Personal Statement:Medicine 61

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

I want to be a doctor not only because of my interest in the human body but also because of my wish to combine this with a developed understanding of patient care.

A vital part of being a doctor is being able to give back freedom to patients; as I have observed on a haematology ward showed me the other side of being a doctor. The majority of patients had lymphoma or leukaemia, with varying prognoses; I found walking from a room knowing that either a patient was going to die or receive an all-clear was a feeling I’ll never forget. I have also had a placement in gastroenterology. However, my experience on a 17 week voluntary placement as an assistant on a plastics ward left the greatest impression on me. I really got to know the inner workings of a hospital: spending time with doctors, nurses and housekeeping staff and watching how they worked as a team. I believe as a doctor role prevention is always preferable to cure and as a doctor I would take a prophylactic approach to medicine. This is something I witnessed firsthand, seeing a patient lose a leg to a small infection which made harder to treat by his previous smoking habit. I now realise that a doctor’s role extends beyond the hospital into the community, to educate and prevent cases like these.

Being a good doctor is not just about your clinical knowledge, but how you go about delivering that to those under your care. I believe a doctor has to be assertive in his or her clinical decisions; however it is just as important for the doctor to describe a condition or any treatments to a patient in such a manner that it is fully understandable and doesn’t cause undue stress. This is one of the many responsibilities a doctor must take on.

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

Whenever possible, I have brought my fascination of medicine into my studies. For a self selected component of my Physics course I researched and did a presentation on the use of Titanium in hip replacements. This included archive research and talking to patients who had received these, which taught me about the importance of the doctor-patient relationship.

I believe that I have the personal qualities that are necessary for being a doctor, which are backed up by my A-level studies and plenty of work experience. My experience means that I understand the reality of a career in medicine; however it has fuelled my enthusiasm. I look forward to being a doctor so I can put my experience into practice.

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

Youth work is important to me; I have had lots of experience in the last 8 months and as a direct result, my communication skills are always developing. I volunteer a minimum of two times a week for a local youth charity at drop-in youth cafes where I am responsible for the safety of other teenagers and organise suitable activities. I am also a member of my school debating society. Both these activities have shown me that the best method of communication is to be firm and assertive; but at the same time to listen and to show empathy.

I have had experience of responsibility and leadership with the Air Training Corps for four years; part of my service was spent as a corporal, during which time I was in charge of a flight of cadets and often took large squads for drill. All this counted towards my Duke of Edinburgh bronze award and fostered a passion for aviation, which I wish to take further by joining an air ambulance team. I have furthered my interest in emergency medicine by acquiring a first aid qualification.

On top of all of this, I am a school prefect and look after a year eleven tutor group. I also have a part time job selling cameras, and sometimes run the shop floor on my own. I also put my passion for photography into practice by regularly covering events and gigs and taking pictures to use in promotional material and websites.

Another interest of mine is sound engineering; I mix a live band monthly at a Christian youth event. I enjoy working as part of a team in organising and running the event.

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.