Personal Statement:Psychology 19 - The Student Room

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

As an American high school student, I have always been expected to attend an American university as the next step in my education, but the expected has never really been my cup of tea. While I am sure I would learn much at Yale or any of the other American Universities I have applied to, they do not provide the learning experience I am looking for. UCL’s emphasis on small-group teaching is very appealing to me, as is the fact that there will be a staff member there to support me throughout my experience at this university. I am eager simply to study in the UK because it allows me to experience and learn from a culture different from my own, without having to step outside of language boundaries. Overall, I seek the ability to know my professors to the extent where I can further my knowledge by talking with them outside of class and to be in an environment where I will constantly learn from conversations with those around me and experiences will often be new to me.

Both of my parents are psychologists, thusly psychology has constantly been a part of my environment and the subject has always fascinated me. Though I am uncertain what career I am aiming for— be it criminal justice, social work, or research— there has never been a question of what I wish to study.

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

Throughout my academic career, I have maintained top grades and constantly pushed myself. I am a member of National Honors Society and National Spanish Honors Society and have been on the Honor Roll throughout all of school. Two years ago, I made the decision to join the first group of students from my school to complete the International Baccalaureate diploma program. I knew that it was a risk to be in the first group, but I also knew that the IB program would stretch my mind in new ways and that is what I have always sought in my education.

Though I have not had the opportunity of taking a psychology class at my high school, I am currently in possession of three different psychology text books, numerous social and psychological studies, and an iPod that bears many psychology Podcasts from universities around the globe. After writing my IB Extended Essay on the psychology of sociopaths, I have also grown to understand the extent to which our minds’ flaws can drive us.

One of my favorite studies in psychology comes from acting and dance. I am a master film student at the studio I have attended for four years and have taken many dance and theatre classes outside of this. The mind’s ability to take on a different persona is mesmerizing. It is discoveries like these that fascinate me.

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

I view my life as a constant study in psychology. From my own experiences to the maturing of the young children I have taught Sunday school to for four years, I find that there is always a deeper reasoning behind everything that occurs in people’s lives.

My education is extremely valuable to me and I have grown to understand that the knowledge I acquire will come as much from my life experience as from my schooling. I have been an avid reader since I first read Little Women at age seven. More important than my reading, however, is the level of social awareness I live by. I am the campus representative at my school for TOMS Shoes, a mentor through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and a member of my school’s recycling club and Students Against Destructive Decisions.

I have also been an active member in the fight to end the war in Uganda as a volunteer for Invisible Children for four years. I have learned much from each experience, and through each I have done all I can to make the world a better place.

The more I look into UCL, the more I feel that it is the perfect place for me. From the various research and educational opportunities to the chance to study within a new culture, the possibilities are seemingly endless. I know that I cannot go wrong within this institution with the level of care that each student is given and the many doors I see open before me there.

Universities applied to:

• University College London

Grades achieved:

• 3.98/4.00 GPA

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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