cambridge psychology personal statement

Unlocking Psychological and Behavioural Sciences (PBS) at Cambridge: Interview Preparation, Personal Statement and Tips

Welcome, aspiring minds, to our blog designed exclusively for prospective students applying to study Psychological and Behavioural Sciences (PBS) at Cambridge ! If you find yourself endlessly fascinated by the complexities of human behaviour and yearning to understand the intricacies of the human mind , then you are in the right place to start your academic journey. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the application process, providing invaluable insights, tips, and resources to help you secure a coveted spot on the PBS Tripos . Whether you're captivated by the realms of psychology, sociology, or anthropology, we are here to equip you with the knowledge and confidence needed to help you ace that application.

What is Psychological and Behavioural Sciences?

Psychological and Behavioural Sciences, commonly referred to as PBS, is a captivating field of study that delves into the intricacies of the human mind and behaviour. Rooted in empirical research and theoretical frameworks , this multidisciplinary discipline seeks to comprehend the complexities of cognition, emotions, social interactions, and mental processes that shape human actions. At Cambridge University, the Psychological and Behavioural Sciences programme offers a captivating exploration into various branches of psychology, equipping students with the knowledge and analytical skills to address real-world challenges. It is distinct from some of the other psychology degrees that can be compared on the UCAS Website .

As a blend of science and humanity, PBS fosters a profound understanding of individuals and societies, paving the way for meaningful contributions to the well-being and advancement of humanity. Throughout your journey in this course, you will delve into topics like cognitive psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, and neuroscience , among others. These areas of study will empower you to unravel the mysteries of the human psyche and gain insights into the complexities of human behaviour.

What Kind of Careers Can I Get With a PBS Degree?

A PBS degree leaves you with a several different career paths to explore upon graduating which is why is remains a popular and diverse option for students looking to span the bridge between the humanities and the sciences . You can compare stats from The Student Room in order to understand some of the routes available. In the realm of academia, a PBS degree can lead to research and teaching positions at universities, enabling individuals to contribute to the field and shape future generations' understanding of human psychology. Additionally, careers in clinical psychology, counselling, and therapy await those with a PBS background, as they can provide invaluable support and interventions for individuals facing mental health challenges. Moreover, PBS graduates find opportunities in human resources, marketing, and market research , utilising their insights into human behaviour to enhance organisational performance and consumer interactions. Non-profit organisations, social work, and public policy roles also value PBS graduates' expertise, as they can address societal issues and advocate for positive change. Ultimately, a PBS degree offers a wide range of rewarding career paths, allowing graduates to make a meaningful impact on individuals, communities, and society as a whole.

How to Write the Perfect PBS Personal Statement

Crafting a standout personal statement for your Psychological and Behavioural Sciences (PBS) application at prestigious universities like Cambridge is an essential step towards securing your place. Your personal statement provides a unique opportunity to showcase your passion for PBS, academic potential, and suitability for the course.

Begin by giving yourself ample time to brainstorm and plan your personal statement. Reflect on what drives your interest in PBS and the specific areas within the field that captivate your curiosity. Consider any relevant academic experiences, extracurricular activities, or personal encounters that have shaped your passion for understanding human behaviour, cognition, and emotions. Emphasise how your strong mathematical and scientific skills have perfectly complemented your fascination with empirically studying human behaviour. Share examples of research projects, experiments, or data analysis where you applied these abilities to gain valuable insights into psychological phenomena. This demonstrates your ability to approach psychological research with rigour and precision. As well as including statistics and data make sure you include your own critical thinking as this type of thinking is something your supervisors will be also looking for you to display later at interview.

It is important to illustrate your academic curiosity by discussing books, research papers, or documentaries that have enriched your understanding of PBS beyond the standard curriculum. Highlight any independent research projects you have undertaken and delve into the methodologies used, findings, and the impact of your research. This evidence of intellectual curiosity will impress the admissions tutors and illustrate your potential as a PBS student. Showcase your dedication to PBS by discussing additional literature, journals, or articles (Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink is a great place to start) you have explored outside of your academic requirements. Analyse the content and provide critical insights, demonstrating your ability to engage with complex ideas and theories.

We have an entire blog dedicated to writing a standout Psychology Personal Statement here .

Some Useful PBS Reading Suggestions

Plus recommendations from Christ’s and Kings.

"Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman - A renowned psychologist explores the two systems that drive the way we think, offering insights into human decision-making and behaviour.

"The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat" by Oliver Sacks - Oliver Sacks is one of the most famous neurologists of the last century, and he dedicated his life to study and explore the brain’s strangest pathways. In his most extraordinary book, he writes profound and breath-taking accounts of patients with bizarre neurological conditions, and how these relate to the neuroscience, psychology and philosophy. How does our brain tell what is real and what is not? What happens when someone forgets their last 20 years of life? What is the essence of consciousness?

