personal statement examples medicine oxford

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Medicine Personal Statement for Oxford

The medicine personal statement for Oxford University must be sharp and focused: some of your finest writing. With fierce competition coming with the territory – Oxford is one of the top medical schools in the UK , - it is absolutely imperative that you put tremendous effort into your application.

A sharp personal statement is one of the best ways to make your medical school application stand out . Oxford University has one of the more competitive medical school acceptance rates in the uk , so you will want to give yourself as many advantages as possible.

The use of medical school personal statement examples will give you insights otherwise denied to you by simply reading facts, rules, and advice in how to shape your statement. With that in mind, we will look at both.

In this blog we will discuss the purpose of a personal statement, cover some quick details about what you need to know specifically about Oxford’s medicine personal statement, and provide an example statement with a breakdown so you can approach your own statement with confidence.

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Article Contents 11 min read

Purpose of a personal statement .

To stand up and stand out – this is the purpose of a personal statement. Beyond what your medical school resume says, or a mere list of accomplishments, your personal statement will show your best, most unique aspects to the admissions committee. This goes beyond just hitting a list of medical school requirements . You need to show the uniqueness of you and your personal journey to medical school.

The key element to your personal statement is that it will be a personal story of your journey to pursue medicine. Telling this story is the main goal of your statement.

This means that you want to present yourself in the best light possible, but also to present your specific journey that you have taken to get to medical school and why medical school is important to you.

The primary focus ought to be on your impetus for journeying to med school – why do you want to be a doctor? Answer this question in full, in a way that makes you stand out, and you will greatly increase your chances of an interview.

Tell this story with your background, your work and volunteer experiences, academic breakthroughs, and how you have conquered or surmounted obstacles.

All of these subjects should be treated with your personal touch so that you as an individual stand out to the committee. Use every aspect of your statement to show your individuality and what you can bring to the program.

Consider a personal statement, structurally-speaking, the same as any other essay. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel here. You’re going to start with a captivating opening paragraph, follow that up with a body that tells your story through two or three major events that led you to medicine, and conclude your essay in a way that inspires the admissions committee to want to learn more about you. Keep in mind that your opening sentence and conclusion are just as important as your experiences.

Think also in terms of a chronological story. Start at the beginning – your early life – move through to the catalyst – why you are going into medicine – and then tell your journey to medical school. How did you get to where you are? What steps did you take to prepare for the next phase of your life and career?

Your first lines must arrest attention. Often called a “hook” for its purpose of ensnaring a reader, this sentence should compel a reader to finish reading the essay. Even if somebody is not a member of the admissions committee, with no obligation to read further, they should want to know more.

“My family moved to England when I was five; we are refugees,” is a bland, factual statement. Consider a different opener:

“When we fled to England, I felt our pursuers were always right behind me; I experienced fear and adrenaline the entire time. I was young, five years old, and my earliest memories are of coming from fear to safety.”

Don’t you want to know more? The second opener almost forces you to keep reading.

The opening also sets up the rest of the essay, just as a thesis statement would. The rest of your personal statement should emanate from this. In the above example, the statement should go on to speak of how the immigrant, refugee status of the writer has brought them to medical school, and why they will be a fantastic candidate. If you open by speaking about experiences as a refugee, those experiences should inform your journey and be part of your conclusion. How has your personal history brought you to medicine? If information is doled out without connection, it is random, and the personal statement will lack focus.

This infographic will guide you in creating an exemplary medical school personal statement:

Is an Oxford Medicine Personal Statement Different? 

Is there a difference between an Oxford personal statement for medicine and a “regular” statement? No, not really. You can write a UCAS personal statement to apply to a variety of institutions. Just make sure that you aren’t putting in anything that only applies to one institution and you’ll be fine.

With that said, there is a technical limit that you do need to pay attention to: word count.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, used by Oxford, gives you some limits on your personal statement’s length. It can be no more than 4,000 characters – including spaces – or 47 lines. Cross neither of these thresholds. It is imperative that you stay within the limits provided for you. Forty-eight lines means your statement won’t work. The 4,001 st character will not be crammed in, nor will it be read.

If you can manage to encompass elements of your top choice schools, that might be good. Let’s take a look at the qualities Oxford is looking for:

Under “personal characteristics suitable for medicine,” they list:

Honesty, empathy, motivation, communication, ethical awareness, ability to work with others, capacity for intense work, alignment of values with the NHS constitution.

Under “academic potential,” Oxford says they want:

Problem-solving, critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and communication skills.

Taking in both of those lists, you’ll see that communication comes up twice, so it might be wise to emphasize your ability to communicate.

With that said, don’t try to cater to Oxford alone. You aren’t just applying to Oxford, right? You will likely be using UCAS to open up several UK medical school applications . So don’t make everything in your statement specific to that one place. Go into detail about you . You aren’t trying to say why you want to go to a particular school, you are showing why you are a great candidate for medicine in-general, so highlight the “you” of it all.

You should, however, concentrate on your personal journey to medicine. Use these tips to help you prepare your statement for maximum effect:

Show Talent Through Reflection 

Naked facts won’t get you in. That’s what your transcript is for, or your resume. Instead, you need to make sure everything is unique to your journey and show the impact it has had. Simply stating test scores aren’t unique to you; everybody has test scores. Reflect on everything, showing how each fact matters and how it has changed you. Anything you include must be made relevant to your journey; relevance is paramount.

\u201cCancer was a big fear of mine; it\u2019s so rampant in my family tree. I thought I should spend my hospital volunteer hours confronting this fear. What I found wasn\u2019t fear, it was hope and strength. My task for the hospital was to assist patients, both physically, and emotionally, if needed. Through their stories of perseverance and determination, I found myself supported as often as they were. I learned how to apply empathy skills to my work, and about how healthcare means more than just medicine, it requires holistic treatment.\u201d ","label":"Example B","title":"Example B"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

The “B” example goes into detail on how this impacted their journey and what they learned from volunteering. Presumably, this person will go on to describe further experiences with cancer battles and persevering.

You pick your guideposts – two or three major events – and now you know to reflect on them, but the way you reflect matters as well. You could just describe how each point in your life moved you to study harder or achieve more, but that’s bragging at worst, and at best only amounts to a one-note symphony. You want to be more interesting, engaging, and unique than that.

Use the same events to describe and reflect on different aspects to your journey to medical school. You might want to add some extracurriculars for medical school , for instance.

For example: let’s say your first event chosen were parents pushing you into being a doctor, your second event was the first biology class you enjoyed taking, and the third event was applying your first-aid knowledge to a friend at a car accident. Okay, if you only conclude each event with, “so I still want to be a doctor,” that’s lifeless.

Use the first to show your parents’ high expectations and the stress and anxiety you felt, but also why family is important to you and that you value those connections. The second event opens up a world of curiosity – highlight your academic prowess and intellectual exploration. Finally, show how a high-anxiety event – a car wreck – showed you how to apply your knowledge, conquer your anxiety, and move forward. You’re good in a crisis. You’ve just highlighted different values, abilities, and personal goals and gains that you have that are unique to your journey.

The study of medicine is holistic, as is its practice. You show yourself to be a better candidate by showing a variety of skills and experiences, and that you understand that there is more to medicine than simply punching a clock and distributing some pills. By giving a more complete picture of your life and a bevvy of skills that you have accumulated – preferably in different areas – you add depth to your statement and a clearer picture of who you are and why you will be a brilliant physician.

If you can add in references – directly or indirectly – to the rest of your life, your non-academic life, so much the better. Throw in something about how you love tennis, or program computer code, or speak three languages – show off your intellectual diversity.

Skills Developed 

As you have moved forward on your journey, you have picked up certain skills. Can you highlight some of these, showing a progression of your gathering of knowledge?

Valued skills include communication skills, leadership, organization, and teaching.

Full Circle 

You started off your personal statement with a compelling, or maybe even intriguing, statement. The expectation is, of course, that you will come around at the end, connect your opening statement to your closing paragraph, and show why you are on your way to medical school. To say it quickly: pay it off. What did you learn? What did you achieve? How have you changed? Answer those questions by closing off your opening statement.

Our hook statement was about being a refugee. Talk about how you have come to think of yourself not as a refugee but as a helper – someone who can give back to others in need – and how your past, rooted in fear and pain, is moving you forward to help with the pain of others. Maybe that’s as an ER doctor or a physician overseas, but wherever you’re going, connect it to your opening statement.

A considered, thoughtful, and selfless goal is best, but regardless of the qualities of the goal, it must always tie in to you, in a singular way. Nobody else’s goal is yours because you are uniquely you. Show off why you are the best candidate for admission.

When we fled to England, I felt our pursuers were always right behind me; I experienced fear and adrenaline the entire time. I was young, five years old, and my earliest memories are of coming from fear to safety. 

I think I adjusted to our new lives faster than my parents did – I was very young, after all – and they never lost that sense of urgency and a need for safety. Maybe that is partly why they pushed so hard for me to enter into the medical profession. This pressure reignited anxiety within me, and I felt a lot of pressure to live up to expectations that were not my own.

In all honesty, medicine was not my personal goal for a long time. It was my parents’ dream for me. Over the years, that has changed, however. Family is important to me, and I believe that my strong family life has helped me over the years to develop a good sense of duty and personal responsibility.

Growing to love medicine and the sciences was a gradual process, but much of my shift towards medicine personally came from my high school biology teacher, Ms. Hill, who pushed me hard and gave me the encouragement I needed to find a love of the hard sciences within myself. She gave me the latitude to conduct extra experiments, which I enjoyed thoroughly. By allowing me to indulge my curiosity, she fired my enjoyment of the subject. I found myself cataloguing birds that visited our garden, breaking down foods to find sugar content, and indulging my curiosity all in the name of academic advancement.

What really brought me to medicine, though, was shadowing a physician – Dr. White – at a local hospital. Dr. White is a reconstructive plastic surgeon, and I observed Dr. White speaking to a patient about their orthognathic surgery to correct jaw problems. I never knew the jaw could cause so many problems throughout the body, but this patient suffered severely; they were unable to smile without pain.

