sociology personal statement sample

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• Sociology Personal Statement Example

Use our personal statement example for Sociology as an inspiration guide to writing a better statement for your UCAS application . This example is perfect for any applicants to Oxbridge (Oxford, Cambridge), UCL, King’s College London, University of Bristol, University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London, St Andrews University and any university in the UK. Learn how to write your own unique personal statement and stand out in the competitive application process.

Our economies and lives are becoming increasingly interconnected in a globalized business environment. For example, a deal done in the US in the morning could affect thousands of Chinese workers as they sleep. As an Iranian Jew, with a rich multicultural heritage that spreads across the globe, I am proud to consider myself an exemplar of this interconnectedness and wish to apply the knowledge I have gained from both the varied experiences of my family in the global business community and previous study to undergraduate study and, ultimately, to a successful career.

By studying Geography, Politics, and Sociology, I have also been able to discern how our societies and economies are interconnected. Politics has taught me how national legislation structures the activities of multinational corporations in turn, while Geography has taught me about how multinational corporations shape our physical and political geography. The study of sociology has taught me the importance of understanding and predicting individual behaviour for the refinement of these overarching systems. Moreover, all of these subjects have relied on extensive, transferrable study skills and research methods that apply to both the study of and practice of business.

I have also sought out work placements across a wide range of industries to gain experience in the application of business theory in the real world. As an employee at London’s House of Hanover, I developed communication, teamwork, and customer service skills, as well as gained insight into retail principles. Price and marketing strategies are influenced by management and business strategies to carve out a distinct niche within and generate profits. The experience I gained as an estate agent provided a different perspective on how these processes work in an alternative industry. With the failures of the US housing market causing the current, difficult economic situation, seeing how the housing market works was a timely example of its importance to the economy.

In my spare time, I also like to attempt to understand the complexities of international business, reading many books, such as ‘Pricing Money’ by J.Wiseman and ‘How The West Was Lost’ by D.Moyo, and magazines, such as Time and The Economist, that discuss the current problems and shifts in the global economy. As an Activities Officer at school, I honed my organisational and time management skills while also learning the importance of responsibility and leadership in business. Having played football, and tennis, and visited the gym regularly, I am aware of the importance of determination, dedication, and practice to achieve set goals, and I look forward to applying this to my undergraduate studies.

Societies are connected through businesses. I am already aware of the importance of these connections as a keen student who communicates across cultures and languages, including English, Hebrew, and Farsi. To gain a deeper understanding of how international business can positively impact our society, I intend to combine my knowledge and interests in economics, politics, society and language with further study in the field. This will provide me with an excellent opportunity to expand my understanding and make a valuable contribution during my undergraduate studies, as well as beyond.

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• Sociology Personal Statement

Sociology Personal Statement Example

Sample statement.

I am very drawn to a career that involves working with other people and I feel I would be best suited to social work rather than nursing or medicine. I have a positive empathy with people of all ages and find it very easy to talk to people and put them at their ease. At the same time I believe I have strong problem solving skills and could apply these to help people in times of great need and distress to be able to see a way forward.

With that long-term goal in mind I first want to expand my academic knowledge by studying sociology at university. My A levels in history, philosophy and Religious Studies have enabled me to learn more about the social interactions between people in modern cultures and also between people who lived in the past. This has been very thought provoking and I want to explore further the way that class, gender and race affect the place of an individual in their society.

The role of the welfare system in today’s society in the UK is also a major interest of mine. Compared to the 19th century, when the poor were stigmatised and subjected to appalling conditions, we now have an overburdened system that is struggling. Making decisions within the system is difficult and the challenges are complex, but something needs to be done. Exploring how the welfare system was created, looking at its history and how it has developed since the 1940s and discovering expert perspectives on how its problems can be solved, is one of my major ambitions as a sociology student.

In addition to the opportunity to study a subject that interests me at far greater depth than at college, university will also help me expand my non-academic interests. I am a very keen dancer, having studied all forms of dance from the age of 6. As an active member of my local dance school I have taken part in many annual performances and during the last two years have helped behind the scenes with choreography, set design and fund raising. This all had an unexpected impact on my thinking about my sociology A-level work as I found myself working with people younger than myself from varying backgrounds, getting to know them and their families. Working with young people now features quite highly in my career ambitions and I am volunteering on a project this summer that involves the rehabilitation of young offenders through sport.

