personal statement for classics

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Successful Personal Statement For Classics At Oxford

Last Updated: 7th April 2022

Author: Rob Needleman

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 Classics applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The Classics Course at Oxford involves extensive study of ancient languages, with a view to studying texts in the original.

Read on to see how this candidate managed to navigate the many disciplines and perspectives of Classics. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement:

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

Enrolling on our Oxbridge Classics 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.  

Classics Personal Statement

Listening to operas like Handel’s Acis and Galatea, or looking at paintings like Raphael’s exquisite Triumph of Galatea, I am always reminded of Ovid’s brilliant manipulation of sources in producing stories now well ingrained in our culture – in this case transplanting the terrifying Cyclops of Odyssey 9 into a comic love triangle from Theocritus. In the Iliad, by contrast, Homer tells a deeply profound story of the cost of war, in which the humanity and inhumanity of war, presented through the sympathetic voice of the poet and the scope of the action respectively, are drawn together throughout the poem, culminating in the meeting of two tragic figures, Achilles and Priam, in Book 24. For me, however, the most moving part of the Iliad is Hector’s speech to Andromache in Book 6 when he imagines her being enslaved, because it combines the shame-driven bravery of the heroic code with an acute sense of conflicting duties, alien to most of the other characters in the poem. It is this variety in Classical literature, especially in the rich traditions of epic and mythology, that most appeals to me about Classics. In reading Classics at university I am particularly looking forward to studying more Greek tragedy, since I so enjoyed reading King Lear and Endgame at English AS-Level and the Antigone at Bryanston.

The infectious curiosity of Herodotus, the witty cynicism of Tacitus: Ancient History offers the whole range of authorial perspectives, but what struck me the most last year when I studied Ancient History for the first time was the fact that one need look no further than Plutarch’s Lives to find the whole range of personalities still found in today’s politics. An idea particularly resonant in modern politics, from Neil Kinnock to Joe Biden, is that of the ‘novus homo’, and my interest in Cicero, through studying his works at AS-Level, led me to write an article for Omnibus in which I argued that Cicero intended to publish not only the seventy-nine epistulae commendaticiae of ad Familiares 13, as suggested by Ludwig Gurlitt, but also some of the letters to Atticus.

In my Extended Project dissertation I investigated the issues surrounding the UK’s euthanasia legislation. In researching this subject I studied the views of Immanuel Kant and Jeremy Bentham, but also the opinions of more recent philosophers such as Peter Singer. I was especially impressed by Joseph Fletcher’s essay, The Cognitive Criterion of Personhood, because his clear and logical argument for defining a ‘person’, especially the criterion of one’s sense of the future, was the foundation for my argument concerning the value and sanctity of human life.

Outside the classroom I like to be involved in a lot of music, mostly singing – in which my favourite genre is Baroque oratorio – cello, and harpsichord. I recently performed in Mendelssohn’s Octet at the Cadogan Hall, and having won first prize in London’s Spring Grove Chamber Music Festival with my string quartet we are spending the money on making a CD of some of our recent repertoire. My other pursuits include some amateur journalism and representing my school in public speaking, while at home I particularly enjoy reading the books of P. G. Wodehouse and watching the 1950s films of Federico Fellini and Ingmar Bergman.

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

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Download our Free Personal Statement Starter Guide 

Good Points Of The Personal Statement

The student clearly engages with the subject and is eager to demonstrate the knowledge they have already built in their studies. Importantly, attention is given to both classical literature and ancient history, showing that the student has well-rounded interests in their chosen subject. The student is able to talk competently about a number of classical sources and figures, but also is able to make links with current affairs, which works well. Mentioning the article that the student wrote was a strong inclusion because it shows the student took initiative and undertook an academic style activity, moving beyond what is required of them in their studies.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

The student takes some time to begin to talk about their own personal interests in Classics. The phrasing for the first half of the introductory paragraph is, for the most part, quite abstract and factual. Writing in this way can present difficulties in getting your personality across. The paragraph about the student’s extra-curricular activities would be better if the activities given attention to were linked to Classics in some way. While a wealth of extra-curricular activities may demonstrate that the student is capable of balancing their interests and their studies, it would be more impressive to show a commitment to Classics, in this instance, through these activities. Wider reading in a particular area of Classics the student finds interesting would be more relevant than who they enjoy reading or the types of film they enjoy.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

This personal statement is well written and demonstrates the student’s wealth of knowledge about Classics from the outset. At times, it sadly lacks in personality, the student talks happily about facts and concepts but does not sustain a noticeable passion throughout- resulting in a personal statement that seems at times overly factual. While by no means a bad personal statement, it would benefit from getting across at every opportunity the view that the student has a real passion for this subject and engages with it at every opportunity. The student should be the focus, not the subject.

This Personal Statement for Classics is a good example of a well-written Statement that demonstrates a wealth of knowledge and interest, vital to Admissions Tutors.

Remember, at Oxford, 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.

You can find more successful personal statements and our expert guides on our Free Personal Statement Resources page.

Our expert tutors are on hand to help you craft the perfect Personal Statement for your Oxford Classics application.

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Classics Personal Statement Examples

I am pleased to share two Classics personal statement examples written for undergraduate university applications . The first statement is for an applicant interested in pursuing Classics while the second explores a combined Classics and Modern Languages degree.