We run a fantastic research project centred on Oliver Sacks’ seminal text via our co-curricular division, Minds Underground . We run one-to-one question-oriented sessions, to begin to answer some of these exciting questions. This project is ideal for a student between Year 10 - 13 interested in the fields of Neuroscience, Medicine, and/or Psychology, who is excited to explore these subjects from a unique perspective, mentored by a Cambridge graduate tutor who has a Masters in Cognitive Neuroscience and is currently undertaking a PhD in Psychiatry. By carrying out this in-depth reading project, the student not only learns new ideas in these fields but will also gain skills in critical analysis of scientific studies, communication skills as well as learn how to hold academic discussions which will be essential for any future Oxbridge PBS application. Enquire here for more details (N.B. This is a paid-for opportunity - tutorials are from £75/h, though you are able to split the cost with a classmate!)

"The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business" by Charles Duhigg - Duhigg investigates the science of habits and how they shape our behaviours and daily routines.

"The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement" by David Brooks - Brooks explores the complexities of human behaviour, love, and personal growth through a fictional story intertwined with scientific research.

Research Papers:

"The Stanford Prison Experiment" by Philip G. Zimbardo - A landmark study on the psychological effects of perceived power and authority, conducted in a simulated prison environment.

"The Nature of Prejudice" by Gordon W. Allport - A classic work on the origins and dynamics of prejudice, providing valuable insights into social psychology.

Documentaries/Films:

" Inside Out" (2015) - An animated film that creatively explores the emotional and cognitive development of a young girl through anthropomorphic emotions.

"The Brain with David Eagleman" (2015) - A documentary series hosted by neuroscientist David Eagleman, delving into the complexities of the human brain and behaviour.

"The Century of the Self" (2002) - A four-part BBC documentary series by Adam Curtis, examining the influence of psychoanalysis and psychological techniques on society and consumer culture.

When discussing these, try to avoid vague statements and generalities; instead, provide specific examples and concrete evidence to support your claims. Use real-life experiences to highlight your skills and achievements, painting a vivid picture of your capabilities. Take, for instance, "The Stanford Prison Experiment" - You could talk about how engaging with this landmark research not only illuminated your understanding of human behaviour under unique circumstances, but also honed your analytical skills in interpreting complex experimental methodologies. You could talk about the experiment's ethical implications and its broader societal significance, as well as how this enhanced your ability to critically assess and articulate intricate psychological concepts. This hands-on engagement with influential studies should demonstrate your capabilities and commitment to Psychological and Behavioural Studies to admissions tutors.

How to Ace the Cambridge Psychological Behavioural Sciences Interview

The PBS interview is an exciting opportunity to showcase your passion for the subject and demonstrate your academic potential. While the prospect of an interview might feel nerve-wracking, with the right preparation and mindset, you can excel and leave a lasting impression on the interviewers. It is important to note here that no specific subject prerequisites are required to pursue PBS. The goal of the interviewer is to discover your aptitude, enthusiasm, and critical thinking skills in Psychology, as the interview style may vary as well between colleges .

During the interview, your interviewers will aim to understand your genuine interest in the subject. They will ask questions that encourage you to demonstrate your insights and thoughtful reflections on Psychology. Prepare to discuss real-world applications of the subject and express your passion for the field. You will be asked a range of questions that covers content in your personal statement, critical thinking exercises, analysis of research methodologies, thoughts on some pre-reading, or statistical analysis.

The interviewers will likely refer to your personal statement during the interview, so be thoroughly familiar with its content. Be ready to elaborate on any points you mentioned and expand on your experiences, academic interests, and extra-curricular activities. Reflect on your motivations for choosing PBS and be prepared to discuss the specific areas that intrigue you within the field.

Think of the interview as an opportunity to display your aptitude and enthusiasm for studying Psychology. Interviewers may invite you to develop ideas from subjects you have previously studied, especially if you have expressed a particular interest. Additionally, they may present you with graphs or tables to comment on, offering a platform for further exploration rather than trick questions.

The interview process at Cambridge can resemble a 'supervision,' where you experience small-group or individual teaching. Your interviewer seeks to understand whether you are the kind of student they would love to teach. Demonstrating your flexibility in thinking , making good use of prompts, and engaging in dynamic discussions will leave a positive impression.

Interviewers prioritise your capacity to understand scientific concepts and your ability to develop and apply ideas. They are less concerned about what you already know and more interested in your potential to thrive in Psychological and Behavioural Sciences. Avoid rehearsed answers, as genuine and thoughtful responses are highly valued.

Be prepared for a two-part interview at most colleges. One interview may delve into scientific aspects, while the other could take a more general approach. Remember, Cambridge is not seeking students with all the answers; instead, they are searching for individuals who are keen to learn, can talk through their thought process and who exhibit the potential to flourish on the course.

PBS Sample Oxbridge Interview Questions

Plus some more questions here .

