Personal Statement:Philosophy and Psychology

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

The human condition is, and always will be my motivation and fascination for learning. As a whole society, we have traversed various ideologies throughout history. We label them as Marxist, Liberal, Christian, absolute Monarchism and thousands of others. These schools of thought, though decidedly different, arise from an attempt to achieve the greatest benefits for every citizen they reign over. These thoughts are often founded at their time, on a sound logical, or some may say, philosophical basis. Sir R. Filmer's 'Patriarcha' justified absolute Monarchy in the Renaissance using the Creation of Adam in Genesis 21-28. Or when Classical Liberalism was made influential by J.S.Mill's 'On Liberty' after the French Revolution when the French Tripartite was acknowledged. They each have once been accepted as an ultimate form of morality, considered universal in terms of philosophical importance, something people can rely on as guidance for their lives. Philosophy thus is undoubtedly crucial in exploring possible fallacies and contradictions that our life ideologies assume as certain. Hence, the discipline of philosophy enabled my mind to scrutinize ideas outside of daily assumptions to hopefully- achieve greater certainty.

Yet Philosophy seems to lack the consideration of important human sentiments and nature. Human phenomenon such as conformity to authority, cultural differences and occasionally, reasons for atrocities committed, are better considered in my study of A-level Psychology and Biology. In an ever-evolving world, these disciplines allow me to gain facts essential to make sense of human behavior on a more biological level. Mental disorders like MPD (Multiple personality disorder) are unlikely to be dependent upon a single cause, but they are rather multifactorial. Although an MPD patient may display strange neural activities, the cause is often not neuroanatomical, but rather from a previous personal trauma- which could take a Freudian psychodynamic approach into account to treat the psychopathology. Troubled foreigners overseas may experience a loss of their language, culture and national camaraderie, depicted as the 'language of exile' in Judit S.Weisz's 'Lost Childhood and the language of exile'. These personal disturbances are again, best dealt with using free association, a psychodynamic method. Studying these scientific disciplines contributed to my rich resource of skills from confidently making scientific hypothesis about my surrounding, statistical data analysis and independent problem-solving. These skills enhance my personal competency by adding to my learned theoretical scepticism from Philosophy.

With these as due considerations, I believe a joint-honors in Philosophy and Psychology would maximize necessary intellectual and practical abilities to pursue a career in social services.

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

Studying A-level Psychology and Biology has provided me with essential knowledge and skills to deepen my understanding of human behavior from biological and psychological perspectives. For example, exploring mental disorders like Multiple Personality Disorder highlighted how causes are often multifactorial rather than neuroanatomically based, and how psychodynamic approaches such as Freudian theory can help in treatment. This kind of interdisciplinary insight has strengthened my analytical abilities and scientific approach to problem-solving.

Moreover, my philosophical studies have sharpened my critical thinking by encouraging me to question accepted ideologies and consider their logical foundations and potential contradictions. This theoretical scepticism complements the empirical methods I have developed through science, creating a balanced intellectual foundation. These combined studies have fostered my capacity to analyze ideas beyond superficial assumptions and have prepared me academically for the complexities of my chosen course.

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

Aside from my academic pursuits, I actively engage in activities that broaden my appreciation of others and develop my personal skills. I was particularly moved by a talk from Ruth Van Reken about Third Culture Kids (TCK), teenagers who identify with more than one dominant culture and whose passport nationality may not reflect their genuine identity. This resonated strongly with me as I share my mother tongue between Vietnamese and English, identifying with neither culture completely, which has broadened my perspective on identity and diversity.

I also contribute creatively by designing costumes for my college's fashion show during the annual Revue and by writing poetry for the school magazine, which nurtures my artistic flair. Volunteering in a hospital in my native Vietnam was a profound experience that reminded me of my privileged life and inspired a visual arts photography project portraying a dystopian world featuring patients as subjects. These experiences have enriched my understanding of human nature and suffering and reinforced my desire to pursue a career in social services.

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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