Personal Statement - Geography 7

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

We share a glorious geographical heritage. Our world, our greatest resource, is in a constant state of transition driven by the raw power of its intrinsic physical and social mechanisms. For me, these processes and the truly wonderful planet which they have created, have sparked my fevered passion for everything geographical.

I see geography as much more than an academic subject, but an intricate component to life and as such, the classroom, has never been enough to fully satisfy my thirst for knowledge. Instead, it encourages me to further pursue my interests elsewhere, in magazines such as: Geographical; The National Geographic and The Geographical Journal as well as being actively involved in promoting environmental awareness in my school. I have given presentations on the significance and fragility of local and global ecosystems and produced reports which focused on the benefits of ecotourism in France and Malaysia. These were wonderful opportunities to share the importance and beauty of our natural world with my peers and I hope to continue this work in the future.

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

I am also a committed member of the Geographical Association at Queen's University and although it gives geography students an opportunity to explore the A level syllabus in greater depth, I believe it is more than a mere study aid. It is an opportunity to exchange and challenge one another's ideas concerning topics covered in class, thus forming a more comprehensive understanding of various global issues. I particularly enjoyed the lecture on the challenges facing remote rural areas, referencing the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, as not only did it show me that these areas are far from the backward communities that I once thought, but as it also bore a specific resonance with me, as living in a rural community I am acutely aware of the problems they face particularly as a result of intensive development.

Furthermore, I recently organised work experience in the Research labs of the School of Geography, Archaeology and Paleoecology, at Queen's University. This proved to be an invaluable experience during which I saw the practical application of geographical methods and knowledge. I was shown how to optically and analytically determine the mineral composition of rock and soil samples as well as testing building materials with weathering machines, in order to examine their suitability in construction industry. I also saw how geography contributes to other areas of research such as archaeology and forensics.

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

Despite these wonderful opportunities, I believe that there is no substitute for experiencing geography first hand, and this has sparked my love for travel. No matter where I am, I cannot help but be astonished by the variation between the socio-economic and cultural constructs of different populations as well as the contrasting physical environments in which these populations exist. A recent trip to Rome has enhanced my personal awareness and understanding of the many social processes and theories explored in the classroom, such as the ideas behind nationalism and ethnic identity. I particularly enjoy the physical aspect of geography and the majesty of our natural world and so have decided to visit Iceland this March where I can experience beautiful glacial formations, raging waterfalls, rugged mountain faces and captivating geological activity.

My interests and responsibilities also extend beyond academia. With the commitments of my part time job and duties as a prefect I am used to working within a strict timetable and believe that this time management skill will be easily transferred into university life. I also enjoy badminton, modern literature and ancient history and find these to be great ways to escape the pressures school and work.

So with my zealous enthusiasm and fascination with our human and physical environments I believe that I will both enjoy and greatly contribute to the development of an undeniably relevant and dynamic field.

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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