Personal Statement - History 22

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

The struggle to understand identity and place, and the ideological battles which arise, are key elements of history; I believe that is why from adolescence the subject has captivated me. An early interest in politics raised many questions - who are we? Where did we come from? Where are we going? The study of history seemed to offer, if not definitive answers, then at least a new way of phrasing the questions to clarify my thinking.

As E.H. Carr repeatedly points out, there can be no separation between history and historian. First examining the concept of what it is to be 'British', I proceeded to read around the subject of Empire, and imperialism, asking what nationalism meant in the light of both the present and the past. 'The Absent-Minded Imperialists' by Bernard Potter proved an enlightening and inspiring read.

This interest helped me gain maximum marks in A2 Britain 1951-2007, but it alerted me to the dangers of Anglocentrism (which is why I shall now be exploring some elements of Japan's history). History came alive when I got my first taste of research in A2 coursework, looking at the Civil Rights struggle in America, with which I could make comparisons to the issue of race in Britain, and set this against the concept of empire. For me, history is at its most fascinating when so many connections are seen that the mind boggles and conclusions seem to contradict each other; wading through books, journals, sociological studies and articles, then condensing them and interpreting them, truly sold me on the idea of reading history. It also introduced me to historiography, which was equally fascinating.

My learning has not been just paper-based, though. Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau and Nagasaki showed me an emotional element to the subject which may be missing from the texts - but I see the danger of how this can skew history when it comes to be written. I find great excitement in trying to find the necessary balance.

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

My A-Level studies in English Literature not only helped immensely in terms of source analysis and writing style, but has itself become part of my historical education. An obvious example would be World War One poetry, but texts such as 'Othello' and 'Wuthering Heights' have also made me look at how issues like race and class affected Elizabethan and Victorian society. One has to be careful with literature, but its historical importance must never be underestimated.

Classical Civilisations A-Level was a natural fit with my expanding interests, helping develop my writing along with providing an ancient perspective on more modern issues. Religious Studies, with its mainly philosophical courses, similarly gave me a different view, particularly helping with the understanding of ideology and the concepts that shape history itself. This year I shall take a Cambridge Pre-U Certificate in History, which I hope will help widen my breadth of view further.

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

Outside of formal study, my other commitments have made me a better student, thus preparing me for university life. As a Vice Captain of the school, I am used to having my organisational abilities regularly tested, with an ability to think on my feet being crucial and even more rigorously examined by my role as a founding member in the Debating Society. My general writing skills have been honed as senior editor of the school magazine; putting the most information into the fewest, most understandable words seems to me to be a skill a budding historian needs to develop.

Universities applied to:

• University of Cambridge
• London School of Economics
• University of Warwick
• King's College London
• University College London

Grades achieved:

• History (A2) - A*
• Eng Lit (A2) - A
• RS (A2) - A
• Classic Civilisation (AS) - 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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