cambridge university medicine personal statement

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Successful Personal Statement For Medicine At Cambridge

Last Updated: 31st March 2020

Author: Rohan Agarwal

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 Medicine applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Cambridge University. The Medicine Course at Cambridge aims to educate students to become compassionate, thoughtful, skilled members – and leaders – of the medical profession.

Read on to see how this candidate wrote a Personal Statement that demonstrates the qualities to work in a medical profession. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement:

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

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Your tutor will give you actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.  

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Medicine Personal Statement

I realise that medicine may not always have positive outcomes, having witnessed two deaths at a young age. However, the inevitable fallibility of the human body has driven my desire to acquire a better understanding of the complicated processes and mechanisms of our body. I am captivated by the prospect of lifelong learning; the rapid and ceaseless pace of change in medicine means that there is a vast amount of knowledge in an astonishing number of fields.

Work experience and volunteering have intensified my desire to pursue the profession; it gave me the chance to observe doctors diagnosing problems and establishing possible routes of treatment; I found the use of monoclonal antibodies in kidney transplantation fascinating. A doctor needs to be skilled, dexterous and creative. Medicine is a scientific discipline that requires a profound understanding of the physiology of the body, but the application of medicine can be an art, especially when communications between the doctor and the patient can influence the outcome of the treatment. I admire the flexibility of doctors; an inpatient needs to be approached with sensitivity and reassurance, whereas an acute admission patient would benefit more from hands-on assessments. I have been volunteering at Derriford Hospital since 2010. The most valuable part is taking time to converse with the patients to alleviate their stress and appreciate their concerns, demonstrating my understanding of the importance of listening. I appreciate that the quality of life is more important than the quantity of years, as a recent death at the ward made me realise that despite all the technological advances and our increasing understanding of the human body, there is a limit to what we can achieve.

My Nuffield Bursary project was based on finding potential medical treatments for sepsis by working on the molecular genetics of bacteria-infected cells. Using theory to interpret laboratory experiments allowed me to show how an enzyme was involved in the inflammatory response mechanism. My skills of organisation and time management were recognised by the Individual Achievement Award for my role as Finance Director in the Young Enterprise team. I used my leadership skills to assign team members to tasks to which their talents were best suited and demonstrated effective communication and teamwork to meet the deadlines. I took part in the British Mathematical Olympiad after receiving the Gold and Best in School prize for the Senior Maths challenge last year. Regular participation in the Individual and Team Maths Challenge enhanced my lateral thinking. The numerous awards I have won such as Best Results at GCSE and Bronze in the Physics Olympiad not only show my ability in a range of subjects but also my commitment to my academic career. As a subject mentor, I developed my ability to break down problems, explaining them in a logical, analytical yet simpler way. I cherished the opportunity to work with the younger pupils; enabling them to grasp new concepts, and I believe that discussing ideas, problems or case studies with colleagues will be even more rewarding.

A keen pianist, I have been playing for 14 years. At the age of 12, I became the pianist for the Children’s Amateur Theatre Society. Perseverance was essential as I was learning numerous songs each week showing commitment, resilience and attention to detail, which are transferable skills applicable to medicine. Playing in front of 300 people regularly helped me to build my confidence and taught me to stay calm under pressure. Playing the piano is a hobby that I love and I will continue to pursue it to balance my academic life.

I believe I possess the ability, devotion, diligence and determination required for this course that demands a holistic understanding of both the sciences and the arts. I will relish the challenges on an academic and personal level and I look forward to following this vocation in the future.

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

Successful Personal Statement For Law At Cambridge

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Good Points Of The Personal Statement

A well-written statement that guides the reader from one point to the next, delivering good insight into personal development and the motivations to becoming a doctor. The student shows that they have a very diverse background, both academically as well as work experience. One of the strongest parts of the statements is that the student recognises the limitations of medicine and acknowledges the challenges in delivering medical care under those limitations. The student is also able to demonstrate experiences made in non-medical fields and how they contributed to their personal development. This is important as some of the skills necessary to becoming a good doctor are transferable from other professions.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

The student provides extensive detail on awards and prizes won. This part is somewhat unnecessary as it does not add anything to the quality of the statement itself. Most, if not all students applying for medicine will have a history of academic excellence, therefore, listing awards and achievements is less relevant. This space could be better used to provide more insight into lessons learned from work experience.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

A strong statement with a lot of information on the student’s development and academic achievements. The statement succeeds at raising interest in the student and providing an overview of the individual’s development. There are a few minor weaknesses that could be optimised in order to improve the overall strength of the statement even further.

And there we have it – a Cambridge Medicine Personal Statement with feedback from our expert tutors. 

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

Our Free Personal Statement Resources page is filled with even more successful personal statements and expert guides.

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

With our  Oxbridge Medicine Premium Programme we help you craft the perfect  Personal   Statement , achieve a highly competitive BMAT and UCAT score and teach you how to  Interview effectively.

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Top Tips for your University of Cambridge Medicine Personal Statement

Medicine Oxbridge Personal Statement

Last updated: 10 October 2023

Are you considering applying to study medicine at the prestigious University of Cambridge ? If so, you're undoubtedly aware of the stiff competition and the importance of a well-crafted personal statement. Medicine at Cambridge is highly sought after, attracting some of the brightest and most ambitious students worldwide. Your personal statement is a crucial component of your application, allowing you to stand out and demonstrate your passion for medicine and suitability for the course.

In this article, we'll provide you with the best tips for creating a personal statement for medicine at Cambridge that grabs the admissions team's attention, showcases your qualities, and maximises your chances of being invited for an interview.

Contact SI-UK about your Cambridge application

Understanding the Cambridge Medicine Programme

Before diving into the specifics of crafting your personal statement , it's essential to understand what the Cambridge medicine programme entails. Cambridge's medicine course is unique, with an integrated approach combining clinical and basic sciences from the beginning. The course is designed to produce highly skilled and adaptable medical professionals capable of dealing with the challenges of modern healthcare.

Key Features of the Cambridge Medicine Degree Include:

• Preclinical and Clinical Phases : The course is divided into preclinical and clinical phases, with students gaining early exposure to clinical practice.
• Problem-Based Learning : Cambridge emphasises problem-based learning, where you'll work in small groups to solve clinical cases, promoting critical thinking and teamwork.
• Research Opportunities : The university encourages research and offers numerous opportunities for students to get involved in cutting-edge medical research.
• Supervision System : You'll benefit from the renowned Cambridge supervision system, which provides personalised teaching and support.
• Early Patient Contact : Students have early patient contact, allowing them to develop clinical skills and gain valuable experience.

Understanding these aspects will help you tailor your personal statement to align with the Cambridge medicine programme's philosophy and expectations.

Personal Statement for Cambridge Medicine

Crafting a standout personal statement for Cambridge medicine requires careful planning and ample time. You should start well before the application deadline to allow for multiple drafts and revisions. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Step 1: Self-Reflection

Begin by reflecting on your motivations for studying medicine and why you want to study it at Cambridge specifically. What experiences have shaped your interest in the field? What qualities and skills do you possess that make you a suitable candidate for the course?

Step 2: Research the Course

Thoroughly research the Cambridge medicine course's structure, teaching methods, and core values. Familiarise yourself with the university's ethos and what they look for in prospective students.

Step 3: Create an Outline

Outline the key points you want to include in your personal statement. Consider how you can demonstrate your passion for medicine, commitment to learning, and suitability for the course.

Step 4: Draft and Revise

Start drafting your personal statement, keeping it concise and focused. Aim for a compelling introduction, a clear body that addresses the key points, and a strong conclusion. Review and revise your draft multiple times to ensure clarity and coherence.

Step 5: Seek Feedback

Share your draft with teachers, mentors, or peers who can provide constructive feedback. Consider their suggestions and make necessary revisions.

Step 6: Final Touch

Before submitting your personal statement, perform a final review for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Ensure that it adheres to Cambridge's guidelines and word limits.

Crafting a Compelling Introduction

Your personal statement's introduction is your chance to captivate the admissions team's attention. Here are some tips to create a compelling opening:

1. Start with an Anecdote

Begin with a brief, relevant anecdote or personal experience that illustrates your passion for medicine. This could be a moment that sparked your interest in the field or a meaningful encounter with a healthcare professional.

2. Use a Thought-Provoking Quote

Consider opening with a thought-provoking quote related to medicine or a broader issue in healthcare. Ensure that the quote is relevant to your narrative.

3. Showcase Your Enthusiasm

Clearly convey your enthusiasm for the subject and your eagerness to embark on the journey of becoming a medical professional. Show that you are genuinely passionate about the field.