This is another big part of my life as I love running. I have completed a marathon and my ambition is to enter and compete in the London Marathon, which I hope to do in 2014. I find that running helps my general fitness, helping me to play tennis and squash better and I also find I think through academic and personal issues as I run. At university, I hope to combine my studies with both volunteering and an active sports life.

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What are admissions tutors looking for in a personal statement for sociology?

Cardiff University selectors like to see applicants who can demonstrate an informed understanding of the subject, a mature outlook, a wider awareness of social issues, and ideally a desire to take part themselves in ‘advancing our understanding of a diverse and fast-changing social world.’

London School of Economics want to see an original statement that gives a sense of your enthusiasm and motivation for studying sociology, and to see something of your interest in 'relationships between peoples and society.' They like the majority of your statement to be based around your subject interest and for you to reflect on why you wish to study sociology, any aspects that are of special interest to you, and how it relates to your current academic programme and your additional reading or other experiences.

Amongst other attributes, Bournemouth University likes to see that you can work independently as well as in groups.

University of Birmingham tutors would like to get a glimpse of the relevant knowledge, skills, and experiences you’ve gained, an appreciation of what a degree in sociology involves, and the interests and enthusiasm you would bring to it.

Make it clear that you are academically interested in sociology , add any relevant extra-curricular experiences, and show that you’ve done your homework.

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An personal statement examples on sociology is a prosaic composition of a small volume and free composition, expressing individual impressions and thoughts on a specific occasion or issue and obviously not claiming a definitive or exhaustive interpretation of the subject.

Some signs of sociology personal statement:

• the presence of a specific topic or question. A work devoted to the analysis of a wide range of problems in biology, by definition, cannot be performed in the genre of sociology personal statement topic.
• The personal statement expresses individual impressions and thoughts on a specific occasion or issue, in this case, on sociology and does not knowingly pretend to a definitive or exhaustive interpretation of the subject.
• As a rule, an essay suggests a new, subjectively colored word about something, such a work may have a philosophical, historical, biographical, journalistic, literary, critical, popular scientific or purely fiction character.
• in the content of an personal statement samples on sociology , first of all, the author’s personality is assessed - his worldview, thoughts and feelings.

The goal of an personal statement in sociology is to develop such skills as independent creative thinking and writing out your own thoughts.

Writing an personal statement is extremely useful, because it allows the author to learn to clearly and correctly formulate thoughts, structure information, use basic concepts, highlight causal relationships, illustrate experience with relevant examples, and substantiate his conclusions.

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Our advice when writing a personal statement

Your personal statement is your place to write whatever you’d like to say about yourself and your motivation to study your course.

It’s important to remember that  you can only write one personal statement  and so the same wording will be seen by all the universities you apply to. your personal statement should therefore focus on the course you want to study, not the universities themselves., what are universities looking for in a personal statement.

People with the skills and attributes required by the course

People ready for university-style learning

People who genuinely enjoy the subject that they are applying for

People who have engaged with their subject, above and beyond whatever they have studied at school or college

Where do I start?

Before you start writing, try talking to your friends or family about what you want to study at university: what would you tell them? What have you read or watched or seen that has inspired you? Why was it interesting? What do you want to find out next? 

How should I structure my personal statement?

Around 80% of your personal statement should be focused on your academic interests, abilities and achievements  (including super-curricular activities) and 20% on unrelated extra-curricular activities.

Opening Paragraph

  Personal statement openings tend to follow a similar format:

• Why you are excited about your subject?
• What you have done academically to show this?
• Keep it short and simple.
• Leave it until last.
• Draft five first sentences and choose your favourite. 
• Avoid clichés! (e.g. 'From an early age I have been passionate about...')

Your current studies

• Why do you want to study this course?
• What have you learnt about this topic?
• What has inspired you?

When you start to write, remember not just to list your achievements but show how they have affected you, how you have benefited, and what you’d like to learn next. 

Super-curriculars

  Super-curriculars are hobbies or activities that demonstrate how you have developed your knowledge outside of the classroom.

• What have you read, watched, visited or listened to that has inspired you? (e.g. books, documentaries, podcasts, lectures, museums)
• Have you attended any summer schools, completed any work experience, or volunteered anywhere?
• Why was it interesting?
• How do these support and compliment the course you are applying for?

