Medicine degree personal statement example (5t) work experience

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Medicine has been an obsession of mine since I received an outstanding level of care when I had to undergo an emergency appendectomy at a young age. 7 years later my devotion to the medical path remains unwavering as I continue to admire the resilience and empathy shown by the healthcare workers that I witness around me at the vaccine clinic, where I work as a clinic admin. At the clinic, we treat unusual cases such as a child with cerebral palsy who required extra attention to deliver the vaccine via the deltoid without them noticing until the procedure was done. Cases like this allow me to observe the treatment dynamic between the different teams in the healthcare system as they combine to calm the child, prepare the vaccine and then deliver it.

I have a keen interest in surgery as I like the challenge of applying scientific knowledge to manual dexterity. My fascination with surgery facilitated my motivation to write a research paper on ‘The Possibilities of a Minimally Invasive Heart Transplant’ which was published in the ‘Art of Healthcare’ issue of the Medic Mentor Magazine.

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

I am also part of my college’s medical society where I have enhanced my planning and organisational skills by taking part in activities such as rat dissections, planning and creating a teenage sexual health campaign, giving a presentation on abscesses, and learning basic British Sign Language. One of my favourite things that we have done is suturing which first piqued my interest when I completed a surgical virtual work experience.

Through my work experience, research and widening participation activities I have gained a good understanding of what is required from a medical student and doctor to be a success. Through testing and improving my transferable skills in a healthcare setting, I am certain that I not only have the determination to succeed as a doctor but also the empathy and attentiveness to always establish a patient’s expectations of me and then fulfil their medical needs so that their time under the care of my team is satisfactory.

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

By far the most enriching experience on my pre-med journey was when I worked with my local surgery to vaccinate care home residents and home-bound patients with the new Moderna Bivalent vaccine. I had the opportunity to work with nurses, physician associates and NHS managers as we worked as a team to vaccinate the residents in each care home as time-efficiently as possible while still maintaining the appropriate amount of empathy required to instate a level of trust between the patient and clinician. My main job as an admin was to establish a brief medical history and ensure that appropriate consent has been given pre-vaccination. Additionally, as a team, we had to be adaptable to the limitations of the care home as most have a routine that must not be disrupted to avoid disarray among residents.

I also helped out at the youth zone in my town where they work with the local council to provide mentally and physically enabling activities to young children. Working there has taught me that every person has a different story and they all deserve empathetic treatment adapted to their individual needs. For example, if the child has learning difficulties it is important to speak to him clearly and in a controlled environment so that he can process the information properly.

One of the things I enjoy doing in my free time is volunteering at my local cycling club Ribble Valley Juniors. We help young children learn how to ride bikes confidently so that they can then progress as cyclists. As a cycling club, we have held charity rides for the likes of the Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund, Children in Need, and Comic Relief. Another activity I love doing is playing football for Adlington JFC Tigers which has allowed me to develop transferable skills such as leadership and communication as well as elevated my confidence while ensuring I take responsibility for my mistakes as that is a vital factor of successful teamwork.

Universities applied to:

• KCL
• Lancaster
• Bristol
• Manchester

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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