Demonstrating Your Suitability

The body of your personal statement is where you should demonstrate your suitability for the Cambridge medicine programme. Here are essential points to cover:

1. Academic Achievements

Highlight your academic achievements and any relevant subjects or courses you've excelled in. Mention any academic awards or distinctions that showcase your commitment to learning.

2. Work Experience

Discuss any work experience or volunteering in healthcare settings. Describe what you learned from these experiences and how they influenced your decision to pursue medicine.

3. Extracurricular Activities

If you've been involved in extracurricular activities related to medicine or healthcare, such as medical societies, research projects, or first aid training, emphasise them. Show how these activities have enhanced your skills and knowledge.

4. Personal Attributes

Highlight your personal qualities that make you well-suited for a career in medicine. These may include empathy, resilience, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills. Provide specific examples that demonstrate these attributes.

5. Motivation

Explain why you are specifically interested in the Cambridge medicine programme. Discuss how the programme's unique features align with your aspirations and how you plan to make the most of these opportunities.

Reflecting on Your Experiences

In addition to listing your achievements and qualities, reflecting on your experiences and what you've learned from them is essential. Admissions officers want to see evidence of your self-awareness and your ability to learn and grow. Here's how to do it effectively:

1. Show, Don't Tell

Rather than simply stating your qualities or achievements, provide concrete examples and anecdotes that illustrate them. For instance, instead of saying, "I am empathetic," you could describe a specific patient encounter that showcased your empathy.

2. Discuss Challenges

Don't be afraid to discuss challenges or setbacks you've faced and how you've overcome them. Admissions teams appreciate resilience and the ability to learn from adversity.

3. Link Experiences to Medicine

Whenever possible, link your experiences to your motivation for studying medicine. Explain how each experience has shaped your understanding of and commitment to the field.

Addressing the Ethical Dimension

Medicine is not just a science; it's also an ethical and moral pursuit. Cambridge places significant emphasis on ethical considerations in medical practice. Therefore, it's crucial to address the ethical dimension in your personal statement, Cambridge:

1. Ethical Dilemmas

Discuss any ethical dilemmas you've encountered during your experiences in healthcare or medicine. Describe how you navigated these dilemmas and the ethical principles that guided your decisions.

2. Ethical Reflection

Demonstrate your capacity for ethical reflection. Share your thoughts on the importance of ethical considerations in medicine and how you plan to approach ethical challenges as a medical student and future practitioner.

The Importance of Genuine Passion

While it's essential to include all the necessary elements in your personal statement, being genuine is equally important. Admissions teams can spot insincerity from a mile away. Your passion for medicine should shine through every word and example you provide.

Avoid clichés and generic statements that could apply to any applicant. Instead, focus on your unique experiences, perspectives, and aspirations. Be authentic in sharing your journey and why you are truly committed to pursuing a career in medicine.

Tailoring Your Personal Statement for Cambridge

Cambridge has its unique ethos and expectations, and your personal statement should reflect these. Here are some specific points to consider when tailoring your statement for Cambridge:

1. Embrace the Challenge

Highlight your willingness and enthusiasm for tackling the challenges of the Cambridge medicine programme. Discuss how you thrive in a rigorous academic environment and your capacity for self-directed learning.

2. Supervision System

Mention your excitement about the Cambridge supervision system. Emphasise your belief in the value of personalised teaching and mentorship and how you plan to make the most of this opportunity.

3. Interdisciplinary Approach

Cambridge's medicine programme is known for its integrated approach to learning. Show that you appreciate the benefits of combining clinical and basic sciences and how this aligns with your educational goals.

4. Research Focus

If you have a keen interest in medical research, highlight it. Discuss any research experiences or projects you've been involved in and your enthusiasm for contributing to medical knowledge.

Proofread and Polish

Once you've written your personal statement, it's crucial to proofread and polish it to perfection. Here are some tips for the final stages:

1. Proofread for Errors

Thoroughly check your personal statement for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Typos and mistakes can detract from your overall presentation.

2. Ensure Clarity

Make sure your writing is clear and concise. Avoid overly complex language or jargon that might confuse the reader.

3. Stay within Word Limits

Adhere to the word limits set by Cambridge. Going significantly over or under the word limit can negatively affect your application.

4. Seek Feedback

Ask teachers, mentors, or trusted friends to review your final draft. Fresh eyes can catch issues you might have missed.

5. Format Properly

Ensure your personal statement is formatted correctly. Use a legible font, appropriate spacing, and a professional layout.

Final Thoughts

Crafting a compelling personal statement for the Cambridge medicine programme requires careful planning, self-reflection, and attention to detail. Remember that your personal statement is your opportunity to showcase your passion for medicine, your suitability for the course, and your alignment with Cambridge's values.

Be genuine, provide concrete examples, and demonstrate your ethical awareness. Tailor your statement to Cambridge's unique features and emphasise your willingness to embrace the programme's challenges. With dedication and the right approach, you can create a personal statement for medicine admission that stands out and increases your chances of securing a place in the prestigious Cambridge medicine programme. Good luck with your application!

Which is better for medicine, Oxford or Cambridge?

Oxford and Cambridge are both excellent choices for studying medicine, and the quality of education at both universities is top-notch. It's essential to consider factors such as the specific program, faculty, and your personal preferences. You might want to research each university's curriculum, teaching methods, and available clinical opportunities to determine which aligns better with your goals.

Is it hard to study medicine at Cambridge?

Yes, studying medicine at Cambridge is challenging. Medicine is a rigorous and demanding field everywhere, and Cambridge is no exception. You'll have a busy schedule with lectures, practicals, and clinical placements. It requires dedication, time management, and a strong work ethic. However, the support and resources available at Cambridge can help you succeed if you're committed to your studies.

How do I get a full scholarship to Cambridge?

To secure a full scholarship to Cambridge, focus on academic excellence, early application, and a compelling personal statement medicine. Seek scholarships aligned with your field of study, gather strong letters of recommendation, and prepare well for interviews if required. Explore external scholarship options, and contact Cambridge's financial aid office for guidance. Be persistent and dedicated, as competition is high.

Can I get into Cambridge with AAA?

Getting into Cambridge with AAA can be challenging, but it's not impossible. Cambridge University is highly competitive, and they often require top grades. AAA is a good start, but it also depends on the specific course you're applying for and other factors like your personal statement, interview performance, and any additional tests or requirements. So, while AAA is a strong foundation, you should also focus on other aspects of your application to maximise your chances.

Is Oxbridge better than the Ivy League?

Comparing Oxbridge (Oxford and Cambridge) with the Ivy League universities in the United States is tricky because they have different strengths and specialities. Both are prestigious and offer world-class education, but it depends on your field of interest and personal preferences. Oxbridge is known for its tutorial-style teaching and rich history, while the Ivy League has a broader range of universities with various strengths. Ultimately, it's a matter of which suits your academic and career goals best.

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The Aspiring Medics

Cambridge medicine personal statement (zute).

In this series of blogs, medical students and medicine offer holders share and explain their personal statements so that you can learn from our experiences and reflections. Zute is an undergraduate medical student at the University of Cambridge.

Disclaimer: Please do NOT be tempted to use our personal statements as a model/foundation/plan. UCAS is very strict about plagiarism, more information can be found here .

Please remember that there is no such thing as a model personal statement. By definition, it is supposed to be unique and there is no "golden formula".

In an overcrowded and understaffed ward, I joined the only junior doctor on her ward round. With a compassionate bedside manner, she won over the trust and gratitude of her patients despite the high volume of demands. This resilience under stress, while remaining compassionate, exemplified the meaning of being a doctor for me. My experiences have highlighted the personal fulfilment I could have in delivering effective healthcare, and it has become clear that medicine is my vocation.

This paragraph details my motivation for why I want to do medicine. It’s very important to show admissions tutors that going for medicine is something you’ve thought about thoroughly – a clear motivation helps with this. Opening with an anecdote is a good way to make your personal statement sound interesting and most of all personal. I made sure to appropriately reflect on what I thought about that doctor-patient interaction by extracting traits desirable in doctors

e.g. resilience and compassion .

Eager to explore my interest further, I shadowed an orthopaedic surgeon for a week, which exposed the problem-solving and practical nature of medicine. By observing him analyse the presence of osteophytes and cartilage degeneration from a knee X-ray, I learned how acute analytical skills are vital in making correct diagnoses. Moreover, seeing first-hand the interplay between each member of the team during the knee arthroplasty stressed the value of strong teamwork and communication skills, which I have developed as a pastoral prefect.