Super-curriculars can also be used as 'stepping stones' within your personal statement. For example, did a super-curricular spark your interest in something new, leading you to do further research into this topic?

Extra-curriculars

• Try and focus on transferrable skills - how has balancing your extra-curriculars allowed you to become a better student?

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Sociology personal statement

Below is a professionally written sociology personal statement sample. You are advised not to copy it word for word, but to instead use it as a guide.

Sociology personal statement example 1

“I am a versatile and self motivated student with a dedicated approach to training and academic advancement. As an articulate and astute professional, I can be resourceful in a variety of demanding situations. I posses a reliable and enthusiastic attitude towards responsibility, and am willing to take the initiative where conditions are unpredictable.

As a motivated, confident and results driven individual, I enjoy the challenge of bringing all projects I am involved in to fruition. I can communicate with, and present to individuals of all levels, from fellow students and tutors, right through to work colleagues by using effective methods to get across my ideas and conclusions. An effective logical and methodical thinker, I am able to see the wider picture as well as the detail of the projects I work on.

I posses a proven ability to deliver course work and any tasks I am given to tight deadlines, in a time pressured environment. I get through difficult periods by focusing on solutions rather than problems. I am a great team player, who is flexible, has excellent troubleshooting skills, is quick to hypothesis and remedy defects, and is self-motivated enough to be able to work on my own initiative. Always ready to work in a challenging environment, I believe myself to be trustworthy and diligent with work, as well as a capable team worker and requires minimal supervision.

Sociology as a discipline is unique in its breadth of enquiry and it’s relevance to issues of contemporary life. I want to study it because I have always been interested in social questions of inequality, gender, ethnicity, nation, governance and social change. These are issues that affect virtually everyone in society and for me this subject will help me to understand it better, and also provide an opportunity to relate personal experience to academic study. The subject area investigates social life and the way it shapes people’s behaviour, beliefs and identity. I feel strongly that by studying the social world, we gain a better understanding of ourselves and our own social situations.

At college I loved the fact that we explored new areas of learning, which is vital in a field like sociology, where everything is always changing. I was taught by vibrant academics in a young, modern department, and investigated the ways in which social life is organised, the social relations, processes and institutions which structure our every day social interactions and experiences.

The A-Levels I chose to study have all helped me to develop both myself and my understanding of the subject. I learnt about the complexity and diversity of social situations, and gained a knowledge and understanding of research methods, analysis and statistical techniques that are needed to making reasoned arguments.

I have applied to your university because I was greatly impressed by your ambitious plans for development across a range of activities and for building an outstanding reputation for academic innovation and achievement. Your programme will give students a thorough grounding in sociology, and the founding discipline of the social sciences. On a visit to your campus I was impressed by its friendly and informal learning environment, and also by the variety of learning approaches employed, which emphasised the development of practical skills in observation, interpretation and information processing, all abilities which are valued by employers. As a student at your university I can assure you that I will do my best to contribute to your esteemed institution and the course itself, by being actively involved in research, publication and any related activities.”

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Sociology personal statement

• Reading time: 2 minutes
• Price: Free download
• Published: 13th September 2019
• Word count: 531 words
• File format: Text

Sociology is a huge passion of mine as I believe that the world we live in today is never the same as the day before. The diversity across the globe is important to study as it influences our lives on an everyday basis whether that be through the media, religion or our communities.

Criminology first captivated my attention through the daily news stories about violence and conflict across the globe, impacting societies and individuals’ lives. I began to question what causes people to commit crimes and how as a society we can stop crime from happening. However, after studying crime and deviance in A-Level Sociology and reading ‘The Sociology of Crime’ by Stephen Hester & Peter Eglin, I learnt that there was not just one set explanation behind why an individual commits a crime and that there are thousands of explanations which I hope to delve into further throughout my degree.

Sociology at A-Level has given me the opportunity to develop my enthusiasm for the subtopic- ethnic differences within crime. I believe that ethnicity is one of, if not the most influential factor into crime and society, so much so that I conducted my English Language investigation as a part of my A-Level on ‘how black gun crimes are portrayed differently to white gun crimes within the media’ and my history coursework about how black lives had changed in America from 1870-1970.

