfred Owen’s poetry, as well as showing the reasons for the harrowing, sarcastic honesty in ‘Recruiting’ by E. A. Mackintosh, one of my favourite war poems.

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

I have welcomed the more independent study that comes with being in Sixth Form, as well as the opportunity to cover subjects in more depth. This has furthered my enthusiasm for literature and confirmed my ambition to study it at a higher level.

My recent study of the French Revolution in connection with the Romantic poets has helped me further realise how the context of a piece helps us understand it and that knowing the context allows us to empathise with the writer more and comprehend their message. This is also the case with my A2 module on War Literature, where historical information reveals the grim truth of conditions described in Wilfred Owen’s poetry, as well as showing the reasons for the harrowing, sarcastic honesty in ‘Recruiting’ by E. A. Mackintosh, one of my favourite war poems.

I read newspapers on a regular basis, which as well as giving me an extra insight for my Economics & Business course helps me understand more about current events and different cultures. I have a growing interest in politics, and I expect to deepen my knowledge of this area while researching my A2 English Language investigation into political speech during the current American election.

In year 11 I completed a Foreign Language Leadership Award, which complemented my two modern languages taken at GCSE, and improved my confidence in expressing myself.

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

A key feature of my upbringing was that my parents chose not to own a television, and I feel that this has benefited me hugely by making me inquisitive and eager to both experience the world and read widely. I have a thirst for knowledge, and am keen to solve problems and find answers – I am never content to settle for average.

As part of the School Council, I enjoy having the opportunity to have my views heard and help make improvements in school. I am a member of the school Dance Club, and my group recently reached the final of a regional talent contest, an achievement which made me feel very proud. I love going to the theatre, and have been lucky enough to see shows on Broadway and in London’s West End. I also enjoy watching films from all genres and going to concerts.

I am computer literate and have an interest in web design. I understand the basics of two computer programming languages and also enjoy expressing my creativity through graphic design and photo editing. My part time office job at the local hospital requires me to be focused and responsible. I have quickly picked up the skills needed and I am trusted to work alone and use my initiative to prioritize what needs to be done.

I hope that my future career will be related to English literature, and look forward to improving my knowledge and appreciation of it by studying this subject at university.

Universities applied to:

• Cambridge
• Durham
• Sheffield

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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