It's good to have a transition between your paragraphs to build a narrative of how you’ve found out more about what medicine entails. Here, I didn’t just say I did work experience, but I gave an example of specific skills I deemed important such as teamwork and analytical skills. I furthered this by giving an example of where I demonstrated these skills i.e. as a pastoral prefect. Teamwork is essential to medicine, so I wanted to reflect on where I saw this in action during my work experience.

Additionally, volunteering weekly in a urology ward over the past year has deepened my insight into how other healthcare professionals work in tandem with doctors, all of whom are integral to the holistic treatment of patients. From feeding to offering a listening ear for patients' worries, I have been confronted with the emotional demands of caring for the sick. From this, my communication skills have matured by adopting an empathic approach to patients and their families; I learned that alleviating their concerns can enhance patient recovery.

I decided to talk about my volunteering because it showed that I had a long-term commitment to medicine. I also made sure to show that other members in the healthcare profession have an important role to play in patient care – it’s good to get across that you understand doctors don’t do everything. It’s also important to show that you understand the emotional challenges associated with being a doctor. Following this up with why you still want to do medicine is a good way to show you’ve come to a reasoned conclusion .

A placement in a fast-paced A&E department gave an enlightening contrast. The doctors handled sensitive issues professionally, allowing me to appreciate the utility in being composed in the face of emotionally challenging clinical situations, such as ineffective CPR delivery. Whilst it is frustrating that not everyone can be saved, reading Henry Marsh's ‘Do No Harm’ helped me realise that doctors must reflect on their limits, and palliating symptoms instead of attempting curative treatment may at times be the best plan.

Adding your thoughts from a book is a good way to reflect on things you haven’t physically experienced. It doesn’t have to be long, just choose one main takeaway from the book and explain what you learnt from it. I chose to talk about the idea of choosing when and when not to operate as this was something I didn’t fully appreciate before.

Intrigued by the neurological cases from the book, I researched more into the brain and evaluated the evidence behind differences between teenage and adult brains, which gained me a national finalist place in a national essay competition. From this, I sharpened my critical thinking skills and engagement with scientific research, equipping me with essential tools for practising evidence-based medicine in the future. Following a lesson on stem cells, I investigated the use of them in epidermal sheet transplants as treatment for epidermolysis bullosa for a young boy. I found the pathology behind the disease fascinating, which inspired me to write an article on how the insertion of LAMB3 cDNA into cells regenerated his epidermis. The drastic improvement to his quality of life physically and psychologically showed me how medical research is critical in improving patient care.

Since I was applying to Cambridge, I wanted to put more emphasis than most personal statements on how much I was interested in the science behind medicine. Firstly, I was proactive by entering an essay competition and then saying which skills I gained from it. The foundation of all treatments and guidelines in medical practice is evidence so I wanted to show I understood that aspect. If you have a specific example of where you’ve gone beyond your A Level specification to research something, then definitely put that in. However, don’t just leave it in a vacuum, try to link it back to medicine to show that ultimately all the science you learn is to benefit patients in some way.

As a keen scientist, I enjoy problem-solving, especially in novel scientific contexts, evidenced through achieving a Gold award in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge and Intermediate Biology Olympiad. Alongside my academics, I tutor KS2 children weekly which has refined my ability to effectively convey complex information to others, a useful skill in discussing diagnoses and clinical decisions with patients. From tutoring six children at a time and giving tailored feedback to their parents, I have managed the high workload by prioritising tasks. As a dedicated athlete, I have competed regionally for my athletics club for the past three years which has taught me the value of perseverance during difficulty.

It's easy to forget to mention what things you do outside of medicine. I made sure to include my hobbies and other passions , not to tick a box but because it’s useful for admissions tutors to know that you have a life outside medicine. Burnout is real! If you have something that you do on the side then keep on doing it, your entire life doesn’t have to be devoted to medicine. For me, athletics is something that I still take seriously while at university because it helps me to maintain a good balance between studying and having fun.

Informed by my experiences, my drive to study medicine is stronger than ever and I embrace both the emotional and intellectual challenge it brings. Crucially, I aim to embark on a lifetime of learning, equipped with the tenacity, diligence and compassion needed to be a successful doctor.

For my conclusion, I chose 3 qualities that would summarise the traits I have that make me a suitable applicant. This made sure the ending was concise and impactful enough. There isn’t necessarily a right way to write one, but I intentionally kept it short so I could use most of my characters in the main body to talk about other more important things.

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Cambridge Medicine Personal Statement (Ayanfe)

Oxford Medicine Personal Statement (Aaron)

Top Tips for a Cambridge Medicine Personal Statement

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Cambridge Medicine Personal Statement – Top 10 Tips : Dos and Don’ts

The Cambridge Personal Statement is a crucial component of your university application. It presents a unique opportunity for you to differentiate yourself from other applicants. You should be able to articulate your story and explain your interests beyond that of numbers on an admissions test. Furthermore, it gives the interviewer a chance to understand who you are, providing a platform to bounce off questions during your Cambridge Medicine interview . 

They can tailor questions on your personality, interests, and commitment to who you are as a person and your amalgamation of experiences before you. Our Oxbridge application experts have compiled a list of top 10 Medicine Personal Statement Cambridge tips. This includes dos and don’ts– for your Cambridge Medicine Personal Statement for the 2024/25 application cycle.

General Advice for your Cambridge Medicine Personal Statement

Medicine is a course that integrates both the theoretical aspect of sciences as well as the human aspect of everyday life. Hence, it is a potential choice for scientists who is passionate in wanting to apply research findings to improve the lives of people and patients. However, Medicine also offers a breadth of experiences beyond that. With that comes realistic and not as glamorised aspects of the profession. It can be stressful, arduous, bureaucratic and frustrating. 

Hence, it is important for you to demonstrate in your Cambridge Medicine personal statement that you have a realistic understanding of the profession and that Medicine is the right choice for you. This means that you should demonstrate how you are a good fit for the subject. Not because it is expected of you, or that you are attracted to the prestige of it. Your motivations have to be well-reasoned and thought through. 

Moreover, when planning out your Cambridge Medicine personal statement, make sure you research the University’s achievements in their relevant fields. Use it as a guide to illustrate your interest in Medicine. 

Additionally, when you are crafting your Cambridge Medicine personal statement, you would most likely also be applying to four other university courses. This may result in your statement being vaguer. The University of Cambridge is aware of such and will require you to fill out an ‘Online Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ)’. This is shortly after submitting the UCAS application, so make sure you’ve created another condensed version of your Cambridge personal statement that you can directly submit to Cambridge.

Top 5 Tips for your Cambridge Medicine Personal Statement

Explain why you are interested in medicine.

Cambridge tutors are looking to teach students with genuine interest and passion for their course. Hence, make this the focus of your Cambridge Medicine personal statement. Explain why you want to study your chosen subject. Especially for a course such as Medicine, you would have to ensure that your motives are well reasoned and well thought through. This means that your motivations should not be rooted around the fact that it is secure, well-paid, or prestigious. You should explain to the tutor that you want to study Medicine because you are innately interested in the course and that you are a well fit for it. For example, stating that you want to pursue medicine because you are passionate about the sciences and find that the application of it to help people is meaningful and fulfilling, is a solid reason for wanting to apply to the Medicine course. Using concrete examples that display your interest will go a long way in demonstrating this interest. For example, this could include participating in biology or chemistry competitions or partaking in research projects. It could also be reading up on the latest innovations published in articles or books. Do not worry if you do not have a specific example or time where your ambition became crystal clear to you. Your decision in choosing to study Medicine can be illuminated through an amalgamation of your experiences or understanding of yourself and your strengths. Take your time in explaining why you align well with the course!

Display a good understanding of the course

Understand the course that you are applying for, and ensure that you do not have a superficial or misguided view of what the course entails. Most people’s perception of a course is from what they see in the media or through their high school subjects. Particularly in the case of medicine, most people’s impression of the course is shrouded by its prestige and the fact that it is well-paid. However, this is not always the case – there are difficult aspects of the course! It leads to a one-dimensional view of the course.  Try to talk to graduates or people currently working in the field to gain a better understanding of the course and your options post-graduation. You can demonstrate this understanding in your Cambridge Medicine personal statement by linking similarities in your past experiences to aspects of Medicine (if applicable). Or you can elaborate on personal qualities or traits that make you suitable for Medicine. For example, Medicine also aims to cultivate students to be clinician-scientists, where research work would be involved. Hence, perseverance is a good quality for an applicant to have when partaking in research or difficult aspects of the course. Furthermore, medicine in particular favours medicine-related experience. It signals to the tutors that you have a realistic understanding of your future profession. Try and include any hospital attachment or medical-related work that you were involved in. Also reflect on your experience. Volunteering is also another key experience to mention.