My English Language A-Level has allowed me to develop my analytical skills into the meanings of stereotypes and how they influence societal expectations. We also considered how different social groups divide through language differences. I can use the skills I gained in English Language to consider how what we say influences society.

I feel that problem solving will be a clear theme throughout this degree, which is ideal as I have developed my problem solving skills and initative through my two part time jobs and my Duke of Edinburgh award.

My most rewarding work experience placement was at the Joseph Wright Sixth Form where I observed Sociology, Criminology and English Language A-Level classes. Although I was the same age as the students, I was quickly able to bond with staff as I supported them in classes by creating resources for them to use with their A-Level groups. I worked independently with students to help them excel and used my initiative to include subjects they had not yet studied but I had due to the difference in curriculum.

After observing the criminology class, I immediately was able to debate issues with the students due to my strong opinions formed through my Sociology experience. The Head of Social Sciences described my ‘dedicated work ethic’ and noted how my ‘passion for sociology was clear’.

This experience was eyeopening as I saw the diverse class debate about sociology and crime which inspired me to bring these ideas into my A-Level sociology class once I returned from my placement.

I believe that I cannot study sociology completely without considering crime, and I cannot study criminology completely without considering society therefore making this dual honours ideal for me to gain a deeper understanding into how the criminal justice system works and successfully maintains social solidarity.

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• Social sciences personal statements

Personal Statement:Social policy 1 - The Student Room

Social policy / sociology / social policy & social anthropology personal statement.

Modern society changes direction with each day and this leaves behind an important question; can it be argued that other agencies of socialisation now have more influential power than political power held by the government? I have a great interest in questions like this, and this is why I want to study the social sciences further. I want to construct fresh concepts in order to answer these questions, as they need to be researched, explored and debated. With Social Policy escalating into the most essential area of policy making in the government in this generation, researching the vast number of social issues currently affecting our society is something I passionately want to do.

Studying Sociology alongside Politics has given me a new insight to viewing today's society. Sociology has given me foundations to find my beliefs and opinions in relation to modern culture, whereas Politics has allowed me to utilise these thoughts into exciting and strong views about the way in which we should govern our society. The two subjects have also assisted me in excelling at essay writing and structuring challenging arguments. Studying Drama has also been of help, as the subject allows me to think creatively. All have given me transferable skills that allow me to approach university with a mature attitude and a positive hard work ethic.

Throughout my studies, one of the most exciting publications I have encountered is "Power, Politics and Crime" written by W. Chambliss. Because I have studied Sociology, I have learned about the views of Karl Marx and Marxist Theory. Modern day Marxist, Chambliss, is one I find uniquely appealing and interesting because of his theories of the media impact on the fear of crime and the influence this can have on political decisions. It has also increased my understanding of Marxist thinking and it has encouraged me to pursue further theories with social class as a main feature of discussion. Thus, I took an interest in theories with ethnic minorities as a key area of investigation. I discovered the rather thought-provoking viewpoint of A. Pilkington, and his research into "Racial Disadvantage and Ethnic Diversity in Britain." This exploration of contemporary ideas that look at race and ethnicity in today's society have had a great impact on me, as they have increased my understanding of racial diversity on a global scale. Following this, I decided I wanted to increase my knowledge further by understanding the origins of these attitudes. I studied "Ethnicity: Anthropological Constructions" by M. Banks. This captured my attention because I am interested in the makings of plural societies and race relations between cultures and tribes around the world. As a result of looking at the historical development of ethnicity in this book, I have found explanations of ethnic issues in Sociology and Criminology much easier to analyse in further reading.

Alongside my studies, I have a number of hobbies. In athletics, I won silver in the 400m at County level, and finished 3rd in a local 10k Road Race. Athletics is a highly competitive sport and has taught me practical skills of hard-work, determination and resilience. During secondary school, I was elected Head Boy. The leadership and responsibility skills learned helps me as a youth leader at my local church. As a leader, I attend Christian camps 3 times a year, where I am in charge of a large group of young people, aged 5 to 15. This develops a number of life skills as it entails a great deal of teamwork and organisation, due to the number of different activities I arrange for a diverse group of young people.

Overall, I find social sciences stimulating and captivating so I feel I would make an excellent and committed addition to your university. Consequently, I am determined to achieve my aspirations of learning more about these subjects at the highest possible level.