N.B. If some of these seem unfamiliar to you, don’t worry! In an Oxbridge interview, interviewers will very often provide clues or teach some relevant content to allow you to better understand the question at hand. They want to see how you cope with unfamiliar material - what would you be like to teach in a supervision setting? Don’t be afraid to ask questions or say, ‘It might be this…or this…’, showing your thought process so the interviewer can tell you if you are on the right track.

How do psychologists distinguish between "nature" and "nurture" when studying human behaviour, and what are the implications of this distinction for psychological research?

Discuss the concept of cognitive dissonance and its relevance in understanding human decision-making and behaviour.

Can you provide an example of a psychological study that utilised experimental design, and critically evaluate its strengths and limitations?

Describe the principles of classical conditioning and how they might apply in real-life scenarios, such as learning and addiction.

How do social psychologists explain the phenomenon of group conformity, and how might it impact individual behaviour and decision-making?

Discuss the concept of "working memory" and its significance in understanding cognitive processes and human learning.

How can evolutionary psychology shed light on human mating preferences and behaviours, and what are some potential criticisms of this approach?

Explain the "nature of mental representations" in cognitive psychology and its implications for memory, language, and problem-solving.

In the context of developmental psychology, describe the stages of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development and provide an example of a child's behaviour at each stage.

Discuss the challenges of using self-report measures in psychological research and how researchers address issues of reliability and validity.

The journey of applying for a Psychological and Behavioural Sciences (PBS) degree is a rewarding and challenging experience. Through meticulous planning and expert guidance, aspiring students can position themselves for success in this exciting field of study. The blog has provided valuable insights into crafting a standout Cambridge PBS application, excelling in the interview, and crafting a compelling Psychological and Behavioural Sciences personal statement. Good luck with your application, and don’t forget to get in touch if you feel there is anything else that should be added to this blog!

Are You Looking For an Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Tutor?

At U2 Tuition , we have an exceptional team of Cambridge mentors specialising in Psychological and Behavioural Sciences (PBS). Our experienced PBS tutors work closely with each student, understanding their strengths and areas for improvement, and hosting personalised tutoring sessions tailored to their specific needs. From assisting with admissions test preparation (if applicable) to crafting compelling PBS personal statements and preparing for Psychological and Behavioural Sciences interviews, our comprehensive support equips students with the skills and knowledge for success.

The Process:

Experienced PBS Tutors: We pair PBS candidates with a tutor who has studied Psychological and Behavioural Sciences at Cambridge. Their deep familiarity with the admissions process allows them to guide you through personal statement curation, admissions test (if applicable) and interview preparation. Depending on qualifications and experience, we provide a range of application tutors for you to choose from.

Informal Diagnostic Session: We recommend beginning with a 1.5-hour informal diagnostic session to informally assess your current performance level for the application. Following this, we provide a detailed feedback report and structure a customised preparation plan.

Focused Tutorial Sessions: Our tutorial sessions primarily focus on material that can be discussed in your personal statement and during interviews. Tutors help you refine your interests within the PBS course, expose you to various approaches and new concepts, and guide you in your reading and subject exploration.

You can decide the frequency of sessions with your tutor. We offer both ad hoc sessions and structured full preparation programmes, including co-curricular opportunities such as research projects and Oxbridge mock interview days .

Our sessions are priced from £75/h + VAT.

How to Secure Your Place at Oxford for Psychology, Philosophy, and Linguistics (PPL)

Understanding the oxbridge english interview: insights from an oxford english graduate.

• College Application

The Best Cambridge Personal Statement Examples

A deep perusal of Cambridge personal statement examples can help you understand how to go about crafting your own finely honed statement. You can also look at college letter of intent samples, diversity essay examples – also called diversity secondary essays – or the Common App essay for inspiration.

Writing college essays is tough. Whether you need help with how to start a college essay or how to structure your college essay, reading essay samples written for Cambridge will help you navigate this intimidating process and submit a personal statement that impresses the admissions committee. Now let’s dive in!

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 8 min read

Cambridge personal statement examples, example no.1.

Working as a private tutor has changed my life dramatically. I started out because some of my peers wanted assistance with their studies, but I quickly became frustrated. Tutoring seemed like an easy way to make money. All I had to do was explain some concepts – or so I thought. When I started tutoring, I would read out a lesson or concept, then go over problems with my student until I knew they could handle that particular problem, and I would be back for the next session. However, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something deeper to teaching a subject.

I was working with my friend Eli on math every week. What frustrated me with Eli was that, although he could grasp concepts, he was always in need of help. I realised that I wasn’t helping Eli; I was only teaching him one concept at a time. What I needed to do was teach Eli how to learn. It wasn’t enough to show him answers and equations; I had to teach him how to spark his curiosity. I had to teach him how to think, not what to think. This was the missing element in my instruction. It wasn’t enough that I should help a student grasp a difficult concept, but rather to acquire the tools he would need to grow in his curiosity and approach to studying.

