Personal Statement - History 34

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

The beauty of history is that you are never finished learning. There is always something new to discover and new information to be found. You can formulate an opinion or an argument one day, and the next day, completely change your viewpoint based on the discovery of new information. The knowledge you can gain is infinite. While this may be a daunting idea for some people, for me, it makes History all the more amazing. My favourite periods in history are scattered across many eras; I love Medieval Europe (the War of the Roses and Tudor rule in England are my greatest areas of knowledge), World Wars One and Two, The French Revolution (and the following June Rebellion, which is the basis of one of my favourite Musicals: Les Miserables), and Ancient Greece, especially Ancient Greek mythology.

Simply taking History classes at school and during the summer has never been enough to satisfy my love of knowledge. Attending university in the UK is highly appealing to me for many reasons. The three-year programs offer the opportunity for more focused study, and immediate immersion into the study of history. As well, the UK is home to some absolutely astounding historical locations (such as the Tower of London, Dunnottar Castle, and Hadrian's Wall; places where history is at its most tangible), as well as some of the best museums and libraries in the world. The UK is a place where I can completely immerse myself in History, which is exactly what I love best about it. Having lived in London as a child, I also know that the UK is a place where I feel comfortable, and to return to the UK for university would be like returning home after a long vacation.

Eventually, I would like to become a writer of both Historical Fiction and non-fiction. I would also like to work as a historical consultant or advisor on movies. I am also very interested in archaeology—especially with the recent unearthing of a skeleton that may be Richard III—and its implications on what we believe to be true in History. One of the most remarkable things about history is every truth we hold most dear is only one discovery away from being completely disproven by fact. And that is what makes it so exciting, and incredibly appealing to study.

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

I read extensively, both historical fiction and non-fiction. My favourite authors are Alison Weir (Mary Boleyn), Jean Plaidy (Uneasy Lies the Head), David Starkey (The Six Wives of Henry VIII), and Philippa Gregory (The Kingmaker's Daughter). These are mostly romanticized views of history, and for this reason, I especially enjoy Alison Weir and David Starkey's non-fiction. Weir takes a very analytical approach to her writing; she lays out all opinions and rumours about the person or event, and, often using a very minimal amount of reliable information, formulates an extremely well reasoned hypothesis to whatever aspect was in doubt or unknown. I strive to take a similar approach to my arguments and opinions during class discussions.

I believe that the skills I have gained not only in class, but in my extracurricular reading and writing have taught me the ability to understand various perspectives, and use knowledge and reasoning to develop strong opinions. I find, in class discussions, that it is easy to reduce historical figures to one-dimensional characters, when they are, like us, human beings with personalities and reasoning behind the decisions that they made. It is impossible to develop a well thought-out opinion on an event or person in history without attempting to understand the motivations behind the actions and reactions of people in the past. As Thomas More said in Utopia, "your policy may look superficially like justice, but in reality it is neither just nor practical". This essentially describes what I most dislike about history: when people decide their opinions without regard to context.

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

Simply taking History classes at school and during the summer has never been enough to satisfy my love of knowledge. I read extensively, both historical fiction and non-fiction. My favourite authors are Alison Weir (Mary Boleyn), Jean Plaidy (Uneasy Lies the Head), David Starkey (The Six Wives of Henry VIII), and Philippa Gregory (The Kingmaker's Daughter). These readings outside formal education have broadened my understanding and deepened my passion for the subject.

I am also very interested in archaeology—especially with the recent unearthing of a skeleton that may be Richard III—and its implications on what we believe to be true in History. These experiences and interests enhance my ability to think critically about historical evidence and its interpretation.

My desire to become a writer of both Historical Fiction and non-fiction as well as work as a historical consultant or advisor on movies highlights my commitment to applying historical knowledge beyond academia. Immersing myself in UK historical sites, museums, and libraries will allow me to gain practical insights and contextual understanding that are invaluable to these ambitions.

Universities applied to:

• University of St Andrews
• King's College London
• University College London
• Oxford University
• London School of Economics

Grades achieved:

• English 12 - 91%
• Drama 12 - 90%
• Modern Western History 12 - 93%
• Data Management 12 - 85%
• English Literature 12 - 93%
• Writer's Craft - 97%
• Classical Civilizations - 99%

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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