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Medicine personal statement
From an early age I have been fascinated by the workings of life. The human body is a remarkable machine with many diverse systems producing an organism that could never be artificially reproduced. My love of science is just one of my reasons for choosing medicine. I enjoy a challenge particularly towards a rewarding objective and although medicine is a tough career it can be enormously gratifying, highlighted by the doctors I have spoken to during my experience and on a personal level.
To further my insight into the medical field I participated in a work shadowing week at a GP surgery. I gained a valuable understanding of the workings of the surgery, with opportunities to observe and speak to the doctors regarding a medical career. I arranged another placement week myself at a local hospital, which was a superb opportunity to observe medicine from another point of view. I observed the ward rounds, an MRI scan, a skin biopsy and an endosocpy clinic all which I found interesting. I spent the most time with the haematology team, responsible for patients with diseases such as Chronic Myelogenous Leukaemia (CML), haematology being one of my interests it was captivating that I could see the specialty from a more complex side than the AS biology course. For example I was able to understand how the level of platelets affects blood clotting. Throughout the week I expanded my confidence and communication skills through speaking to patients and doctors. Although I enjoyed the week it was at times extremely heart-rending, I was able to get close to many of the terminally ill patients helping and caring for them where I could, getting them tea or just talking and empathising with them to build their spirits. I volunteered at a local home for the elderly which was very rewarding as I built my caring skills, helping residents by making them tea or playing cards with them. At school I took part in a paired reading scheme for 6 months where I was able to help young children to read, speaking and listening to them to help their English. All my experience has made me more determined to accomplish my ambition to be a doctor.
My love of science and aspiration for a medical career is reflected in my A-Level choices where good time management, self motivated study skills and ability to cope with stress and pressure are essential. Biology and chemistry have helped me further my interest and develop my analytical skills, maths helps my problem solving skills helping me to work logically and ICT gives me a valuable insight into the rapidly developing technological world where computers are crucial. I believe all the qualities I have developed through my courses are essential for any good doctor.
I have participated in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme which enabled me to achieve a first aid certificate including cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. I also enhanced my inter-personal, communication and team building abilities, valuable skills for any medical occupation, as I witnessed during my experience. For 2 years I have volunteered at a local vet hospital observing and helping out 2 hours per week communicating with the public in a different environment. I enjoy reading, mainly factual books to expand my general knowledge. To relax, I enjoy sports including football, and cricket for which I was captain of the school team and my local team for the past 3 years improving my leadership skills. I also recently rekindled my childhood passion for golf, another pastime I enjoy even if it is a little expensive!
I am a self motivated, determined individual and I look forward to the social and academic challenges of university. I am aware of the demands of a medical career but my commitment and desire to become a doctor has only been strengthened through my experience and work in a voluntary capacity.


Comments
If you have any comments or questions about this personal statement, tell the author and other students by posting your thoughts below.
Comment on this personal statement
Comment by guest at 17:50:10 20/08/2004
hi, i think this statement was excellent but i find it hard to believe that u managed to fit all that in the space allocated for the personal statement
MY STATEMENT by Daveo at 21:51:52 21/08/2004
Hiya, this is my personal statement, thanks for your comments. It did fit into the space on the UCAS form, i'm sure it did, it must have done. If you want some help please make use of the personal statement review section of this site and I will be happy to help.
Comment by guest at 18:41:02 28/08/2004
wow how do you do soo much and write so much and make it all fit? Your PS is really good and it's got everything in without making it boring! I'm not so good at keeping my reader's interest :( Daveo what's the medicine course like? Is it fun?
Comment by peaceful_blossom at 19:19:18 28/08/2004
Really good (excellent) personal statement. Must have taken quites some time towrite. I'm in the process of writing mine's but I'm really stuck.
I really like the way in which you stuctured everything and how it flows together.
Comment by Daveo at 19:35:57 29/08/2004
Thanks again for the comments, I must firstly say how much work it too me to get to this statement, It was about my 25th draft, my first draft resembled a short book and was about as readable as a german opera type thing. I worked at it slowly over a period of about 2 months redoing bits to make them sound how I wanted them to and it obviously worked and was definately worth it as the medicine course is EXCELLENT!
