Personal Statement:Pharmacy 11

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Pharmacy is an exciting field that is constantly changing with new developments in science and new demands on our lives. One thing that remains constant is the desire of pharmacists to help people and it is for this reason I wish to study pharmacy. I want to be able to help people understand how their medicines work as so many people rely on drugs but seemingly so few know why. I want to help people not only feel physically better but also more confident in their understanding of their health. Having worked in a community and hospital pharmacy for almost three years my decision to become a pharmacist has not been taken lightly, but my experience has compounded my desire to study pharmacy.

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

Pharmacy is a constant learning curve. As a qualified medicines counter assistant, I have already undertaken courses and now as an ATO I am working towards my NVQ 2 in Pharmaceutical Services. On the medicine counter, I learnt the value of good customer service and the importance of clear communication. Living in an area with a huge variety of languages and cultures, verbal communication is often challenging. Communication is also important when working as a team, a vital aspect of working in a pharmacy. Interpersonal skills are essential for pharmacists and my time in pharmacy has proved indispensable in building these skills. With an emphasis on CPD for pharmacists, my work-based study has provided a great head start on this aspect of the job. After four years of MPharm, the pre-registration year is a vital part of any pharmacist's training and I would like to spend the year in a community pharmacy. Following this, I would like to spend time as a locum pharmacist working in different places with different people. Eventually, I would like to use my language skills by moving and working in Europe.

As a school student, I was always described as a quiet and conscientious student who worked hard in all subjects. It was during my GCSEs I realised that I enjoy not only the knowledge that comes from learning but also the process of learning itself and this realisation led me to the decision to apply for university. Leaving school and spending a few months without anything to study left me restless. I enrolled on an Open University course to help with my job and I could not stop. Even now I cannot wait to spend four years back in an academic environment.

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

At school I played an active role in the community being elected as form captain, vice house captain and charities captain. My role as charities captain was most rewarding as I worked as part of a team to organise various events such as a 24-hour bounce-a-thon and decorated classrooms that raised hundreds for charities. I also took part in a maths-mentoring scheme to help year 11 students from another school to attain a higher grade in GCSE Mathematics. This experience not only helped these students but also aided my revision and provided me with experience of working with other people, enabling me to practice both leadership and team work skills. Another opportunity to develop these skills was at a leadership and management conference involving many local schools helping me build my interpersonal and business skills.

Outside of work and study I enjoy volunteering. I have volunteered for one charity, Riders for Health, for many years combining my love of motor sport with my passion for volunteering. Helping in the head office as an office assistant lead me to undertaking the very responsible role of logging the auction items at a fundraising event, some of which reached tens of thousands of pounds! Meeting some of the greatest names in Moto GP is a wonderful bonus to the volunteering but not as much as knowing the help I give saves lives.

Universities applied to:

• Keele - Pharmacy with Health Foundation Year
• Nottingham

Grades achieved:

• Open University credits
• work-based qualifications

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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