Personal Statement:Medicine 23

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

My interest in Medicine stems from an early age and has been reinforced by my own experiences. My fascination began when I first started learning about the human body and how the different parts work together harmoniously. This pushed me towards learning more about medicine. As I have grown older I have realised the harsh realities of a doctor's life and the responsibilities placed on their shoulders. I have seen that dedication and commitment are required to deal with the stress and long hours required to work in this field. However, I believe that my love for Medicine and desire to help the community will help me stay motivated and committed to this career. The fact that medicine will allow me to work with various members of the community from a wide scope of social backgrounds, with different challenges everyday, appeals to me and further reinforces my ambition of becoming a doctor.

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

Pursuing a career in medicine will expand on the theoretical knowledge and scientific skills I have gained from studying A-levels. In Biology, I enjoyed learning about the make-up of living organisms and the importance of DNA. I have acquired many skills whilst learning chemistry such as analytical, statistical and evaluation skills whilst performing chemical experiments. I produced a pharmaceutical drug: Antifebrin to a high degree of purity during a practical, which I particularly enjoyed. This also helped me realise the significance of chemistry in the world of medicine. Studying Maths has allowed me to think systematically and logically when faced with everyday problems whereas Statistics has helped me to handle large amounts of data and use it to make relevant conclusions. Studying Psychology made me appreciate the importance of the brain and its chemicals in controlling our behaviour.

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

I have organised and completed several periods of work experience. I took part in a one-week work experience programme at the Royal Oldham Hospital which included patrolling surgical wards, assisting doctors and nurses in looking after mainly elderly patients. I observed and helped hospital staff carry out routine check-ups, e.g. checking for pulses in the foot and taking blood samples. This experience taught me how to communicate with patients and reassure them before and after they underwent major operations. I also spent two weeks at the Kingfisher Special School, a school for children suffering from mental and physical disabilities. I worked mainly with children suffering from autism. I attended a medical student day in November 2003 at Rochdale Infirmary where I was taught basic life saving skills as well as suturing and plastering techniques. Lastly, I have shadowed two GPs at Baillie Streethealth centre which gave me valuable insight into how an efficient clinic is run and the organisational skills required.

At school, I enjoyed many subjects such as Science and Geography as well as Modern Languages. I improved upon my fluency in French and German by participating in 3-day trips to France and Germany. This gave me additional knowledge of cultures in different countries which I feel is an advantage when working with patients from different societies. I undertook a St. John's Ambulance First Aid course which led me to being certified as proficient in First Aid. At college I am also part of 'Aim Higher' groups in Chemistry and Medicine, which is designed to improve and extend the knowledge of students selected as being gifted and talented so they are adequately equipped to move onto higher education at the top universities.

I enjoy participating and watching many sports including Football and Cricket and have represented my school/college teams on numerous occasions. I also enjoy playing basketball and have recently picked up on playing squash at college. Outside of college I enjoy reading as well as watching factual documentaries and am particularly interested in astronomy.

I am a confident person who is self motivated. I believe I have the right academic and personal qualities to be a successful medical student. I look forward to building on my existing experiences of Medicine and the chance to further my knowledge in this 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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