Universities Applied to:

• Bristol (Social Policy) - Offer (ABB) Firm
• Bath Spa (Sociology) - Offer (280 UCAS Points - 220 in 3 A-Levels) Insurance
• Plymouth (Sociology) - Offer (260 UCAS Points - 160 in 2 A-Levels) Declined
• Kent (Social Policy & Social Anthropology) - Offer (AAB) Declined
• Bath (Social Policy) - Offer (AAB) Declined

Grades Achieved:

• Sociology (A2) - A
• Government & Politics (A2) - C
• Drama & Theatre (A2) - C
• Criminology (AS) - A*
• Philosophy (AS) - D
• Economics (AS) - E
• German (AS) - E
• Psychology (AS) - E
• General Studies (AS) - B

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Department of Sociology

For Prospective Students:

Princeton’s Sociology Department offers graduate training across a range of specialty areas to students seeking the Ph.D. Students are encouraged to work with the full range of department faculty and to tailor programs of study that will suit their individual needs and aspirations. The program offers a structured set of experiences that help students become independent scholars as early as possible in their graduate careers. Students take a series of required courses in theory and methods, participate in a second-year research workshop in which they produce a publishable piece of empirical research, and usually engage in several teaching and research apprenticeships with members of the faculty.

"The program is primarily designed for students interested in pursuing academic careers, but it also provides research skills that may be used in government and the private sector."

The program is designed to encourage completion of the doctorate in a time that is consistent with rigorous scholarly preparation. The program reflects an educational philosophy that from the first views the student as a potential contributor to the discipline rather than as a passive repository of knowledge. It rests on the conviction that scarce time is better utilized in preparing manuscripts of a type suitable for publication than in writing conventional term papers. The  Graduate School  does not operate on the credit system. The formal requirements for the doctorate specified by the Graduate School are at least one year in residence, completion of an approved dissertation, and successful performance on the general and final oral examinations. 

The department’s philosophy is that learning at the graduate level takes place best in a semi-structured environment that combines individual freedom with a supportive intellectual community. Individual freedom is encouraged by keeping the program sufficiently small (about 30 students are in residence each year) to ensure flexibility and by providing students with a wide variety of options with which to pursue their scholarly interests. Students meet regularly with members of the faculty to consult about their plans and progress, and, rather than receiving letter grades, are given qualitative written evaluations. A supportive intellectual community is encouraged by the fact that students generally remain in residence during much of their time in the program, by an atmosphere of informality and collegiality between faculty and students, and through formal activities such as on-going workshops, symposia, colloquia, and gatherings in the department lounge. 

"...learning at the graduate level takes place best in a semi-structured environment that combines individual freedom with a supportive intellectual community."

The university and the wider community also contribute significantly to the department’s emphasis on semi-structured learning.  Princeton University  is a world-class research institution, and yet it is relatively small, because it includes only a few professional schools, focusing instead on liberal arts training at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Students and faculty are thus able to become acquainted and to work together, not only within departments, but across departments as well. In a real sense, the university is the unit of instruction at Princeton, and the sociology department seeks to capitalize on this fact by providing interdepartmental learning experiences. For example, students are encouraged to take courses outside the department, as well as inside the department, and dissertation committees often include faculty from other departments. Some possibilities for learning outside the university are also available through cooperative arrangements with  Columbia University  and  Rutgers University , and through a formal exchange program with more than a dozen universities throughout the country. 

" Princeton University  is a world-class research institution, and yet it is relatively small, because it includes only a few professional schools, focusing instead on liberal arts training at the graduate and undergraduate levels."

The community, located midway between New York and Philadelphia, also provides an ideal learning environment. The town of Princeton is a community of approximately 50,000 residents. It, in turn, is part of the rapidly growing central New Jersey metroplex with a current population of more than one million. The immediate area includes a rich variety of cultural activities, including one of the nation’s best repertory theaters, a number of vocal and instrumental musical companies, bookstores, movie theaters, and restaurants of all kinds. Princeton has one of the oldest and largest concentrations of survey research firms, many of which employ advanced graduate students in sociology. It is the location of the internationally known  Institute for Advanced Study , which brings a number of visiting social scientists to the area each year. The area is notable for diversity of many kinds: Princeton is still surrounded by working farms (not to mention expansive suburbs); and rich urban environments are just miles away in Trenton (a small city and the capital of New Jersey, just eight miles southwest) and New Brunswick (about fifteen miles to the north). The town of Princeton itself is racially and ethnically diverse, and the immigration of the 1980s and 1990s has produced vibrant ethnic communities of many kinds in the surrounding cities and suburban communities. Moreover, New York and Philadelphia are only an hour away by commuter train or bus. 