I was allowed to observe the surgery as well, and I was more tense than Dr. White was in his operating room. Afterward, I saw the patient’s first pain-free smile.

Since the beginning of this year, I have been volunteering in a pediatrics unit at the same hospital. It is difficult seeing children in distress, but caring for children is rewarding and vital. My love of family, and my being a refugee child have given me a deep connection to pediatrics.

I have applied Dr. White’s friendly, straightforward, and unassuming manner interacting with patients and families, and I am already deriving such joy out of working with them. While volunteering, I also took a first aid course; I wound up using this knowledge far sooner than I had hoped.

This summer, my friend James was giving me a lift to a tennis match – we’re both very found of the game – and we got into a car accident. Despite being shaken, I wasn’t hurt, but James was. I remembered my first aid knowledge and managed to apply several techniques before the paramedics arrived; they complemented me on my actions as I rode with James to the hospital.

Maybe it was my childhood memories of fleeing from danger, but for some reason, I stayed fairly calm during the crisis – only getting the adrenaline shakes and worrying about my friend after. James is recovering well, in case you were worried.

It didn’t start as my dream, but my experiences with medicine have led me to dream of putting pain-free, post-anxiety smiles on the faces of patients and their families –family is still very important to me. I hope to work in pediatrics, since my experiences on that unit have shown how rewarding it is to heal children. I remember being a child in need of care, coming to this country all those years ago, and I think my experiences will help me relate to children in distress. 

Ultimately, I am grateful to my parents for pushing me and inspiring me. My path did not start out as truly mine, but it is now, and I am looking forward to seeing it through – through any adversity or hardship – all the way to the end.

Here's a great video that unpacks "Show, Don't Tell" as a writing strategy:

Breakdown 

The opening hook grabs attention and draws the reader in. They want to know more.

The honesty that comes next – saying that medicine wasn’t a lifelong dream, but something this person’s parents wanted for them – is a value that Oxford is looking for. Throughout the piece, you can see other aspects of Oxford’s values highlighted – intellectual curiosity, for instance.

Note that qualities are demonstrated. Instead of just saying, “I am intellectually curious,” the writer shows this by talking about their joy in conducting multiple experiments under the guidance of a beloved science teacher.

The experiences within the statement are described in detail and clear about how they affected the writer’s journey towards medicine. Many more experiences are doubtless under the surface, but a few, key moments are picked to discuss.

The conclusion relates to the opening statement. The personal statement highlights family and the writer’s experiences as a refugee child as reasons for the areas of medicine this person wants to practice. It all connects to their personal story. 

Your personal statement is something you need to perfect to have your best chance of getting in to medical school. Take your time to write it right.

Remember: reflect, showcase yourself, and tell your story.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service is the central service used by many UK universities and colleges to allow students an easier admissions process.

To see a bit more about the process, check out some UCAS reference letter examples .

Very little, actually. Pick two or three highlights and focus on those landmark moments in your journey to medical school. Everything else is available on transcripts and CVs.

No. Limits are limits. Never go over the character or line count in any way.

Take your mind off of your work for a half an hour or so. Do something physical, like going for a walk, or practice meditation. When you come back to writing, give yourself two minutes to free-associate and write whatever comes to your mind about your journey to medical school. By the end of those two minutes, you’ll be well on your way.

No. You’re writing an essay, and although you are writing in the first person, there is an expectation that you will still employ professional, academic language and a formal structure. This is the written equivalent of an interview. You wouldn’t pepper your language with “like” or employ slang in an interview, so don’t do it here. 

So, while the admissions committee expects your writing to be a first-person account, it’s still within an understanding of polished work. Your prose should be in casual-dress.

Around six to eight schools is a good number. Give yourself a range so you aren’t putting all of your hopes in one possibility – that’s limiting and a big risk. But don’t put so many together that you run out of time or cannot focus on making a great application.

Another UCAS-specific note: you can apply to up to five institutions through UCAS, so do all five. If you want to hit that six-eight number, you’ll have to go outside of the UCAS system to do so.

Somewhere between six and eight weeks is good. This won’t be full-time, of course, but take the time to reflect and write something meaningful, impactful, and that has the desired impact on your readers.

UCAS doesn’t allow you to alter your statement after you submit, so make 100% sure that you have the best statement you can before sending it in.

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Medicine Personal Statement Inspiration – Duranka (Oxford)

Home » Application Guide » Medicine Personal Statement Inspiration – Duranka (Oxford)

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Awesome ps resources., awesome resources + course.

This is part of a series of blog posts wherein members of the 6med team attach and comment on their own medicine personal statements. Duranka (instructor at   UCAT Crash Course ) applied to Oxford, Imperial, KCL and Barts, and received offers from Imperial, KCL and Barts. 

Please be aware that these examples are meant purely for the sake of inspiration, and should absolutely NOT be used as a model around which to base your own personal statement. UCAS have a rather strict system that detects plagiarism .

Personal Statement Inspiration & Examples Articles

Dentistry Personal Statement Examples – KCL (Emmy)

Dentistry Personal Statement Examples – KCL (Saif)

Dentistry Personal Statement Examples – Cardiff (Eera)

Medicine Personal Statement Analysis

Discovery in its many guises has always been important to me and has strongly driven my actions. From reading “Sherlock Holmes” through to the history of cancer treatment in Siddhartha Mukherjee’s “Emperor of all Maladies”, I have become inspired to do some discovering of my own. It is therefore my firm belief that studying medicine would be extremely fulfilling for me, as its intrinsic dynamism will challenge the boundaries of my learning, application and empathy so I can help those whom sickness has made most vulnerable to the best of my ability.

“It’s useful to start your personal statement with your primary motivation for doing medicine. It allows you to introduce your character in a way that can be developed through the various other things you mention later on. The name-dropping of famous and well-regarded books is good too (so long as you’re prepared to be asked about them).”

My interest in the subject has developed largely in the last four years as I studied English, Biology and Chemistry. With English, analysing poems and novels has helped me understand how abstract ideas are created and come together. This helped when I critiqued “ADHD at your Fingertips”, an advice booklet for teenagers with the condition, prior to its national publication. It has also allowed me to add more depth to my personal work, fulfilling my childhood love of creative writing; as of now I am currently 40,000 words into my first novel. Biology, Chemistry and my reading Frank Ryan’s “Virolution” have also refined my understanding of the fundamental construction of the body and disease, even down to the atomic level for Polio. Having enjoyed these major constituents of the human engine, I thought it would only be logical to continue learning about its malfunctions in greater depth by reading medicine at University.

“As it happens, that novel was eventually consigned to the Recycling Bin, but the point of this paragraph is to simply relate the subjects you do at A-Level to your broader thinking. Though a lot of medicine depends on memorising things, the endgame is being able to practically apply what you’ve learned. Showing you’re already doing this, relating your experiences in A-Level subjects to specific hobbies and your extra reading, makes you look way more mature than the average applicant.”

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In addition, volunteering for two weeks at a special school and at a centre for disabled adults weekly for a year has helped me see how handicapped people could lead normal lives, thanks in no small part to their dedicated support staff. Also, as a St. John Ambulance cadet of three years, I have had a basic introduction to frontline treatment from my community duties. I believe the aim of medicine is to raise people, if possible, to a state of both physical and mental wellbeing; participating in teaching and treating people has encouraged me to believe that, as a doctor, I could fulfil my desire to do this on a wider scale.

“You don’t need to mention specific names of places. That’s a waste of time. What’s more important is how long you did each thing. Medicine requires dedication, and the people in charge of applications want to see that quality in you. The second thing to notice is how I show how my experiences furthered my desire to do medicine. A lot of people tend to list the things they did to try and look good. The advice I got while writing my statement was, quite simply, “Please don’t.”  You’re selling yourself, not what you did, so always try and relate the ‘what’ to the ‘why’.”

Of equal value to me were the discussions with my friend about the science and ethics of her ongoing struggle with Fowler’s Syndrome, visiting topics from hospital politics to misdiagnosis while also testing my scientific inquisition and understanding of patient experience. This and my volunteering convinced me to take up placements at Southend Hospital to see how the doctors put medicine into practice. Their job both endeared and devastated. Watching clinical trials in Rheumatology research, it was amazing seeing doctors deal with complex new theory and yet still pass it on to their patients’ maximum satisfaction. However, when I met a war veteran with metastatic rectal cancer, I was truly humbled by his calm acceptance of death and gratitude towards the doctors who made it bearable. This was my first sight of the job’s emotionally difficult side, but having met such a character, I’m more determined than ever to study medicine and hopefully make a difference in the lives of people like him.

“Here I just talk about more medically specific experiences. It’s worth saying that each new thing you mention acts as a signpost that the interviewers can pick up on. Most of the time, they’ll just ask you generally about what you did and what you saw, but Oxbridge in particular is very, very anal about the details. If you mention a specific disease, be sure that you’re comfortable answering any questions about it including symptoms, diagnosis (how/when etc) and basic biology.”

My studies have also been deeply enriched by my extracurricular pursuits. Aside from playing tennis weekly for my local club, I have passions for music, drama and public speaking that allow me to express my personality. These, in addition to my civic duties as a prefect, have led me to contribute heavily to my school’s wider life. Having given several assemblies, I have become more confident and at ease in front of strangers, and by directing a production of “Frost/Nixon” as well as a group of amateur Year 8s to House Drama victory, I learned the value of motivation, leadership and teamwork for both others and myself, especially under pressure. After six years, I have also come to lead the school Sinfonia on the First Violin and have sung jazz at several charity events.

“Standard extracurricular activities section. As has been a running theme in this commentary, try and link back to medicine, especially in terms of the buzzword skills you learn. Be sure to list things you actually care about though. You get people who proudly claim to be on the netball team…when they played netball once after school. Don’t be those people.”