Want to learn easy ways to make your college essay standout? Watch this video:

When next I taught Eli, I changed my methods. Instead of just telling Eli when to use a specific calculus formula, I started bringing in oddly shaped containers and showing him how calculus would be useful in determining their volume. Giving him physical mysteries to solve and showing him the applicability of calculus fired Eli’s imagination and engaged him far more. I was on my way to teaching Eli how to think.

Eli needed fewer sessions after that, which became my measurement of success. Strangely enough, doing my work optimally would put myself out of a job. While there will always be new students to help, the goal of a teacher or tutor should not be to keep working with one student, but to help that student move beyond the teacher and then to seek out the next growing mind to aid.

I felt like I was ready to throw my computer monitor out the window or give up entirely on coding. I was trying to learn how to programme a video game, but I was becoming frustrated with my project. Our deadline was looming, and I felt like I had taken on a bigger project than I could handle.

Fortunately, I learnt the most valuable lesson that day. My friend, Kaylee, noticed my frustration and asked, “Can I help?”. I showed her what was wrong, and she helped me move past my hurdles and smooth out my code. I shared some of my ideas, and we both went away with a better understanding of computer coding. Along with improving my own project and getting over my own frustrating hurdle, I was also able to help Kaylee. Our conversations throughout the day had me suggesting several shortcuts to tighten up her coding language, making it more efficient and precise. While I hadn’t intended to help Kaylee, our collaboration benefited her as well.

The lesson was to stay connected. We live increasingly in a virtual world, from social media to online work-from-home jobs, and it is harder than ever to maintain connections with actual human beings. This led Kaylee and me to found the “Human Programming Club,” which emphasised human interaction, along with collaboration and a team effort. The club grew to include several schools in our area, which improved the programming experience of a lot of computer science students in our city.

Your Computer Science programme emphasises these human and collaborative elements. In second year, students work on a group project “…which reflects current industrial practice.” This emphasis on working together attracted me to your programme and is the reason I am applying. The Cambridge Ring, which emphasises social, career and community, is something I would love to be a part of. This is also because I have long-term goals that I believe will be best served with this type of education.

My plan is to bring the liveliness of the Human Programming Club to our current computing technologies, both in programming environments and through the interactions we have with machines and with apps in our day-to-day lives. I want our interactions with computers to serve relationships and human society, not replace them. Most importantly, I want to bring an inclusiveness and sense of belonging to the world of programming. When we emphasised these aspects of our Human Programming Club, we saw an increase in underrepresented persons among the membership. Making marginalised persons feel more accepted in the world of coding and computer science would be amazing. You also offer positive action programmes for women and LGBTQ+ computer science students, and I find this encouraging and something I would like to support.

I believe your programme is optimal for me to work towards those goals, and I hope to hear from you – and connect – soon.

Want to learn strategies to increase your chances of getting into an Ivy League School? Check this out:

Example No.3

The sky seemed smaller when I saw the eagle pass across the sun. I immediately pulled out the nature journal I had with me. These journals have kept track of every scientific discovery I have experienced. I did a quick sketch of the bird – some extras of the wings – and wrote down my observations. I also recorded questions about the bird – mostly diet and habitat – that occurred to me while sketching. My journals, based on Kipling’s “six honest serving men” (What, Why, When, How, Where and Who), guided and augmented my insatiable curiosity. I returned from my US vacation with two full journals of sketches and questions about everything. Fascinated with how a bird’s wing works, it became an obsession at the library for weeks.

These questions gave me purpose in another favourite place of mine: the lab. I couldn’t wait to get home and get into the science labs of my school, which would provide me the opportunity to ask my questions and get answers. My teacher, Mr. Shepherd, books the lab for me after school to allow me to go deeper into research. He has helped me set up experiments in aerodynamics, lift and velocity, which would help me to understand a bird’s wing better.

I also used my shop class time to build different gliders to test. I tried one that really flapped, but it never got off the ground. Still, I learnt why it couldn’t work – the wood was too heavy for the small engines I used. That failure became as informative as a success would have been.

I love all aspects of scientific inquiry, and it is for this reason that I have applied to your Biological Sciences programme, which is both comprehensive and focused. I am particularly interested in your research projects on organisms, evolution and ecology. How do new species arise? How did we get to the species we have now? Birds’ wings didn’t come from nowhere, and I’d love to explore the past, present and future of the evolution of species. I believe your programme will allow me this opportunity.

Cambridge recommends that you follow the UCAS advice on personal statements when writing your own. While acceptance to Cambridge is based solely on academic criteria (ability and potential), your personal statement may be discussed during the interview, so it is an important aspect of your college interview prep .

When writing your personal statement, consider the following 4 points highlighted by Cambridge:

It will also be helpful to keep Cambridge’s core values and mission statement in mind and reflect those ideals in your essay.

Also remember that every essay is, to some extent, a “ why this college” essay . You should always use that as a baseline for how to write a college essay .

Mission Statement

“The mission of the University of Cambridge is to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence."

