Personal Statement:Neuroscience With Psychology

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

What is the most extraordinary and complex creation in the universe? My answer would have to be the human brain. Capable of controlling what we do, what we eat, how we move, and storing our precious memories. I’ve always known from a young age that whatever I wanted to do in the future would include working with children, which is why I plan to train to become a neuropsychologist and specialise in paediatrics. How children have the ability to develop and grow has always fascinated me. I thoroughly enjoy my A level subjects; Biology, Psychology and English Literature. Biology; the physiological study of living organisms and Psychology; the study of the human mind, thought and behaviour have continued to intrigue me throughout my time at sixth form. I particularly enjoyed the cognitive approach in psychology, how it gives an insight into human’s perception and their thought processes. I found the case of HM very interesting; not only did it revolutionise the study of cognitive neuropsychology, but it helped us to make links between memory, brain function and structure. I look forward to the challenges I will face at university and am looking forward to exploring my course. I am conscientious and love to learn new things, enabling me to enthusiastically contribute to university life and what it has to offer.

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

I undertook work experience at St Margaret’s Primary School for two weeks and had the best experience possible. It interested me how children reacted in different situations, making my mind question the hows and whys of their development. Biology and Psychology are two subjects I feel have influenced me. They have helped me to gain and develop my research ability and to carry out thorough investigations and experiments. Practicals have helped me learn how to study both independently and in a group and I have learnt how to complete detailed write-ups. Using different research methods, gathering data, analysing findings, drawing up conclusions and evaluations are some of the aspects of carrying out investigations I have learnt. I feel that this will help me in my chosen field because I also have to carry out research and investigations. All of my subjects have helped me to improve my essay writing, whether it was writing scientific reports in Biology or comparative essays in English Literature and Psychology. I feel this is helpful for my chosen course as I know that I have to write up my findings from studies I may have carried out and with my dissertation in my final year.

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

I am actively involved in school life and the community, have officially done 40 hours of community service in my school and am an avid musician. I have been playing the trombone since 2001, am currently working towards Grade 8 trombone practical and have passed my Grade 5 music theory. I’ve taken part in every school musical production since my time at the school, am a member of both the school and borough orchestra and was part of the borough’s advanced choir. This relates to my course as I believe there’s a link between music and cognitive development. It has been proven in Piaget’s theory of cognitive development and in various studies for music psychology that music has a positive effect on the brain by increasing progress and efficiency. Reading is another hobby of mine. I feel that reading increases knowledge and cognitive development. I’ve always wondered how the human mind is creative enough to produce the most remarkable and riveting stories. I enjoy classical books such as Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’. I particularly enjoyed a biography I read by Doctor Benjamin Carson, a gifted neurosurgeon and director of paediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins hospital in America; he was also the lead surgeon in one of the world’s first successful hemispherectomies in 1987. I currently have a part-time job at NEXT, which I enjoy very much. I feel that it has helped me to gain responsibility and manage money, which will benefit me for university.

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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