Both Classics personal statements were composed to:

• Demonstrate the applicant’s genuine, longstanding academic interests and aptitudes
• Highlight relevant coursework, skills, achievements and experiences
• Convey the applicant’s personality, goals and fit for the programme
• Use style, tone and content expected for a competitive process of applying to a UK university
• Both got offers from Bristol and Edinburgh University 

Classics Personal Statement

As I gazed out at the ruins of the Roman forum on a childhood family holiday, tracing outlines of crumbled columns with my eyes whilst imagining citizens in togas bustling about on ancient streets, I felt the sparks of fascination with the classical world flicker into the flame of passion that has fuelled my academic journey ever since. 

I have been fascinated by the ancient cultures of Greece and Rome. As I began studying Latin and Classical Civilisation at school , my passion for the classical world grew even stronger. I was enthralled by the myths, literature, art, and history that transported me back thousands of years, revealing intricate details of societies so similar yet so foreign to our own. 

By the time I reached sixth form and had the opportunity to take both Classical Civilisation and Ancient History at advanced levels, my enthusiasm was firmly cemented and I relished the chance to further immerse myself in analyses of the primary texts, material evidence, and differing modern interpretations that bring the classics to life.

Throughout my A-Level studies, I have been consistently challenged, intrigued, and inspired. Reading extracts from Herodotus’ Histories in Ancient History illuminated the scholar’s groundbreaking ethnographic approaches whilst also revealing his personal subjectivities. Studying Aristophanic comedy in Classical Civilisation not only entailed delving into the intricacies of 5th century BCE Athenian society that contextualise the genre’s conventions and content, but also applying modern theoretical frameworks like New Comedy and the Carnivalesque in written coursework that strengthened my analytical abilities. Such enriching academic experiences have provided me with a solid foundation of knowledge whilst allowing me to develop nuanced perspectives on the ancient world.

Beyond the classroom, I have sought opportunities to nurture my passion for the classics. A recent trip to Sicily and southern Italy brought the ancient sites of Greek and Roman antiquity alive before my eyes, from the Valley of Temples with its striking Doric architecture to the remarkably well-preserved mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale. 

Additionally, as an avid reader, I often find myself returning to classical themes and references in modern literature, deepening my appreciation for how the classics continue influencing the present day. From the epic journeys in works like Joyce’s Ulysses or Walcott’s Omeros to the class stratifications examined by Faulkner and Fitzgerald, traces of the ancient world creatively permeate whilst offering compelling comparisons to modern societies.

With a longstanding fascination for classical civilisations and a proven academic aptitude evidenced by my consistently strong performance across humanities A-Levels, I am confident in my abilities to excel in a Classics degree programme. The opportunity to build upon the foundations I already possess through studying a breadth of modules spanning literature, material culture, languages, history and more with esteemed scholars in the field would allow me to gain extensive expertise. Upon graduating, I hope to either pursue postgraduate studies in Classics or work in an education or heritage focused role, thereby enabling me to kindle others’ passion for the classics much like my own was first sparked not too long ago.

Classics and Modern Languages personal statement example

From translating Sappho’s emotive poems in Greek to studying the themes of fate versus free will in my French literature classes, the interwoven worlds of classics and modern languages have long captivated me. 

These twin passions, nurtured in my bilingual upbringing between Melbourne and Paris, have only grown stronger during my studies and will continue flourishing through university and beyond.

My diverse academic interests are evidenced in my equally strong performance across A-Levels including Mathematics , Physics , Economics , and French. While mathematics sharpens one’s logical precision and physics reveals nature’s mathematical elegance, my lingual studies hold the most meaning. 

Translating the words of iconic figures like Sappho or Anacreon or tracing mythology’s impact in modern works provides unparalleled insight into the human condition – the joys, sorrows, and challenges felt hundreds of years apart rendered suddenly universal when given a new voice.

One project synthesising my language abilities was a comparative analysis between Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and its modern adaptations like Jean Cocteau’s Infernal Machine for my French course. 

Beyond examining the shared tragic themes, I explored how contemporary sociopolitical contexts shaped each version, from Cocteau subtlely reacting to France’s WW2 occupation to Lebanese-Canadian playwright Wajdi Mouawad’s Incendies mirroring civil war horrors. Distilling such complex ideas across languages and eras was hugely rewarding.

My proudest translation achievement is finishing Lucian of Samosata’s 1st-century True History – perhaps the first-ever science fiction text with its imaginary voyages to space colonies and battles with alien lifeforms. While witty satire attracted me initially, I became engrossed by Lucian’s pioneering creativity. 

As an aspiring novelist already working on several drafts, I may too one-day pen tales mingling fantasy, comedy and mythic undertones.

With a robust background spanning both classical and modern languages paired with diverse analytical abilities from the humanities to sciences, I am well-prepared to excel in a Classics and Modern Languages programme. 

The opportunity to further strengthen my Greek and Latin, study additional modern languages like Italian or Mandarin Chinese, explore linguistics, and trace how classical ideas permeate global literature excites me enormously. By graduating with multilingual expertise and cultural appreciation, I hope to either pursue translation, humanities research or creative writing where my interdisciplinary skillset will be invaluable whilst letting me delve deeper into my varied passions daily.

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Classics Personal Statement Guide

Writing a personal statement presents you with an opportunity to showcase your abilities and achievements , while also demonstrating you have the skills, motivation and drive to study classics at university. A personal statement serves the important purpose of telling an admissions team who would be the most suitable students for admission onto a course , and often form the basis of questions in admissions interviews.