Read around the subject you’re applying for

Of course, in your medicine personal statement Cambridge does not expect you to be an expert in your field of study. You are going to university to study the material after all. However, being well-read in your course and reading ahead is a great way of demonstrating your interest in it. If you are genuinely interested in your course, you would also naturally want to learn more and explore the topic on your own. Reading does not only include books. This could also include podcasts, magazine articles, or even Netflix documentaries. Listening to a podcast on your ride home from school can be a nice way to ease such material into your lifestyle. There are some good articles in Nature, Scientific American and New Scientist that publishes the latest innovations in Medicine. You can also visit Cambridge’s recommended reading list for some book inspirations: Cambridge Medicine Sciences You can include the books in your Cambridge Medicine personal statement by reflecting on the ideas and drawing similarities to your personal life or experiences. This would show a deep understanding of the content that you read through. Actually reflect on the material as you are reading through it.

Have a good structure for your Cambridge Medicine personal statement

The points listed above give you a lot of content to write about. However, all of that information can be difficult to get through for the reader if it’s not organised well! Try and follow a fixed overall structure for your Medicine personal statement Cambridge. Also include paragraphs to enhance readability. For example, your introduction could be a short 2-3 lines outlining your interest in Medicine. Or your starting point could show how you first started considering it as a potential career. In your body paragraphs, you can use it to explain specific traits that you have that make you suitable for the course. For example, if you are empathetic, or if you enjoy academic rigour. You can also use some body paragraphs to explain specific aspects of medicine that you are drawn to. Explain how you pursued this interest. You can conclude by wrapping up the points mentioned above! For individual paragraphs, start off the paragraph with a point (such as your interest in the research aspect of medicine). Next, use concrete real-life experiences and examples to support this, before reflecting on these examples.

Ask your friends and family to proofread your Cambridge personal statement

Sometimes, we are not able to be objective about our own work, especially when we are telling our own story. Oxbridge Mind offers a medicine personal statement check . You can also try and approach friends, family, or seniors to proofread your Cambridge Medicine personal statement. They can provide you with feedback. They can comment on the structure and readability of your Cambridge Medicine personal statement, which could be really valuable! That being said, don’t share your Cambridge personal statement in case it gets plagiarised by someone else.

Top 5 things to AVOID for your Cambridge Medicine Personal Statement

Writing a list of achievements.

Even though one might assume that Cambridge wants to choose the most decorated candidate that applies, this is not necessarily the case. They are looking for students who are genuinely interested in the course, and students who are a good fit for it. This means that you could have started a non-profit and dedicated 10,000 hours to volunteering. But if you don’t show how this is relevant to your study in Medicine, the Cambridge tutors may not necessarily think you are suited for the programme. When talking about your achievements, always link back to how this is relevant to either your interest or your suitability for Medicine. Hence, try not to make your Cambridge Medicine personal statement a laundry list of all your previous experiences. Less is more in you taking more time to explain and elaborate on a couple of experiences.

Valuing vocabulary over conciseness

Some students feel the need to use bombastic words or flowery language in order to impress Cambridge tutors and use it as a way to demonstrate their strong command of the English language. However, this usually works against them. The Cambridge Medicine personal statement comes off as sounding unnatural and difficult to read. Try and understand that the Cambridge Medicine personal statement is a medium for you to tell your story and your passion. If using a thesaurus is getting in the way of that, opt for simple language. Cambridge tutors value ones they can read with ease and understand! If you’re not familiar with certain words, don’t use them as it might work against you instead!

Not showing the link to medicine

When it comes to your medicine personal statement Cambridge tutors are not looking for students with the most awards. They are looking for students who are a good match for the course. Hence, try and focus on relevant experiences that would be useful in you studying medicine. When you mention these experiences, don’t assume that the tutors can immediately understand why it is relevant or impressive. Always elaborate on how it is relevant to your passion for medicine or how it makes you a good fit for the course.

Misunderstanding what the course is about

Make sure you thoroughly research the course. This includes the course syllabus, what the career would entail, and so on. You can find out more information by attending seminars or speaking to seniors who are currently studying medicine (preferably at Cambridge!) or have graduated from the course. A simple google search and thoroughly reading all university brochure materials is a good start on understanding what you are in for! Try to forget all previous assumptions you have about the course. Make sure you thoroughly understand what you would be studying. Furthermore, especially for medicine, it would be good if you can involve yourself in any hospital or clinical attachments, and to mention such experiences in your personal experience. This is because it is a direct way of showing that you have first hand experience in what you would be studying.

Being cliché

When talking about your interest and passion for medicine, try to explain it in a genuine and authentic way. You don’t need a movie-like moment, such as your whole life changing because of applications in medicine. Don’t feel the need to mention a close family member who was saved because of medicine, or the like. These anecdotes are often overplayed– so definitely do not mention them unless it is authentic to your story. A simple explanation of how unique aspects of medicine intrigues you or draws you in, although seemingly simple and ordinary, would be even more valuable if explained well. Try to be authentic and original, and really understand why YOU would love to study medicine!

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• Medical School Application

Cambridge Medicine Personal Statement

A finely-crafted Cambridge medicine personal statement could mean the difference between acceptance and rejection. Play your cards wrong, and you might wind up asking yourself the question, “ Should I reapply to medical school next year ?” If you’re looking for success, you need to put in time, effort, and careful consideration – this is a critical part of your application, after all.

Cambridge University is one of the most prestigious, and competitive, medical schools in the UK , so it is absolutely imperative that you put tremendous effort into your application.

Advice is good, and information is helpful, but both are best used in combination with examples. Your mind learns faster with multiple types of information. So, looking at UCAS personal statement examples will make a big difference with how to make your medical school application stand out . To that end, we will include a statement example in this article as well, to be paired with the advice sections.

In this article, we will see what a personal statement’s purpose is, talk about Cambridge’s medicine personal statement specifically, and go over a sample personal statement. Plus, we will include notes on the sample statement so you know why it should look that way.

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Article Contents 12 min read

Purpose of a personal statement.

In the first place, the main thing to do with your personal statement is to, essentially, answer the question, “ Why do you want to become a doctor ?” This should be the main argument you put forward throughout your personal statement. However, there are nuances to the statement you also should pay attention to.

The nomenclature of that phrase, “personal statement,” is well chosen. Each word tells us something about what is looked for in the object itself.

First, it must be personal. Statements must reveal something of yourself to the application committee. They don’t want you to tell them about anybody else but you, so your statement should be about key aspects of who you are. Anything you write about yourself should be something unique. Go past your test scores, past your a-levels, beyond something you’d just put on your C.V.

What is it about you that makes you special or stand out? Let’s consider some ways your personal history and life’s story can – and should – affect your statement.

Did you grow up in a rural area – a farm, or deep in the country? If so, you have had a unique experience that you can talk about. Conversely, you might have been shaped by growing up in an urban environment. What effects has your urban upbringing had on your life? How has your environment shaped your goals and who you are?

Who are your family? Your family background can provide excellent fuel for your statement.

For example, if your family are first-generation immigrants, you probably have faced a lot of adversity to get where you are, and you have a unique perspective to offer the institution you are applying to. Many colleges have diversity requirements, and Cambridge is no exception.

A personal statement should have the same structure as an academic essay. The content differs, to some degree, but there is a lot of overlap in terms of how you will construct both a traditional, academic essay and your personal statement. Generally speaking, it follows the same standard used in most personal statements for UK medical school applications .

You don’t need to be recreating the idea of structure itself here. Keep in mind your goal: to introduce yourself to the application committee in such a way that you stand out from other applicants. If you start messing around with structure, your “innovations” might get in the way of your reader understanding what you’re saying and appreciating who you are. Avoid this by sticking to an essay format.

There isn’t much of a difference between writing a Cambridge medical school personal statement and a personal statement for another medical school. You will speak about roughly the same things, emphasizing the same points, and if you can write a personal statement that is only applicable to one institution, then you will find yourself struggle while applying to multiple schools, anyway.

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

UCAS – University and College Admissions Service – is the system used by Cambridge University to apply to their institution, and the personal statement section in UCAS is capped at 4,000 characters and/or 47 lines. That’s roughly 850 words, but very roughly, and of course lines matter.

Keep this in mind while formatting because sometimes you might be tempted to set a line apart for emphasis on a particular paragraph.

But that eats up multiple lines for very little content. Be economical with both your characters and your line usage. Remember that spaces count! Don’t measure your characters without spaces or you’ll wind up with an overlong essay.

