Personal Statement:Medicine 117

 

MEDICINE Personal Statement

A distressing fact of life is that most people remain somewhat unaware of their body until it malfunctions, taking its intricate complexity for granted. Be it managing heart failure or a neurodegenerative condition, a doctor's vocation is unique and constantly changing, due to medical advances. Work experience has increased my appreciation of this demanding and fulfilling career and my desire to both be part of, and hopefully further the advancement of, such a dynamic profession and to have a beneficial impact on the community. Academic pursuits offer me the chance to quench my scientific curiosity, presenting me with opportunities to extend and apply my knowledge. Writing my own Medlink research paper on the link between exercise and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor gave me invaluable experience in self-reliance and organisation. This ignited my interest in the complexity of our brain and I wrote my EPQ on the segregation of psychological and physiological treatment in the NHS and how the power of the brain, such as the placebo effect, can be used to help cure patients. Cross-referencing sources, especially whilst participating in the Chemistry Research Club, led me to question what I read, making me realise the importance of scrutinising scientific knowledge. An inspiring talk on the neuroinvasive nature of the rabies virus at the Villiers Park Neuroscience course stimulated my interest in nerve impulses and how our body is so susceptible to infection. Reaching the national finals of the RSC Analytical Competition, gaining a silver award in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge and a Gold award in the Senior UKMT challenge have allowed me to overcome scientific challenges beyond the confines of my A Level curriculum. Work experience shadowing a Consultant Psychiatrist complemented my interest in the brain and left me with admiration and respect for the sensitive way the doctors treated each patient as an individual. Whether they had Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, each had their own exclusive set of challenges, especially now neurological conditions are becoming more prevalent in an ageing society. The teamwork and cooperation between the nurses and doctors I witnessed whilst on rounds taught me how essential good communication skills, patience and willingness to assume responsibility are in clinical environments. I learned how indispensable empathy and good interpersonal skills are during a GP placement, when the GP managed to reassure and help a teenage girl who was self-harming due to bullying and school pressure. In contrast, during a Respiratory clinic, I was able to see the 'other' side of being a doctor, as many patients who entered were diagnosed with incurable lung cancer - doctors can't save everyone. As an escape from academia, playing field hockey, where I captain both my school and county team, has strengthened my teamwork and leadership skills. Alongside this, volunteering at a local care home every week and at an Adventure Playground for special needs children, both for two years, has heightened my communication skills and I now appreciate the compassion and empathy required to deal with difficult conditions such as autism. I have taught myself the guitar for my Gold DofE award and I have become proficient enough to join a band; juggling these activities as well as my academic work has taught me the value of commitment, dedication and time management. After participating in the Oxford and MACE debating competitions, I developed the skills to work and think quickly under pressure and they have enlightened me on controversial topics such as euthanasia. On reflection, through work experience, I became more aware of the stresses and demands of a doctor's role, yet this only helped to strengthen my ambition to work in such an ethically challenging and intellectually stimulating field. I believe I possess the probity and dedication to succeed in the medical profession and contribute fully to University life.

 

Universities Applied to:

  • Cambridge (Robinson) (A100) - Offer (A*A*A) Firm
  • UCL (A100) - Offer (AAAc) Insurance
  • Imperial (A100) - Offer (AAAb)
  • Kings (A100) - Offer (AAAb)

 

Grades Achieved:

  • Chemistry (A2) - A*
  • Biology(A2) - A*
  • Maths (A2) - A
  • Latin (AS) - a

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