Not many people look forward to writing a personal statement because they recognise how important it is, and there can be a lot of pressure to get it right. That’s where this guide comes in. It is designed to offer advice on the most common issues students encounter when approaching the statement, and it will take you through some of the ‘dos and don’ts’ for writing a great classics personal statement, including

• Why are Personal Statements Important?
• What Should I Include in a Classics Personal Statement?  
• What Should I Avoid in a Classics Personal Statement?  

Advice on How to Start a Classics Personal Statement  

Advice on how to finish a classics personal statement  .

What Should I Avoid in a Classics Personal Statement ?  

Personal statements should be clear and concise . They should never be florid and laboured, so keep affected language out of it. The same goes for quotations and clichés; you want to demonstrate that you can communicate effectively and be understood easily, so these should never appear in a statement.

Remember not to include anything you wouldn’t be happy to talk about in an interview, therefore it’s a very bad idea to make untrue claims. The statement should be about you and your interests and motivations , which means you should not focus on anyone or anything other than you – writing about a book, classical figure, or school of thought is not appropriate.

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Classics is an interdisciplinary subject that covers art, music, history, architecture, literature, philosophy, amongst others. This means you have so many areas from which to choose examples of your passion and motivation to study it.

When it comes to putting this into words, though, it’s sometimes hard to find a starting point. You should try asking yourself a set of questions to begin, including ‘Why do I find this so interesting?’, ‘When did I first become interested in this?’, and ‘What would I like to get out of a classics degree?’

This will help you to formulate your thoughts and, eventually, your words. When you do come to start writing, make your opening direct and appealing , but avoid clichés and quotations. The statement is about you and no one else.

By the time you come to finish the statement, you should have included parts about your rationale for choosing classics, your specific interests within classics, where your interests came from , and any skills you possess that would benefit you during the course.

The conclusion should reinforce these points and, if you wish, talk about what you’d like to get out of the degree course, making sure what you say is applicable to all the courses to which you’re applying. A good conclusion leaves the reader with the impression that you’re the right candidate, that you’d be a good student to teach, and that you’d make the most of your time on the degree at that university.

• What are some Tips for Writing a Strong Classics Statement?
• How Long Should my Classics Personal Statement Be?
• What Kind of Extracurricular Activities Should I Include in my Classics Statement?
• How Can I Tailor my Classics Personal Statement to the Oxford/Cambridge Course?

There are particular attributes that equip students well for embarking on a classics course, such as open-mindedness, critical thinking, and enough intellectual flexibility that you can revise your views in light of new information. Mentioning experiences that either taught you these or allowed you to demonstrate these skills will show you have a skillset valued by the discipline. Try not to start listing qualities you think tutors are looking for; instead choose one or two and make them relevant to the academic study of classics.

Create a plan and structure for your statement. Tutors will want to see that you can organise your thoughts coherently and that your points come across clearly and precisely. It’s never a good idea just to let your mind wander as it gives the impression of unorganised thinking, which would be a severe disadvantage for a classicist.

Every UCAS statement is limited to 4000 characters or 47 lines of the form (whichever you reach first). This encourages you to be selective with your content and to be as succinct as possible. Given the character-limit, it’s sensible to try to use as much of it as possible as you want to inform the universities about yourself in as much detail as you can.

The rule-of-thumb for the inclusion of extracurricular activities is relevance . Obvious examples would include visiting museums and sites, going on archaeological digs, or reading widely.

You should be strict with yourself over what to include as you haven’t many words available, so unless the activity can be related to the discipline or to advanced study in general, it’s probably not worth putting in.

Certain activities might have taught you useful skills, and it’s fine to include those if you can then successfully link them to the study of classics at university – avoid tenuous links though!

You are writing the same statement to all of your UCAS choices, so you can't be too specific to any one course. However, you can make sure your statement is especially appealing to Oxbridge tutors.

The Oxford and Cambridge courses are interdisciplinary, so it’s advisable to demonstrate some interest across the range of areas the degrees encompass, such as in philosophy, literature, or archaeology. T

here is also a large focus on language, so even if you’ve had no experience of Latin or Greek, it’s worthwhile reading about these languages, their history, and their literature, and even trying to teach yourself some to demonstrate willingness to learn.

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• Oct 5, 2020

'How to smash your personal statement' - Applying for a Classical Subject at Uni

This guide has been put together to help prospective students write a Classics personal statement. It was collated by our team who are all currently studying a Classical subject for their degree at top UK institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, UCL and Edinburgh.

Often writing a personal statement can be an overwhelming prospect, although the aim of this guide is to provide some useful tools to help you write and edit your personal statement. We will also include a few exemplar personal statements from our academic team so you can see how people have tailored their statements to particular degree programmes.

Writing your personal statement:

When writing your personal statement, start with a list of everything you have done that relates to Classics. The rank the items on the list in order of how much of an impact they had on you and your desire to study Classics at uni.

Things worth including summer schools, lectures you have attended (online or in-person ), classical plays , online courses, books that you have read (fiction or non-fiction), sites you have visited, classics podcasts and documentaries.

If you are not studying any Classical subjects at A-Level it is really great to talk about any extra reading you have done and where your current A-Level subjects tie in with Classics.

If you are studying a Classical subject at A-Level don't just dwell upon material that is from your specification, talk about extra reading and areas of interest that show you're prepared to go above and beyond the specification.

Try to frame your personal statement thematically, in all the personal statements you'll read there will be some clear themes that either run throughout the statement or in particularly paragraphs.

