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Personal Statement:Veterinary Science 9
This is a real Veterinary science and medicine 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?
Millions of cells, billions of molecules, one animal precious as a family pet, vital to a farmer or the police force, makes the prospect of helping animals, and possibly humans at the same time, (for example, treating or preventing bird flu may save many lives) very appealing to me. I particularly enjoy reading about diseases, with BSE (and its links to other Prion diseases) and Sweet Itch being especially interesting.
One famous vet said “If you decide to become a veterinary surgeon you will never grow rich, but you will have a life of endless interest and variety.” This summarizes the appeal of Veterinary Medicine for me.
How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
Surgery is a major part of the Veterinary course, and I have been fortunate enough to observe surgical procedures on both large and small animals. During my two weeks at the ******* Practice and a week at the ******** Practice, I found the consultations and intricate procedures absorbing, with the most memorable being the operation to stop a dog’s patella luxating. I have already arranged another week at the ******** practice for early next year. My four days at the Liverpool University Leahurst site allowed me the opportunity to observe the post mortems of a cow and goat, which were really fascinating. I was intrigued by the methods involved in the search for a cause of death.
Throughout school I have taken part, and been successful, in many extra-curricular activities. Problem solving is an important skill required to study Veterinary Science and I have demonstrated this by winning gold in UKMT challenges in 2003, 2005 and 2006, gaining a distinction in the World Class Maths test in 2004, coming joint first in my age group in the region MEM challenge 2003, and received a commendation in the British Physics challenge 2006. This past year I have mentored year 7 pupils in maths, which has helped me to communicate my ideas to others.
What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
It was important for me to gain hands-on experience, as vets must be confident when handling a wide range of animals. Spending a week at ****** Boarding kennels was hard, physical work, looking after a large number of animals, but thoroughly enjoyable. Working for roughly three weeks on two dairy farms was also very helpful, as I watched calving, slaughtering and the effects of the foot and mouth disease outbreak. In addition, I learnt about many routine health problems, like dermatitis and mastitis. In the lambing season, I took the opportunity to spend half a day at a sheep farm, in which I saw several births and aided in the birth of one lamb, which was an amazing experience. I was also given the task of putting iodine on the lamb’s navels to reduce the risk of infection. Most Saturdays since late May, I have been working at ********** Farm (Equine); dealing with bandaging, wounds, worming and poisonous plants (e.g. ragwort and bracken). During a three day ‘Vetsim’ course, I enjoyed handling more unusual animals, e.g. llamas and snakes, and found the structure of a hoof and information on heart sounds fascinating. These experiences have enabled me to handle farm, equine and small animals with much confidence. My work experience has given me an overview of several aspects of the Veterinary field and only confirmed my desire to follow this career path through lifelong learning.
I enjoy playing the clarinet and trumpet, and have been committed to playing in the school concert band and brass group for several years. For the past six years, I have been attending Aaisatsu karate club and taken part in many competitions, which is physically demanding and requires commitment to train three times a week. I have entered in both team and individual events, including the North Wales Kyu Grades Competition which I won in 2005. Also, I am proud to say that I achieved the grade of 1st Dan black belt two and a half years ago. I feel I have a great deal to offer the university I attend and look forward to playing an active role, whilst further developing my skills in karate and music.
AI generated feedback
This feedback is AI-generated, based on the text of this personal statement:
This personal statement clearly conveys a genuine passion for Veterinary Science, combining specific interests in animal diseases with relevant hands-on experience. The applicant effectively links observational learning during veterinary surgical procedures and post mortems to their academic interests. Extra-curricular achievements demonstrate strong problem-solving skills and commitment, enhancing the case for suitability to this challenging course. To improve further, the statement could expand more explicitly on how formal study (e.g., particular subjects or skills learned) has prepared the applicant academically for Veterinary Science. Adding clearer connections between qualifications and course requirements would strengthen alignment with the new UCAS format. Also, maintaining anonymity of placement names is sensible; however, slightly more context on these experiences could add impact. Overall, the statement is well-structured for the new format, rich in detail, and reflective of the applicant's enthusiasm and readiness.
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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