I look forward intently to the challenges of studying medicine at University and beyond.

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Writing An Effective Oxford Medicine Personal Statement

Table of Contents

Writing a personal statement for medical school is challenging, but perhaps not as challenging as writing a statement for the University of Oxford. Located in the heart of England, Oxford has a storied history as one of the world’s leading medical education and research centers. With its highly competitive admissions process and rigorous academic standards, getting accepted to study medicine at Oxford is a dream for many aspiring doctors. You need to stand out and demonstrate to the admission committee why you’re perfect for admission. The medicine personal statement examples Oxford in this guide is a great place to start!

In this article, we’ll take a closer look into writing a personal medical statement for Oxford. We also provide practical examples to guide you in writing the most compelling statement that will intrigue the admission committee.

What Is A Medicine Personal Statement?

A personal statement is a written document submitted as part of an application to study medicine. When applying to Oxford, you will be required to provide a statement that showcases your achievements, skills, interests. You’ll also need to detail why you are interested in pursuing a career in medicine. And why you believe you would be a good fit for the Oxford medical program.

Your statement also allows you to highlight relevant experiences or achievements that may not be reflected in your academic transcripts or other application materials. 

A well-written medical personal statement will help you stand out from the competition and increase your chances of being accepted into the prestigious university.

Purpose of a Medical Personal Statement in Oxford

Here are the primary purposes of writing a personal medicine statement in Oxford. To:

• Provide the admissions’ committee with a better understanding of your motivations and goals.
• Showcase your passion for medicine and your commitment to pursuing a career in the field.
• Highlight any relevant experiences or achievements that may not be reflected in your academic transcripts or other application materials.
• Demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively and clearly.
• Help the admissions committee determine if you are a good fit for the Oxford medicine program.
• Give the admissions committee a sense of your personality and character.
• Provide the admissions’ committee with a better understanding of your unique strengths and experiences.
• Help the admissions committee evaluate your potential as a future medical professional.

What is the admissions’ between an Oxford personal statement and other universities ?

Every medical school has specific requirements and expectations for personal statements , and the University of Oxford is no exception. A personal statement’s general purpose is to give the admissions committee a better understanding of your motivations, goals, and suitability for the program. The personal statement’s specific content and format may vary from school to school.

The Oxford application process is likely to be more competitive and selective than other medical schools. This is due to the prestige and reputation of the institution. As such, you need to take the time to thoroughly research and understand the expectations of the admissions committee and tailor your statement accordingly.

How to Structure your Personal Statement

There is no one “right” way to structure an Oxford medicine personal statement. But here are a few tips to guide you in writing your statement.

1. Begin with a hook

Begin with an introduction that captures the reader’s attention and clearly states your purpose for writing the statement. It could be a brief overview of your background and interests or a specific experience that sparked your interest in medicine.

2. Highlight your experiences and achievements

Outline your relevant experiences and achievements. This could be any clinical or research experiences or leadership roles you have taken. Or any other experiences demonstrating your commitment to medicine and your potential as future medical personnel.

3. Discuss your interest in the program

Also, discuss why you are specifically interested in studying medicine at the University of Oxford. You can include any relevant experiences or connections to the university. Or the city of Oxford and any specific aspects of the Oxford medicine program that appeal to you.

4. Discuss your career goals

Next, discuss your long-term career goals and how studying medicine at Oxford will help you achieve them. Make sure you are specific and explain how the Oxford program will prepare you for your desired career path.

5. Summarize your statement

Conclude your statement by summarizing your key points and stating your commitment to pursuing a career in medicine.

6. Edit and proofread

Your statement should be well-written, free of errors, and tailored to the Oxford program. Remember to proofread and edit carefully before submitting your statement.

Medicine Personal Statement Examples Oxford

Growing up in a family of doctors, I developed an interest in the medical field and a deep respect for its power to heal.

From watching my parents care for their patients to volunteering at community clinics, I have been surrounded by medicine all my life. And it has become embedded into my own identity.

I am now ready to take this passion and expertise to the next level by pursuing a degree in medicine from Oxford University. 

I could study the developments in the medical world, learn innovative approaches to patient care, and expand upon my existing knowledge. Moreover, I look forward to collaborating with fellow students who share a common dedication to advancing medical science. While exploring both traditional and non-traditional avenues of reasoning.

I am also confident that I can contribute to the Oxford community through the experience I have already gained. My background in public health has given me a deep understanding of various healthcare systems and helped cultivate my resourcefulness when treating complex cases. Additionally, I am proficient in multiple languages, including Spanish and Hindi, allowing me to communicate effectively with different people.

I am eager to join the esteemed Oxford faculty and use my acquired skills to pursue innovation in the medical field. Not only do I possess comprehensive technical know-how, but I also commit to contributing to the development of society through compassionate care.

I sincerely hope you will consider me for admission and allow me to use my abilities to serve and improve human well-being.

I have had a passion for medicine since I was a child. Hence, it is with great ambition and enthusiasm that I am applying to the Oxford undergraduate medical program. I have an advantage as a multilingual individual who can converse fluently in both English and Spanish. My ability to communicate effectively with different people have allowed me to gain insight into their perspectives and beliefs. This I hope to apply when dealing with complex healthcare challenges.

Having been actively involved in voluntary organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, I know the challenges of providing quality care amidst tense situations. This is a feat I relish, and I strive to excel at every opportunity.

I am a keen observer and quick learner, equipping myself with the knowledge necessary to tackle any obstacle I face. 

My unwavering determination has also helped me attain distinctions in all my secondary school coursework, further affirming my capabilities as a scholar. 

Beyond academia, I’ve participated in numerous debating competitions, simultaneously building my critical thinking and public speaking abilities.

These qualities, coupled with my strong command of the language, will enable me to provide Oxford’s esteemed faculty with a unique contribution to medicine. 

Through hard work and dedication, I aspire to positively impact society. This is by advancing our understanding of health sciences and exploring innovative solutions for better patient treatment.

Having been brought up by a single mother, my exposure to medicine began at an early age. Growing up, I quickly became aware of the harsh realities of medical professionals and their limited time when treating patients. 

Having heard stories from my mother and seen how she juggle patient care and family, I knew this was something I wanted to pursue. With that in mind, my studies were focused on attaining the essential qualifications for entry into Oxford’s Medical School.

I am excited by the prospect of studying medicine and embarking on this journey toward becoming a doctor. As part of my current studies, I have deepened my knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology. This is while exploring case studies that depict human behavior and health conditions. This has revealed fascinating ideas and motivated me to uncover more knowledge about medical practice. 

A particular highlight for me has been dissecting cadavers; this has offered invaluable experience regarding the anatomical structure and internal organs. My voluntary work at the hospital affirmed my ambition to pursue medicine. In addition, it has reinforced my commitment to helping others, particularly those with physical disabilities or mental illnesses. 

I believe that I have the necessary dedication required to complete an Oxford course in medicine while embracing every challenge. Ultimately, I am thrilled by the prospect of contributing positively to society through the practice of medicine. I hope that you will consider me a competent candidate for your program.

Getting into Oxford is tough but getting into Oxford medical school is even more challenging. It is more competitive, with many wanting to study medicine at the prestigious institution.

 Your personal statement is that chance you have to set yourself apart from the other applicants . Ensure your statement is fascinating, captivating, and genuine enough to land you admission.

The medicine personal statement examples Oxford in this guide will help you get started on the right track.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Medicine Personal Statement Examples

Get some inspiration to start writing your Medicine Personal Statement with these successful examples from current Medical School students. We've got Medicine Personal Statements which were successful for universities including Imperial, UCL, King's, Bristol, Edinburgh and more.

Personal Statement Examples

• Read successful Personal Statements for Medicine
• Pay attention to the structure and the content
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Personal Statement Example 1

Check out this Medicine Personal Statement which was successful for Imperial, UCL, QMUL and King's.

Personal Statement Example 2

This Personal Statement comes from a student who received Medicine offers from Bristol and Plymouth - and also got an interview at Cambridge.

Personal Statement Example 3

Have a look at this Medicine Personal Statement which was successful for Imperial, Edinburgh, Dundee and Newcastle.

Personal Statement Example 4

Take a look at this Medicine Personal Statement which was successful for King's, Newcastle, Bristol and Sheffield.

Personal Statement Example 5

Pick up tips from this Medicine Personal Statement which was successful for Imperial, Birmingham and Manchester.

Personal Statement Example 6

This Personal Statement comes from a student who got into Graduate Entry Medicine at King's - and also had interviews for Undergraduate Medicine at King's, QMUL and Exeter.

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Oxford University Personal Statements

We hope our collection of oxford university personal statements provides inspiration for writing your own. please do not plagiarise them in any way, or ucas will penalise your application. our  personal statement editing & review services  are availble if you feel you need a little extra help..

History Personal Statement Example 3 Recently, I found out that my grandma was gambled into slavery for seven years. She escaped her prison and made her way back to Hong Kong, 300 miles south. I was amazed at how courageous she was. This personal discovery led me to read Jung Chang's 'Wild Swans' which made me both proud and ashamed of my heritage...

Computer Science Personal Statement Example 4 I find it amazing to watch as the digital revolution sculpts society at a rate that has never before been seen; there is so much to still be discovered. Quantum computing is a topic that particularly interests me, stemming from my studies and keen interest in physics...

Economics and PPE Personal Statement Example My aspiration to study economics at both advanced and degree level has stemmed from my lasting interest in current affairs and world development. These issues require an application of economics in real-life situations and can be related to many diverse subjects such as politics, philosophy and psychology...

English Literature Personal Statement Example 1 When I saw Gatz, John Collin's eight hour interpretation of The Great Gatsby, I noticed that Fitzgerald changes the colour of Daisy's hair every time he describes it. It is "like a dash of blue paint", "yellowy" like her daughters and then "dark, shining"...

Geography Personal Statement Example 2 In a dynamic world, the study of geography is increasingly important. The diversity of the subject and the interaction between the physical environment and human population is becoming even more evident with climate change and globalisation influencing our everyday lives...

