Personal Statement - Geography and Planning 1

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

From an early age I have always had enthusiasm for Geography. For as long as I can recall, my parents and I have visited the different environments around us, ranging from the superb Northumberland coastline to the bustling city of Edinburgh. This exposure to such places has allowed me to develop a keen interest in the diverse world in which we live.

Geography is a subject area which enables me to combine not only skills learned in class, but skills also acquired from the wider world. A subject with great depth and focus, geography forms a fundamental part of us all; even through the simple tasks in life such as walking to school.

Human geography is of great personal appeal. I find the world around me intriguing, particularly when looking at how the population fights a constant battle with nature and faces the challenges of natural disasters. The interaction between people and the natural world is a vast area of study, and I have therefore decided to streamline my choices.

Planning has always grasped my attention; to see how the land is utilized and manipulated to fit our needs is exciting and combines many different skills. Combining a good understanding of ICT and cartography will enable me to fully comprehend this particular field.

The way in which our towns and cities are constantly changing through refurbishment, demolition and building is a dynamic topic I'm sure I will find captivating. I am very interested in how a project goes from the first stages of being planned to the final building of the structure. I am eager to carry out investigations using Geographical Information Systems; especially when applying the data to socio-economic problems in LEDCs.

A degree in human geography with a combination of planning, would suit me perfectly. By completing a degree in this area, I can move forward and put myself in a strong position to move onto a career which I will be interested working in.

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

As part of the AVCE ICT course, I was asked to project manage a web design project for a local business. From this I was able to acquire many skills, involving self-management and planning months ahead to ensure the project remained within the parameters set by the client.

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

Having completed the Duke of Edinburgh's award to Bronze level (I am presently working through Silver award) I have gained invaluable skills with regard to communication and leadership. These transferable skills have been helpful in other areas such as group discussions and other activities which involve cooperation and concentration.

During my spare time I enjoy taking photographs, including the local coastline which hosts a wide range of subjects to capture. I am also very interested in the use of IT, especially graphical software which I often use to create website layouts.

Universities applied to:

• Aberdeen
• Dundee
• Hull
• Queen Mary Uni of London
• Sheffield Hallam
• Leeds Met.

Grades achieved:

• CCC
• 280 points

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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