Core Values

Freedom of thought and expression

Freedom from discrimination

Integrating Values

You don’t need to specifically use the exact wording Cambridge chooses, but your essays should reflect these goals. Here’s what every essay can include:

• Something to show that you think about your community and the global community, to correspond with the stated goal of contributing to society
• A focus on education and research – mentioning your curiosity or pursuit of knowledge
• Expressing yourself and telling your story to fulfil one half of the core values
• Are there any ways you represent diversity? This could be in your personal profile or experiences, but more important will be ways you might have contributed to assisting diversity, progress, or the advancement of underrepresented persons.

All Cambridge personal statements have a 4,000-character cap, which includes spaces, and must be no longer than 47 lines. Some universities might have college essay topics , but Cambridge’s personal statements are not prompt-based.

These three examples should give you a good sense of the structure, tone and content you can consider in your Cambridge personal statement.

If you still need more examples, you can get good insights from different institutions’ requirements, such as the Oxford personal statement . Columbia Medical School secondary essay examples or Brown Medical School secondary essay examples might not seem germane to your Cambridge essays, but they will still provide you with the structure and focus you need. Looking at other essay systems, such as the one that applies to the AMCAS personal statement , might also give you ideas.

Cambridge University personal statements should be no more than 4,000 characters, and this number includes spaces.

No. If you express yourself well, it doesn’t really matter if you have a shorter personal statement. Brevity is a good thing, provided you have fully communicated why you are the perfect candidate for the programme to which you are applying.

Give examples of your connection to the programme you are interested in, and remember the rule of “Show, don’t tell” when communicating this. Traits you want to show include curiosity, passion, and personal growth. You might choose to highlight some of your extracurriculars for college , too.

Anything irrelevant, which has no bearing on your goals or accomplishments, as well as anything negative. You don’t want to cast yourself in a negative light or just be perceived as a negative person. 

Stay very focused on one or two main points. You must show your greatest strengths and connect yourself to the programme. You don’t need to include everything, so just focus on one, driving point.

Start with a good “hook” sentence and use your opening paragraph to set up the rest of the essay. Keep to one theme per paragraph and link everything together with your conclusion for the perfect essay.

They will want to see creativity, curiosity, persistence, a good work ethic, a connection to the material and some sense of goals and aspirations. College admissions consulting , such as a college essay review service , can give you excellent advice on your personal statement. 

Two or three weeks, working daily on your statement, to give you the chance to not only write, but re-write, refine, edit, proofread and find someone to read and critique your paper.

Brainstorming for a few minutes will help. Take two or three minutes and a blank page and write down everything you love about your chosen subject. Free-associate, and you’ll almost definitely have something when your time is up.

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How to approach your personal statement

But it is hard to seem whole and complete in three-quarters of a page. So, where to start?

First, be honest. There’s no need, of course, to dwell on honest but unflattering aspects of yourself or your experiences, but embellishment is best avoided. (Directing your reader’s attention, or emphasizing specific aspects of yourself, however, are perfectly reasonable rhetorical moves.) Some of the most touching and effective personal statements I have ever read have dwelt on seemingly small or quotidian aspects of a student’s life: a fondness for baking, for instance, or the reason one was drawn to a particular work of art. Sometimes simplest is best. The grandiose can seem manufactured.

Make the statement personal

A common strategy for the personal statement—one so common that it seems almost like cliché—is to wrap the narrative around a single, transformative event. To be sure, a single, transformative event may well be of such relevance and importance that it would make sense as the subject of your statement. But don’t overlook the charm and possibility of a statement about the subtler aspects of what makes you you. That reflection about baking may be much more revealing because it’s so readily identifiable. Likewise, a depiction of how you think may well be vastly more illustrative than a description of a thing you did.

Remember that writing is a process

Finally, it’s worth keeping in mind that a personal statement may go so through many drafts that it’s eventually indistinguishable from its original appearance. I seem to recall that my graduate school personal statement went through ten iterations. Rather than allowing that thought to be a daunting one, consider that there’s no “right” answer, no “correct” version of the statement until you arrive at a draft that feels right to you. And, although it’s almost essential that you ask other people, other sets of eyes, to look over what you’ve come up with, it’s ultimately a question of what you’re comfortable with. There’s no specific formula, and your subject matter is something about which you are the foremost expert—yourself—so while the broad nature of the project might seem overwhelming, it is also liberating. It’s liberating too to remember that this is something that almost everyone must do at some point, so you’re not alone.

Founded by PhDs in English, Cambridge Coaching takes great care to employ admissions coaches who are authors, editors, and teachers of writing, and who have unparalleled experience coaching people in their writing. Our service is a collaborative process, with students and coaches working closely together on crafting the final application. While we do offer copy editing and proofreading, we prefer to work with you collaboratively. As any writing teacher will tell you, writing is a series of steps: brainstorm, outline, draft, re-draft, polish, copy edit, proofread. You can accelerate these steps, but you can’t skip them. That’s the hard truth. But, a coach who understands how writing works can help you move through these steps as quickly and painlessly as possible, emerging from the process with an impressive final product. 