You should also consider Cambridge’s specific values while writing your essay. Cambridge is highly competitive, as any look at medical school acceptance rates in the UK will tell you. So you should make sure your statement aligns with Cambridge’s values. They list their core values as freedom of thought and freedom from discrimination. They also promote the encouragement of a questioning spirit; a quality and depth across subjects; and an inter-relationship between teaching, scholarship, and research.

However, at the end of the day, your primary consideration should be to worry about the efficacy of your personal statement through these tips:

Reflect on everything you put down. When you write out something in your personal statement, it should be richer than just a fact. Bare facts are sparse and unhelpful. To really make an effective personal statement, you need to expand on those facts.

Reflection means taking those facts and talking about them with a little more depth to make sure a reader knows why they are important to you and your journey. Focus on their importance and relation to you.

Winning an award or contest is a fact. Showing why that win changed you, and how that change moved you to become a doctor is reflecting on that event; that shows a reader how the fact – winning an award – ties in to your message – why you want to become a doctor.

“In high school I took a university-level course in chemistry and another in biochemistry. I enjoyed them very much and they will be useful in medical school.”

“I challenged myself with chemistry, taking both chemistry and biochemistry at the university level while in high school. At first, I resented these courses because of their difficulty, but I used that adversity to strengthen not only my scientific knowledge but my study habits. Once my studying improved, I could relax and enjoy the courses more. In my biochemistry lab, I wound up creating an experiment which further pushed me to my limit.”

Presumably, “B” will move on to discuss the experiment next. But do you see how that relates to the author? They explain how they moved through the course, what they learned, and how they are moving forward due to that experience. Reflect instead of just relating.

Tell a Well-Rounded Story

When selecting your experiences to highlight, choose major events, but try and think of ways that these signposts highlight your diverse experiences and capabilities, as well as how they tie together into a story, instead of just being disjointed events that happened in your life.

This plays into reflection as well, because the same events can be emphasized in different ways. Some events might be used to just constantly remark on scientific or medical interest, but if you use the same events to speak of expanding your palette of experiences, you can show that you are a well-rounded person.

For instance: let’s say that the person was drawn to medicine by an elderly grandparent needing care, volunteered at a care facility, and then studied geriatric medicine.

If those points are delivered emphasizing medical science each time, the writer has presented themselves as one-note. If, on the other hand, they highlight the importance of hands-on, personalized care for the first point, a frustration and difficulty that they had to overcome – or lesson learned – with the second point, and intellectual achievement – such as an award won – with the third point, they will come across as more diverse in their background.

Throwing in oblique or direct references to your life – outside interests, sports, intellectual pursuits, family background, etc. – will underline how well-rounded you are.

Most importantly, you need to tie all of these events together to tell a complete story. They cannot be disparate, but must be connected, to show why you will be a great doctor and why you want to be one.

Can you show a progression of important skills?

If you have skills outside of pure academics, make sure to mention them. Of particular interest will be communication skills, how well you organize or lead a team, and your abilities in teaching others.

Full Circle

Bring your essay around full circle. You have set up an expectation with your introduction and you must pay that off at the end of the personal statement. You are making an argument, through a story, that you will be a great doctor someday. The conclusion ends the story – thus, it must connect with the introduction – and must also tie together the story to show what you hope to achieve as a medical student and future physician.

If your hook talked about, as we did above, your rural upbringing, pay it off by talking about how you will be a doctor in a small community, that your goal is to be a family doctor where it is often difficult to get great medical care. The more altruistic and thoughtful the goal the better, but remember that it also must continue to be meaningful specifically to you . This is your goal that you are using to show the admissions committee why you are the best candidate to select for admission.

Example Statement and Breakdown 

I grew up across the street from a sheep that the family named Ned, and far enough away from a city that I didn’t think that was unusual. We were farmers, and all of my early experiences with medicine were a combination of scrapes and bruises – from my siblings and myself playing rough – and veterinarian sciences. In fact, I first wanted to be a vet, changing to medical doctor only after my family’s hardships with my grandfather’s illness.

When my grandfather was sick and needed care, my family went to stay with relatives so we could visit and support our Grandad. While visiting, I interacted with the expert staff, who made us comfortable, answered our questions, and most importantly, clearly took their jobs as care providers very seriously.

After our stay to support Grandad, I volunteered at a care facility, dedicating a few hours a week throughout high school to helping with elderly patients. My job was to help with food, cleaning, and physical mobility, but I found that the real job was just offering my time. Spending extra time with each patient to look at pictures of grandchildren with them, to hear a reminiscence, or just to talk and joke was appreciated by the residents of the facility.

My joy in the healing power of medicine through care workers was strengthened and reinforced every time I worked there. I learned that healing came not only through medicine, but truly holistic care. I learned empathy skills by observing the staff and interacting with the residents. Furthermore, I read on the history of care and how far we have advanced, particularly in terms of ethical care; this has made me extremely interested in medical ethics.

One of the facility’s nurses recommended the book Medical Ethics and the Elderly. I loved the book, particularly its essay on informed consent, and began writing my own thoughts and ideas down. I eventually wrote several essays of my own on the topic. One of these papers, Who Speaks for Who? An Ethical Consideration of Power of Attorney, was first runner-up in two different essay competitions. I appreciated the recognition, but being able to get my thoughts down and work my way through thorny issues has been invaluable.

Last year, I stopped volunteering at the elderly care facility and started a part-time job at a hospital. Although I am on the janitorial staff, I have approached the health care professionals there and asked, as a student, for help. Most have replied positively and are giving me insight into a wide array of medical areas and specialties. Some have allowed me to shadow them, others have answered my questions about specialties like oncology and pediatrics, and shown me around the different units in the hospital.

A big surprise for me was in the hospital’s pathology lab. I was shadowing a pathologist and I was fascinated by her work. She was testing tissue samples and concluded that her patient’s problems were stemming from an auto-immune disorder – probably genetic.

Since that time, I have spent more time in the laboratory myself, taking lab-specific courses at school. I enjoyed my bio-chemistry lab the most. My enthusiasm for the subject led me to doing extra readings and experiments, and ultimately led to my highest score in my a-levels in chemistry.

My journey started as a farm boy with dreams of being a veterinarian, but I have wound up as somebody interested in a wide variety of medicinal areas. At the moment, geriatric care still holds a strong place in my heart, but I am more and more drawn to pathology. I want to explore all options, but ultimately I want most of all to help people and contribute to their health.

A good introduction hook connects this student’s past and personal life to their present goals. It also introduces their medical interest, and shows us the start of a journey where they did not envision themselves as a physician. That’s okay! Don’t feel the need to say that being a doctor was a lifelong dream. Be honest to your real story. Just because you have changed your mind doesn’t make your dream less evocative in the eyes of an admissions committee. The main thing is to hook them on your story, whatever that is. Something compelled you to change, so hopefully it will compel them, too.

The writer moves chronologically, using the body of their personal statement to cover their switch to human medicine, followed by examples of work, academics, and volunteer positions that have brought them closer to their goals, let them grow as a person, and have shown several desirable attributes. Notice that we can see that this person is enthusiastic, engaged, proactive, hard-working, dedicated, open-minded, curious, intelligent, and thoughtful through their stories.

For instance, they don’t have to say , “I’m curious,” after speaking of their love of laboratory experiments. Open-mindedness comes from their ability to change opinions about medicine or learn about ethics – which also displays conscientiousness.

In short: show, don’t tell – that old maxim – is on full display here. You get a feel for this person without them needing to say anything directly. How do you know they’re intelligent? They placed in two essay competitions. How do you know they’re proactive? They reached out to hospital workers for help and advice to advance their goals.

The conclusion references the beginning of the story, bringing the whole thing to a neat close in such a way as to finalize their journey.

Want to hear expert admissions consultants share medical school personal statement introduction examples that impressed them? Watch this video:

Make sure that your personal statement is unique to you, says something important about yourself, and sticks to a structure that increases readability and coherence. Put yourself out there, show your best side, and take your time to get it right. It is just one aspect of your medical school application, but it is just as important as any other. That is to say: it’s very, very important.

UCAS is the system that Cambridge University uses for students to apply to their medical program. Most UK schools use UCAS, which is the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service and helps students apply to post-secondary educational institutions.

If you want to know more, check out some UCAS reference letter examples .

There are two limits imposed on a UCAS personal statement: 4,000 characters and 47 lines. Never exceed those limits. Triple-check that your word processor hasn’t added a line you don’t know about and do not type the 4,001 st character expecting it to be read. 