Tailor your personal statement to the particular course you are applying for, i.e. if you are applying for Ancient History don't spend too long dwelling on the literary significance of Antigone as a feminist icon - it's not overly relevant to the course. Instead, it's more effective to talk about Sophocles as a political writer of his time and his engagement with the mythical past to parallel the political present.

Make sure to talk about Classics, this sounds obvious but many people get so carried away talking about their strengths in their other A-Levels, reasons why they'll make a good student and all their extra-curricular achievements and forget to talk about Classics itself.

It’s worth tailoring your statement to each particular University, noting if there is a notable lecturer or course offered that has drawn you to the place in particular. This shows you have done your research and that you are committed!

Be ambitious but not a braggart! Your personal statement will not change the world, but it will be a way to show yourself in the best light. You want to outline, but not exaggerate, what you have to offer.

Talk about yourself! The clue is in the title, it is a personal statement, so make it personal. Write in the first person, write about your personal likes and dislikes. The admissions officer of the universities you've applied to wants to get a feel as to what you are like as a candidate, not what the general consensus within the academic field is about whether Homer did or didn't exist- they can find that in a journal/book.

Editing your personal statement:

Go through and make sure you aren't over-using words, common examples are passion, passionate, love, fascinate, interests. Where you can try and switch things up.

Make sure that your personal statement has a strong introduction and a strong conclusion. No one wants to read something that just trails in and trails out.

Make sure you have at least 3 paragraphs to your statement: intro, body and conclusion. (If you want more than 3 that's fine, people just don't want to read one dense block of text).

Check your grammar, especially if you are applying for a degree with a language component! If you've used the wrong tense, used the wrong plural or forgotten a word the academic will notice.

Get at least 2 other people to read your personal statement and give you feedback. It doesn't matter whether it is two teachers, a parent, your friend or you can get in touch with us regarding our 1-1 coaching service, and one of our team will read it! Get another pair of eyes on your statement before it is sent off.

Things to avoid:

Jokes, these never go down well and are often described by academics as being cringeworthy.

Intros that read like you've just been picked for X Factor. No one wants to read about how 'You watched Hercules when you were 3 years old and from that point onwards you absolutely knew that you had to be a Classicist'. An Oxford Academic also once told us that the most clichéd personal statement introduction he'd ever read was 'When I was X years old I went to the Colosseum and I was instantly inspired and wanted to be a classicist'.

Vague statements. If you include something it needs to be specific and followed up with an explanation. Don't just say 'I find Roman Comedy really interesting'. These academics want to know why you find it interesting and they want you to thoroughly explain yourself. A better answer would be 'Roman Comedy interests me because of the influence of Menander's works upon texts by Plautus and Terence. In particular, I am interested in how the political climate, both Menander under Alexander and Plautus in the Republic influences the impersonal and political comedic styles used in the plays.'

Don't only talk about one thing. Avoid making your whole personal statement a tribute to one thing i.e. Virgil. It can make you come across like a bit of a one-trick pony, and someone who is lacking in adaptability. Showing your ability to be diverse is really important because lecturers want to know that you'll be able to balance multiple modules focussing on different areas of Classics throughout your degree.

Don't talk too much about your extracurriculars. Particularly if you're applying to Oxbridge or other academically intensive universities, unless your extracurricular activities relate in some way to Classics don't dwell for too long on them. For an academic, writing a paragraph entirely on your Silver DofE is a paragraph that could've have been written about your love of Cycladic Sculpture (or another area of Classics).

Don't include things you don't know because the people reading your personal statement are experts in their field and they will see through it, also if your university asks you to interview there is a high chance they will ask you about it. Honesty is essential.

Some words of encouragement from our team:

"One of the things I hated about applying to university was having to write about myself (it either felt like bragging or made me feel like I hadn't achieved anything), but remembering that the main objective of my personal statement was to communicate my interest in classics/continuing my education made me a lot less anxious.  " - Sophie

"Let your love of Classics shine through. Don't get carried away in trying to sound intelligent and remember to be yourself. These universities want to get to know you and why you personally love Classics just as much as they want to know you understand the Peloponnesian War" - Emily

"I remember struggling to cut it down because I kept going into too much detail, but remember that any experience or achievements will speak for themselves. The most important thing is to talk about what you love about the subject!" - Isabella

“Don’t try to second guess what a university wants from you, speak with passion about your interests and your individuality will shine through” - Kitty

"Writing your personal statement is the perfect opportunity to outline your passion and commitment to studying your chosen subject at university. It can seem like a daunting task, but it is important to remember not to treat the personal statement like an exam answer. University admission teams are interested in knowing more about you and why you are drawn to your subject. It is more important to express your passion and your hopes for what you want to learn and do during your future at university than it is to outline what you already know. Be genuine and sincere: you are your own unique selling point!" - Meg

Personal Statements

Below is a selection of personal statements from our academic team who applied for a variety of different degrees including pure Classics, Classics and a Modern Foreign language, Classical Archaeology and Ancient History, Ancient World, Classical Civilisation and Classical Literature.

Our examples also demonstrate applications from students from the English, Scottish and American education systems.

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• Personal Statements
• Classics personal statement

Classics Personal Statement Example

Sample statement.

Studying Classics at university allows you to combine both history and literature and can lead to many exciting career options. Writing a good personal statement is the first step towards getting into university, so to start you off on the right foot, here is a sample Classics personal statement.

Throughout my education I have always been interested in both history and literature and I saw that a Classics degree was the perfect way to combine my passions. My interest in literature began at an early age when my parents read to me every day.

