Classics Personal Statements

hypnos

Anyone written one or thinking about one or got one they can show me?

Reply 1

d750

hypnos

Anyone written one or thinking about one or got one they can show me?

Hi. Haven't got one to send on, but I can remember what I wrote, if you've got any specific questions. Personally, I wouldn't try to justify classics in any way, by trying to relate it to present day etc. The people who'll read it are bound to agree. Reckon it's best just to explain why you enjoy it.

Reply 2

clara

That's what I thought, but the resounding advice I received when writing mine was to try and explain why classics was an important discipline to study. As a subject that is sometimes seen as pointless this was more important than displaying an enthusiasm which pretty much anybody could get across in a personal statement. I'd try and go for a balance of the two.

Reply 3

d750

clara

Seems wise. But I'm suprised that you were strongly advised to focus on the value of classics. Would have thought that the last thing admissions tutors would want to read are hundreds of near identical accounts of why they haven't wasted their lives.

Reply 4

Rathika

I cant remember exactly what i wrote... i do have it somewhere im sure.... but i applied for History at Nottingham, exeter and Reading, and Classics at Cambridge and King's College London, and History-Classics at Birmingham. I got all 6 offers.... dunno how because i was applying for a mixture of stuff... but i structured it with 1st para on why i wanted to do subjects, why i was interested and what skills i hoped to gain thru my degree, 2nd para was extension of this but more on specific, more unusual interests regarding classics-history,(to make interviewers talk abt an area i was interested in or something that would make me different to other candiadates) 3rd was on work exp and 4th was on extra curricular. Hope that helps, although its still vague.

Reply 5

avalondep

a guy i know who got into cambridge always rambles on about how he likes classics because its some sort of "code-breaking" thing. (his a-levels are latin, greek, maths and computing and physics AS)
you could talk about the skills of deciphering you might want to gain.
a mate's mum (archaeology prof/admissions at leics) was like "i just want to know that you haven't chosen it because it was the first course/page in the prospectus that you came to"

Reply 6

Wagamuffin

I have been to a Trinity college Cambridge open day, where they say the element of the personal statement they like the most is that which specifies what you most enjoy in the subject (mainly so that they come up with topics for interview that you could feel confident about!). They seem to imply that you shouldn't try to "sell yourself" in so far as you should try to make yourself appear as a great fan of "the classics" =) That said, a little shoe polish couldn't hurt! =)