Applying for college in 2020? Take a look at some of our previous blog posts below!

How to Address Weak Areas of your College Application

Tackling the “why do you want to apply to this college” admissions essay, what essays should i read to help me write a personal statement.

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Psychology personal statement example 2.

Psychology surrounds us. I often observe my class mates and ask myself why they are so different, struggling with attention or eating disorders. While looking for reasons, I also want to find ways to help them and I am confident that psychology will give me the means to do so.

I am also attracted to psychology because it is a very diverse field. There is both a biological and social aspect, each different but equally important. For example, research shows that both genetics and the living environment affect someone’s personality, so the two halves of psychology have to work together to reveal truths about humans.

I find this interaction fascinating. It also makes psychology a broad subject which is very appealing to me because I am interested in many fields of psychology and I know the course will provide me with the knowledge I seek.

This subject also offers countless possibilities and is constantly expanding. Important and sometimes shocking discoveries are made every day and this is all thanks to the research conducted by universities. I think research is the future. It allows us to understand ourselves and others better and to reveal facts that never occurred to us before.

It also proves wrong many false theories and long-held beliefs, thus helping society. Personally, I cannot wait to conduct my own research and to choose a theme on which to base my investigations.

I enjoy reading books and articles about psychology because the ideas presented in them both surprise me and make me wonder. I feel stimulated by the theories of certain professors and I like how these theories challenge my previous concepts of self, humanity and the world.

I liked very much Kahneman’s book on decision making, ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’, Hrdy’s ‘Mothers and Other’s, Gladwell’s ‘Blink’, ‘The Better Angels of Our Nature’ by Pinkel and Linden’s ‘Pleasure’. I regularly read The Psychologist online and receive the National Geographic monthly.

I am Hungarian and Lao; and I speak English and French fluently, and Spanish well. I have always been attracted to languages as they are the key to success in today’s world and they are easy to learn.

Studying has never been a problem for me; I am determined to work hard to achieve my goals.

I enjoy writing essays and doing presentations, as I can express myself easily in both. Studying advanced philosophy taught me to read long texts with a critical mind and to construct complex arguments effectively. My studies in Advanced Maths and Biology helped me further develop my logical thinking and problem solving skills.

My interests are not restricted to school; I have been swimming for 11 years, and was elected the team captain and awarded the Fair play prize.

I am also a tennis club member. Moreover, I have played piano for 9 years and take drama classes in both Hungarian and French. Although I have to plan ahead and organise my time well, I enjoy this active lifestyle.

My work experience in the Institute of Behavioural Sciences of Pecs University introduced me to academic research in psychology, and gave me the chance to work with some of the university's leading researchers.

I also participated in tolerance training in the Institute of Social Sciences, which showed me how we are all influenced by stereotypes and perceptions.

I also met social workers who shared their personal experiences in the field, which I found fascinating and I have developed a great respect for them and the work they do.

During another placement I was an assistant at a camp for disadvantaged children. I loved spending time with them and had the privilege to befriend autistic children.

It was an enriching experience for me to be accepted into their world and I am amazed by how loving these handicapped children can be.

I am keen to satisfy my curiosity and to extend my knowledge through studying behaviour and the human mind at the University.

I look forward very much to studying in the UK and later to pursue my studies to postgraduate level.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by zoffyfi for application in 2013.

zoffyfi's university choices University of St Andrews Cambridge University

Green : offer made Red : no offer made

zoffyfi's Comments

I got an offer from all of the 5 universities I applied to, but I'm not sure if it's thanks to the personal statement or my grades. Hope this helps anyone who wants to study psychology; it's an awesome subject!

This personal statement is unrated

Related Personal Statements

May i ask what courses you.

Thu, 28/08/2014 - 12:34

May I ask what courses you took and also what grades you achieved, this would be extremely helpful, thank you

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Top 10 Tips On Cambridge HSPS Personal Statement

Who are you, who would you like to become, and how are you different from other Cambridge applicants? Your HSPS Cambridge Personal Statement is a crucial component in your university application as it gives you a chance to articulate why you’re particularly interested in HSPS and to distinguish yourself from other applicants. Additionally, it offers the HSPS interviewer at Cambridge a focal point to base discussions about your personality, interests and deduce your commitment to the subject you’re applying for. To help guide you through the process, our Cambridge application experts have compiled a list of top 10 tips for everything you should do and not do for your Human, Social, and Political Sciences (HSPS) Personal Statement for the Cambridge 2023/24 application cycle. 

Human, Social and Political Sciences (HSPS) is a course that comprises three fundamental disciplines: 

• Politics and International Relations which explores politics between and within varying countries; 
• Social anthropologists which studies social and cultural diversity; 
• Sociology, which centres on the nature and processes that create modern societies. 

Your HSPS Personal Statement must clearly demonstrate the link between all three domains. Moreover, when planning out your HSPS personal statement, make sure you research Cambridge’s achievements in the field of HSPS and include it into your writing to illustrate your interest in HSPS. 