I became interested in history as an older child and enjoyed many school trips and weekend afternoons spent in museums and local historical attractions such as the Natural History Museum. I was first able to combine my love of history and literature at A Level when I studied Classics.

I hope that I will have more chance to participate in the practical side of history during my time at university as I enjoyed having the opportunity to take part in local archaeological digs as part of my course.

Outside of my academic commitments I am a keen writer and hope to soon complete a collection of short stories to submit for publication. To further develop my writing skills I attend a local writing group and have recently started a book club with members of the group.

I work part time at a local historical attraction, the Tudor House Museum, which involves giving guided tours of the premises and answering questions from visitors and the local press about our exhibitions and the history of the building.

My work have given me a greater insight into another period of history and helped me to develop strong teamwork and communication skills. I am confident in following my own initiative and enjoy meeting new people.

I hope that my time at university, and the skills, experience, and abilities, will enable me to gain an entry level position in a museum after graduation. I also hope to continue writing alongside studying for my degree.

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Top Tips for a Cambridge Classics Personal Statement

Top 10 tips : dos and don’ts.

The Cambridge Classics Personal Statement is a crucial component of your university application. It presents a unique opportunity for you to differentiate yourself from other applicants. You would be able to articulate your story and explain your interests beyond that of numbers on an admissions test. Furthermore, it gives the interviewer a chance to understand who you are. It also provides a platform to bounce off questions during your interview. 

They can tailor questions to your personality, interests, and commitment to who you are as a person and your amalgamation of experiences before you. Our Oxbridge application experts have compiled a list of top 10 Cambridge Classics Personal Statement tips to guide you through the arduous university application process. This includes dos and don’ts for your Cambridge Classics Personal Statement for the 2024/25 application cycle.

General Advice for your Classics Personal Statement at Cambridge

Classics at the University of Cambridge is an extremely dynamic course. It encompasses an extremely wide range of topics, such as the history, archaeology, philosophy, culture, linguistics and art of classical antiquity. It also includes the study of original texts and artefacts. The classics course gives you the fundamentals in the first one or two years. It then gives you a point of entry into an enormous array of choices, in the final year.

Whether it’s through a poem, a philosophical text, or an ancient artefact, in order to understand the classical world. Students learn to critically analyse, research, formulate arguments, and present them effectively.

Your Cambridge Classics personal statement must clearly demonstrate your interest in academic rigour and thought, as well as the fields outlined above. Furthermore, when planning out your Cambridge Classics personal statement, make sure you research Cambridge’s achievements in Classics and include it in your writing to illustrate your interest in Classics. 

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

Top 5 Tips for your Cambridge Classics Personal Statement

Demonstrate why you are a good match for classics.

The traits that would make up a good classics student would be vastly different from the desirable traits of students from other courses. For example, some unique traits that they would be looking out for are students who are capable of critical thinking. It also includes those who enjoy rigorous analysis. Being open-minded is also crucial. Cambridge is looking out for students who are able to consider new perspectives. Try and demonstrate how you display these traits in your Cambridge personal statement. You can do so by explaining a specific experience that you had in the past. Reflect on how they have caused you to be equipped with these desirable qualities.

Be well-read in classics or related fields

Classics is a subject that involves the study of archaeology, history, philosophy, art, and linguistics. Hence, an ideal classics student would be well-read. This is because they have a natural thirst for knowledge. It is also because being well-informed or deeply versed would equip you with unique perspectives when pursuing your degree. Furthermore, being well-read would provide an advantage in giving you an impression of such an integrated study. Cambridge is definitely looking out for students who are well-read, and this is evident even on their page outlining the course. You definitely don’t need to be an expert (after all, you are going to university to study classics). But you should definitely do some preliminary reading. You can access their recommended reading list put together by one of the University of Cambridge colleges, King’s College. The link is available here: King’s College   Beyond that of reading, podcasts, documentaries, or even short news articles are a great way to kickstart your journey in being more deeply versed in literature and a wide range of perspectives. You can incorporate these various forms of mediums into your everyday lifestyle. This includes watching a documentary instead of your usual TV series or listening to a podcast instead of your usual playlist on your way home from school.

Write concisely and simply

It can be tempting, predominantly for a course such as Classics, to fill and embellish your Cambridge Classics personal statement with difficult vocabulary or unconventional words. However, if you are not used to such language, do not feel pressured to decorate your Cambridge Classics personal statement with a fancy vocabulary. This is because it could make it difficult for Cambridge tutors to get through your Cambridge personal statement or understand what you are trying to say. Imagine this– tutors would get through hundreds of applicants per day. It would be tough for tutors to focus on what you are trying to communicate if you use too difficult vocabulary. Similar to reading articles or academic journals full of jargon you are unfamiliar with, The first and foremost aim of your Cambridge Classics personal statement is for the reader to understand what you are trying to convey. Sometimes fancy vocabulary would get in the way of that. Prioritise conciseness and readability, and sometimes simple language, especially when you are trying to describe complex topics, is best for that!

Structure your Cambridge Classics personal statement well to enhance readability

It can be difficult to communicate it in the way you intended. Especially when you are trying to convey a huge range of ideas in your Cambridge Classics personal statement, or to explain your story and why you are a good fit for classics at Cambridge. Hence, sticking to a good structure would help you convey your thoughts better. For example, you can start off by explaining your interest in classics. Do you have a topic that deeply intrigues you and is the beginning of your exposure to this field? You can then spend later paragraphs explaining how you explored this interest. This can be through concrete experiences and actions, such as that of reading or participating in conferences and competitions. You can then conclude by summarising your points and ending them with an impactful statement.

