Ancient history degree personal statement example (1c) Exeter offer

This is a real personal statement written by a student for their university application. It might help you decide what to include in your own. There are lots more examples in our collection of sample personal statements. 

The main inspiration to study ancient history came quite recently for me. For my AS year, I had, for the first time, an opportunity to study Classical Civilisation, one aspect of which involved an analysis of Cicero’s life and letters; a fascinating figure, through whom, by his personal letters to his friends and family, it is possible to have a private glimpse of the figures at the forefront of Roman politics during this intensely important period of Roman history. In one letter, sent in March 49, Cicero debates who to support in the civil war and questions the principles of national loyalty; the reaction to the formation of a tyrannical rule and whether war is justified in the removal of such a regime, a question that remains highly relevant today. It was after reading this that I finally saw the innate links that connect today’s society and politics with that of the ancient world. I believe attending university to study ancient history will broaden my understanding of the Greco-Roman world and offer opportunities to study aspects and periods that I have not before.

My reading often intertwines with the subject or figure with which I happen to be interested in at any given time, but I hold a preference for biographies of historical figures and philosophical works. Plato’s dialogues discuss characteristics of humanity that are relevant today, and provoke me to think further about the nature of things that are often taken for granted. I also enjoy political history; be it Cicero’s attacks on Mark Antony or Tiberius Gracchus campaigning for land redistribution, the political manoeuvrings of the ancient world can lend advice to today’s modern politicians. Ancient History, and classics in general, allow study of a wide variety of subject areas spanning a large time frame, and this depth and breadth would allow endless possibilities for study.

At college, I have been able to further my skills of debate and discussion by taking part in the college debating society, and hope to continue this at university. I feel it important to be active politically, and am a member of the Liberal Democrats. This enthusiasm for debate and discussion shows in my written essays, for which I have won an essay competition organised by the college for an essay on political ideologies in modern British politics. Furthermore, last year, I was able to participate in a college study trip to Greece, enabling a firsthand glimpse of several key areas of great importance in the ancient Greek world; visiting the sacred site of Delphi and the theatre of Epidaurus.

For recreation, I enjoy playing, and watching, cricket and golf and am a member of Surrey Cricket Club, regularly attending matches. I also enjoy walking and this summer had the opportunity to walk a section of the Appalachian Trail in North America. I also believe strongly in the preservation and conservation of Britain’s historically significant and architecturally spectacular buildings and I am a member of the National Trust and regularly visit a wide cross-section of their properties.

After university, I intend to work in the field of heritage management and conservation, possibly through museum work, for which I am currently arranging work experience, but am also considering the option of further study. I wish to study Ancient History primarily because of the captivating figures of the ancient world, which the degree programme will allow me to discover through the study of primary sources and the remains of the built environment, and believe my enthusiasm for discussion, debate and the literature, history, politics and architecture of the ancient world will allow me to succeed throughout all elements of the course.

Universities Applied to:

  • Exeter - Offer (AAB) Firm
  • KCL - Offer (AAB) Declined
  • Bristol - Offer (AAB) Declined
  • Cardiff - Offer (ABB) Insurance
  • Reading - Offer (ABB) Declined

Grades Achieved:

  • History (A2) - A
  • Computing (A2) - A
  • Classics (A2) - B
  • Physics (AS) - A
  • Politics (AS) - B

Comments

General Comments:

This is a fantastic personal statement, which is reflected in the number of offers the applicant received. This personal statement shows an excellent knowledge of ancient history and the multi-disciplinary approach to it. Interests outside of ancient history and classics is kept to a minimum, while still commenting on it. Furthermore, the statement doesn't contain unnecessary words or phrases and manages to, on the whole, avoid clichés and name dropping, instead expanding on each idea.

To begin with, sentences are a little messy and could do with some restructuring, however this improves greatly throughout the statement. A little more focus on Greece would be nice, but this is still an excellent statement regardless.