Additionally, when creating your HSPS personal statement , understandably you’ll be applying to four other University courses which may result in your statement being more vague. The University of Cambridge is aware of this and will require you to fill out an ‘Online Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ)’ shortly after submitting the UCAS application, so make sure you’ve created another condensed version of your personal statement that can be directly submitted to Cambridge. 

Some Cambridge colleges may require applicants for this course to take a written assessment if shortlisted for an HSPS interview. These colleges include Hughes Hall College, King’s College, Murray Edwards College, Newnham College, Peterhouse College, St Edmund’s College, and Wolfson College . You will not need to register in advance for this assessment and the Cambridge college you have applied to will provide details directly to you. Find out more about this here .

Top 5 Tips for a Cambridge HSPS Personal Statement

Tell your story.

Your journey to deciding to study HSPS at Cambridge will be what makes you stand out from other applicants. Consider why you became interested, any relevant reading that has helped your decision, and your choice in selecting Cambridge University. The Cambridge admissions tutors will be looking out for relevant skills and experience during the HSPS interview so make sure to mention this.

What makes you suitable

What distinguishes you from all other Cambridge applicants applying for HSPS? What work experience, or extra-curricular work have you done that you can talk about that might set you apart from everyone else? Examples include readings related to the three disciplines listed above, or any other work you have undertaken in sociology, politics or anthropology. 

Read around the subject you’re applying for

Because the competition with Cambridge is so great, demonstrating you have undertaken extra-curricular work will impress the Cambridge admissions tutors. Examples include reading around the subject in whichever topics interest you, be it politics or sociology. You can also listen to relevant podcasts online, such as ‘ The Target Oxbridge Podcast ’ to listen to current Cambridge students’ experiences and take their specific advice for when they applied.

Proofread & read aloud your work

Once you’re happy with the content of your draft, check it, check it and check it again! Useful people to ask to proofread your work include a teacher in the field, a current Cambridge student, and a student who is studying HSPS. By allowing people to take a look at your statement, they would be able to pick up mistakes or name improvements that you may have missed.

Why HSPS?  

What interested you in HSPS to begin with? With reference to the three disciplines taught by Cambridge above, think about what inspired you to pursue HSPS at Cambridge. Consider the career choices you’ll have – examples include public policy, development work, or charity work. Additionally, mention why you chose to pursue education at Cambridge over other universities.

Top 5 things to AVOID for your Cambridge HSPS Personal Statement

Writing a list of achievements.

Avoid listing things for the sake of it. Make sure each point is relevant and backed up by evidence. This will show the Cambridge admissions tutors that you have an understanding of a HSPS degree and understand some of what it entails.

Don’t write anything that isn’t true

Don’t exaggerate. You may be asked to provide evidence of your stated achievements, or if you are interviewed you may be asked detailed questions about things you’ve mentioned. It will reflect poorly on you if you are unable to answer questions about your Personal Statement.

Copying someone else’s personal statements

Don’t plagiarise. Do not copy someone else’s UCAS personal statement or use something you have found on the internet. UCAS uses software to check every personal statement for plagiarism.

Not reflecting on or justifying your point

Write succinctly and explain points without repeating yourself. Expand on how you’ve acquired certain skills and why they’re important. Examples in HSPS include critical reflection and analytical skills. Remember, quality is always better than quantity- it’s better to expand on a few points than to list every point you can without going into detail.

Don’t sound unprofessional

Steer clear of slang, clichés and quotes. It will sound repetitive to Cambridge admissions tutors to hear about how students are “passionate” about their subject or that they have a “thirst for knowledge”. Write about your personal experience with your HSPS journey, and allow the Cambridge admissions tutors to do the rest.

How can I make my personal statement stand out for the HSPS course at Cambridge?

Your personal statement should reflect a deep interest in and engagement with social sciences. Highlight your understanding of the subjects within HSPS like politics, sociology, anthropology, or international relations. Discuss books, articles, or current events that have inspired you and link them to the course structure at Cambridge. It’s also effective to demonstrate critical thinking and analytical skills by presenting your unique perspective or insights on these topics.

Should I focus on one specific area within HSPS or cover multiple disciplines in my statement?

The HSPS course at Cambridge is interdisciplinary, so it’s beneficial to show a broad interest across the various social sciences. However, if you have a particular passion for one area, it’s good to delve into it, explaining why it fascinates you and how it relates to other disciplines. Balance is key: express your enthusiasm for specific topics while illustrating your openness and curiosity about the breadth of human, social, and political sciences.

How important is it to include extracurricular activities in my personal statement for HSPS?

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Successful Personal Statement For Natural Science (Physical) At Cambridge

Last Updated: 12th April 2022

Author: Chloe Hewitt

• Natural Sciences

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through a Natural Science applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Cambridge University. The Natural Science Course at Cambridge is a unique and demanding course focused on blurring the boundaries between the different fields of science. 

