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Personal Statement:Philosophy 11
This is a real Philosophy personal statement written by a student for their university application. It has been carefully edited into the new three-question format, with all of the original wording kept. It may have strengths and weaknesses, but it can be used as inspiration for writing your own UCAS personal statement. Ensure your personal statement is entirely your own work, copying from this example or other sources is considered plagiarism and can affect your application. There are lots more examples in our collection of sample personal statements.
Why do you want to study this course or subject?
Alice fell down a rabbit hole and ended up in Wonderland, oblivious to the philosophical issues she would encounter, from time and dimensions to the nature of logic and truth. Much like Lewis Carroll, I found the contemplation of such notions exciting and challenging, allowing me to consider the possibility of a world existing beyond our sensory perception. Whether it was via the exploration of Joseph Campbell's monomyths in TV hit LOST or the manifestation of an Orwellian state in 1984, the meaning of purpose and existence is a perennial concern and it is important that we challenge this. The ability to do so during my A level Philosophy lessons not only formed my stream of questions and ideas into coherent articulations, but has come as a fantastic opportunity to study the "minds" my ideologies are influenced by.
If we are as "blind" as the prisoners in Plato's cave analogy then I feel the study of Philosophy, a doctrine premised on the pursuit of wisdom, will help me begin to lift the "veil of illusion" the majority of our world has been accustomed to live in.
How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
I enjoyed examining Bertrand Russell's essays 'On the Nature of Truth and Falsehood' and 'The Monistic Theory of Truth'. Both emphasise the notion that if truth cannot be deemed an objective entity, then the ultimate effect of this is the destabilisation in the meaning of 'truth' on which the foundations of our inherent beliefs are dependent. This proved evident in my study of Photography, which helped uncover the unlimited possibilities and dilemmas one encounters in a bid to capture the essence of reality, even if it is only "partially true". This form of reality is completely subjective to the photographer, yet appears objective when released into the public forum.
The nature of reality, as well as the core metaphysical and existential puzzles philosophers aspire to solve, has been a key interest of mine for a number of years. Stephen Law's Eyewitness Guide to 'Philosophy' outlined Berkeley's claim that the universe, and experience of it, is merely within the mind; therefore physical properties do not exist as they are only ideas. Locke limited the acquisition of such knowledge in 'An Essay on the Human Understanding Book II: Ideas' as he seemed to award the necessity of sensational experience as a means to formulate and retain ideas in the mind. This contradiction in philosophies is addressed by Descartes in his sixth 'Meditation' as he recognised that one must ascertain the difference between imagination and intellect, mind and body, before we can actually verify that the properties of the universe are anything other than purely physical.
What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
Mo Constandi's article 'The Illusion of Attention' explored inattentional blindness, a recent development in neurophilosophy. The phenomenon reveals how human perception can block out obvious occurrences due to intense concentration. If this is the case, then perhaps our sensory field is unaware of the existence of other dimensions? The 'Mind Control' episode of Dr Michael Mosley's short series 'The Brain: a Secret History' acquainted me with the Milgram experiment on authority and obedience. The study resounded with my investigation of the Nazi Germany era in History; I was intrigued by how a society under Hitler's dictatorship could tolerate such rigid indoctrination.
Work experience at Channel 4 and my participation in the Young Journalist Summer School, seemed to highlight that the mass media, an industry I have great interest in pursuing a career in, can only portray an interpreted and often distorted element of truth to society that has a profound effect on how we treat one another e.g. the rise in Islamophobia post 9/11. Volunteering as a judge on the "vinspired National Awards Regional Panel", which involved evaluating applicants and making an informed decision based on their application, challenged my analytical skills as any assumptions I may have had about the circumstances of the candidate had to be abandoned.
AI generated feedback
This feedback is AI-generated, based on the text of this personal statement:
This personal statement presents a strong enthusiasm for philosophy, showing a clear passion for exploring complex ideas around truth, reality, and perception. The applicant effectively references influential philosophers and concepts, demonstrating engagement with course-relevant materials. The inclusion of related experiences such as photography, history, and media work provides an interesting dimension beyond academic studies.
For improvement, the statement could benefit from clearer signposting aligned with the new UCAS personal statement structure—explicitly distinguishing motivation, academic preparation, and extracurricular experiences. Adding more personal reflection on how these studies and experiences have shaped skills or qualities relevant to university success would strengthen the narrative. Avoiding potentially vague or loosely connected references (e.g., TV shows) without explicit links to philosophy may sharpen focus. Incorporating specific goals related to university study or career aspirations could also enhance impact.
Overall, the statement aligns well with the expectations of a new UCAS personal statement by communicating genuine interest and thoughtful consideration of the subject while showcasing some cross-disciplinary insights.
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.
Need help with your personal statement? You can ask a question or get feedback from The Student Room community (and our trained personal statement experts) on the personal statement advice forum.
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