Comment by guest at 22:19:13 02/09/2004
wow!how on earth did u fit all that in! excellent statement, no hope for the rest of us!!
Comment by guest at 18:23:48 05/09/2004
I am coming at this from a slightly different angle from you being a graduate, and your personal statement does read very well. But there are a few points which I would not include, such as "the human body could never be artificially reproduced". Have you done your research on this statement, never say never... Also I have worked with terminally ill patients on an oncology ward and can you really say that you get to know these people well in the short space of 1 week, I think admissions tutors will think otherwise..
But apart from constructive comments above, I think its very good
Comment by guest at 11:29:39 13/09/2004
What uni's did you get accepted into?
I've just applied to sheffield, liverpool, Bute and Southampton and this ps has helped me quite a bit in structuring my ps. It's always nice to see a finished product when you're trying to build something.
Comment by Daveo at 23:21:26 16/09/2004
In response to the previous comment, my personal statement really can't be that bad as I used it to a high degree of sucess last year. I got interviews at all 4 of my universities, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, and Manchester where I start my second year tomorrow! I also got 2 offers for biomedical science ....soo if you still think its rubbish then you i'd love to read your efforts.
Comment by guest at 15:10:13 28/09/2004
This is an excellent example of a p.s- its helped me a lot! Thankyou!
Comment by guest at 18:45:42 28/09/2004
Although im not actually applying for medicine, i read your personal statement just because there were none posted for pharmacy and i thought it was brilliant. Where are all the pharmacists??? PLEASE someone show me a personal statement for pharmacy!
Comment by guest at 14:56:40 06/07/2005
WELL STRUCTURED AND FLOWS. this is really good
Comment by guest at 17:21:28 07/10/2005
I think this is the best ps I have ever read in my life.But wait until you see mine.
From Beth by guest at 18:43:30 07/10/2005
Hi congratulations on yr success, im a chemistry graduate applying for veterinary medicine. your personal statement shows a great structure and a flawless read! i hope mine sounds as good!
Ohh and after all the comments of it being too large to fit in the ucas space, i checked and it does...3845 characters (4000 being max allowed). well done!
thanks by guest at 18:06:26 13/10/2005
ur personal statement helped me alot, thanx. itz perfect - no surprise u got unconditional offers
thank you by guest at 19:51:27 04/05/2006
thank you soo much beccause ur personal statemaent helped me with mine and i want to say thank you. not forgetting to tell how good it was. i was very much inpresed
Comment by guest at 17:17:09 07/05/2006
I found this P.S very clear and concise,it is well articulated and you evidently demonstrated how well informed you are on your chosen subject of study,congrats and well done!!!!!!!!
Comment by guest at 17:26:17 20/06/2006
Hi your ps is really good and i was wondering what did you get in your GCSEs and Alevels
Comment by guest at 14:19:12 03/07/2006
Would this be an example of a good personal statement?
Comment by guest at 16:57:00 20/08/2006
well written good statement
Comment by guest at 20:39:24 28/08/2006
this personal statement is great! i really need help with mine. i'm taking a gap year only beacuse i was rejected by all my universities but now i have my 3 A's and am going to apply again to manchester, birm, hull york and liverpool.
Comment by guest at 22:54:39 28/08/2006
This is a really excellent ps, its well structured, concise but detailed but not boring either!Thank you as this has really helped me to structure my own ps. You really deserved your offers!Can i ask what grades you got in your A levels?
its similar to wot i av done by guest at 14:18:20 16/09/2006
its really good n gvin me an idea how to start dis personal statement n how to gather all my experiences n put them onto my ucas forum
Comment by guest at 14:34:53 17/09/2006
Hey, awesome PS and congrats about Manchester! I was just wonderign what your AS results and predicted grades were? Becuase I'm applying this year and only have 3As and a B so I'm a bit worried :-(
gr8 by guest at 23:55:29 18/09/2006
very well written. my experiences are surprisingly similiar to yours so i am hoping for the best. Do you think you should have focussed a bit more on your interests as i am struggling with space on my ps.