Read on to see how this candidate wrote a Personal Statement that helped secure their place on a reputable degree. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement:

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

Enrolling on our Cambridge Natural Science comprehensive Programme will give you access to Personal Statement redrafts. 

Your tutor will give you actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.  

Natural Science (Physical) Personal Statement

The more I discover about physics, the less I realise that I know, and the keener I am to further explore unfamiliar topics at university. Studying areas such as special relativity and quantum mechanics have made me question concepts I took as given, such as the nature and manipulation of time and the degree of certainty to which we can truly know anything.

My particular interest in physics was sparked when I read an article on quantum physics, and was introduced to a simple description of the fundamental constituents of matter. This led me to read further about particle physics. I particularly enjoyed Brian Greene’s The Elegant Universe, which gave me a brief insight into the intricacies of string theory, and The Feynman Lectures on Physics, from which I learnt new mechanics and probability theory. I watch lectures on the MIT website, read New Scientist and am a junior member of the IoP to further my knowledge of new scientific developments. I enjoyed visiting CERN last year and learning more about the experiments conducted there. I have also competed in national challenges to develop my thinking skills further, achieving bronze in the Physics Olympiad, silver in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge and gold in the Senior Maths Challenge. Additionally, this year I won the school leavers’ physics prize.

Last summer I attended a residential Headstart physics course at the University of Leicester, and spent three days at the Debate Chamber physics school. I enjoyed performing undergraduate experiments, and was particularly interested by the lectures on recent developments in nanotechnology and the ways in which nanoparticles could be used to destroy cancerous cells in the body. I also had a tantalising glimpse of some of the complex mathematics behind General Relativity, and would love to study this intricate topic in more detail. These experiences confirmed my love of physics as well as increasing my appreciation of more complicated subjects not covered by my A Level courses. Furthermore, they helped to develop my skills in processing new information and quickly adapting to unfamiliar concepts.

I recently took part in an extended-essay competition at school, producing an independently researched piece of work on the superluminal neutrinos apparently found in 2011. I focused on the impossibility of faster-than-light travel according to special relativity, and the implications for time travel the discovery would have had if the measurements had been correct. This gave me the chance to explore further a subject I was interested in but had not studied at school. I researched my essay by reading scientific journals and textbooks, and speaking to scientists I met at physics events.

I will shortly begin a paid internship at Hildebrand Technology Ltd, where I will be using mathematical modelling of real life situations for statistical analysis. This will be an opportunity to apply mathematical techniques I have learnt in school to more complex problems. This placement, along with self-studying university textbooks and extra further maths modules, will ensure that I maintain and expand my maths skills and scientific knowledge during my gap year.

In my final year I was captain of the school Boat Club. I have rowed in the top senior boat since I was 15, and in 2013 I won silver at National Schools and gold at Schools Head. This sport has involved intensive training, which demands self-discipline and commitment. I love music, and take part in many close harmony groups and choirs, as well as taking grades in musical theatre, singing and piano. My music and sport, along with lifeguarding and weekly volunteering at a local primary school, have allowed me to develop my time management skills and use the time I have for work efficiently and productively.

I am a hardworking and intellectually curious student and am excited by the prospect of developing my mathematical skills and studying physics at a more advanced level at university.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

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Good Points Of The Personal Statement

This is a very good statement. The statement is well structured, and the student’s motivation to study physics is clear. All points are explained clearly, and experiences expanded on. The student uses examples beyond their A-level studies to explain their desire to study physics, which comes across very well to the reader.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

The student forgets to use quotation marks around the names of books etc., and also ‘the’ before ‘New Scientist’. Whilst these are rudimentary errors, a simple proof-read would have found these. The main issue with this statement is its length. There are eight paragraphs in total.  By the penultimate paragraph it is clear enough that the student has done many physics-related extra-curricular activities. The quality of the statement will not be reduced if it is shortened.  The student does not explain acronyms, e.g. ‘IoP’. Some sentences can be shortened in order to save space, e.g. ‘I have also competed in national challenges to develop my thinking skills further, achieving bronze in the Physics Olympiad, silver in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge and gold in the Senior Maths Challenge’ can be shortened to ‘I have also competed in national challenges to develop my thinking skills further, achieving bronze, silver and gold medals in the Physics Olympiad, Cambridge Chemistry and Senior Maths Challenges respectively’.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

In general, this is a very good statement. It is well written, and the student’s motivation to study physics at university is clear from the very beginning. Due to the length of the statement, it is quite cumbersome to read. With some shortening, this would be a compact and powerful statement.

This Personal Statement for Natural Science is a solid example of demonstrating a wealth of knowledge, motivation and interest, vital to Admissions Tutors.

Remember, at Cambridge, these Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

Check out our other successful personal statements and our expert guides on our Free Personal Statement Resources page.

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With our  Cambridge Natural Science Premium Programme, we help you craft the perfect Personal   Statement , perform strongly on the Admissions Test  and teach you how to  Interview effectively .

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