Personal Statement:Human sciences 2 - The Student Room

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

How is it that science, which claims the right to excellence, can examine something as imperfect as a human being? I was born and raised in Swaziland, southern Africa, before moving to the United Kingdom at the age of 15. The contrasting cultures to which I was exposed acted as the premise to my interest in Human Sciences. My westernised education provoked the realisation of how heavily influenced we are by the principles of science- the popular ideas of objectivism, empiricism, and rationalism are heavily valued in modern research. However, how can we understand anything, when we fail to understand the complexity of understanding itself? The philosophical doctrine of Fallibilism works alongside the principles in which I raised: nothing is absolute and certainty is nothing. Culture in its broadest sense can dictate who we are and who we become, and therefore acts as one of the most powerful tools in conducing both positive and negative changes in people via the social processes of enculturation and cultural transmission. I believe the pragmatism and anti-positivism within the field of Human Science will allow me to explore what it means to be human without the limits set by a cogent paradigm.

The holism involved in Human Sciences appeals to me greatly. Individual humans cannot simply be defined by the sum of X % culture and Y % genes, but rather a mutual shaping from both their genetic dispositions via duplex inheritance and their environmental influences. Sometimes it simply isn't possible to perceive the outcome by the materials used to construct it.

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

Whilst I have never studied 'human science' as an academic discipline, my A-level studies in sociology instilled a great interest in ritual and religion. In a constant attempt to improve my knowledge in the subject, I also completed an extended project titled, "The function of religion in modern society", where I familiarised myself with the work of Durkheim in "the elementary forms of religious life", Marx, "the Communist manifesto", and Weber "the protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. Other thinkers on the subject which interest me include: Dante on his thoughts on the virtues of religion and Nietzsche, who argues that religion is an illogical dogmatic moral code on faith alone which limits human potential. Additional interests of mine include Globalization and Migration, Cultural imperialism VS Cultural hybridization, and Human rights.

My grades so far reflect my commitment to these areas of study: Sociology (A2) - A*, Psychology (A2) - A, General Studies (A2) - A*, and Biology (A2) - A*.

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

My work experience is extremely diverse in nature, and has contributed in both a direct and indirect fashion to my interest in the course. In 2008 I completed work experience with Plymouth City services, an opportunity I gained through the social mobility foundation (high achieving pupils from disadvantaged background). I also had the opportunity to travel to the University of Kentucky in 2010, on both a swimming and Academic scholarship. I was lucky enough to participate in research in the sociological field, where I was introduced to the field of anthropology likewise. I also completed my own small research project titled 'How free are we? - Breaking American folkways'. Furthermore, for my gap year I have arranged to volunteer at Amnesty international for their amazing work involving those displaced from their homes for having the temerity to speak against their home country governments.

The remarkable thing about a human in my eyes is not that we are simply upright apes, but rather that some will stand up and fight for some things, whilst others will not- likewise how some people seemingly are unable to empathize with suffering beyond our state boundaries when personally there is little else which dominates my dreams as frequently. Understanding the stunning diversity of humankind will both enhance my consciousness, and bring forth a sense of visibility as we continue to live in what can only be described as a 'human laboratory'.

Universities applied to:

• Oxford (Human Sciences)
• UCL (Psychology)
• Bath (Psychology)
• Nottingham (Psychology)
• Edinburgh (MA Psychology and Sociology)

Grades achieved:

• Sociology (A2) - A*
• Psychology (A2) - A
• General Studies (A2) - A*
• Biology (A2) - A*

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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