Personal Statement:Psychology c800

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Ever since I was a child I have always been interested in the way my peers would interact with each other. This interest has continued, which is why I have particularly enjoyed every aspect of my A-Level psychology course. I would like to study Psychology at university and pursue a career as a psychologist, specialising in Educational Psychology; enhancing the learning of difficult pupils, along with those students with special educational needs.

I have particularly enjoyed the developmental psychology module, specifically Piaget’s study on a child’s ability to conserve. The development of a child’s ability to perform certain tasks as they age fascinated me. Social psychology is a module I am excited about covering in university, specifically, the psychology of attraction and relationships as I feel this is an important thing in life to understand.

I have found ‘Psychology and Crime’ by David Putwain and Aidan Sammons to be an interesting read, especially the chapter on psychology of the courtroom as I have visited Liverpool Crown Court to view a trial. It has also helped me further understand the A2 module of criminal psychology. I have joined the British Psychological Society as a student member. I feel the benefits this will offer will both help me and further whet my appetite to explore the area of psychology.

What I love about psychology is that you are able to apply studies to real life, in order to better understand people’s behaviour.

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

I have particularly enjoyed every aspect of my A-Level psychology course, with specific modules such as developmental psychology and criminal psychology capturing my interest. Studying Piaget’s work and the psychological aspects of crime has deepened my understanding and prepared me well for further education in psychology. My academic background has also been supported by reading specialised books such as ‘Psychology and Crime’, which has enhanced my knowledge beyond the classroom. Additionally, visiting Liverpool Crown Court gave me practical insight into the psychology of the courtroom, supporting my A2-level criminal psychology studies.

Membership in the British Psychological Society as a student has further helped me engage with the discipline and stay informed about current trends and research in the field.

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

At weekends I work as part of the Store Operations team in Marks & Spencer. I was responsible for helping each department in achieving its targets, for example, storing food in date order to prevent food wastage. During my time here I have also worked in the café. This was a big challenge as customers were at times rude and demanding, and it is this area where I felt psychology helped me to deal with these customers. I was able to work as part of a team to deal with customer problems whilst maintaining a positive attitude and supporting colleagues who were frustrated or stressed. I have learnt a lot of valuable life skills such as social interaction, teamwork and time management and these skills will help me during my university life.

In my spare time I practise Saxophone and Piano daily, with the goal of passing my grade 8 and grade 6 exams respectively. Reaching such a high standard of performance in Saxophone in the space of 2 years shows how much effort I have put in and the total dedication I have had. Throughout the week I am involved in a number of ensembles including: Sefton Youth Jazz Orchestra, Wind Orchestra and Saxophone Ensemble in which I play 2nd Alto Saxophone and Maghull Wind Orchestra in which I am Principal Tenor Saxophonist. I hope to continue performing in the university ensembles and possibly even giving solo performances such as a concerto. Being a classical musician has meant I have had to have a critical approach to each piece I learn, in order to provide a performance to the best of my ability. I am able to apply this approach to any challenge facing me.

Paired reading was a scheme set up in our school to assist the needs of Year 7 pupils who had a negative attitude towards reading. The skills needed for this were patience and encouragement. With time I was able to change the pupils’ outlook towards reading, encouraging and supporting their needs. Once a week I conduct rehearsals of the school orchestra with pupils from years 7 and 8, this requires a lot of patience but it is a very rewarding opportunity.

I am keen to gain the skills needed in order to assist me in reaching my full potential. I have known from an early age that university was the right path to follow for me, and I am thoroughly excited about the university experience.

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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