Focus what you’re writing about and pare down. If you have too much, pick the events of paramount importance to your journey and use only those to form “signposts” of your journey to medical school.

Uplifting is good; you don’t want a downer statement. Of course, a professional tone – one which avoids colloquialism and slang – is required. However else you construct your tone, make sure that it is professional and academic. The only exception is that most essays aren’t written in the first-person and your personal statement will be. This is acceptable because it’s understood that you are writing from a personal place.

We recommend that you give yourself enough schools to cast a wide net but not so many that you cannot fill out that many forms. Between six and eight is a good number.

UCAS allows five applications, so do all five, and if possible, one or two outside of the UCAS system. If you cannot, just do those five.

More time is better, and we recommend taking six-eight weeks to work on the statement. Write and re-write, optimize your drafts, and come up with the best possible work to show yourself off.

No. Don’t push the “submit” button until you’re ready.

Ideally you will have a mix of experiences in medicine and in your personal life, or you can blend them together. If you only talk about personal experiences, you won’t look like a candidate with a meaningful understanding of medicine. If you only talk about medicine, you might stray too close to the “resume in paragraph form” mistake.

Think about what medical school requirements are, or about extracurriculars for medical school . That will help you know which experiences to highlight.

The best experiences to highlight are the ones that moved you forward on your journey as a person and why you have grown along that journey. Remember to reflect on your journey and experiences to show your best qualities.

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Medicine Personal Statement for Cambridge

Use this real personal statement example for medicine as an inspiration. This is an example from a student who applied to medical school at the University of Cambridge . Read below.

Personal Statement Example for Medical School

As a future medical professional, I am excited to pursue a career in medicine where I can use my passion for science and problem-solving to improve the lives of others.

Growing up, I was always drawn to the medical field and volunteered countless hours at local hospitals and clinics. These experiences further solidified my desire to become a doctor and help those in need.

In high school, I took advanced science and math courses and excelled in my studies. I also participated in various extracurricular activities such as the robotics team and the science club, where I developed leadership and teamwork skills.

I am ready to take the next step in my academic journey and attend medical school. My strong academic background and dedication to helping others will make me a valuable asset to the medical profession.

I am excited about the opportunity to study at Cambridge University and become a part of your prestigious program. I am eager to learn from your world-class faculty and contribute to the vibrant academic community. I am confident that the University of Cambridge will provide me with the education and experiences necessary to become a successful and compassionate doctor.

In addition to my academic abilities, I am also compassionate and empathetic, and I have a strong desire to help others. I have always been drawn to careers that allow me to make a positive impact on the lives of others, and I believe that medicine is one of the best ways to do that. I am excited about the prospect of studying medicine and becoming a doctor, and I am confident that I have the abilities and drive to succeed in this field.

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Cambridge University Personal Statements

We hope our collection of cambridge university personal statement examples 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 2 I am captivated by the diversity and depth offered by a History degree; attracted by the way it encourages us to be analytical of the values and patterns of past societies. It was in my final year of secondary school that I was awarded the History Attainment Award, although my desire to study History dates back to an earlier age when I visited the site of the allied landings in Normandy at just eleven years old...

Linguistics Personal Statement Example 1 My most memorable Christmas came with a parcel of Harry Potter audio books and this was where my quest to understanding language began. The moment Stephen Fry started to narrate chapter one, I fell in love with words and all they could achieve...

Psychology Personal Statement Example 2 Psychology surrounds us. I often observe my class mates and ask myself why they are so different, struggling with attention or eating disorders. While looking for reasons, I also want to find ways to help them and I am confident that psychology will give me the means to do so...

Politics and International Relations Personal Statement Example 4 The era in which we live goes through constant turmoil and shifting powers. Not a day goes by without a change somewhere on our planet, which in turn has an effect on yet another change to come elsewhere...

Education and Drama Personal Statement Example (Oxbridge) "I shall have poetry in my life. And adventure. Unbiddable, ungovernable, like a riot in the heart, come ruin or rapture." Perhaps one should not begin with the words of another when presenting oneself, but as an actress, utilising the words of others is something that has become second nature...

Psychology Personal Statement Example 6 It was the odd behavioural traits displayed by my uncle, who has Asperger’s syndrome that first generated from a young age my questioning about why he acted so ‘differently’ to the rest of us. This was part of what led to my interest of studying psychology, as it made me question how and why humans are so disparate from one another, and what part the brain plays in running our everyday lives...

Politics & International Relations Personal Statement Example 2 It was November 1989. My parents were rattling their keys in the main square of Bratislava with other Czechoslovak youngsters asking for the democracy that was denied by the Communist regime. They raised me in an environment, where appreciation of freedom, expressing my thoughts and being an active citizen have been essential...

Mathematics and Physics Personal Statement Example 1 Mathematics is a fundamental tool for understanding our world: it can be used to define the symmetry of flowers or to manage global companies. What is so appealing about mathematics is the opportunity of applying it in the physical world...

Aerospace Engineering Personal Statement Example 1 Fire, the wheel, boats, book printing, electricity, engines, automobiles, planes, spaceships, wireless information transfer: engineering is determining this progress. Leading engineers are the creators of our future...

Maths and Spanish Personal Statement Example For as long as I have recognised words and numbers, I have seen a connection between the two. As I progressed in the AS Mathematics course I realised how drawn I was to the subject, motivating me to spend 2 weeks at school over the summer holidays learning 2 entire AS Further Maths modules, in order to take the full A-level course in one year...

Languages Personal Statement Example 10 At the age of eight, a friend introduced me to Guy Hamilton's 1969 film 'Battle of Britain'. This instilled in me two things: my doomed childhood ambition to be a Spitfire pilot, long since grudgingly abandoned, but also, perhaps ironically, a love for the sound and feel of the German language that has stayed with me all through the intervening decade...

English Personal Statement Example (Mature Student) Having worked on a secure psychiatric unit for two years, caring for many people unable to or precluded from following their dreams due to mental illness, as well as over a decade employed in positions just to pay the bills, I am finally pursuing my dream of becoming a published novelist...

History Personal Statement Example 7 It isn't an exaggeration to say my devotion to History has moulded me into the diligent and ambitious person I am today. History continues to shape our contemporary world and my opinions have been formed from an intellectual curiosity about the resonances between the past and the present...

Chemistry Personal Statement Example 2 Science is not just a subject taken in school, or a body of knowledge; it is a state of mind as well – always inquisitive and wondering. As a child, the world around me constantly captivated me and inspired questions, and I found delight in having my questions answered, always wanting to learn more, from fundamental particles, to atoms and molecules, to organisms, planets, and the universe...

Anthropology Personal Statement Example 2 My fascination with human behaviour and the motivations behind human actions has existed for most of my adult life, to determine a cause however I would accredit this to the voluntary work I participated in with Crisis Single Persons Homeless charity...

Mathematics and Economics Personal Statement Example 2 Every day we make decisions and interact with others; the laws of economics help us make rational choices and consider the irrationality of others, as well as understand the world better. Maths and statistics are the necessary tools for me to understand the modern economics...

Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Example 2 The ability to apply what I have learnt in the classroom to the outside world is an aspect of physics and maths that I particularly enjoy. An example of this was being able to calculate the coefficient of friction between a book and a table, by knowing the weight and measuring the angle at which it started to move...

Pure Mathematics Personal Statement Example Mathematics is beautiful to me because of the deep and meaningful ideas touched upon by it, the vastness of these ideas, the clearness and elegance of their representation. Mathematics gives me the ability to apply knowledge by approaching things logically, and thinking clearly...

Civil Engineering Personal Statement Example 9 Civil engineering is a discipline which is essential in the modern world: roads, bridges, airports, railways, sewage works and power stations all provide the fabric of today's society, and without them the world would be a very different place...

Mathematics and Engineering Personal Statement Example Questions regarding the reason for my liking of mathematics have only one answer: mathematical logic and concepts contribute to a practical approach in every aspect of life. It is the diversity and universal applicability of this subject that encourages me to delve further and study it in depth...

Maths and Science Personal Statement Example Maths and science, in particular physics, have always been my favourite subjects in school. I have an inquisitive mind and am always asking "how?" and "why?" to find out how things work. I chose maths, physics and biology for my A levels, yet only realised I wanted to do engineering when I started studying topics such as mechanics...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 48 Given that over ninety nine percent of the body consists of just six elements, it is hard to imagine the human body as an intricately synchronised and immensely complex machine. Yet, it has done well to puzzle even the brightest minds in history-but I am drawn to a challenge; I cannot think of anything else more fascinating to work with...