Starting early and getting people around you or seniors to proofread your Cambridge Classics personal statement

We might not be the best judge of our own work as we might not be objective about it. Especially when we are explaining our personal story or beliefs. Hence, it would be good to get seniors you know who are currently pursuing classics at Cambridge to proofread your work and provide feedback. Getting friends or family to proofread your work can also provide valuable feedback on readability! That being said, don’t share your Cambridge personal statement in case it gets plagiarised by someone else. Furthermore, starting early would be extremely helpful and you would be thankful when completing your applications. If you are finding yourself to be in a slump or having writer’s block, start by listing out all your experiences and interests. Next, create a separate list of good qualities of classics students. Finally, write a list of what the classics course at Cambridge is about. You can match your experiences and interests to the qualities and details of the course, and slowly flesh out paragraphs to start. Once you are done with your draft, it would also be good to leave and come back to it a week later with a fresh mind. 

Top 5 things to AVOID for your Cambridge Classics Personal Statement

Using too much complicated vocabulary.

A lot of students have the impression that they would be rewarded for bad writing. Specifically that of embellishing their essays with an unnecessary and excessive amount of complicated vocabulary. This could result in the essay sounding pretentious and hard to read. Although this might be counterintuitive for some, a straightforward, concise, and simple style is favoured for your Cambridge Classics personal statements. This is because it results in the essay being readable. Less is more when it comes to rhetorical flourishes! Furthermore, writing simply does not mean that your essay would sound boring and common. You can still adopt a lively and excited tone, even with simple and common everyday words.

Explain in your Cambridge Classics personal statement why you are interested in classics, instead of just saying that you are

The main aim of your Cambridge Classics personal statement should definitely be to convince your admissions tutor that you are interested in studying classics. However, straight up saying “I am passionate about classics” is not enough to display your interest. Neither is listing classics-related experiences such as telling them that you watched a specific play or read a common book. Anyone, even those not interested in classics, can simply say that they are interested in classics. Instead, elaborate on the interesting thoughts that you have regarding classics or your classics-related experiences. This is because an applicant who involves themselves in the classical experience (e.g. books, extra-curricular, plays) and has genuine and interesting thoughts about them, shows that they are involved and fascinated by classics. This is to a much larger extent than just a student who has a superficial “I’m passionate about classics”.

Mentioning books for the sole purpose to show that you are well-read

Don’t name drop books or list a range of books that you have read and follow it with what you think about each book. This is because admission tutors would get the impression that you are just name-dropping books, that you might not have even read them. Or that you only read them for the sole purpose of writing about them in your Cambridge Classics personal statement. It would be a lot more valuable if you use ideas in the books and link them to your personal experience or life. This shows that you truly understand what the books are trying to convey. It also shows you are also able to draw the link to it to seemingly unrelated experiences. This would signal critical thinking to your admissions tutors.

Writing an essay on a school of thought instead of a Cambridge Classics personal statement

When explaining a particular school of thought, you could end up writing a Cambridge Classics personal statement that looks like an argumentative essay instead. Remember to keep the focus of the Cambridge Classics personal statement. Explain why YOU are a good fit for the classics course at Cambridge. Cambridge tutors would be familiar with any classic theory you are trying to explain. They are not reading a textbook or to learn a new perspective on it, they are looking to learn about you.

Only expect to have one draft of your Cambridge Classics personal statement

Your first draft will never be your best draft. Always factor in time to allow multiple drafts to be completed. It is also important to not leave it to the last minute. This is because it would show in the quality of your work. Tutors would be able to tell if it is rushed. Furthermore, you might miss out on relevant experiences because you were not able to remember them in time.

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I believe it is essential to study classical languages and civilizations because they are the source of our literature, our philosophy, our political systems, our conception of art and even our definition of beauty. The understanding of Latin and Greek allows us to properly read the texts that gave birth to western culture. By knowing these languages, we can become familiar with the thinking of the people of this era in a way not permitted by translations. It also immerses us in history by hearing the voices of those who lived 2000 or 3000 years ago.

This is why I am very excited about studying and perhaps eventually teaching Classics. At my school, studying both Latin and Greek was not an option. However, I was given special permission not only to study both languages, but also to attend further classes with the years above mine. As a result, I’m taking twelve hours of Greek lessons a week in my last year at school. This has helped me widen my vocabulary and understanding of Greek language, literature and history to such an extent that I now tutor younger students on a weekly basis. On occasion, I have also taught full classes of younger students, and once gave a full lecture to the French thought group ‘Poursuivre’.

I often go to see performances of ancient Greek plays I have read, such as Electra, Antigone, Bakkhai or The Oresteia. Experiencing these plays live gives me a much better understanding of the effects -such as catharsis- they can have on a modern audience. In my opinion, the unwavering popularity of Greek theatre demonstrates the importance and timelessness of these works.

In 2015, I completed a two-week internship at the Musée du Louvre, in the Decorative Arts department. Over the course of this internship, I worked on the setting up of an exhibition on the Thracian kings and I translated a Latin inscription. I found this to be a fantastic experience, during which I got to work closely with curators and I learnt to apply my skills and knowledge in a professional setting.

