Cambridge Natural Sciences Model Personal Statement Exemplar from Successful Applicant
This is a model personal statement by a successful Cambridge Natural Sciences applicant
Why do I want to study science? The same reason I constantly ponder over accepted theories and find arguments against it: it's everywhere around us. Science dictates a large part of our lives from moments where we find happiness from certain activities which our ventral tegumental area deems as positive (and rewards us through our nucleus accumbens), to the moment we feel stressed due to activation of our highly complex hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during moments of social disproval - a few parts I read about to learn more about stress and anxiety. This is also the reason I am studying maths and science subjects at Sixth Form. What I particularly love is how I can link parts of each subject together to not only learn what happens, but how it happens. The way the heart pumps blood round the entire body with such force, while being the size of a fist, amazed me and made me want to learn more.
[1] The personal statement begins with a reflection on the pervasiveness of science in our daily lives and the applicant's curiosity to question accepted theories. They express their passion for studying science and their fascination with understanding not only what happens but how it happens.
My curiosity brought me to reading about the enthralling work of Salk, who have produced brain-like organoids with vascular tissue and placed it into blood-vessel-rich areas, resulting in neuron and astrocyte formation and a blood supply for it to survive. The articles didn't go into much depth of how this will be developed and used to possibly save lives, but it still shows a quickly growing area of development which I aspire to contribute to. My flame of interest has grown more by committing myself to acquiring new knowledge from varying aspects of biology. Ways I've done this includes reading the article Oxygen and Viruses: A Breathing Story in which the author describes how bacteria are adapted to survive in different levels of oxygen to supplement where they live and reproduce in the body.
[2] The applicant demonstrates their curiosity by exploring various areas of biology and neuroscience through reading articles and books. They highlight specific topics, such as brain organoids, oxygen adaptation in bacteria, and the functions of the brain during sleep paralysis. Their interest in the rapidly growing field of research and their aspiration to contribute to advancements in science are evident.
I have also read articles about neuroscience such as how the brain can induce diabetes remissions in mice through perineuronal nets which regulated blood sugar levels, and how an author is trying to disprove a previously accepted theory: that colours and shapes are put together as an image in the latter stages of the visual cortex. This has sparked further interest into the brain and its functions so I decided to read The Idiot Brain by Dean Burnett who gives an insightful explanation of the functions of the brain. One part I was intrigued by was how sleep paralysis is caused by REM (Rapid Eye Movement) atonia: where the brain switches off connection from the CNS to the motor neurones during the final stage of sleep, but forgets to connect this back up when you wake up, preventing conscious movement.
[3] The mention of working as a marketing research assistant showcases the applicant's perseverance and analytical skills. They describe the challenges they faced in analyzing figures and finding gaps in specific markets. This experience has complemented their independent research on building a growth mindset and adapting the brain to cope with strenuous tasks.
For 2 months I have been working as a marketing research assistant which has challenged my perseverance to overcome difficult tasks such as analysing figures to find gaps in specific markets. This has allowed me to progress with my aforementioned independent research on building a growth mindset and how the brain can be adapted to cope with constant strenuous tasks. This is why I have read The Magic of Thinking Big by Dr David Schwarts, who gives an intriguing insight into the impact of having a growth mindset and the little tweaks which can be made to achieve this. Examples include changing my language and day-to-day actions to be more enthusiastic, and reflecting on what I could've done better each day so I'm constantly improving. In this research I have also learnt of how stress is caused by activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenaline axis which releases cortisol during stressful events which stimulate the fight-or-flight response. A primary cause of stress is from anything that lowers social standing and makes you lose any social recognition. From this I am learning to not care so much about what other people think and prevent myself from talking bad about others, thus busying my brain with creating positive impressions of others.
[4] The applicant mentions reading "The Magic of Thinking Big" and how it has provided insights into the impact of having a growth mindset. They discuss strategies they have implemented, such as changing their language and reflecting on daily improvements. They also explore the connection between stress and the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Attending Cambridge online Sutton Trust Summer School for Natural Sciences gave me the ability to comfortably say natural science and neuroscience is the perfect exciting course for me.
[5] The statement highlights the applicant's participation in the Cambridge online Sutton Trust Summer School for Natural Sciences. This experience solidified their conviction that natural science and neuroscience are the ideal courses for them, further fueling their enthusiasm for pursuing these fields.
Universities they received offers from:
· University of Cambridge
· University of York
· University of Leeds
· University of St Andrews
· University of Warwick
Why is this a good Cambridge Natural Sciences personal statement?
Overall, this personal statement reflects the applicant's passion for science, their intellectual curiosity, and their commitment to understanding the intricacies of the natural world.
Their engagement with scientific literature, independent research, and real-world experience showcases their ability to analyze complex concepts and their determination to contribute to scientific advancements.
The statement also reveals their personal growth and the application of scientific knowledge in areas beyond academia, such as developing a growth mindset and understanding the impact of stress on the brain.
Their participation in the Cambridge online Sutton Trust Summer School further demonstrates their enthusiasm and readiness to pursue a natural science and neuroscience course at university.