Admission to the program is sought by completing the application forms that are supplied by the Office of Graduate Admissions. These require a transcript of all graduate and undergraduate courses taken elsewhere, one or more papers, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement indicating why the applicant is interested in pursuing doctoral work in sociology at Princeton. Submitting a GRE score is not required.

An undergraduate major in sociology is not required. The writing sample and personal statement are especially important. The department looks for applicants’ research experience and interests, creativity, quality of previous work, and potential match with the department’s strengths.

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PERSONAL STATEMENT EXAMPLE Sociology Personal Statement

Submitted by Laury

Sociology Personal Statement

The world in which we live is regularly in flux. Not only do phenomenon such as the seasons and time ceaselessly change and rotate, but the dynamics and ideas of our society too endlessly evolve, and new social norms emerge. Consensus attitudes valued in modern society have developed over past centuries, and our ideas on topics such as ethnicity and gender are being centred on universal equality, and these concepts are widely rooted in current affairs and debates. It is these facts that have captivated me and led me to aspire to study a degree in Sociology, which I foresee will enable me to explore and enrich my own standpoint on these types of topics, whilst being able to orchestrate personal research to find out the beliefs of others. The study of Sociology has made me an active and well-informed member of society, and studying it at degree level is a prospect I am eager to embark on.

Through studying Sociology, I have been awakened in the pursuit of discovering my own views on the systems in society. For example, I once believed that religion is a reflection of the oppression of the working class, and that the elite benefit from a strong religious force in the lower classes. However, upon finishing the religion topic, I now hold a view similar to that of Functionalists, believing religion gives people a sense of belonging, and creates a platform for them to share beliefs and express their faith collectively. The way that Sociology has the power to transform people's beliefs and create the desire to seek one’s personal views, as it did mine, is a factor that motivates me to continue to develop my Sociological skills and furthermore, use those skills to make a positive contribution to wider society.

Discovering this great interest in Sociology has prompted my desire to study the fast-changing social world in which we live. It has allowed me to attain such as critical thinking, extended essay writing, and awareness of the world around me. My formal lessons have featured discussions on issues including religion and crime, and it is topics such as these that have driven my fascination for the subject.

Outside of school, I have passions lying in the arts. I volunteer as a 'Student Assistant' at my local dance school, which I have been a member of since 3 years old. I regularly assist in the teaching of younger students and may lead sections of their lessons on my own. It is here I learnt disciplines such as commitment, responsibility and dedication, and it's these same qualities that have enabled me to succeed within the field of academia and have helped shaped me into a resilient student who strives for excellence in all areas of life. I have also previously dedicated time to performing at the Birmingham Children's Hospital and at multiple charity events. This has been an extremely rewarding and heart-warming set of experiences, as it allowed me to empathise with those who are less fortunate than me, and provided me with a sense of fulfilment that only comes from helping others.

In order to broaden my understanding of the significance of Sociology today, I am currently taking time to read 'What Use is Sociology?' By Zygmunt Bauman. Having this additional knowledge puts me in a favourable position to ensure it is the career path I wish to undertake, while entering University with prior insight into the subject. I am enthused about the potential career prospects that this degree can provide, and I am particularly interested in the field of human resources and international aid, as both of these allow me to use my compassion to help those who are living in poverty or difficult situations.

I consider myself a driven and vivacious student, who is always seeking ways I can improve my work and engage in external activities that will increase my personal and academic growth. I am very passionate about Sociology, and I believe that my academic background alongside my extra-curricular pursuits makes me ideal for this course.

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History and sociology personal statement example.

History enables me to see how actions and events have shaped our current society and to understand the present, one must understand the past. The broad topic areas that are involved in History and Sociology allow me to understand different perspectives on a diverse range of subjects. One subject that particularly interests me in History are the English Witch Hunts of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth centuries.