Comments on the statement:

The main inspiration to study ancient history came quite recently for me. This honesty is better than stating that the applicant has wanted to study the subject since birth. For my AS year, I had, for the first time, an opportunity to study Classical Civilisation, one aspect of which involved an analysis of Cicero’s life and letters; a fascinating figure, through whom, by his personal letters to his friends and family, it is possible to have a private glimpse of the figures at the forefront of Roman politics during this intensely important period of Roman history. Unfortunately, this sentence is just far too long and has more than its fair share of commas. However, the content is good - it shows that the applicant has good knowledge of key turning points and figures in ancient history. It also shows an awareness of the different types of sources, which is important in university-level history. In one letter, sent in March 49, Cicero debates who to support in the civil war and questions the principles of national loyalty; the reaction to the formation of a tyrannical rule and whether war is justified in the removal of such a regime, a question that remains highly relevant today. Once again, this shows a good understanding of the fall of the Roman Republic and through this an interest in the subject. This sentence is slightly better than the one preceding it but it would still benefit from being rearranged into something more succinct. It was after reading this that I finally saw the innate links that connect today’s society and politics with that of the ancient world. Whilst it is true that there are links between past and present, there are also huge differences I believe attending university to study ancient history will broaden my understanding of the Greco-Roman world and offer opportunities to study aspects and periods that I have not before.

My reading often intertwines with the subject or figure with which I happen to be interested in at any given time, but I hold a preference for biographies of historical figures and philosophical works. This sentence manages to show both depth and breadth of independent reading Plato’s dialogues discuss characteristics of humanity that are relevant today, and provoke me to think further about the nature of things that are often taken for granted. Rather than simply name dropping, as many applicants do, this statement goes on to say what they've learnt from it and then linked it to both the past and the present, which is fantastic I also enjoy political history; be it Cicero’s attacks on Mark Antony or Tiberius Gracchus campaigning for land redistribution, the political manoeuvrings of the ancient world can lend advice to today’s modern politicians. Once again, there's a display of good knowledge of the era. The only drawback is the concentration of the Roman Republic - some later or Greek history would make this statement even better Ancient history,No need to capitalise the H in history and classics in general, allow study of a wide variety of subject areas spanning a large time frame, and this depth and breadth would allow endless possibilities for study.

At college, I have been able to further my skills of debate and discussion by taking part in the college debating society, and hope to continue this at university. This is included well as the applicant has linked it to skills required for good essaying I feel it important to be active politically, and am a member of the Liberal Democrats. This enthusiasm for debate and discussion shows in my written essays, for which I have won an essay competition organised by the college for an essay on political ideologies in modern British politics. Furthermore, last year, I was able to participate in a college study trip to Greece, enabling a firsthand glimpse of several key areas of great importance in the ancient Greek world; visiting the sacred site of Delphi and the theatre of Epidaurus. Thus once more shows knowledge of the ancient world and also includes Greek history, removing the focus from the Roman Republic

For recreation, I enjoy playing, and watching, cricket and golf and am a member of Surrey Cricket Club, regularly attending matches. I also enjoy walking and this summer had the opportunity to walk a section of the Appalachian Trail in North America. I also believe strongly in the preservation and conservation of Britain’s historically significant and architecturally spectacular buildings and I am a member of the National Trust and regularly visit a wide cross-section of their properties. This paragraph of interests outside of ancient history is kept short and sweet, which is how it should be done. Furthermore, the applicant has managed to loosely link some of this into the wider area of history

After university, I intend to work in the field of heritage management and conservation, possibly through museum work, for which I am currently arranging work experience, but am also considering the option of further study. The applicant again uses too many commas and a succinct sentence would be better. However, it still has far less waffle than the majority of statements I wish to study ancient history primarily because of the captivating figures of the ancient world, which the degree programme will allow me to discover through the study of primary sources and the remains of the built environment, and believe my enthusiasm for discussion, debate and the literature, history, politics and architecture of the ancient world will allow me to succeed throughout all elements of the course. Rather unfortunately this statement opens and closes with mammoth sentences, this would be better revised to something shorter. Ignoring this, the conclusion is still of good quality and shows that the applicant is fully aware of what ancient history at university entails as well as showing a genuine passion for the subject.