Personal Statement:Politics 8

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

"Change we can believe in" [Senator Barack Obama]: The 2008 election slogan which promised a new era of politics in the USA. However, has it delivered? Robert Gates, Rahm Emmanuel and Joseph Biden are three key figures in Obama’s Cabinet but all three have a history “inside the beltway” as part of previous cabinets and/or as experienced congressmen; Emmanuel as Clinton’s advisor over ten years ago and Gates as a member of Bush 41’s Republican Cabinet. This raises the issues of whether politicians are capable of affecting meaningful changes, or if they are hamstrung by the structural constraints that surround them. Was ‘change’ a genuine attempt by a sincere candidate to implement progressive politics, or simply another politician adapting to volatile economic times by promising a resurgence that realistically cannot be attained? These questions amongst others have led me to develop a passionate interest in politics, a subject that affects everyone’s life. My initial fascination with politics came during the 2005 UK general election and this interest was reinforced when I discovered that the study of A Level Politics would coincide with the 2008 US Presidential election. The contrast of the UK political system against international systems, alongside the lure of studying and understanding the many political and economic ideologies - capitalism, communism and fascism for example - became extremely appealing to me.

I have a particular penchant for comparative politics and international relations, which is reflected in one of my long term ambitions: to study the political system of another country from within by taking a postgraduate degree in a foreign nation.

Whilst a career directly in politics isn’t my ultimate goal – political journalism for example is a field I may be interested in pursuing - I feel the knowledge from, and experience of, a Politics degree would be invaluable in its substance, but moreover its enthralling nature.

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

Geography, in particular that relating to humans, corresponds strongly to political issues such as urban regeneration and the impact of the global economy of developing countries - China or Malaysia for instance. On top of my A Levels, I chose to study 'Ethics in real life' under the Open University YASS scheme on an extra-curricular basis. This course introduced me to a university standard of work, in contrast to the perhaps more limited syllabus at A Level.

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

My Work-Shadowing Placement in Year 12 gave me a wonderful opportunity to see aspects of government that most people never see. I was fortunate to be able to shadow Lord Crisp, who, until recently, was Permanent Secretary at the DoH and Chief Executive of the NHS. During this time I attended a Lord's Select Committee meeting, listened to a debate from the floor of the House, and attended a meeting in 10 Downing Street. I also shadowed the Chief Nurse in the DoH as well as the lead for the NHS 'Breaking Through' program to increase senior level representation for BME groups. This experience cemented my already very keen interest in Government and Politics.

For the last 6 years I have enjoyed playing for a local football team, a period in which we gained two promotions and I was named player of the year twice. In addition, since early 2006 I have worked as an Assistant Chef at a local restaurant. These activities demonstrate my commitment and personal discipline, while being part of a team has helped develop my social skills and confidence. Over the past few years I have also discovered a passion and an aptitude for skiing. During my gap year I am attending a three month ski-training school in Canada to gain internationally recognized CSIA qualifications, and subsequently travelling the world and teaching skiing in New Zealand. I hope that while being an enjoyable trip this will also give me transferable skills such as an improved ability to share my ideas with people while also living independently for over three months; vital life skills that I will need to be successful in university life.

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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