Psychology Personal Statement Example 11 “If she’s smart she will study Medicine.” This is an unwritten rule in my culture - all Nigerian parents want their children to become doctors. What becomes of the aspiring psychologist in the family? I met a junior doctor, at an educational conference, who wanted to specialise in psychiatry...

History Personal Statement Example 13 Until I began my A-levels last September, I had never been to school or followed a formal syllabus. My parents homeschooled me. They guided, encouraged, and fed my interests with books, documentaries and discussions...

Natural and Biological Sciences Personal Statement Example Experiencing first-hand life as a human in the natural world, I have the authority to confirm that regardless of previous knowledge, unexplained phenomena still exist. As a scientist, I adore observing the unknown, analysing the known and making decisions accordingly...

English Personal Statement Example 22 What I enjoy above all else in a piece of literature is the feeling that it has brought about change, either in me or in some wider context. Literature which offers the opportunity for an adapted way of living or thinking, however slight, is I think a thing to be kept and treasured in our intellects...

English Literature and Creative Writing Personal Statement Example 1 I once aspired to be a visual artist, a photographer or painter. However, I later discovered the unique ability of poetry and the written word to maintain its power and resonance in a world saturated with images and messages...

Computer Science Personal Statement Example 45 Advances in computer and information technology over the past few decades have brought about revolution in science, medicine, education, business, and entertainment. I wish to be part of the future revolution and that is why I want to study computer science...

English Literature Personal Statement Example 16 I believe that to read English is to read the human being itself: after all, we are all writers. Even in the very act of choosing our words - thinking them, speaking them, physically writing them down - we create something meaningful...

Human Sciences Personal Statement Example Perhaps what makes me different from other University applicants is that I have ambition to understand multidimensional human life. It is not the appeal of a top qualification or the zesty student lifestyle that attracts me to this course; but it is the long-term knowledge and answers to interdisciplinary human problems, and the enigmas that I will commit a lifetime investigating with perhaps no solution, that inspires me to apply...

Engineering Personal Statement Example 19 Physics is that branch of science without which science is just like a beautiful lamp with no light. For centuries, mathematicians and physicists have made plenty of scientific contributions thus helping the world make a better place to live...

History (Ancient and Modern) Personal Statement Example 1 It is those things we don’t yet know or understand that make history a fascinating, intellectual puzzle. We know a remarkable amount about history and the development of society but new archaeological discoveries, the dedicated efforts of historians, translators and other academics and advancements in areas such as archaeometry mean that the body of historical information is still expanding...

Archaeology and Anthropology Personal Statement Example 2 As an immigrant living in Spain, I am constantly reminded of the importance social and cultural factors have on my daily life, the language I speak, and the difference between the relationships I maintain with people from my own country and those I encounter here on a daily basis...

Computer Science Personal Statement Example 49 My views about computing changed considerably when I heard about Linux. In the late nineties it was a newer operating system and tasks like installing and configuring were considered to be quite challenging in India...

Law Personal Statement Example 70 Law is ever changing, whether parliament is passing new legislation, existing legislation is being rewritten or the courts are interpreting laws in different ways. In the case of Anthony Bland the distinguishing of earlier precedents was vital...

History and English Personal Statement Example Studying history and English concurrently has appealed to me ever since I recognised the inseparability of the two disciplines closest to my heart. Personally, I believe that the literary style of a piece of writing is as important as scholarly research and I try to make my essays as lively as possible whilst still grounded in solid historical or literary method, dulce et utile, following the example of writers such as Richard J Evans...

Economics and Management Personal Statement Example 2 My interest in Economics goes beyond an appreciation of statistics and profit margins. In my mind, economics represents the relationship between people and their money – a relationship that dates back to the history of mankind...

German Personal Statement Example 7 The study of language has always been appealing and is the focus of much of my time and energy, but the study of the German language is what mesmerises me most. Before understanding German I was first intrigued by its sound, and as I began to learn it, I became fascinated by its complexity...

Economics Personal Statement Example 30 The ever-changing nature of the human science intrigues me. Newton’s laws of motion will never change, from wherever ‘the ball is dropped’. However, different strategies and policies have to be framed and implemented for each economic problem...

Mathematics & Computer Science Personal Statement Example I have found mathematics a fascinating subject since my early years. I enjoy it as it is challenging and logical. I am particularly interested in decision mathematics as it is a field that is directly related to real-life applications of mathematics and can be used to solve problems, such as finding the optimal solution for transporting materials from one place to another while minimising the cost...

Physics Personal Statement Example 15 I have always been intrigued by the world of physics. From everyday experiences to the most extreme boundaries of today's knowledge, I have always voraciously searched for answers to my questions. As I grew up, the elegance of mathematical demonstrations and of physical theorems fascinated me, and I have often dreamt of making contributions to the unification theory and of improving and simplifying the Navier-Stokes equations...

Electrical Engineering Personal Statement Example 2 The defining wonder of today’s age is electricity. In just two centuries, we have come from Faraday’s crude but prophetic experiments to devices just a square inch that can calculate in seconds what the most gifted of human minds might take days...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 70 The challenge of spending my working life immersed in the fascinating, ever-evolving world of the medical sciences, and the opportunity to use this knowledge to benefit others, has drawn me to seek a career in medicine...

Politics, Philosophy & Economics (PPE) Personal Statement Example 3 In this day and age virtually every aspect of our lives may be considered political. My passion to study Politics stems from this tenet and a belief that a comprehension of Politics is integral to understanding the current state of humanity...

Chemistry Personal Statement Example 18 Chemistry explores the properties of all matter and energy in our universe, which eventually leads to breakthroughs that benefit mankind, ranging from how to prevent food from decomposing to understanding what chemicals can help or harm you...

Philosophy Personal Statement Example (Mature Student) Since leaving education in 2006 I have always wanted to return; a great love of learning, desire for knowledge and natural curiosity throughout my life resulted in an ambition to teach. It was with this ambition in my heart that I took the plunge and returned to education, beginning my Access course last year with the intention of applying to study for a primary education degree...

Civil Engineering Personal Statement Example 17 My decision to study engineering stems from a desire to contribute to the evolution of society through a process that does not just define our environment but our era. My personal inspiration is the Segovia aqueduct, an 800m long, 30 metre high Roman marvel which still stands today...

Ancient and Modern History Personal Statement Example 1 What makes history engaging and interesting to me is its interdisciplinary nature and its ability to take you on a journey to the discovery of humanity's past. History has been a constant source of captivation for me, from studying the mythology of Ancient Greece in primary school through to the study of the Russian Revolution at A Level...

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10 Top Tips for an Oxford Human Sciences Personal Statement 

Your Oxford Human Sciences personal statement is a crucial component in your Oxford application. It gives you a chance to articulate why you’re particularly interested in Human Sciences and to distinguish yourself from other applicants. While Oxford admissions tutors are most interested in your academic performance and ability, a great personal statement could make all the difference between you and a candidate with the same grade. Additionally, it offers the Oxford interviewer a focal point to base discussions around your personality and interests. Ultimately, they can deduce your commitment to the subject you’re applying for. 

To help guide you through the process, our Oxford application experts have compiled a list of top 10 tips. It includes everything you should and should not do for your Human Science Personal Statement for the 2024/25 application cycle. 

Human Sciences is an interdisciplinary degree course which enables students to study humans from multiple interconnecting perspectives across the biological and social sciences. Underlying the degree concept is the recognition that it is important to understand connections among biological, social, and cultural phenomena in order to address the major issues and problems humans face in a rapidly changing world. When planning out your Oxford Human Sciences personal statement, make sure you research Oxford’s achievements and use it as a guide to illustrate your interest in Human Sciences. 

Top 5 Tips for an Oxford Human Sciences Personal Statement

Tell your story.

Your story of how you considered a degree in Human Sciences’ and why you applied to Oxford should be what distinguishes you from other applicants. Outline why you want to pursue a degree in Human Sciences. Consider your future career plans, extra-curricular work. Also address why you chose to study at Oxford over all other universities.

What makes you suitable

Your application should demonstrate what makes you an ideal candidate to study Human Sciences at Oxford. What skills or experience do you have? Since it’s such a varied degree, are there any experiences you can draw on that not only make you suitable for studying Human Sciences but also to be an Oxford University student. 

Read around the subject you’re applying for

The competition at Oxford will be great. Extracurricular reading is a good way to stand out from other students and this can range from reading books or journals. A typical book is ‘The Selfish Gene’ by Richard Dawkins, or a podcast such as ‘ Hidden Brain .’ Be sure to have some things to talk about as you may be questioned at an interview.

Proofread & read your work out loud

Once you’re happy with the content of your draft, check it and then check it again! Useful people to ask to proofread your work include a teacher in the field, a current Oxford student, and a student who is studying Human Sciences. Oxbridge Mind also offer a personal statement check . By allowing people to take a look at your Human Sciences Oxford personal statement, they would be able to pick up mistakes or name improvements that you may have missed.

Why Human Sciences

What was it that first got you interested in Human Sciences? Consider why you would be an ideal Oxford candidate too. What skills or experience do you have? Examples include analytical and critical thinking skills. What careers will this degree open for you and how does this align with your own plans for the future.

Top 5 things to AVOID for your Oxford Human Sciences Personal Statement

Writing a list of achievements.

Reflect and expand on some key points to demonstrate your understanding and what you have learnt from them rather than listing achievements which will appear tedious. Talk about the skills you have gained from the work you have undertaken. How have these skills furthered your desire to study Human Sciences, and to study at Oxford University.

Don’t write anything that isn’t true

Don’t exaggerate. You may be asked to provide evidence of your stated achievements, or if you are interviewed you may be asked detailed questions about things you’ve mentioned. It will reflect poorly on you if you are unable to answer questions about your Human Sciences Oxford personal statement. 

