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Personal Statement:Medicine 44
This is a real Medicine personal statement written by a student for their university application. It has been carefully edited into the new three-question format, with all of the original wording kept. It may have strengths and weaknesses, but it can be used as inspiration for writing your own UCAS personal statement. Ensure your personal statement is entirely your own work, copying from this example or other sources is considered plagiarism and can affect your application. There are lots more examples in our collection of sample personal statements.
Why do you want to study this course or subject?
Before coming to university I didn't realise just how much I wanted to become a doctor. To help me confirm whether dedicating the rest of my own life to the lives of other people was the right decision, I undertook three long-term volunteering placements. Between October 2007 and January 2008 I worked as a Ward Befriender on one of the renal wards at the Royal London Hospital. On a weekly basis I visited the patients at their bedside, engaging them in conversation and taking the time to listen to their concerns. While at times it was an incredibly difficult experience to see people in pain or deteriorating week-on-week, I endeavoured not to let this affect my work and remained a friendly face to help take their mind away from their treatment. This experience gave me a newfound respect for nurses and an insight to the practical workings of an NHS healthcare team. From January until the exam term I moved to the Reception to work as Hospital Welcomer. This required a thorough knowledge of all the hospital wards and departments, and I soon learned to connect with patients and their relatives at the hospital's front line.
Over the course of the last 12 months as a volunteer for St. John Ambulance I have treated many patients at a variety of public events. I've been fortunate enough to attend training courses and formally certify my skills with four first aid qualifications, which I have already used to make a difference both at work and out in the community, cementing my desire to specialise in emergency medicine.
How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
My degree in Medical Engineering has taken me from foundation engineering principles to increasingly specialist modules like Urology and Clinical Ethics. Teaching methods ranged from self-study, group and PBL exercises to working with cells under the microscope in the laboratory. Our fourth year group project centres on manipulating a proprietary bone substitute material called "Actifuse" so that it can be surgically implanted in spinal fusion procedures. While challenging, the opportunity to be involved in a real-life clinical solution has encouraged me to further my interest in medicine by reading around the subject.
The development of my preferred study styles using the "Insights" model will help me to cope with the considerable workload of a medical degree, and my NCFE in Equality and Diversity has helped me adapt to work more effectively with a wider variety of people. I believe my engineering perspective and varied experiences both in study and at work offer clear advantages over traditional applicants as well as graduates from other degree programmes.
What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
I have worked in a team of Residential Stewards in the halls of residence where I was responsible for the pastoral care of the students, as well as reacting to emergency situations like fire alarms. My role was later extended to managing that team as Senior Steward. I was able to refer to my experiences here when working towards the Leadership and Management Award. In today's NHS at a time when doctors are increasingly seen as team leaders, the management skills I have gained first hand will no doubt be invaluable.
I am a firm believer that there is more to the university experience than study. I learned to snowboard through my participation in the University of London Ski and Snowboard Club and I'm looking forward to my fourth trip to the French Alps - as always it will be an excellent opportunity to wind down after the hard work of the preceding semester. I also made many friends through the College's Engineering Society. My other hobbies include music - I play keyboard at grade 3 - and I relax between study sessions by regularly attending my local gym.
AI generated feedback
This feedback is AI-generated, based on the text of this personal statement:
This personal statement effectively demonstrates the applicant's strong motivation to study medicine through substantial volunteering experience and a related academic background in Medical Engineering. The inclusion of specific roles such as Ward Befriender and Hospital Welcomer illustrates direct patient contact and teamwork skills, which are highly relevant for medicine. The applicant's engineering degree and project work provide a unique perspective and evidence of problem-solving abilities, which help prepare them for medical studies. The statement also highlights leadership and management experience, showing readiness for responsibilities within healthcare teams. To improve, the applicant might consider explicitly linking more of their hobbies and extracurricular activities to skills useful in medicine, such as stress management or communication. Additionally, briefly mentioning any specific ambitions or areas of medicine of particular interest could enhance focus. Overall, this is a well-rounded personal statement suited for the new UCAS personal statement format.
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.
Need help with your personal statement? You can ask a question or get feedback from The Student Room community (and our trained personal statement experts) on the personal statement advice forum.
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