I greatly enjoy translating extracts, especially from Greek. My translations include poems by Sappho, epigrams by Anacreon and extracts from tragedies such as Oedipus Rex. Working on this tragedy was particularly useful to me when I studied modern texts it influenced, such as The Infernal Machine by Cocteau and -as part of a research project- Incendies, a film by Denis Villeneuve inspired by Wadji Mouawad’s play which combines elements from the author’s and a Lebanese resistant’s lives with Greek and Roman mythologies. One of my proudest achievements is translating the complete first book of Lucian of Samosata’s True History, a perfect example of the impact of classical texts on our culture as it was perhaps the first work of science fiction ever written.

My translation skills were singled out by both my Greek teachers in Year 12, who selected me for the Concours Général, France’s most prestigious academic competition, for which an average of 60 students are selected each year. The competition consisted in a four-hour long translation of an unseen text, in my case a fable by Aesop. Preparing and sitting the Concours were hugely enriching and enjoyable experiences which gave me an opportunity to look further into translation and to discover new texts. This was not the first time I took part in a Classics competition, as I also participated in the Concours Arelabor in Year 10, a Latin competition my school ended up winning that year.

I look forward to discussing classical literature, history, philosophy and art with my teachers and fellow students at university as I love talking about people’s ideas and opinions as well as challenging my own.

I strive to be an active promoter of classical studies and have taken part in organizing festivals and activities as well as rallies defending the teaching of ancient languages at the Sorbonne.

Please note UCAS will detect any form of plagiarism. PSE and its contributors do not take any responsibility for the way in which personal statements are used.

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• Classics personal statements

Classics and English degree personal statement example (1a) Oxford offer

In arriving at the decision to read a literature-based degree I have come face to face with what I believe to be the fundamental tasks of literature: it is a powerful way of studying society, an important gauge of humankind and a potent tool of change. This struck me at AS Level when reading 'Reef', a portrait of Sri Lanka during vast socio-political change. What intrigues me most is how writers convey ideas by words as much as stories: as Pico Iyer says in 'The Empire Strikes Back', the gradual domination of Sri Lanka by Western culture is shown in 'Wodehousian' speech patterns replacing untranslated Sinhalese terms. This accentuated to me the inherent link between language and literature. I am interested in the problems of translation, particularly of Classics: when a text is written in a culture removed from ours by distance and time, the endeavour to remain loyal to the intentions and subtleties of the original is riddled with tensions. I enjoyed reading Rieu's and Pope's translations of the 'Odyssey', each with their different aims and effects; I believe it is vital to analyse texts both in translation and in the original to uncover the writer's intricacies separate from a translator's interpretation.

I am struck by how much literature owes to Classics, as shown by literary rebirths of Classical appreciation, particularly in Modernist works, which I love reading, such as 'Mrs Dalloway', 'Dubliners' and the poetry of Eliot. I am also interested in how the epic tradition traces cultures' literary development, from Homer to Milton. To me the reinterpretation of Classical works enriches our culture and inherent similarities in these works show humanity's permanence and its deep need of art. As well as observing the cross-pollination of ideas between my A Level English Literature and Latin studies, I have explored these intertextual links independently; I was commended by Peterhouse for my entry in their essay competition comparing the roles of minor characters in 'King Lear' and Sophocles' 'Oedipus'. I am struck whenever I read works of Classical literature by the timeless beauty of the writers' words, emphasising the seldom-appreciated likenesses of humans: when watching 'Antigone', I was moved just as my Greek counterpart would have been; this is deeply inspiring to me.

My interest in literature extends beyond English and Classics: in my German studies, I really enjoy German cinema, particularly the work of Tom Tykwer. Maths improves my logical-analytical skills, vital for accurate translation and coherent literary analysis. I study Classical Greek off-timetable, having attained full marks in the short course GCSE, and twice attended the JACT Summer School, where I helped backstage and onstage with productions of comedy and tragedy, developing my interest in Greek theatre. I am editor of our school literary magazine and a member of the English Society and Book Club. I am also a Prefect and Head of House, roles requiring me to engage with younger pupils and teachers, and a colour sergeant in the CCF, giving me the ability to work under pressure, think tactically and lead teams, and I am keen to join the OTC at university. I am working towards Grade Five in Ballet, where I also volunteer to help younger pupils, and am choreographing a dance for a school show; I enjoy dance as another facet to the relationship between culture and the arts. I have also attained my Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

I am hugely eager to study Classics and English at university as I believe that the two subjects fundamentally complement each other: literature at any time cannot be written in a vacuum, with each generation of writers greatly influenced by their predecessors, and I believe that the understanding of literature is key to a deeper understanding of our own culture. Studying these subjects to degree level would therefore give me an unparalleled opportunity to explore my interest in culture through literature.

Universities Applied to:

• Oxford, Corpus Christi (Classics and English) - Offer (AAA inc. A in English Literature and A in Latin) Firm
• Durham (Combined Honours in Arts - English, Latin, Greek) - Offer (AAA) Insurance
• York (English) - Offer (AAA inc. A in English Literature)
• Nottingham (Classical Civilisation and English Studies) - Offer (AAB inc. A in English)
• Newcastle (Combined Honours - English Literature, Latin, Greek) - Offer (AAA or AABB inc. English Literature)

Grades Achieved:

• English Literature (A2) - A
• Latin (A2) - A*
• German (A2) - A
• Maths (A2) - A*
• Further Maths (A2) - B
• Classical Greek (AS) - A
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Human rod photoreceptor outer segments are supported by accessory inner segment structures