A perfect Statement!! by guest at 16:06:27 21/09/2006
Very well written, i must say...
by the way...Which uni did you apply to??.. did u get your placement...
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!! by guest at 16:43:48 21/09/2006
thank you! iv been searching for a personal statement that was a bit like mine and i've finally found it. u r about to help me so much and i just thought il'd let u know!!!!Well done with getting accepted at so many places. Out of interest i was wondering if you could tell me how many lectures you have a week and how many hours work outside of lectures do you put in? i no this probanly sounds like I havent put any research in but I just wanted to know first hand off a student. :)
Comment by guest at 30/09/2006 04:53:51
Well done!
cheers m8! by guest at 16/10/2006 20:38:07
this was soo useful writing my PS that i basically copied yours, Thanks! Yid Army!!
hello by guest at 26/01/2007 20:18:47
hi. i just wanted to say that this PS is absolutely excellent. i am currenly in year 11 and studying towards my GCSE's, and i have always wanted to possess a medicine-based career since i was about 5 years of age. i m 16 now and still my desire to become a doctor is still very strong! i needed a bit of help for writing a PS for admission for college, along with a cv. i've done the cv and i love it! but all i needed now was how to put my PS together. after reading ths one, i m amazed. thanks for the help cz after reading this, my PS actually turned out to be one of the best out of all my class-fellows. thanks once again
Flattered by Daveo at 11/03/2007 09:41:33
I'm flattered but also quite shocked to have recently read the opening line of my PS in the Times. It seems many of the people who liked my PS also thought it was ok to steal it. I'm not particularly bothered about this although I am slightly disgusted but at the same time quite flattered.
Comment by guest at 11/04/2007 15:33:00
This is a good example of how NOT to write.
Excellent !! Need help and suggestions.. by guest at 28/04/2007 12:45:03
read your PS..brilliant..I am writing mines and I need it to be revised by you and your suggestions will be of great help to me.Please respond - My email address is drfungus@gmail.com.If i get your mail address, I will send my PS to you for suggestion and changes.
regards,
Arun.
Error by guest at 06/05/2007 23:06:36
If you are going to mention CML, at least get it right
my friend copied this by guest at 20/05/2007 15:38:00
a friend of mine copied your statement and got caught. but i must say yours is very good.
I need help Daveo!!! by guest at 12/06/2007 19:03:49
Hi Daveo, first of all congratulations! I read your PS and I was absoultely amazed. I am a Spanish student and I am applying to study medicine next year, but honestly I'm a little bit lost and I don't know how can I write thw ps!!! I would be very grateful if you could give me a hand... Thanks a lot! My e.mail is ethelromera@hotmail.com
well done by guest at 16/06/2007 12:40:28
well done for this excellent and well structured personal statemnt. is it ok if i snatch a few sentences but put them in my own words?
Comment by Daveo at 14/07/2007 10:38:11
Anyone that copied my statement here deserves to get caught. It isn't here to be copied, it is here to be an example. If you can't manage to put something together yourself then you're going to be awful doctors.
Also, to the person who said its NOT an example of a good personal statement. I've got a history of 4 interviews, 4 offers and being about to start my 5th yr at med school so it can't be that bad!
And yes, it would seem that I used the American version of CML, silly me.
conny by guest at 19/07/2007 01:50:58
i don no how to strt my ps coz i need help and idon no if it too early to do it for entry in 2008
a bit cliche by guest at 24/07/2007 08:03:08
Structure was nice, flowed well...but it's really cliche "my love of science and the body..ect" I mean it is assumed that you enjoy science and medicine.
thanks! and help.. by guest at 04/08/2007 19:24:15
hey... i gota say this is a really good statement... 25th draft!? wow lol, but ofcourse it was worth it in the end... im in year 12 goin to 13 now and currently applying for medicine ... and i am structuring my personal statement based on yours.
