Personal Statement - Geography 10

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Choosing a Higher Education route for me was an intuitive decision. Having a particular interest in current affairs and the social sciences, I am naturally attracted to a Geography degree, as there is no other subject that bridges social, environmental and economic disciplines so well. Geography is important to me and the world around us as it is so dynamic, ever contemporary and omnipresent. I am particularly interested in social and political geographies, however I appreciate that the interconnections between the physical and the human worlds are vital to fully understanding either.

I find that many of the topics within geography provide a stimulus for debate. I have involved myself in debating societies since high school, which has allowed me to develop an understanding of both sides of an argument. I am particularly proud of the video I made with some peers supporting the use of nuclear power in the argument of sustainable energy and climate change. The video was entered into a national competition and I received the chance to visit the "Nuclear New Build 2010" conference in London. My group was presented with second prize, and I had a fantastic insight into cutting edge research that is currently being undertaken in the field of Nuclear power, and was made aware of its importance to gaining energy security in the UK. I have a keen interest in energy issues and the influence this has on modern politics. E. F. Schumacher highlighted his concerns relating to sustainability in "Small is Beautiful" where he evaluates how man treats fossil fuels and natural resources as income and not as capital. This concept intrigued me, and leads me to ask, how has no fully sustainable alternative been developed, when this economist had acknowledged this problem in a book first printed in 1973?

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

I enjoy in depth study, and take advantage of the first hand experiences of fieldwork. I have carried out a number of studies on the River Wyre and how it changes downstream, and conducted my own personal study on the how the pH changes, as I was interested in the human influences on the natural process. As stated in my hypothesis, my study showed that in more agricultural and industrial areas the river was more acidic.

In economics my studies in poverty, human development and globalization sparked my interest in social issues. I have read the German novel "Goodbye Lenin" which has helped me to gain a real insight into the development and urbanization in Europe and particularly Berlin due to the fall of the wall in 1989. Reading this novel has encouraged me to learn more about world cities, citizenship and geopolitics.

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

Wanting to further my knowledge of German culture, in 2011 I spent a week on an exchange where I conducted work experience in a local Primary school, which has helped me to be more independent, observant and responsible. Learning about other cultures has captivated me and during the summer I will be trekking around Bulgaria and Romania to achieve my Explorer Belt, a prestigious award in scouting which requires careful planning, teamwork and perseverance.

I am actively involved in the scouting movement and have taken advantage of the opportunities available to me. I am a fully qualified Young Leader and have gained my Platinum Chief Scouts Award. To meet the criteria for this award I took part in many activities including; classes in Astronomy, taking part in an International trip, attending an environment weekend and planning and completing a two-day expedition. I am also involved as a Young Spokesperson, where I play a substantial role in setting the direction of scouting. I feel that these responsibilities, experiences and core values presented to me in scouting have shaped me as a person and supplied me with leadership qualities and the willingness to work hard to achieve my goals in my career and also as an undergraduate studying geography.

Universities applied to:

• London School of Economics (Geography (BA))
• Durham (Combined Honours in Social Sciences)
• University Of Sheffield (Geography (BA))
• University Of Lancaster (Geography BA)
• University Of Nottingham (Geography BA)

Grades achieved:

• Geography (A2) - A
• Economics(A2) - A
• German (A2) - B
• Critical Thinking (A2) - A

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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