Pharmacy personal statement

Reading time: 3 minutes
Price: Free download
Published: 1st November 2021
Word count: 775 words
File format: Text

As an ambitious and eager student, I have a drive to understand the science behind the human body. I want to study Pharmacy because it is my vocation, I have admirable qualities, I acknowledge that studying Pharmacy isn’t easy

Currently, I am sitting Advanced Higher Biology and Chemistry. Studying these subjects since my third year of high school establishes my genuine interest in the field of science, which will equip me with fundamental knowledge required for studying Pharmacy. Studying Sociology and having studied Psychology demonstrates that I recognise the importance of understanding society and human behaviour. This led to me having an enriched comprehension of how to interact with people. It is evident that I am a diligent, persevering and very high achieving student as I have attained six National 5 qualifications and four Higher qualifications at an A grade. Even though I am the eldest child and a young carer to two autistic brothers.

There are many aspects of school that I am involved in. An example is being the Numeracy and Science Ambassadors which depict my passion in these subjects. As the Numeracy Ambassador, I work with young students who struggle with basic numeracy skills. Similarly, I work alongside science teachers to help primary school students learn essential science and problem-solving based skills. For this reason, I can indicate my appreciation of having an understanding in these subjects. Having this position has improved my leadership and team work skills. Also, I achieved my 500-hour Saltire Award as a result of simply helping in the school library. Consequently, I was able to enhance my organisational expertise. On top of that, I successfully acquired the CARITAS award which taught me the significance of self-reflection and strengthened my intentions for helping others.

On the other hand, I partake in various activities outside of school. One of my hobbies is playing sports. In school, I attend an after-school sports club where we play different sports each week. Balancing my responsibilities with hobbies is something I do regularly. I help at one brother’s sports club where he plays numerous sports like football, basketball or badminton. Likewise, I help my other brother, and my sister, with their weekly swimming lessons. By being in the water with them, not only am I helping to develop their confidence in the water, I am helping other children to do so as well. Therefore, I can play sports, be a young carer, and volunteer at the same time! Additionally, I volunteer at one brother’s special school where I support a primary two class by assisting the teachers and working with the pupils. Among all these commitments, I still want to evolve and am constantly developing my own qualities. For instance, I wanted to develop my confidence and communication skills. So, I decided to volunteer every Sunday at the British Heart Foundation charity shop. I requested to work at the till where I would be exposed to a variety of people in society and more importantly, interact with them. I am pleased that I acquired these necessary life skills.

Fortunately, I was able to spend a week in a community pharmacy. There, I observed the various roles people had and what they involved. I was privileged enough to properly speak to the pharmacists there: one studied in Nigeria, and the other in Romania. One of the dispensers is also a registered pharmacist in India. Hence, I learned about how the role of a pharmacist differs around the world. Through this opportunity, I was educated on how medication can be stored, checked and dispensed, and how patient focused pharmacy is. Working in the pharmacy alongside pharmacists was undoubtedly a valuable experience that reinforced my desire to study Pharmacy and to become a pharmacist. I also spent a week in a general medicine hospital ward which helped me to obtain a unique insight into how the health profession works from a perspective unlike what most future pharmacists would be familiar with.

In other words, I have an excellent academic foundation for studying Pharmacy which proves that I am willing to do whatever it takes to be a successful student. I have volunteered in several ways which has resulted in me gaining a unique variety of skills that will support me at university. I am excellent at time management since I am able to keep my academic records high and improve on other aspects of myself. Furthermore, the fact that I have given up my free time to help others is evidence that I am principled. Finally, I have relevant work experience that confirms my decision to pursue a career in Pharmacy.

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Why this example works — strengths and ways to improve

Your statement has genuinely strong material: a pharmacy placement, a hospital ward week, sustained tutoring and demanding caring responsibilities. Its main weakness is that motivation and reflection are mostly asserted rather than shown. Lists of qualities and awards take space that could explain what you noticed, what surprised you and how these experiences shaped your understanding of pharmacy specifically.

Subject motivation

I want to study Pharmacy because it is my vocation, I have admirable qualities

This opening states motivation without giving a reason. Calling Pharmacy a vocation and claiming admirable qualities tells the reader nothing about what draws you to medicines, patients or the pharmacist's role. Your placement material later hints at real interest, but the opening never connects curiosity about the body to pharmacy specifically.

Academic preparation

Currently, I am sitting Advanced Higher Biology and Chemistry.

These are directly relevant subjects, and your grades are clearly stated. However, you never mention a topic, practical or idea from Biology or Chemistry that interested you or relates to drugs. Saying the subjects establish genuine interest is a claim. One concrete example of engaging with content would demonstrate it.

Evidence and reflection

I learned about how the role of a pharmacist differs around the world.

This is your most promising insight, but it stops at the headline. How did the roles differ, and what did that teach you about UK pharmacy? Similarly, saying pharmacy is patient focused needs an observed moment showing it. Elsewhere, reflection repeatedly collapses into skill labels such as leadership, teamwork and organisational expertise.

Relevant experience

I also spent a week in a general medicine hospital ward

Both placements are valuable, yet the hospital week gets a single sentence and a vague claim of unique insight. Seeing medicines rounds, interactions between doctors and pharmacists, or patient adherence issues would be highly relevant. Your caring and volunteering with autistic children could also illuminate communication with patients, but you do not draw that link.

Credibility and voice

It is evident that I am a diligent, persevering and very high achieving student

Self-praise like this, along with claims that you are excellent at time management and principled, weakens credibility. Your achievements alongside being a young carer are impressive and speak for themselves. The exclamation about doing everything at once and phrases like admirable qualities make the tone feel insistent rather than reflective.

Structure and format

Therefore, I can play sports, be a young carer, and volunteer at the same time!

Paragraphs follow a logical sequence, but connectives such as therefore, hence and on the other hand are often forced and do not reflect real logical links. The opening has an unfinished sentence, and "Even though I am the eldest child" is a fragment. Much of the extracurricular paragraph lists activities with little purpose for a Pharmacy reader.

What you’ve done well

Your community pharmacy week, including conversations with pharmacists trained in Nigeria, Romania and India, is distinctive and could ground a strong account of the profession.
Sustained responsibilities such as tutoring younger pupils, Sunday till volunteering and supporting a special school class show reliability and real contact with people.

How this draft could improve

Replace the opening and closing claims about qualities with one or two specific observations from your placements that explain why pharmacy, not just science or healthcare, appeals to you.
Cut the sports and swimming detail and use that space to reflect on the hospital ward week, for example what you saw of how medicines are managed for patients.
Link one Chemistry or Biology topic to how drugs work, showing academic curiosity beyond your grades.

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