But im having problems on what i can say about my subject a levels, maths chemistry biology and physics (nearly same as yours lol) so can u help?
i also havnt done that many awards which is a shame, i shuld have started the duke of edinburgh 2 years ago :P
but MAINLY: im nervous about the interview, was it really that hard or nerve racking? can you tel me how long it was, and what type of questions they asked you? thanks alot
plz reply
Gem by guest at 11/08/2007 11:49:16
your statement is very, very good. i'm currently compiling my own, hopefully for entry in 2008. i'm taking chemistry, biology, politics and english, (eclectic mix, i know), but i think i'm falling into the trap of having too much to write..
hmm by guest at 24/08/2007 17:30:37
It's a well structured personal statement but I highly doubt the magazine "TIME" copied your opening line. I think it needs a bit of work on grammar and some of your sentences seem too long. And yes the part where you said you got to know the patients well after only a week seems quite phoney but other than that it's alright. Good luck in your second year of study at Manchester
WOW by guest at 30/08/2007 15:46:51
this PS has got to be one of the best i have read, it is so well structered without any useless information. Very well done and i hope you got your place.:)
:) by guest at 07/09/2007 15:08:30
From reading that i can tell you are going to be a good doctor, and it has been wonderful reading about what you have done. I have no intetions of copying any of it at all, because i believe that a personal statement is just too personal for it not to come from the heart. Especially with medicine. All the best for the years to come!
I NEED HELP! by guest at 11/09/2007 10:21:57
I seriously need help for my personal statement to apply for medicine. I stated but it is hard and your essay looks fantastic.
make it personal by guest at 12/09/2007 17:34:31
i think this is a good statement, perhaps a bit lighthearted at times which is probably best to avoid; but he seems to have no probs getting in.
my advice do what the title suggests, make it personal! write about personal experience, not what someone else has done, even if it does sound more impressive. and do not lie! you WILL be found out!
Awesome, Thank you for sharing it by guest at 17/09/2007 19:03:46
Well written, to the point, no wasted time. In short, near perfect. This is going to help me a lot despite being three + years old and me applying for a Chiropractic course.
You're sick.
flawless by guest at 21/09/2007 14:20:44
no further comment two words flawless and elite
unique and sexy by guest at 25/09/2007 16:09:38
i can't thank you enough for this personal statement. it always brings a smile to my face when i read this statement. thank you this will be really useful.
Comment by guest at 25/09/2007 19:50:21
the person that wrote the long comment is absolutely correct. 'miss i got the best personal statement is pretty big headed'.
Comment by guest at 29/09/2007 22:10:44
cool
Comment by guest at 04/10/2007 18:53:32
I like your statement. As has been said before, it has a good flow, accounts well for you personal experience and gives a pretty good sense of the kind of person you are.
But I also agree with some of the negative comments that have been made. Although it is hard not to fall into clichés, as all those aspiring to medical careers probably have close to the same motivations, your statement does seem rather hypocritical. In reading it attentively, one can see that you are rather proud of your accomplishments, which certainly isn't anything to be ashamed of, but you account for your life with a certain arrogance, paying more attention to what you might take from the people you attend, such as experience and qualities, rather than the satisfaction of giving to others, healing, and supporting the patients you might have cared for.
Therefore I am not certain that you as a person would enjoy persuing a career in medicine, where the purpose of your life is attending to those of others.
All the same I wish you luck in your futur.
Comment by guest at 07/10/2007 23:08:38
well done. It´s a very good PS. Please please can you help me with my PS. Here is my e-Mail: anaeem@web.de
superduper. by guest at 11/10/2007 11:44:00
wow.i would take you in.how long did this take you to wrtite?i only have today to do mine.im scared i wont get it as good as yours in that time space!
Comments by Daveo at 15/10/2007 21:09:51
Thanks again to everyone for the comments, I really enjoy coming back and reading them now and again (usually around application time)
To those that called me arrogant, i'm not really sure where that came from. In fact, in some ways I probably am arrogant, but in a completely different way to the vast majority of medical students.
Anyway, not to worry, i'm happy to take all comments on board including criticism, all I was saying by responding was that my statement had been successful. I could list loads of people who got 4 offers etc etc. I do like to point out to those who say its not a good statement that I did get offers but not to be arrogant.
