Personal Statement:Philosophy 10

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

“Are you a child who has not yet become world-weary? Or are you a philosopher who will vow never to become so?” When I was seven years old my Mum and I read Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder and this question is one I have carried with me since. After reading this book I persuaded my Mum to buy me Philosophy for Beginners by Richard Osborne and found myself particularly interested in Plato’s Theory of Forms and Descartes’ Theory of the Mind. From then on I have never stopped questioning everything and encouraging my friends to participate in discussions. I believe too many people take everything they are told as fact and question nothing. I don’t think life is anything without wonder, and that is why Philosophy is the right course for me.

When Society began there were an infinite number of questions and very few answers. Every day scientists come closer and closer to answering the questions that philosophers posed in the beginning. This is why I am interested in scientific subjects and chose to study Biology and Chemistry at A level. These subjects have taught me how to conduct experiments and to come to logical conclusions based on their results – a skill also relevant to Philosophy. For me Science focuses more on empirical evidence than non-provable ideas, but they both stem from the same thoughts and principles. Concepts like the Theory of Evolution in Biology that cross the boundaries between science and philosophy particularly interest me, as do the controversial parts of science that cause ethical dilemmas – such as embryo research and cloning.

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

I decided to take Religious Studies at A level because it was broken up into Philosophy and Ethics – both of which I am passionate about. This subject has reinforced my enthusiasm for philosophy and helped me decide that it is what I want to study at university. Last year I liked discussing the religious ideas on scientific advancements when we learned about Creation and Intelligent Design. This inspired me to read Richard Dawkins’ book The God Delusion – I found his style of writing very witty and admired the logic of his attempt to use science to disprove religion. I most enjoy the Ethics component of the course and I have especially enjoyed studying free will. I have found Calvin and Skinner’s views on determinism extremely thought provoking. The way we are taught Ethics encourages us to form our own opinions and not just “learn and churn” what other people say – I am looking to continue this style of learning at university.

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

Music is a major part of my extra-curricular life and I taught myself to play the keyboard and ukulele. Learning these instruments has made me realise persistence and commitment are the key to success when faced with something new and challenging. In high school I found a love for media and in this time I hosted my own radio show, controlled sound for my school’s live weekly broadcast, and filmed various events. I particularly enjoyed expressing my creativity when making videos. I can now work effectively both in a team and under pressure because of these experiences. I have participated in school productions, both on stage and behind the scenes. Acting in plays such as Billy Liar has improved my confidence and ability to speak in front of a large group of people. I can also manage and motivate people as well as organise lots of information thanks to my role as Stage Manager of Blood Brothers.

Attending university will be an exciting new chapter of my life and is essential for the future I really want. I am looking forward to gaining independence and furthering my knowledge in a subject that I am passionate about. I am a driven person that loves a challenge and I believe I will thrive in an academic environment. Socrates said, “True knowledge exists in knowing that we know nothing”; I am eager to spend the next three years discovering how much I don’t know.

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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