This particular subject allows me to see how society has evolved since the years when moral standards were extremely poor. I have been studying this topic for my personal study in History and the diversity of the views on the subject is fascinating. I particularly enjoy James Sharpe's views on Witchcraft: "The Hopkins trials are of massive significance to the history of English witchcraft, because they offer a major challenge to those interpretations which present witchcraft in England as a low key affair." Matthew Hopkins, also known as the Witch finder General, was a key figure in the Witch Hunts and James Sharpe uses him to back up his argument that the Witch Hunts are significant to English history. The diverse range of arguments that are put forward by historians make researching different topics all the more enthralling.

This is also the case with Sociology, as it enables me to understand our current society from different Sociological perspectives, such as Marxism and Functionalism. Marxism is one of my preferred theories to study, as it was created in the 19th century, and thus it enables me to compare views on society from different time periods. Marx summarized his approach in the first line of chapter one of The Communist Manifesto: published in 1848: "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." Marxism views our current society in a negative way saying that we are ruled by the 'Bourgeoisie'. However Functionalism views society positively, referring to it as an organic analogy, functional like the human body. Seeing theories that contradict each other so greatly makes the diversity both appealing and fascinating. History and Sociology are both extremely diverse subjects, making the study of these areas an extremely exciting prospect.

I have been studying history, sociology and psychology at A2 Level, together with English Literature at AS Level. Psychology and history in particular have improved my analytical skills, as they both require focus on sources, case studies and methodologies. This will help me with the different perspectives and topics involved with history and sociology.

I have a passion for working within the police. During Year 12, I shadowed Burnham-On-Sea Police Force, and this included a personal tour of the station and shadowing a PCSO. This confirmed that Sociology and History are the topics I wish to study. I have also been involved with looking after the children at the local church on a Sunday, and with their Summer Holiday Club for three years. This has enabled me to improve my observational skills by watching the children and seeing how they interact.

I used this experience to relate the childrens' behaviour to what I learnt about Interactionism in my first year of Sociology. These observational skills may be useful when looking at cultures and the differences between them. I also enjoy visits to the Natural History Museum and I am going to the Imperial War Museum in February 2011, which will give me a better understanding of the many topics that are involved in History. Also, I am in the process of completing the ASDAN CoPE Level 3 Qualification, which has developed my important key skills, especially independent study.

University will help me reach my full potential and I intend to work hard, directing all my effort into reaching my intellectual potential. I will use all of the skills I have acquired throughout my schooling to be a diligent and conscientious student.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by rgmail1 for application in 2010.

rgmail1's university choices The University of Gloucestershire University of Leeds Cardiff University The University of Warwick University of Exeter

Green : offer made Red : no offer made

rgmail1's Comments

Hi, This is my statement for my joint degree and its been sent to ucas. I'm pretty happy with it but i know you can alaways do better so give me some comments on what you think. Thanks

Related Personal Statements

Hi, i don't mind constructive.

Wed, 06/10/2010 - 15:32

Hi, i don't mind constructive critiscism but if you're just going to slag it off, don't bother. Thankyou :)

Your personal statement its

Tue, 12/10/2010 - 16:26

Your personal statement its brilliant and i am desperate to study history/sociology at university,did you get accepted into warwick?

Hi, i only sent off my

Fri, 15/10/2010 - 12:42

Hi, i only sent off my application two weeks ago so i'm still holding out hope for Warwick *fingers crossed* So where are you thinking of applying to? :)

ohh well good luck :) im

Wed, 20/10/2010 - 21:32

ohh well good luck :) im applying to warwick birmingham cardif manchester and leeds. i havent finished mine yet tho still doing finishing touches lol.

Awesome, they sound like very

Thu, 21/10/2010 - 10:10

Awesome, they sound like very good uni's good luck :)

Wow, yours is amazing! Am

Fri, 29/10/2010 - 21:47

Wow, yours is amazing! Am also hoping to study history/sociology, best of luck to you! What are you predicted?

Thanks :) i was predicted C's

Sun, 31/10/2010 - 19:55

Thanks :) i was predicted C's for my AS levels because i was lazy at GCSE (which I now regret!!) but for my A levels i am predicted AAA. Where are u applying to??

Tue, 23/07/2013 - 22:39

Appreciate you sharing, great blog article.Thanks Again. Awesome.

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