Personal Statement:Psychology 29

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Psychology Personal Statement

From an early age, my enthusiasm for the sciences has been fundamental to many of my choices, including the decision to study Science for Public Understanding AS-level a year early. It was during this study that I found the topic that interested me most was human biology, especially when studying the brain. It was this interest that inspired my passion for Psychology, which has continued to capture my attention and curiosity above all other subjects. As well as reinforcing my passion for the human mind, my study of Psychology has introduced me to empirical study as a means of explaining human behaviour. During the course I have conducted several studies including a content analysis of media directed at young children, and a study into teachers' language when describing pupils, both of which looked specifically for gender-stereotypical references. I have also had practice in using multiple statistical tests, as part of this research and otherwise. This experience of practical research, though not part of the course specification, will be beneficial in pursuing a degree in Psychology, having provided me with an understanding of the importance of objectivity, ethical considerations, and design factors in research.

My main interest in Psychology is perception, about which I have read extensively. I find the concept of sight and the way the brain processes images utterly fascinating, and would appreciate the opportunity to extend my knowledge of this topic in a more formal context. I also find the study of individual interactions within society, conformity, and obedience to be greatly appealing topics, and thus, Social Psychology is a topic about which I hope to learn more. An involvement in the school community is, in my opinion, an important part of education. As well as participating in my school's Charity Committee, I have helped to organise events such as the lower school Eisteddfod celebration, and various school open days for prospective students. Taking an active role in such events has helped me to develop important skills in planning, leadership and communication. Outside of school, I spent five years volunteering at a local brownie pack, where I worked with girls between seven and ten years old. The opportunity to interact with these children on a weekly basis, coupled with the two week work experience placement I completed at a primary school, provided me with an invaluable insight into the psychological development of children.

Among my interests I count photography, this year having won a category in the Shoot Nations International Photography Competition. The competition was based on the influence of gender throughout the world, and both thinking of ideas for this competition and looking at other entries to it have outlined to me differences in the perception, and behaviour, of boys and girls in many different cultures.

I am also a member of the Platform Centre for the Arts youth group, in which I have been involved with the production of several short films on issues that affect young people, such as depression. This involved devising realistic scripts, and participating in workshops to learn more about psychological issues with young people. This experience has allowed me to apply and extend my knowledge of psychological abnormalities.

I feel that all these experiences, coupled with my deep-seated love of Psychology and the human mind; make me an ideal candidate for a Psychology degree and show my commitment and dedication to the subject.

Universities Applied to:

• University of York (Psychology)
• University of Exeter (Psychology)
• University of Cardiff (Psychology with professional placement)
• University of Glamorgan (Psychology with professional Welsh)
• University of Birmingham (Psychology)

Grades Achieved:

• Psychology (A2) - A*
• Welsh (A2) - A
• ICT (A2) - A
• Classics (A2) - A
• Maths (AS) - C

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