Copying someone else’s personal statements

Don’t plagiarise. Do not copy someone else’s UCAS personal statement or use something you have found on the internet. UCAS uses software to check every personal statement for plagiarism.

Not reflecting on or justifying your point

Write succinctly and explain points without repeating yourself. Examples include analytical skills, and other transferable skills. Remember, quality is always better than quantity- it’s better to expand on a few points than to list every point you can without going into detail.

Don’t sound unprofessional

Steer clear of slang, clichés and quotes. It will sound repetitive to Oxford admissions tutors to hear about how students are “passionate” about their subject or that they have a “thirst for knowledge”. Write about your personal experience with your Human Sciences’ journey, and allow the Oxford admissions tutors to do the rest.

If you’re unsure whether you’ve covered everything in your Human Sciences Oxford personal statement, why not book a personal statement check where our experts will give you feedback within 24 hours and you can even have a 1-1 online session on how to improve your statement.

→What is Oxford Human Sciences?

Oxford Human Sciences is an interdisciplinary field of study that combines aspects of biology, psychology, anthropology, and sociology to better understand human behavior and health. Students studying Human Sciences at Oxford University will explore the social, cultural, biological, and evolutionary aspects of human beings, as well as how they interact with their environment.

→What should I include in my Oxford Human Sciences personal statement?

Your personal statement should highlight your academic background and relevant experiences, as well as your motivation for studying Human Sciences at Oxford. You should also demonstrate your critical thinking skills, ability to analyze complex issues, and passion for understanding human behavior.

→How long should my Oxford Human Sciences personal statement be?

Oxford University recommends that your personal statement should be no longer than 4,000 characters, or about 500 words. It is important to be concise and focus on the most relevant and compelling aspects of your experience and qualifications.

→What qualities are Oxford Human Sciences admissions looking for in applicants?

Oxford Human Sciences admissions are looking for applicants who demonstrate a strong academic record, critical thinking skills, creativity, and a genuine interest in understanding human behavior. They also value experiences that demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.

→How important is the personal statement in the Oxford Human Sciences admissions process?

The personal statement is an important part of the Oxford Human Sciences admissions process, as it provides admissions officers with insights into your academic background, experiences, and motivation for studying Human Sciences. It is an opportunity to showcase your unique perspective and strengths as an applicant.

→Can I get help with my Oxford Human Sciences personal statement?

Yes, there are a range of resources available to help you with your personal statement, including online guides, writing workshops, and tutoring services. However, it is important to ensure that the content of your personal statement is entirely your own and reflects your own thoughts and experiences.

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Medicine Personal Statement Examples

Last updated: 29/6/2023

• Is Medicine Right for Me?
• What do Doctors do?
• The Daily Life of a Doctor
• How to apply to medical school
• Different Routes into Medicine
• Factors to Consider
• Medicine at Oxford and Cambridge
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Your UCAS personal statement is a chance to showcase the skills, attributes, and experiences which make you suited to studying medicine. This can be quite a daunting prospect, especially when you have to boil all that down to just 4,000 characters, or 47 lines. 

In this article, we will:

• Examine examples of strong and weak medicine personal statements (interested in dentistry? Check out dentistry personal statement examples )
• Help you learn what you should and shouldn't include in your medicine personal statement

Want to explore more examples? Our Personal Statement Course has over 100 personal statement examples to help you find your voice.

What you'll find in this article:

Personal statement example 1 – introduction

Personal statement example 2 – introduction, personal statement example 1 – main body, personal statement example 2 – main body, personal statement example 1 – conclusion, personal statement example 2 – conclusion, strong personal statement example, weak personal statement example, what should your personal statement include.

To get into medical school , your personal statement should:

• Demonstrate meaningful insight into the profession, in the form of work experience or independent research. This could be partly based on medical books or podcasts when medical work experience is not possible
• Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and experiences
• Mention your extracurricular activities
• Discuss your academic interests and achievements

'At the moment I am working towards A-Level Chemistry, Biology and Maths. I achieved my AS-Level in Spanish but decided to drop it to focus on my more medically relevant subjects. I’ve been dreaming of studying medicine since I was a young child, and this was only reinforced when I contracted measles during my primary school exams. This affected my performance, but I found that this motivated me rather than discouraged me. A particularly inspiring doctor was heavily involved in helping me deal with the pressure. I was inspired by her to become a doctor myself and help others in a similar way. I am particularly interested in science and as such the practical side of medicine interested me. I’ve always enjoyed chemistry and biology the most, and have best learned when trying to link the pure science I learn in school back to it's practical and useful real-world applications. This is what is particularly interesting about medicine to me - you can apply pure, evidence-based science in a clinical and practical setting to have an obvious positive effect. Inspired by this interest, I invested in a subscription to the New Scientist magazine. I’ve read about a huge number of fascinating discoveries and how they’ve been applied in medical settings.'

This introductory section has some promising features, but there are areas the author could improve:

• The introductory sentence doesn’t catch the reader’s attention or hold much relevance for a medical personal statement. This sentence would be better suited to a subsequent section on the author’s academic achievements, and it would need to be supplemented with a suitable explanation as to why the chosen subjects are relevant for medicine. 
• The author uses an anecdote to illustrate why they first developed an interest in medicine. This is a good idea, but the anecdote they've chosen is not the most suitable. It references ‘primary school exams’, which uses the cliché of wanting to do medicine from a young age. This is not only overused, but is also underdeveloped. 
• The applicant mentions feeling under pressure for these primary school exams. This won’t fill the reader with confidence that the author will be able to cope with the demands of medical school and a career as a doctor. 
• The introduction should open with the anecdote rather than academic achievements. A strong and memorable opening line will catch the admission tutor’s attention, and gives the student an opportunity to summarise why they want to study medicine.
• It is far too long. A good introduction should be around 4-6 lines.

There are some parts of the introduction that are more effective:

• The part discussing why they enjoy chemistry and biology is useful – it links their love for pure science back to the passion they mentioned earlier for helping people. This demonstrates the blend of empathy and interest in science that medical schools will be looking for. 
• The same part also introduces the candidate’s reading of medical literature, which they could choose to discuss in more depth later in the statement, or which might be something that interviewers could choose to examine in more detail.

'From a young age, my real fascination in life has been science - in particular, the incredible intricacy of the human body. My passion to discover more about its inner workings fuelled my motivation to study medicine, and the challenging yet rewarding nature of the job leaves me certain that I want to pursue it as a career. I think that my chosen A-Levels have only made me more determined to become a doctor, while simultaneously allowing me to develop and improve my skills. I have become a better problem-solver by studying physics and maths, while also learning the importance of accuracy and attention to detail. I’ve particularly enjoyed chemistry, which has again helped me improve my problem solving skills and my ability to think rationally and logically. Throughout my chemistry and biology A-Levels, I’ve been required to engage in practical work which has taught me how to design and construct an experiment. I’ve also become better at communicating with other members of my team, something I witnessed the importance of during my work experience in A&E. During recent months, I’ve started reading more medical publications such as the Lancet and the British Medical Journal. I’ve been particularly interested in how this evidence-based science can be applied to clinical practice to really make an impact on patients.'

This introduction contains some useful reflection and demonstrates some insight, but is quite jumbled. The main areas of weakness are as follows:

• The content is good but much of it would be better suited to a later section and should be explored in more detail while being linked back to medicine (for example, the whole second half could be included in a longer segment on academia). 
• The applicant mentions that they improved their problem-solving skills. How did they do this? Why is this important in medicine? 
• They say that medicine is demanding but that this attracts them to the job. What experiences have they had to show the demanding nature of it? Why does this attract them to it? 
• The author also briefly mentions a stint of work experience in A&E, but the rushed nature of the introduction means that they can’t go into detail about the experience or reflect on what exactly they learned from it. 
• Similar to example 1, this introduction includes some clichés which detract from the author’s overall message. For example, that they have wanted to do medicine from a young age or that they love science (with no further explanation as to why). 
• It is far too long. Again, an introduction should be a succinct summary of why you're interested in medicine, and not a brief account of all of your experiences.

The stronger parts of this introduction include the following:

• The author does demonstrate that they can reflect on the skills they’ve improved through experience. For example, the analytical and problem-solving skills they gained from chemistry.
• The candidate shows an understanding of the link between evidence-based science and clinical application when discussing how they did further research around their physics course. This shows a good level of curiosity and insight.

'I first became interested in studying medicine when I carried out a work experience placement with my father an elderly care specialist. I really enjoyed the experience and it gave me a deeper insight into the challenges doctors face. I now believe that I better understand the resilience - both mental and physical - that doctors need to cope with the heavy workload and emotional challenges. A few months ago I was given the opportunity to attend work experience in St Mary’s hospital in Manchester where I visited and observed many different specialties and areas of the hospital like A&E and the labs and witnessed how doctors carried out their jobs. For the past year I’ve been doing some other volunteering work too, such as, taking meals around to patients on the ward, asking them about their experience in the hospital and just chatting with them about how they’re feeling. They’re often delighted to have someone to talk to especially during Covid when they weren’t allowed to receive visitors. I saw how my communication and empathy made a real impact on the mood of the lonelier patients. I spent a few days working in the same hospital, shadowing doctors and Allied Health professionals in the stroke ward. I became much more familiar with the process doctors used for treating stroke patients, and developed an understanding of the role that physiotherapists and occupational therapists have in their rehabilitation. On top of that I organised a placement with the emergency medicine doctors and spent time in the haemapheresis unit at St Mary’s.'