Anyway thanks all, hope your applications go well. I'm doing my 5th year now and applying for my first job - guess what, another personal statemetn type thing to write.
good luck
woow by guest at 19/02/2008 13:12:03
hey this is really great PS
i was wondering if you can tell wat type of vulenteerin work would be great to do if i was to apply for medecine
WOW!!! by guest at 22/02/2008 21:18:25
This PS is excellent! i am in yr 11 and thinking about medicine.
i don't think i will ever be able to come up with a personal statment as good as that.
Just wandering: what grades did you get for your GCSEs?
Help =) by guest at 16/06/2008 10:49:49
Daveco, I am begining to panic over whether or not to do a medicine degree, and what i really need to know is, without meaning to sound rude, is it worth it? I was shocked by someone who told me about the work load and the amount of debt you get into, and that apparently you dont get a lot of free time- does this affect you? What are your views? Also love the personal statement, it's inspiring!
amazing by guest at 27/06/2008 11:17:35
thanx this helped me a lot and i think if people r slagging this off theyr eithr jealous or they cant read
good luck gettin a job
thnx 4 the help
Comment by guest at 28/06/2008 09:54:08
Have you done the BMAT and UKCAT?
How was it?
How do you register for BMAT?
Comment by Daveo at 10/07/2008 19:09:15
Just a little update. I graduated from Manchester medical school yesterday and am starting work as a Doctor on the 5th Aug. It seems a long long time since I wrote this.
Frenzy by guest at 01/08/2008 22:51:46
Hi hun great personal st8ment. Jus a question-hw do unis knw ur nt lying abt work expperience, ne1 can easily mk it up!!
feedbk needed!!!
XXXX
Comment by Bengal Tigeress at 06/08/2008 09:59:08
Wow, congratulations!! Obviously you spent the time and effort and it has evidently paid off!! Nice One!!
I think your personal statement is really kool and it has helped a lot. Also like to say, its nice to read ur replies!!
Thnx
bless yu by guest at 11/08/2008 14:34:09
u av done soo well no wonder u gt taken 4rm all ur unis, am jst abt 2 write myne n i dnt evn know how to start it but i got loadz of experience, newaiz i wish u all d best n ur deff gonna b a good doc
help by guest at 24/08/2008 23:12:55
hi great statement! im applying for medicine this year. i havnt got much work exp and i dont have a job. i really want a career in medicine but my application seems very weak.i would really appreciate your advice on what to do? thanks
:):) by guest at 31/08/2008 14:48:40
i have to write my personal statement on my ucas thingy in ... ummmm four days
and i havent started
i dont even know what i want to do yet.
but i've always wanted to do something to do with medicine.
i've been sitting here for about 3 hours.
and have blank paper.
but this ones REALLY good :)
xxxxxxxxxx
Comment by guest at 06/09/2008 13:33:49
its reli gud... iv got 9 days to complete my uni applications...i av no xperience n reli dont know where to start....
Comment by guest at 07/09/2008 11:17:36
wow you're a doctor now !!
your personal statement was really very good and it helped me to start mine off
it's nearly done now :)
i'm a little nervous though
anyways best of luck for the future and being an F1 doc :)
... by guest at 12/09/2008 13:31:32
Clearly, this is a very well written personal statement. Although people are criticizing your opening sentence, I think it's very good. However cliché it may appear, the medical schools have obviously been able to gather that it's a genuine reason. Well done xx
well i like it by aj at 14/09/2008 16:05:41
whats the point in knocking it down?
it's clearly gotten him into university, what more can any of you possibly ask for?
HELLO by guest at 15/09/2008 21:00:07
i know what i want to say... i just cant put it on a peice of paper.
dont know whether to include what happened on work experience... or just the general jist.
why is medicine so dam hard to get intoooooo....??!!
Comment by guest at 21/09/2008 14:33:53
this is an excellent personal statment. It is concise and highlights the essential qualities of an excellent doctor. It sounds academic without over doing it with long over the top complex vocab. the only thing i don't understand is that you had more characters but didn't use up all the avalible space.
Comment by guest at 24/09/2008 12:57:42
yoink cheers gd old copy and paste
serra_keles@hotmail.co.uk by guest at 29/09/2008 10:08:45
hi therem i tink this is a great cv, im goin to be applying to uni and i would really appreciate some tips, do you think you can help??? serra
Comment by guest at 01/10/2008 14:27:34
i didnt think this was a gd pesonal statement at all. mine is much better.
brilliant by guest at 07/10/2008 20:38:16
weldone mate but you could of been a wee bitty more detailed
Comment by guest at 09/10/2008 21:29:39
Excellent! Your experience at work placement is impressive.
