Personal Statement - Geography 13

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

I would like to study geography because of how it explains the concepts and mechanisms that shape the world, both societies and the physical landscape. I enjoy both human and physical aspects of geography; physical geography is interesting to me as I also enjoy and study maths and physics, and therefore find understanding the processes and application of mechanics and physics comes naturally, the rivers module at AS level being a perfect example. However, my interests lean towards human geography, mainly due to my interests outside of study - I find history and politics engaging in the same way as geography, and now see the intersection between these areas and geography fascinating; geopolitics or cultural geography for instance. This said, I hope to study a mix of human and physical geography modules at university, then specialise later on depending on where my interests develop, likely as they are to be on the human side of geography.

Outside of the classroom I have developed a great interest in China, due to reading articles and books that I never thought would lead to geographical conclusions, that is, beyond the overpopulation and urbanisation topics taught at GCSE. One of these, Peter Hitchens’ “Short Breaks in Mordor”, a compilation of his foreign reporting, gave an account of the cultural discrepancies in Urumqi and Kashgar, in the Xinjiang region of China. Having not studied the conflict module this year, and with cultural geography not being covered until university, I was intrigued by the ruminations on what develops culture and how they interact, in this case a result of the huge migration of Han Chinese to Xinjiang, home to the Turkic Uyghur people who share a strongly Islamic culture. This influx is having a profound impact on the cultural orthodoxy in Kashgar - Muslim Uyghur women are increasingly pushing their headscarves back to reveal hair (something increasingly prevalent in Iran) and wearing high heels. The Chinese are also bulldozing the Uyghurs’ traditional homes, and responded to the 2009 riots with brutal police force and executions. The relevance of this cultural change to China’s modernisation in pursuit of natural resources and wealth, I find to be a startling example of geography’s importance in deciding the future of the most important country on Earth. This pursuit of resources and growth is reflected in the chapters of the book that describe China’s empty newly-built city of Kangbashi in Inner Mongolia, or their shady neo-colonial mining exploits in the DRC, which I found similarly revealing.

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

I have studied geography at AS level, achieving a Grade A, which included a rivers module that perfectly aligned with my interest in physical processes, supported by my strengths in maths, physics, and further maths, all achieved at Grade A AS level. These subjects complement my understanding of physical geography well, especially in grasping mechanics and physics applications required in the discipline. My qualifications reflect a balanced academic base to support both physical and human geography studies.

Additionally, my broader academic background includes GCSEs with 2 A*, 3 A, 3 B, 1 C grades, and a BTEC D* which underpin my readiness for university-level geography study. This solid foundation allows me to confidently engage with the diverse demands of the course, from data analysis to thematic studies.

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

Outside of schoolwork, I have been a member of the Royal Geographical Society and the Geographical Association (GA) for 18 months. I have attended lectures at the GA and a Cambridge-run event on waste management, climate change, and a particularly eye-opening lecture on citizenship in Victorian Britain. For the past year, I have subscribed to National Geographic and the RGS’s Geographical magazines to stay updated on current geography issues, such as food security, including a compelling article on how Africa can become the world’s breadbasket, and energy matters.

I am also politically active, serving on my party’s local branch committee and organising the local youth wing, campaigning on the street and door-to-door. I subscribe to the Spectator magazine as well. This September I set up our sixth form’s regular debating club, having led the school team which took part in the regional European Youth Parliament, writing our opening and closing statements, and helping win our specific debate.

In sports, I have played football since age 7 and enjoy fitness generally. I have been a sports captain at school, organising termly inter-house events, and helped coach a disabled football team with the Newcastle United Foundation. Finally, I am embarking on a two-week expedition to Borneo this July, for which I am fundraising to take part in a community project building a water tower for a remote village and teaching English.

Universities applied to:

• King's College London (Geography BA)
• London School of Economics (Geography BA)
• Manchester University (Geography BA)
• Oxford University (Geography BA)
• University College London (Geography BA)

Grades achieved:

• Geography AS - Grade A
• Further Maths AS - Grade A
• Maths AS - Grade A
• Physics AS - Grade A
• GCSEs: 2 A*, 3 A, 3 B, 1 C, 1 BTEC D*

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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