Admissions tutors say a well-worded, logical statement that ‘shows where you’re coming from and going to’ is useful.
They want to know what experience you’ve had with animals, as well as your understanding of the scientific nature of the degree, and anything that relates specifically to the course you’re applying for.
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Think about why you want to study the subject
- Have you been inspired by someone, a news story, a documentary, or a podcast?
- Do you have career aspirations in this area of study?
- What interests you about the subject – be specific; rather than saying you enjoy it or are good at it, try to explain the ‘why’ behind your reasoning.
- What do you already know about the subject and what are you looking forward to learning more about?
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What makes you suitable to study the subject?
- Have you done projects or essays in this subject at school or college?
- Think about who you are as a person; your personality, your strengths, your experiences in life – how do these make you suited to study the subject?
- How have you shown an interest in the subject outside of school or college – have you done extra reading, online courses, been part of clubs or competitions?
- Your current subjects and grades will be included elsewhere in your application, so try to think about specific things you’ve learned during your studies that relate to the subject, rather than listing your grades and subjects.
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Look at the bigger picture
- Have you done any work experience, an internship or had a part-time job in this subject area or related? Most job or work experience will give you transferable skills, even if it’s in a different industry.
- Do you have any hobbies you can mention that might relate to your chosen subject? Many hobbies show that you can be motivated outside of school to achieve and succeed in something you’re interested in.
- Think about how your life and personal experiences have helped make you the person you are today, and how these challenges and experiences can support your application by evidencing essential qualities for certain subjects.
- If you’ve got ambitions and goals for your life and career, can you express how this subject will help you reach these goals?
Guidance and examples you can use
Question 1: Why do you want to study this course or subject?
This is your opportunity to showcase your passion and knowledge of your chosen subject area and to demonstrate to universities and colleges why it’s a good fit for you and your future ambitions.
Examples:
- What topics have you studied at school or college that have sparked your interest in a zoology degree? If you were particularly fascinated by microbiology or animal physiology, mention that on your statement.
- What is it about animals that has made you want to learn more at degree level? Explain where your passion comes from, including books or TV shows you’ve seen, or people you follow like Compassion in World Farming or Dr Hunter Finn.
- Talk about where your degree might take you – into animal care or as a researcher or conservationist. Which industry do you see yourself working in?
- Can you relate any experiences you’ve had into your passion for animals? Have you had a part-time job at an animal farm, worked in a zoo, or cared for particular pets at home? Or have you raised money for wildlife charities?
Question 2: How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
This is your chance to shout about the relevant or transferable skills you’ve gained from your formal education and highlight your understanding of how they will help you succeed in this subject area.
Examples:
- Think about projects or coursework you've done that are relevant, such as studying animal nutrition in biology or sustainable development in geography.
- What skills have you picked up from lab work or field work, such as attention to detail, data analysis, and accurate documentation?
- When have you demonstrated leadership and teamwork at school or college? Maybe you’ve captained a sports team, led a study group, or been part of a Scouts or Duke of Edinburgh expedition.
- How can you show you’re a good communicator? Have you given presentations at school? Use your statement to showcase your written communication skills too.
- Have you done any online courses to boost your knowledge in the subject? For example, why not try Subject Spotlights or Virtual Work Experiences from Springpod to grow your skills and interest?
Question 3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
This is your chance to talk about any other activities you have undertaken outside of your formal education, or personal experiences which further demonstrate your suitability for the course. This section is likely to be highly personal to you and anything you do include should reflect on why you’re including it.
Examples:
- Think of any transferable skills you’ve picked up from part-time jobs or hobbies, such as analytical and problem-solving skills, patience, research, observation, and good communication..
- Are there things you’ve watched or read that have sparked a desire to make a difference, such as programmes like Back from the Brink, or Zoology: Understanding the Animal World?
- What do you do outside school that shows you’re motivated in this subject? Do you volunteer at a pets’ corner on the weekends? Or maybe you’ve observed hedgehogs in your local area and made notes of their habits and habitat?
- Think about what else you enjoy that may have fostered skills relevant to this degree. Maybe you’ve always loved nature, hiking or crafting. You can show you’re comfortable being part of the natural world, and you have lots of patience!
- Do relate any examples back to the subject you’re applying to – make it relevant
- Do make it personal – admissions staff want to get to know who you are
- Do use a spell-checker and grammar-checker to ensure there are no errors
- Do ask people for feedback, whether that’s family members or teachers
- Do your research to find out what universities are looking for, and make sure you include evidence to show how you are suitable for the course
- Don’t just list out examples, subjects you study, or experiences you’ve had without any evidence
- Don’t copy something you’ve seen online or use AI to write something for you
- Don’t make things up just because you think they’ll make you look good on paper
- Don’t leave it until the last minute – you need time for several drafts
- Don’t worry about making each section the same length; as long as you hit the minimum character count, you can use the 4,000 characters across each answer in the way that suits you best
How to set yourself apart
The key to setting yourself apart in your application is to remember how important the ‘personal’ bit is to your personal statement. What makes you, you?
If you have a caring personality, how can you show that? Do you regularly babysit for others, or look after your siblings? Or maybe you’ve done part-time work in a care home or volunteer work with the elderly.
See if you can relate your personality or experiences back to something you’ve learned in your biology lessons or read on the World Wildlife Fund website And don’t forget, other jobs that may relate to this course, for example if you’ve worked in a restaurant or cafe, will also have built up your observation and communication skills!
What attributes do you have that would make you a good zoologist?
Some more tips to consider
- Research the course: Why do you want to study zoology, what specific aspects of the course interest you, how does it relate to your academic studies, and what additional reading or other activities have led you to apply?
- Scientific skills: Think about lab work or research you’ve done and how you learned to collect and analyse data.
- Further reading: Talk about any science or animal-related books and topics you’ve studied and what made you want to know more.
- Industry experience: Have you ever worked or helped out at a stables, animal rescue centre or conservation charity? Talk about the skills you picked up, like caring for animals, understanding animal behaviour and physiology, and even learning about land or habitat management.
- Reflect on what you’ve discovered: Use any experiences you’ve had at school, work or in your spare time to consider why you’d be suited to studying and working in this area.