??? by guest at 29/10/2008 09:55:26
this is a briliiant ps but did you really do all those work experiences, I mean by the age of 17 or 18? what uni did you get into?
Comment by guest at 18/12/2008 14:04:07
WELL DONE DEVEO.
WILL YOU HELP ME WITH MINE?
Comment by guest at 30/12/2008 17:31:39
Horrible grammar. But good statement.
Comment by guest at 08/01/2009 15:02:18
I just checked to see if this excellent personal statement fitted into the allocated amount required for a PS and it was just under the character requirements. Well done. If you're going to critisise, why don't you check for yourself, it's not difficult to copy and paste into a word document.
Comment by fts9 at 05/04/2009 21:51:28
This is a godsend. I had no idea where to start with my personal statement
Comment by guest at 13/05/2009 01:53:23
great writen statment
Comment by guest at 01/10/2009 14:23:27
impressive! well done!
i feel kinda depressed for mine now..
REALLY impressed... by guest at 06/10/2009 17:07:06
gosh..DID U VOLUNTEER AT EVERY LOCAL hOSPital..LOL..
but honestly speaking this is good i am trying to get mine at this standard but it's only half way there..AM freakiin out now..gOSH...nice work..
Comment by guest at 30/10/2009 11:38:11
How many characters can ou put in ucas application because this is 3844
Comment by guest at 07/11/2009 22:21:06
You're allowed 4000 characters max(with spaces)
Pretty good by guest at 15/12/2009 18:26:37
I am doing my personal statement on biology and i was wondering how i can cramp lots of ideas in one my ps. I think your personal statement has showed me how./
A word of warning. by guest at 30/12/2009 14:03:20
A very nicely written personal statement. A word of warning for people sourcing the best way to write a personal statement tho'. Medical School Selection boards regularly do what you are doing i.e. look at the internet to see what is out there! Taking great chunks of example statements and only changing the odd word or two makes for very boring reading.... and that is what so many people are doing !
I have just ploughed my way through 100s of applications that could all have been written by the same person and it was tedious in the extreem. So come on, lets have a little originality and stop going for the transparrent easy option!!!
perfect by guest at 04/01/2010 01:59:22
OMG! i swear i am in love with ur profile- its perfect! the statement demonstrates you being a perfect person for a doctor! congradulations!
hey wats the update with you now daveo? by guest at 22/01/2010 16:31:15
Comment by guest at 05/02/2010 13:51:00
Hi, i dont really believe what you have just written...
loser!
WOW!!! by :)..<3 at 23/02/2010 18:25:52
hi your statement is really impressive. i am in 4th year at high school and wondering when you started your volunteering. also im picking my subjects for 5th year and im stuck on whether to choose modern studies or french. any help? thanx
Comment by guest at 18/05/2010 22:27:02
I didn't read the whole thing I'm sure it was good. However, there were some spelling errors so for those of you who copied it I hope you used spell check. i.e. hematology and leukemia
Spelling by guest at 01/06/2010 13:56:30
The spelling is fine. The author is not using simplified American English.
Comment by guest at 12/07/2010 09:30:26
I uzd dis in myn 2.
Comment by guest at 13/07/2010 21:30:22
hi for my medicine statement should i inlcude more work experience stuff and what ive learnt from it to make me suitable to medicine. Also, how do i sell myself and make myself sound passionate fot medicine.
Comment by guest at 16/07/2010 13:44:33
This is a good statement.I really love it. Can you help me? Not for statement. This is my email id ladefash@yahoo.com.
hope to write from you soon.Thank
Comment by guest at 16/07/2010 13:49:21
This is a good statement.I really love it. Can you help me? Not for statement. This is my email id ladefash@yahoo.com.
hope to write from you soon.Thank
NEEDS MOAR COWBELL by guest at 02/09/2010 15:13:48
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
COWBELL.