This example does contain some of the features we look for in a complete main body section but could definitely be improved: 

• The main issue with this is the list-like presentation, which goes hand-in-hand with a general lack of reflection or insight. Although it is good to discuss your work experience in your personal statement, it would be far better if the candidate focused on just one or two of the experiences mentioned, but went into far more detail about what they learned and the insight they gained. For example, after mentioning the role of Allied Health Professionals in the rehabilitation of stroke patients, they could go on to discuss how they came to appreciate the importance of these healthcare workers, and how the contribution of all these individuals within the multidisciplinary team is so important to achieving good outcomes.
• Statements like ‘I [...] witnessed how doctors carry out their jobs’ make it seem as if the candidate really wasn’t paying attention. They need to explain what they mean by this. Were they impressed by the doctors’ effective teamwork and communication skills, or perhaps by their positive attitude and morale? Did they seem well-trained and effective? What did they learn from this that might help them in the future?  ‍
• Similarly, the student simply states that they saw the effect of empathy on patients: ‘I saw how my communication and empathy made a real impact on the mood of the lonelier patients.’ This adopts a ‘telling’ approach, when the student needs to adopt a ‘showing’ approach. Simply telling us that they saw something does not adequately demonstrate an understanding of why those qualities are important, or what they actually mean. What does it mean to have empathy? What does that look like in real terms? How did they use it? What was the effect? Showing the tutor that you are empathetic is important, but simply saying it is disingenuous and shows a lack of understanding.
• The candidate spends a number of characters name-dropping the exact hospital they visited and its location, which isn’t the best use of valuable space, as it has no real impact on the message they’re trying to convey.
• Generally, it isn’t a good idea to talk about work experience with family members. Of course, this might be the reality, but try to have some other placements that you’ve organised yourself so that it doesn’t appear as if your family are doing all the hard work for you. At the very least, you could simply leave this information out.
• There are a few grammatical errors here, especially regarding the use of commas. It’s important to use a spell checker or to ask an English teacher to check your work for you before submitting your statement.

The better features of this example are:

• The candidate does show some insight into the role of a doctor when they talk about the resilience required by doctors to cope with the hard hours and challenging conditions. They just need to reflect in this way in other parts of the section, too.
• The author has clearly done a lot of work experience and is right to discuss this in their personal statement. Just remember that you don’t need to squeeze in every single little placement.

'I was pleased to be appointed as head boy in my last year of school, and as part of this role I headed up the school safety office. I carried out inspections of the dormitories, roll calls and helped in the running of school festivals and activity days. The office I was in charge of needed to ensure the safety of every student in the school and I helped plan and lead drills to prepare the students for storms, floods and fires. This role has made me a far better leader, and I also believe that I am now far more calm and logical when working under pressure or in uncertain situations. I’ve been an editor on the online school blog for over 2 years now and the experience has taught me how to work effectively in a team when under time pressure. In order to meet my deadlines I needed to remain motivated even when working independently, and I think that the diligence and work ethic I’ve developed as a result will be incredibly useful to me as a medical student. I took on the role of financial director for both the table tennis club and Model United Nations at my school. At first I struggled with the weight of responsibility as I was in charge of all of the clubs’ money and expenditures. However, I am now a far more organised individual as I came to appreciate the value of concise paperwork and of keeping a record of my actions. I not only manage the funds of the table tennis club but am also a regular member of it. I often play independently, and the lack of a specific coach means that I have to identify my own strengths and weaknesses. I am now far better at being honest about my weaknesses and then devising strategies for working on them. The sport has also allowed me to demonstrate my ability to work well in a team, but also to get my head down and work independently when necessary.'

This example is generally well written and showcases some of the features of a good main body section. However, there are some areas that can be improved:

• This section would benefit from the ‘show, don’t tell’ approach. Instead of explaining specific situations or events through which the candidate demonstrated certain attributes, they simply state them and then link them vaguely to a more general role or activity.
• The bigger problem, however, is that the author mentions a wide range of skills but falls short in linking these back to medicine.  ‍ For example, after reflecting on their role in the school safety office and the leadership skills they developed as a result, the author could talk about the senior role that doctors have within the multidisciplinary team and the importance of good leadership in a medical setting.  Similarly, the author mentions their ability to work independently but should really round this off by describing how this would benefit them in medical school, as the ability to progress your learning independently is crucial to success there. The student mentions an understanding of and proficiency with paperwork and recording their actions. Doctors must constantly do this when writing notes for each patient, so the candidate should really try to mention this in their statement to explain why their skills would be useful. The mention of teamwork could be followed by an explanation of why it is important in a medical setting and how the applicant witnessed this during their medical work experience. Finally, when the student talks about being able to identify and work on their weaknesses, they could use this as an opportunity to demonstrate further insight into the medical profession by discussing the importance of revalidation and audit in the modern NHS, or talking about how important it is for doctors to be able to work on their areas of weakness. 

Better aspects of this example:

• The applicant doesn’t simply list the activities they have been a part of, but also explains what they learned from these and the skills and attributes they developed as a result. This reflective ability is exactly what assessors will be looking for.
• The tone of the section is appropriate. The applicant doesn’t appear arrogant or over-confident, but at the same time, they manage to paint themselves in a good light, highlighting their range of skills relevant to medicine.
• This example uses the character count effectively. Unlike the earlier examples, almost all of the sentences serve a purpose and are succinct.
• They demonstrate a wide range of skills, most of which are very relevant to medicine.

' I am a resilient and empathetic individual and I think that I have the qualities to thrive despite the social and academic challenges of university. Through my work experience I’ve gained an insight into the difficulties doctors face but this has not dampened my enthusiasm. My placements and voluntary work have only strengthened my commitment and dedication to studying medicine.'

The effectiveness of a conclusion depends on the rest of the statement before it, so it is hard to judge how good a conclusion is without seeing what the candidate has mentioned in the rest of their statement. Assuming this follows on logically from the statement, however, we can say that this conclusion is generally good for the following reasons:

• It is brief, to the point, and highlights that the student holds some of the skills doctors need (this would of course need to be backed up with examples in the rest of the statement). 
• The author doesn’t introduce any new ideas here, as that would be inappropriate, but rather reiterates their determination, which is exactly what admissions tutors want to see. 
• The author demonstrates a balanced understanding of the demands of a medical career, illustrating this is a decision they have made rationally while considering the implications of their choice. 

As is always the case, this conclusion could still be improved:

• The mention of the social challenges of university is a bit too honest, even though these exist for everyone. Mentioning them could give the impression that the student struggles socially (which is not something they would want to highlight), or that they intend to dive into the social side of university at the expense of their studies. 
• If the candidate really insists on mentioning the social side, they should at least do this after discussing academics, and they should do it in the body of the statement, where they have space to explain what exactly they mean.
• The student describes themselves as empathetic. This should be avoided, as it should be evident from the statement itself.

'Over the years I have built up a large and extensive set of medical work experiences and volunteering opportunities. These have allowed me to demonstrate my ability to communicate effectively and work in a team, and they will allow me to become a more diligent student and effective doctor. I think that this, alongside my ability and strength of character mean that I should be considered for this course. I am excited to get started and begin to put my skills to good use.'

This is a reasonably strong conclusion. It provides a to-the-point summary of why the author believes they should be selected to study medicine and shows their excitement for starting this journey. However, there are some parts of this example that could be improved: 

• The author mentions 'ability' and 'strength of character.' These are nebulous terms and not specific to medicine or a medical degree in any way.
• The mention of a 'large and extensive range of medical work experiences' indicates overconfidence. Medical applicants are not expected to have any medical ability or any 'large and extensive range' of medical experience, nor is it probable that this candidate actually does (otherwise they wouldn’t need to go to medical school in the first place). Rather, medical students need a suitable set of skills and attributes in order to make the most of their medical education and become an effective doctor.
• On a similar note, the applicant says that their range of medical work experience will make them a better student and doctor, but this is only true if they can reflect on their experience and learn from it. Impassively watching an operation or clinic without properly engaging with it won’t make you a better doctor in the future.

We’ll now go on to look at an example of a strong personal statement. No personal statement is perfect, but this example demonstrates a good level of reflection, engagement and suitability to study medicine (we know this because the writer of this statement went on to receive four offers). 

It goes without saying that plagiarism of any of these examples is a bad idea. They are known to medical schools and will be flagged up when run through plagiarism detection software. 

Use these as examples of ways you could structure your own statement, how to reflect on experiences, and how to link them back to medicine and demonstrate suitable insight and motivation. 

'It is the coupling of patient-centred care with evidence-based science that draws me to medicine. The depth of medical science enthrals me, but seeing complex pathology affecting a real person is what drives home my captivation. As a doctor, you are not only there for people during their most vulnerable moments but are empowered by science to offer them help, and this capacity for doing good alongside the prospect of lifelong learning intrigues me. In recent years I have stayed busy academically - despite my medical focus I have kept a range of interests, studying Spanish and German to grow my social and cultural awareness and playing the violin and drums in groups to improve my confidence when working in teams and performing. This is similar to the team-working environment that dominates in medical settings, and I have found that my awareness of other cultures is a great help when interacting with the hugely diverse range of patients I meet during my volunteering work. The independent projects I am undertaking for my A-levels teach me how to rigorously construct and perform experiments, process data and present findings, developing my written communication. My work experience showed me the importance of these skills when making patients’ notes, and of course, medical academia must be concisely written and well constructed and communicated. Maths teaches me to problem-solve and recognise patterns, vital skills in diagnosis. Over the past two years, I have actively sought out and planned work experience and volunteering opportunities. My time last year in Critical Care showed me the importance of communication in healthcare to ensure patients understand their diagnosis and feel comfortable making decisions. I saw the value of empathy and patience when a doctor talked to a patient refusing to take her insulin and suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis. They tried to understand her position and remain compassionate despite her refusal. My experience deepened my insight into the realities of a medical career, as we were at the hospital for more than ten hours a day with breaks and lunches cut short by bleeps or calls from the ward. This helped me understand the physical resilience required by staff as I also came to appreciate the immense emotional burden they often had to bear. Despite this, the brilliant staff remained motivated and compassionate which I found inspirational. The Brighton and Sussex Medical School work experience and Observe GP courses I completed put emphasis on the value of holistic, patient-centred care, introducing me to specialities I had not previously considered such as geriatrics and oncology. Inspired by my experience I explored a variety of specialisms, reading memoirs (Do no harm) and textbooks (Oxford handbook of clinical medicine) alike. I investigated medical politics with my English persuasive piece, discussing the ethics behind the junior doctor strikes of 2016. I have been volunteering in a hospital ward since January, which helps improve my confidence and communication skills when talking to patients and relatives. I showed my ability to deal with unexpected situations when I found a patient smoking whilst on oxygen, and acted quickly to tell nurses. Over lockdown I felt privileged offering lonely patients some tea and a chat and seeing their mood change - it taught me that medicine is about treating patients as individuals, not a diagnosis. My work on the hospital door taught me to stay calm and interact assuredly with visitors, vital skills in public-service jobs like medicine. I coach tennis at a local club, planning and running sessions for younger children. I am responsible for players' safety and must manage risk while showing leadership qualities by making the sessions fun and inclusive. As a player, I am part of the self-run performance team, which forces me to better my ability without coaching. This means developing self-reflection and insight into my weaknesses, which I know to be integral skills for medics. One of the doctors I shadowed during my work experience was just starting her revalidation process and I saw the importance of self-awareness and honest reflection in meeting her targets and becoming a better doctor. I achieved my Gold Duke of Edinburgh certificate of achievement (and the Bronze and Silver awards), exhibiting my commitment and ability to self-reflect and improve. On our Silver expedition, we experienced severe rain, showing resilience by continuing when our kit was wet from day one. My diligence and academic ability will allow me to thrive in medical school, and I have the prerequisite qualities to become a compassionate and effective doctor. Despite the obstacles, I am determined to earn the privilege of being able to improve peoples' health. This is something that excites me and a career I would happily dedicate my life to.'

