Personal Statement:Media and Communications 3

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

The idea of entertaining people has always excited me. From a young age I’ve enjoyed making people laugh and this has increased with age. Through reading many autobiographies including Graham Norton, Russell Brand and Chris Moyles I realised that a job in the media is something that I would love, as I would be able to hopefully entertain millions of people every day. As I’ve completed my studies, my skills have become more suited to this area as I relished every chance I could get to write creatively or to present in front of large groups of people. Now I have the chance to focus my studies on the media exclusively and choose a career that I can enjoy. The course I hope to study will give me new skills and develop my interest, as well as help me to realise my ambitions, and decide fully on a future career, be it in radio, television or journalism, and hopefully produce opportunities for me to start a career in the media.

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

I have many relevant skills, already, such as communication skills learnt from english and from taking part in drama activities in sixth form, both of which have given me great confidence for performing in front of large groups. I have learnt how to work in a team through geography field trips collecting data and know how to work individually from presenting or producing coursework.

I can think creatively in the way I find solutions to problems but also can think analytically when studying written or spoken texts as I did in my english language coursework where I analysed four different comedy stand up-routines.

I also have good IT skills and can use programs such as PowerPoint and Publisher confidently and competently.

My A-levels have enabled me to see how audiences can affect/be affected by the context and content of a text. My Psychology course has taught me about behaviour and perception and my Geography course has shown me the value of using data correctly to validate statements made. Due to my law course, I know the effect that negative media can have on audience and the consequences, an example being defamation and newspapers being taken to court. Sociology has taught me about the different values that different societies have and how different cultures can find different things offensive. English Language reinforces the idea of audience importance with looking at how to apply different writing styles to suit the audience and context such as for a radio programme. I also enjoyed learning about children’s language development and how the media can have an impact on the way their linguistic skills develop.

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

I did a week of work experience at the Sevenoaks Playhouse where I learnt about creating educational booklets for school visits, lighting and audio for productions and front of house interaction. I also took part in a film review task that was to be published in the local paper.

My extra curricular activities include reading a wide range of publications such as local and national papers and music magazines such as ‘NME’ as well as reading autobiographies and some fiction.

Music is important to me and I listen to a varied range of genres and I’m also trying to learn the electric guitar. I also go to see Sevenoaks RFC occasionally and like to draw.

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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