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The first steps in vision take place in photoreceptor cells, which are highly compartmentalized neurons exhibiting significant structural variation across species. The light-sensitive ciliary compartment, called the outer segment, is located atop of the cell soma, called the inner segment. In this study, we present an ultrastructural analysis of human photoreceptors, which reveals that, in contrast to this classic arrangement, the inner segment of human rods extends alongside the outer segment to form a structure hereby termed the "accessory inner segment". While reminiscent of the actin-based microvilli known as "calyceal processes" observed in other species, the accessory inner segment is a unique structure: (1) it contains an extensive microtubule-based cytoskeleton, (2) it extends far alongside the outer segment, (3) its diameter is comparable to that of the outer segment, (4) it contains numerous mitochondria, and (5) it forms electron-dense structures that likely mediate adhesion to the outer segment. Given that the spacing of extrafoveal human photoreceptors is more sparse than in non-primate species, with vast amounts of interphotoreceptor matrix present between cells, the closely apposed accessory inner segment likely provides structural support to the outer segment. This discovery expands our understanding of the human retina and directs future studies of human photoreceptor function in health and disease.

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The authors have declared no competing interest.

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Classics personal statement example 4.

The study of languages and their related cultures provides an excellent vista through which to understand humanity.

From the literary to the political, the historical to the cultural, I appreciate the various components of exploring linguistic traditions. As a result, I studied Latin for two years, which culminated in an A grade at A2 Level, with no previous background.

Engaging with the Arabic language will strengthen my linguistic capability and uncover for me a whole new world, which possessed significant connection with the ancient Graeco-Roman legacy which I have explored.

Studying history, I discovered it is considerably more vast than mere narrative. I have seen how certain incidents were causative of both continuity and change. Reading Murphy's 'The Arab Revolt', I was amazed at how the Ottoman Empire's decline and the Arab Revolt resulted from a local desire for self-determination as well as wider geopolitical factors.

Wilson's biography of T.E. Lawrence provided a fascinating revisionist account, portraying him as a pawn of both Arab freedom and British colonialism, powerfully reassessing his image as an autonomous hero. Most recently, I have found reading the first volume of Hodgson's 'The Venture of Islam' at once intellectually challenging and stimulating.

Exploring the Russian Revolution brought to my attention remarkable commonalities with current events in the Arab world. In the course of my study, I hope to examine how premodern and modern societies have developed political systems, especially in terms of creating representative forms of government.

From city-states and Bedouin tribal allegiance to modern dictatorships, societies' political arrangements are a gateway to understanding them.

As a blogger, I am curious about the impact of technology on the Arab world. The question of whether social media has bridged or divided the East and the West is one I find to be of considerable interest.

In my experience, literature - ancient or modern - gives us important insights into cultures. In Ovid's works, I learned about love as consuming (a key component of pre-Islamic Arab poetry) and in the 'Aeneid,' of the archetypal warrior.

In Cicero's 'In Verrem' I inferred the rightful code for a Roman governor and discovered in Sallust's writing the audacity of a conspiratorial few. I appreciated Shelley's unique employment of the Romanticism of the East with elements of the Gothic in her 'Frankenstein'. My ability to rapidly assimilate information will ensure my successful academic development and the honing of my research abilities.

My extracurricular involvement proves my wider engagement: through my intellectual curiosity, I was invited to contribute to a university research paper. Inspired by Roman rhetoric, I set up and ran my school's debating society and represented the school as a barrister in a national competition.

In this connection, I also hope to explore the rich Arab rhetorical tradition, especially through the linguistic analysis of rhetorical modes.

Currently, I have enrolled with an Arabic institute to gain preparedness for my university study. Upon gaining sufficient fluency, I hope to then strengthen my spoken Arabic through conversation with more advanced speakers.

Studying Arabic will unlock for me a significant civilisation in world history, politics, science and the arts and one that has intrigued Orientalists for centuries. Arabic has contributed to the Western tradition, often in imperceptible ways.

For example, a number of works in the Western canon that were lost in their original were rediscovered preserved in Arabic translation. The exploration of the interaction between different peoples and times is a facet of historical inquiry that I enjoy.

A university degree course in this area would equip me with the skills and knowledge to utilise my understanding of the classical Western world in a wider global, historical context to facilitate my pursuit of postgraduate studies.

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Author's Comments

After completing A-Levels at the Sixth Form of a grammar school, I took a gap year.

I reapplied with this personal statement to a number of universities for different (but not entirely dissimilar) subjects. They were:

1. Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (focusing on Arabic) at University of Cambridge (King's College);

2. Arabic and History at the University of Edinburgh;

3. Classics at Durham;

4. Classics at King's College, London, and;

5. Classics at UCL (University College London).

Since I'd already finished school, I already had my grades at the time of applying. I was awarded unconditional offers at all these institutions. In the end, I opted for Cambridge.

In an interesting turn of events and with indecision so typical of youth, two Mondays before the start of my first term at Cambridge, I emailed them to ask if I could change to History. I was invited to come to Cambridge for two interviews - one with the Director of Studies for History and a History research fellow; the other with the Senior Tutor of King's College - to discuss why I wanted to change. Just like when I first applied to the College, I was asked to an essay from my schooldays: it was one I'd written as History homework during Year 13 with the title, 'Assess the view that the condition of the peasantry was transformed in the period 1855-1964'. A thoroughly interesting topic which provided much engaging discussion.

(NB. To those institutions where I applied for Classics, I also sent them an alternative, more Classics-related personal statement via email, which some universities make provision for. I'll upload this too. If you care to find it, it begins, 'I am fascinated by Classics because by looking to the past, we find our place in the world...'.)

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