Strong personal statement example analysis

Introduction.

This statement is a good example of how a personal statement should be constructed and presented. The introduction is short and to the point, only dealing with the candidate’s motivations to study medicine while also demonstrating an insight into what the career involves. 

They demonstrate their insight briefly by mentioning that medicine involves lifelong learning. This is often seen as one of the challenges associated with the career but here they present it as an advantage which makes them seem more suited to the career. It also show they're a curious and interested individual who enjoys learning. 

The introduction's final sentence offers an opportunity for interviewers to probe the candidate further, to explore their curiosity, and ask them to explain what exactly attracts them to lifelong learning. An astute candidate would recognise this and try to think of a suitable answer in advance.

Paragraph 2 

The second paragraph opens the body of the statement by exploring the author’s academic interests. As with some of the previous example body paragraphs, the writer shows their reflective ability by explaining what each of their subjects taught them, and the skills they developed and demonstrated as a result. They improve upon this further by linking these skills back to medicine and explaining why they are important for doctors. 

This paragraph demonstrates the author’s work-life balance by showing their varied interests in languages and music, all without wasting characters by saying this directly. They also mention the diverse range of patients they encountered during their volunteering, which again implies an empathetic and conscientious nature while showing an insight into a medical career (particularly regarding the vast diversity of the patient cohort treated by the NHS). 

Their explanation of the relevance of maths could be more detailed, but again this could be something the applicant is hoping to be questioned on at interview. The candidate comes across as thoughtful and multi-talented, with the ability to reflect on their decisions and experiences, and with a suitable insight into how their strengths would play well into a medical career. 

In this particular paragraph, there isn’t much explanation as to how they drew their inferences about what a medical career entails from their volunteering and work experience (and what exactly these entailed), but these are explored in more detail later in the statement.

P aragraphs 3 and 4 

The next two paragraphs discuss the candidate’s work experience, beginning with a single work experience placement in detail. This is a better approach than the large lists of placements seen in the previous example body paragraphs. The author talks about a specific scenario and shows that they paid attention during their shadowing while also illustrating their ability to reflect on these experiences and the precise skills involved. 

The skills they mention here – communication, empathy, resilience – are skills that they specifically talk about developing and demonstrating through their activities in other parts of the statement. This shows that they have taken their learning and used it to inform the focus of their personal development. They also not only state that these skills are important for medics, but also explain why this is. For example, they explain that communication is important in helping patients relax and engage with their healthcare, and that resilience is required to deal with the antisocial hours.

In this section, the applicant briefly mentions a specific medical condition. This shows that they were engaging with the science during their placement and also provides interviewers with an opportunity to test the applicant’s scientific knowledge. Knowing this, the candidate would likely research diabetic ketoacidosis in order to be able to impress the panel. 

The author mentions some other virtual work experience opportunities they’ve been involved with and sets themselves up to discuss what these placements taught them. They then go on to explain the actions they took as a result of this, showing that they really engaged with the virtual placements and could identify what they learned and their areas of weakness. This is linked well to further reading and research they carried out, which illustrates their curiosity and engagement with medical science and literature. 

The reference to the junior doctor strikes at the end shows that they have engaged with medical news as well as the ethical side of medicine, which is something that many medical schools place a lot of emphasis on at interviews. Ideally, this section would explain how exactly they explored these different specialties and illustrate what they learned and how they developed their learning from the books mentioned.

Paragraphs 5 and 6 

These paragraphs discuss the applicant’s hospital volunteering and other extracurricular activities. The applicant doesn’t just state that they’ve volunteered in a hospital but goes into depth about the precise skills they developed as a result. They include an anecdote to illustrate their ability to react quickly and calmly in emergency situations, which is a great way to show that they’ve been paying attention (though this should really be backed up with an explanation as to why this is important in medicine). 

The candidate also shows their patient-centred approach when discussing how they cared for demoralised patients (again illustrating empathy and compassion). This style of healthcare is something that the modern NHS is really trying to promote, so showing an awareness of this and an aptitude for applying it practically will really impress your assessors. 

The author demonstrates another core attribute for medical students when talking about how their work on the front door of the hospital improved their confidence in communication, and they once more link this back to medicine. This last section could benefit from further explanation regarding the nature of their work on the hospital door and exactly how they developed these skills. 

In the second of these sections, the candidate simultaneously reflects on the skills they learnt from their tennis and explains how these apply to medicine, showing insight into the profession by mentioning and showing awareness of the process of revalidation. This will show assessors that the candidate paid attention during their work experience, reflected on what they learned, and then identified a way they could work on these skills in their own life.

The author name-checks the Duke of Edinburgh Award but then goes on to explain how exactly this helped them grow as a person. They link back to resilience, a skill they mentioned in an earlier section as being important for medics.

The conclusion is succinct and direct. Although clichéd in parts, it does a good job of summarising the points the candidate has made throughout the statement. They demonstrate confidence and dedication, not by introducing any confusing new information, but rather by remaking and reinforcing some of the author’s original claims from the introduction.

The following example illustrates how not to approach your personal statement. Now that you’ve read through the analysis of previous example passages and a complete example statement, try going through this statement yourself to identify the main recurring weaknesses and points for improvement. We’ve pointed out a few of the main ones at the end. You can even redraft it as a practice exercise.

' ‍ The combination of science with empathy and compassion is what attracts me most to a career in medicine. However, I wanted to ensure that the career was right for me so I attended a Medic Insight course in my local hospital. I enjoyed the course and it gave me new insight - the lectures and accounts from medical students and doctors helped me realise that medicine was the career for me. I was also introduced to the concept of the diagnostic puzzle which now particularly interests me. This is the challenge doctors face when trying to make a diagnosis, as they have to avoid differential diagnoses and use their skills and past experiences to come to a decision and produce the right prognosis. In order to gain further insight into both the positives and downsides of being a doctor, I organised some work experience in my local GP’s surgery. I managed to see consultations for chest pain, headaches, contraception and some chronic conditions which was very interesting. I also sat in on and observed the asthma clinic, which proved to be a very educational experience. During my experience, I tried to chat to as many doctors as possible about their jobs and what they enjoyed. I recently took up some work volunteering in a local elderly care home. Many of the residents had quite complex needs making it arduous work, but I learned a lot about caring for different people and some appropriate techniques for making them feel comfortable and at home. I became a better communicator as a result of my experience Nevertheless I really enjoyed my time there and I found it fulfilling when the patients managed to have fun or see their family. I appreciated how doctors often have high job satisfaction, as when I managed to facilitate a resident to do something not otherwise available to them I felt like I was making a real difference. My academic interests have also been very useful in developing skills that will be crucial as a doctor. I chose to study Physics and business at a-level and these have helped me develop more of an interest in scientific research and understanding; I’ve also become a more logical thinker as a result of the challenging questions we receive in physics exams. I know how important communication is as a doctor so I chose to study Mandarin, a language I know to be spoken widely around the globe. I was the lead violin in my school orchestra and also took part in the wind band, showing that I was willing to throw myself into school life. I really enjoyed our school’s concert, in which I had to perform a solo and demonstrate that I could stay calm under pressure and cope with great responsibility and i think that I’m now a better leader. This skill has also been improved in roles within my school on the pupil council and as form captain, which have improved my self-confidence. I needed to work hard in order to achieve my bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh awards, and have dedicated much of my time outside school to this endeavour over the past few years. I endured weekly sessions of Taekwondo, worked voluntarily in the charity shop Barnardo’s and took part in violin lessons.  As I’ve demonstrated throughout this statement I have an affinity for music, and so at university I plan to get involved with orchestras and bands. I also want to widen my horizons and discover new interests and hobbies, while trying to make new friends and cultivate a good work-life balance. I’m also keen to hike in the university’s surrounding territories. If I were allowed to study medicine, it would not only allow me to achieve one of my life goals, but to prove to you that I can become an effective, and successful doctor. I am absolutely dedicated to the study of medicine and know that I have the prerequisite skils and qualities to thrive in medical school and become a credit to your institution.”