Geography Personal Statement Example (Human/Environmental) The possibility of the human race’s days being numbered by our destructive lifestyles, as planted in my mind by Al Gore’s sensationalised and controversial ‘The Inconvenient Truth’, has fuelled my interest in the global warming phenomenon, forcing me to question society’s reluctance to tackle it and realise the worldwide impact of each of our daily lives...

Psychology Personal Statement Example 51 There is a reason behind everything we do, a purpose to our actions. The cognition behind any decision that we make is one of the many aspects of psychology that I am fascinated by. The following five words, as said by the Prophet Muhammad, I believe explain such a suggestion: "Actions are but by intentions"...

Mathematics Personal Statement Example 12 Mathematics is at the root of many academic subjects, such as mechanics in Physics, organic Chemistry and even Music and this is why I find it so fascinating. The process of starting from a simple set of formulae and deriving nearly all mathematical truth from these is what makes Mathematics a leading academic subject...

Engineering Personal Statement Example 20 Overcoming economic hurdles tempered by ecological limits requires innovative solutions. For centuries mathematical and analytical skills have fused to solve practical problems. The diverse nature of engineering has made advancements possible in an array of fields from the wheel to The International Space Station...

Architecture Personal Statement Example 16 I vividly remember the moment when I knew I wanted to be an architect. I had been taken to Barcelona to see ‘the wavy buildings’, at the time I didn’t know anything about Gaudí or his work so I was relatively unenthusiastic...

History Personal Statement Example 37 My interest in history lies in the simple fact that I have always been fascinated by the past. At eleven I won a full academic bursary to attend my current school. This was a way into a community in which my intellectual curiosity would be valued and where I could further my enthusiasm for history...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 61 While the idea to care for others is appealing to me, the applications of medicine for finding remedies to the complexities of the human body fascinates me even more. Studying medicine opens several career options from general practice to clinical research! Having the interest and aptitude for scientific knowledge and the awareness to promote health safety, it encourages me to choose this highly rewarding and satisfying course...

Aerospace Engineering Personal Statement Example 17 While other children fell asleep to the sound of their parents reading them bedtime fairytales, I was busy re-reading Ladybirds Explorer’s, “Flight” for probably the fourth time that day. I’ve been enthralled by the concept of flight and aerodynamics ever since I was young...

Chemistry Personal Statement Example 17 The realisation I wanted to study Chemistry at degree level came with my growing appreciation of its contribution and significance in shaping modern society, coupled with an increasing interest in the subject as my knowledge and understanding have developed...

History Personal Statement Example 40 History has always fascinated me because of what it can tell us about humanity; the decisions taken, the actions chosen and the mistakes made can all make us reflect on what it means to be human. I firmly believe history is not simply a case of learning facts and dates but rather a chance to analyse the past, enhancing our understanding of how we interact with each other today...

Maths Personal Statement Example 12 Mathematics dictates our understanding of the universe; the sciences that the world depends on today are founded and dependant on maths. Scientists and mathematicians spend their lives making remarkable discoveries contributing to the development of humanity, the findings we have been making in fields like quantum mechanics would be completely impossible without maths...

English Personal Statement Example 30 English is not simply the study of humanity, or society, or history or the written word; it is all of those together and it is this versatility that makes it so appealing to me. The link between literary criticism and psychoanalysis is a great interest of mine...

Psychology Personal Statement Example 67 I first became interested in psychology whilst discussing the underlying causes of criminal behaviour and non-conformity with my father. The nature-nurture debate gave me a huge desire to increase my knowledge and understanding of the human condition...

Economics Personal Statement Example 31 Since my parents were busy with the financial income throughout my childhood, I have been raised up by my grandmother. She was the oldest of 8 siblings in a family who were living in impoverished conditions...

Natural Sciences Personal Statement Example 4 Why and How? I believe these are the two most important question words as they express mankind’s unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and they have lain the foundation of sciences and have helped us find answers and solutions to problems throughout history from the domestication of fire to Darwin’s theory of evolution, to landing on the moon and so on...

Archaeology Personal Statement Example 6 I have always enjoyed learning about different cultures and civilisations, reflected in my enduring love of history, and more recently, archaeology. Compared to modern history, archaeology carries a sense of enigma which makes it much more stimulating for an imaginative and inquisitive mind...

Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Example 19 These days, we are surrounded by engineering marvels. From radios to space shuttles, everything involves a vital feat of engineering. That is what I find most attractive about this field as its application is everywhere...

Land Economy Personal Statement Example (Cambridge University) Having been born and lived all my life in Hungary, with an English father and Hungarian mother, I have always wanted to go to university in England and spend most of my summers working in England. Being bilingual gives me an ability to see both sides of the question, and examine things from different perspectives which I feel will be useful for my studies...

Engineering Personal Statement Example 23 As I triggered the release mechanism and watched two pounds of rock hurtle skywards I thought to myself, "trebuchets are awesome!". Years passed before I realised that this was my first engineering project...

Engineering Personal Statement Example 24 When I was a child, most of the sentences I spoke out finished with a question mark, asking how everyday things work. Receiving answers to these questions and learning more about Mathematics and Physics has enlarged my desire to make human life easier and become an Engineer...

Linguistics Personal Statement Example 3 Have you ever heard the Tuvan throat singing technique? Beautiful and intriguing at the same time. The question that's bound to accompany a throat singing performance is how the human voice could possibly produce such a sound...

Computer Science Personal Statement Example 56 Computer Science - the most exciting insight into humanity's mission to conquer the future. It has been my favourite and most fascinating preoccupation since childhood, though back then I did not even know it...

History Personal Statement Example (Oxbridge) 2 Whether considering the real world applications of Bentham's utilitarianism in Religious Studies, analysing the context of a changing Victorian society in English Literature, or debating the evolving ideology of the Labour Party in Politics, there is one common thread connecting what I enjoy most about my studies: history...

Sociology Personal Statement Example 14 The need for the study of Sociology in society is, arguably, universally fundamental. The study of society is of paramount importance in solving social problems of great magnitude such as poverty and family disorganisation...

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For example, Brighton and Sussex say they will not use your Personal Statement in the selection process – whereas others, like King’s College London , will look at it when considering applicants to shortlist for interview.

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It’s important that you know how your target Medical Schools will use your Personal Statement, so you can decide how much effort to put into it.

For example, if you’re applying to universities that won’t use the Personal Statement for shortlisting candidates at all, you may be wiser to dedicate more time to preparing for the UCAT or BMAT . Likewise, if you’re applying to universities that place a greater emphasis on your Personal Statement for Medicine, you’ll need to really scrutinise how you structure and how you write your Personal Statement to boost your chances.

How Every Med School Uses Personal Statements

This table sums up what Medical Schools are currently saying about how they will use your Personal Statement. For more detail, and for the most up-to-date information, make sure you check their websites directly.

Once you understand how your Personal Statement for Medicine will be used, it’s time to start planning it to ensure your application is as strong as possible.

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Graduate Entry Medicine Personal Statement – Samah (Cambridge)

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This is part of a series where we share successful Medicine Personal Statements. Here’s Samah’s Graduate Entry Medicine Personal Statement as referenced in the guide and Q&A video with Ali Abdaal below. Enjoy!

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 .

Graduate Entry Medicine guide and Q&A with Ali Abdaal

Samah is a 3rd year Graduate Entry Medic at Cambridge University – you’ll hopefully find her advice very helpful.

Personal Statement Inspiration & Examples Articles

Dentistry Personal Statement Examples – KCL (Emmy)

Dentistry Personal Statement Examples – KCL (Saif)

Dentistry Personal Statement Examples – Cardiff (Eera)

Dentistry Personal Statement Examples – Barts (Malikha)

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Nottingham (Aymen)

Graduate Medicine Personal Statement Example – Barts Medical School

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Graduate Entry Medicine Personal Statement Analysis

My determination to become a doctor comes from a strong interest in cardiovascular physiology, having lost all my grandparents to heart disease. Focussing on physiological systems and pharmacology in my degree, I have learnt to appreciate the depth of knowledge required to treat patients. Volunteering has fuelled my enthusiasm for caring for others whilst shadowing placements have given me a grasp of a doctor’s life and reinforced my commitment to medicine.