Weak personal statement example analysis

• This personal statement does have some promising features, but overall it isn’t well structured and lacks appropriate reflection and insight. You can see this by comparing it to the strong example above. The author in this weak example very rarely describes what exactly they learned or gained from an experience and rarely links this back to medicine. 
• It reads quite like a list, with the candidate reeling off the experiences they’ve had or activities they’ve taken part in, without going into any real depth. They also use some vocabulary that implies that they really weren’t enjoying these experiences, such as when they speak of ‘enduring’ their time doing taekwondo, or of caring for residents being ‘arduous’ work. You don’t have to enjoy every activity you take part in, but implying that caring for people (a huge part of the job you are applying for and claiming to enjoy) is something you consider a chore isn’t a great start. This statement also has some questionable grammar and punctuation errors, which raises a red flag. Don’t forget to proofread your statement carefully before you submit it.
• The candidate often starts off their sections in a promising way. For example, by stating that they started volunteering in a local GP practice to gain more insight into the profession, but they rarely actually follow through on this. You never find out what insight the candidate actually gained or how they used this to inform their decision to apply for medicine. 
• Such lack of explanation and specificity is a theme throughout the statement. In the introduction, they say that personal accounts and lectures confirmed their wish to become a doctor, but they don’t actually explain how or why. They mention that their school subjects have helped them think more logically or improved their communication skills (which is good), but then they never go on to explain why this is relevant to medicine. They talk about leadership and self-confidence but again don’t link this back to the importance of self-confidence and the prominence of leadership in a medical setting.

To create an effective medicine personal statement, you need to provide plenty of detail. This includes concrete experiences demonstrating qualities that make a good doctor. If you can do this authentically, humbly and without selling yourself short, your personal statement will be in very good shape.

‍ ‍ If you're looking for more inspiration to craft a compelling medicine personal statement, check out our Personal Statement Online Course . It has over 100 personal statement examples, in-depth tutorials, and guidance from admissions experts, to help you create a ready-to-submit personal statement in just three days.

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Applied in: Winter 2013

University offers: oxford, imperial college, ucl, bristol.

My interest in health and disease first blossomed in year 9, when I studied the impact of Bazalgette's sewage system on the cholera epidemics ravaging London in the 1800's. The ever-changing landscape of scientific knowledge and medical practice and the rich variety of specialities available make medicine appealing to me.

By volunteering for Crisis at Christmas, Westminster PHAB (Physically Disabled, Able Bodied) and visiting a local elderly care home for a year, I've been privileged to work with some of the most vulnerable members of society. Learning about difficulties that the homeless face prompted me to read Nigel Hewett's evaluation of the London Pathway, in which he concludes that an effective care pathway can dramatically reduce readmissions of homeless people, saving money and increasing quality of life. At the care home, I visited Alan and enjoyed learning about his book designing career and holidays in Italy. It was a shock therefore arriving one day to find his bed stripped and empty, and I hope that I had provided him with some comfort during his last months.

I have been able to undertake work experience at an inner city GP surgery, the paediatric unit in my local hospital and the academic labs at UCL, shadowing doctors, nurses and receptionists. At the surgery I experienced how doctors can be involved in social as well as medical aspects of care when a doctor was concerned for the well-being of a child, whose mother was both young and sick, and how GP and nurse home visits aid those who are housebound or chronically ill. I was also given the opportunity to conduct a small clinical audit reviewing the attendance of patients at A&E in and out of GP hours and their admission rates.

As a result, the surgery has submitted a business case for increased staffing at the surgery during the week and weekend. In the paediatric unit, when a surgeon made a decision on behalf of a young patient to overcome a complication in a procedure, it struck me how doctors can act as advocates for children, and at UCLH I discovered how doctors can integrate research into their clinical work. The lively debate at a journal club on the placebo effect prompted me to read Daniel Moerman's book on the subject, which shows scientifically the effect of kindness in clinical medicine. Indeed, the homeless guests at Crisis said they valued the company and warmth of volunteers just as much as the hot food.

I have taught Latin to year 6 pupils as I am stimulated by the blend of literature, language and history that Latin offers and believe that the analytical skills required to translate unseen texts and scrutinise literature mirror those required to make diagnoses from a simple history and appraisal of scientific papers. Indeed, in 'Bad Science' Ben Goldacre effectively argues the need for appraisal and reliable research in medicine. I have also practised these skills by presenting a scientific paper on my investigation into the antibacterial properties of natural foods and by addressing my school's Biology Society on mitochondrial diseases and 'three-parent babies'. While preparing for this, I considered the ethical issues of genetically modifying embryos. Will this treatment set a precedent that will make genetic modification ethically acceptable in the future?

Other than my academic work, I am engaged in the musical life at school, performing Verdi and Britten in the choir, touring with the symphony orchestra and playing in smaller ensembles. Coxing several rowing crews has tested my decision making under pressure and I'm looking forward to navigating at night in a team of five for 42 miles across the Yorkshire Moors this October.

I believe that, after observing a consultant reviewing a child with a disease that she'd never met before and using her scientific knowledge practically, a strong grounding in science followed by the attainment of clinical skills will help me to become the well-reasoned and well-rounded doctor I hope to be.

Please note UCAS will detect any form of plagiarism. PSE and its contributors do not take any responsibility for the way in which personal statements are used.

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Successful Personal Statement For Physics At Oxford

Last Updated: 6th April 2022

Author: Rob Needleman

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through a Physics applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The Physics Course at Oxford is concerned with the study of the universe from the smallest to the largest scale.

Read on to see how this strong Personal Statement covers such a broad range of intricate topics. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement (the applicant uses most of the 4,000 characters available):

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

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Physics Personal Statement

An incessant curiosity about the laws of the cosmos has always attracted me to the study of physics. I am especially intrigued by theoretical physics and how its concepts are the foundations of all visible reactions one witnesses daily. My fascination with physics has led me to pursue my subject beyond the school curriculum and I have had a range of experiences which have confirmed my desire to study physics at university.

This summer I was selected for the Senior Physics Challenge at Cambridge University which enabled me to experience the level and pace of undergraduate classical mechanics, quantum mechanics and lab-work. In preparation for the course, I studied a quantum mechanics primer and familiarised myself with previously untaught mathematics. During the week, we tackled the Schrodinger equation, square well potential problems, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle and learnt new aspects of mathematics such as eigenstates and SHM. The course was demanding thus highly engaging, and this encounter with higher-level physics has made me eager to extend my knowledge of quantum mechanics.

Selected to visit CERN with school on the basis of an essay competition on dark matter and dark energy, I attended lectures on particle physics and saw the LHCb experiment. The highlight of the trip being the coding activity organised by Liverpool University where, using real LHC data of a decaying kaon, we chose cuts to make in the data to improve the efficiency and purity of the signal. Gaining an insight into aspects of the research work undertaken by particle physicists was inspiring. Likewise, at a “Particle Physics Day” at Birmingham University, I had the opportunity to use computer software to identify different particles and collisions in detectors. Last summer, I attended the “Physics Experience Week” organised by Birmingham University that combined lectures, lab-work and a rocket-building session. I was fascinated by an experiment where, collaborating in a team with pupils from different schools, we counted cosmic ray muons using a scintillation detector and took down readings together.

Having chosen to study GCSE Astronomy independently, I learnt to use the Faulkes Telescopes to take photographs of Messier objects in order to determine the ages of 3 planetary nebulae. My interest in space has been enhanced by a 2-week trip to NASA with ‘Space Education Adventures’, visiting the Johnson and Kennedy Space Centres. I was astounded by the immensity of the space projects and their contribution to science and history. A work experience placement in a hospital Medical Physics department demonstrated to me the application of physics in medical diagnostic imaging and the importance of physics research for advances in medicine. The Engineering Education Scheme (year 12) enabled me to work with 3 other girls to design a hypothetical football training academy with engineer mentors from ARUP. We researched and presented a business case and technical plan to a panel of engineers from other companies, gaining the Gold Crest Award in Engineering as well as valuable presentation skills.

In complete contrast, this summer I attended the Joint Association of Classical Teachers’ Greek Summer School. In addition to intensive lessons, we performed Aeschylus’ Agamemnon in the original text; I was cast as Cassandra. This term I am giving a talk on Ancient Greek mathematics at my school’s Classical Society, having researched the topic over the summer. I enjoy performing arts: I belong to the Birmingham Young REP Theatre and I have performed in the Symphony Orchestra, a chamber music group and the Choral Society at school. Balancing academic work with other activities requires organisation and discipline. Physics is a demanding and highly rewarding field. The prospect of an unsolved problem which may not have an immediate answer is captivating. My wish to understand nature and the academic challenge this poses is the reason I aspire to study physics.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

Successful Personal Statement For Natural Science (Physical) At Cambridge

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Download our Free Personal Statement Starter Guide 

Good Points Of The Personal Statement

This is a very well written, structured and excellent statement. The student has a clear motivation for physics and has achieved many things through extra hard work. The statement is easy to read, and the student describes their achievements yet does not brag. All points and experiences are expanded on and clearly explained. The final paragraph adds individuality to the statement, and all non-physics related interests are kept within this paragraph which is very good.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

The student uses the word ‘I’ a lot. Whilst it is important to emphasise personal achievements, using the same words over and over again makes the statement sound repetitive. The student mentions learning mathematics beyond the A-level syllabus prior to the Senior Physics Challenge at Cambridge University, however, does not expand on what this involved. The student has missed an opportunity to describe how they gained mathematical skills independently. The student does this again by failing to describe what they learned through writing their essay on dark matter. A sentence on each of these points would have added yet more value to this excellent statement.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

This is an excellent statement. It is easy to read, well-structured and the student comes across as a very likeable individual.

This Personal Statement for Physics is a great example of a well written and effectively-structured Statement. The candidate’s interest and achievements are clearly shown which is vital to Admissions Tutors.

Remember, at Oxford, these Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

There are plenty more successful personal statements and expert guides on our Free Personal Statement Resources page.

Our expert tutors are on hand to help you craft the perfect Personal Statement for your Oxford Physics application.

With our  Oxford Physics Premium Programme, we help you craft the perfect Personal   Statement , score highly on the PAT and teach you how to  Interview effectively .

Discover our  Oxford Physics Premium Programme  by clicking the button below to  enrol and triple your chances of success.

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