I witnessed the challenges doctors face delivering difficult news, such as when a couple struggling to conceive received the diagnosis of polycystic ovaries. The GP’s approach in dealing with the patient’s concerns showed me the importance of empathy and patient autonomy as he outlined treatment options. Observing orthopaedic surgeries exemplified the need for communication and teamwork in a multi-disciplinary team. I was inspired by the surgeon’s ability to make important decisions during surgery, a high-pressure environment, to reduce post-operative complications. Attending teaching sessions for junior doctors and the monthly Morbidity and Mortality review helped me understand how essential continuous learning is for doctors to stay abreast of medical advances and to minimise errors in patient care. By conversing with junior doctors, I learnt about the stresses of working long hours and rewarding aspects like discharging successfully treated patients. The varied nature of medical cases encountered and the range of roles a doctor’s job includes particularly attracted me.

Due to my interest in the complex pathogenesis of cardiac failure, I explored the academic basis for medical research through an optional dissertation on endogenous cardiotonic steroids by critically evaluating evidence for two conflicting views on their mechanism of action. I also organised a laboratory internship across two summers to research their role in uraemic cardiomyopathy to gain a deeper understanding. My research gave me insight into potential new therapies to treat the condition, highlighting how current research can translate into medical advances. This has excited and motivated me to pursue an academic career in medicine. It demonstrated the need for both constant improvement of existing therapies and innovation of new treatments to better practice patient beneficence.

As Team Leader for the Bedside Play Volunteers scheme in a children’s hospital, I have built my leadership skills, coordinating volunteer shifts and dealing with issues like low resources by improvising with new activities. For many years I have volunteered at the Alzheimer’s Society’s annual Memory Walk in memory of my grandmother. Supporting my local community of Alzheimer’s patients at monthly cafés has been rewarding as I can really connect with them. This has helped me develop patience and an empathetic manner. I have enjoyed mentoring students as a King’s Widening Participation Student Ambassador and e-mentor. Helping others to maximise their potential has improved my communication skills and I have taken this further in my role as Peer Support Coordinator for the Biomedical Sciences Society.

My enthusiasm for keeping fit motivated me to restart KCL FITE Club to address the lack of female-only exercise classes at university. It has given me great satisfaction as President to motivate a large committee, supporting them in their new roles. I find baking therapeutic and bake for charity events, including organising the annual Charity Week Bakeoff. Passing the King’s Leadership Award has allowed me to develop my leadership, teamwork and communication skills. I have learnt to use efficient time management skills to balance these activities with my degree.

My work experience and volunteering have strengthened my commitment to this intellectually challenging, yet highly rewarding career. I believe I have the academic aptitude, enthusiasm and motivation to become a doctor whilst contributing to medical research.

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A Trainee’s Guide: Crafting a Personal Statement for Laboratory Medicine Fellowship Applications

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Ria C Fyffe-Freil, Joesph R Wiencek, A Trainee’s Guide: Crafting a Personal Statement for Laboratory Medicine Fellowship Applications, The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine , Volume 9, Issue 5, September 2024, Pages 1091–1094, https://doi.org/10.1093/jalm/jfae067

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There are many unique paths that can lead an individual to the field of laboratory medicine. For some, the profession may be a natural sequence from their current work or research, and for others, the trail might be much more challenging at first to locate. Common paths to the field usually fall into 2 categories: medical doctors (MD, DO, MBBS) and doctorate-degree holders (PhD, DCLS, etc.). For medical doctors, a pathology residency is completed; then subspecialization can be pursued. Doctoral trainees, on the other hand, may be required to use an online tool such as myIDP to explore scientific career options based on aptitude and values ( 1) or may uncover the field by word-of-mouth. Regardless of route, once a prospective trainee commits to a vocation in lab medicine, there is ultimately no reversing course. Fortunately, to help navigate prospective trainees through the process, there are countless individuals in academic, private, and industry job settings who are ready to inspire the next generation by paying it forward. In this laboratory reflection, the goal is to provide some practical advice for one of the most critical aspects of the process—the laboratory medicine fellowship application stage, specifically the personal statement (or letter of intent). And while this piece focuses on clinical chemistry fellowships (as this is what both authors completed), the personal statement “do’s and do not’s” apply more broadly to any clinical laboratory medicine fellowship. Of note, aside from clinical chemistry, there are clinical fellowship opportunities in microbiology, biochemical genetics, laboratory genetics and genomics, as well as clinical immunology/human leukocyte antigen specialties.

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Before applying, applicants need to check that they have, or are likely to achieve, the right grades at the right level and in the right subjects for the course they have chosen. See Entry requirements for general requirements of entry.

It's important that students also check the requirements of their course, as these can vary slightly between Colleges. For example, some Colleges might ask for an A* in a particular subject. Please encourage students to check the course page for their chosen subject carefully - all variations are listed there.

All undergraduate admissions decisions are the responsibility of the Cambridge Colleges. Queries about College-specific requirements should be directed to the relevant College admissions office .

Submitted work

For some courses, applicants may be asked to submit examples of written work produced during their A level/IB (or equivalent) course. This work might be discussed during their interview so students should submit work they’re happy to discuss. They should also keep copies of anything they send so they can re-read it in preparation.

Details of which Colleges require submitted work are included on each course page. Please check the entry requirements tab. The submitted work requirements for some courses may vary by College so students should check the entry requirements tab before applying.

If submitted work is required, the College will advise the student on exactly what is needed, and where and when it should be sent. The deadline is usually mid-November. If an applicant has any queries, they should contact their College’s Admissions Office for clarification.

Students will need to complete a cover sheet confirming that the written work is their own and detailing the circumstances in which it was written. They will also be asked to provide the name of a teacher who can be contacted about the work, if necessary.

Helping students with their personal statement

Personal statements allow students to tell us about their subject interest, and the process of writing a personal statement can often help a student better understand their academic interests and intellectual motivations. For guidance on what to include, we advise you to follow the UCAS advice on personal statements . See also, our article on How to write a great personal statement .

Admissions decisions at Cambridge are based solely on academic criteria (ability and potential). Personal statements may be  used as a basis for discussion at interview.  In a personal statement we are looking for applicants to:

• explain their reasons for wanting to study the subject
• demonstrate their enthusiasm for and commitment to their chosen course
• express any particular interests within the field
• outline how they have pursued their interest in the subject in their own time

How important are extra-curricular activities?

Our admissions decisions are based on academic criteria (ability and potential) and we expect to see evidence of students’ wider engagement with areas of academic interest, such as reading and other exploration relevant to the course for which they've applied. Extra-curricular activities which are of no relevance to the course will not increase a student's chances of receiving an offer. 

If, however, particular extra-curricular activities have enable a student to develop transferable skills, such as organisation or time management, then these can be included in their personal statement. Such activities might include significant caring responsibilities or paid employment, which can help us fully contextualise an application, as well as sport, physical activity, music, drama and volunteering.

Cambridge-specific comments

Applicants can make additional comments relevant to their Cambridge application in their additional questionnaire ( My Cambridge Application ), for instance to highlight particular features of the Cambridge course that attracted them.

This additional personal statement is optional, applicants will not be disadvantaged if they have nothing to add and should be advised not to repeat information they provided in their UCAS personal statement as we will have already received a copy of this.

Helping students prepare for their interview

Interviews are discussion-based, and predominantly academic and subject-related, so applicants will be asked questions:

• that are relevant to the course they applied for
• about the information provided in the written elements of their application

You can help students prepare by encouraging them to talk with confidence and enthusiasm about their subject and wider interests. A mock interview can be helpful to give the experience of expressing ideas and opinions in response to unknown questions. Students are not expected to have ready-prepared answers; indeed, over-rehearsed answers can be counterproductive if students are preoccupied with recalling set speeches on general topics rather than listening to the interviewers’ questions and responding accordingly.

Students should be encouraged to read broadly in the areas of their A level/IB Higher Level (or equivalent) subjects and must be prepared to think quite hard in their interviews but should be reminded that often there are no right or wrong answers to the questions they are asked. It is the process of reaching their answer that is generally of most significance, rather than the answer itself.

It is important for applicants to realise that interviewers will not be trying to ‘catch them out’, but will be challenging them to think and show how they can apply their existing knowledge and skills laterally to less familiar problems.

It is also important for students to understand that their performance at interview alone does not determine the outcome of their application. Admissions decisions are made holistically, taking all available information into account.

You should encourage your students to check the information and short films on our interviews pages so they can make sure they are fully prepared and know what to expect, well in advance of their interview date. 

If the student you're supporting has a disability and needs to request adjustments for interview, they can do so by completing a Request for Adjustment at Interview form. The interviewing College will provide this. It's important that applicants complete the form in full and return it by the relevant deadline so that support arrangements can be made.

• HE+ website

The HE+ website is for students looking to expand their subject knowledge outside of the taught curriculum. The website is host to fascinating self-study resources written by Cambridge academics and postgraduates to give potential applicants an introduction to university level learning and independent study.

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