Shanker Sreetharan is currently a first year undergraduate reading BSc Economics at University College London. This personal statement was part of his successful application to UCL, University of Warwick and University of Nottingham for Economics.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the UN’s targets for poverty eradication, environmental preservation, and achievement of prosperity. Initially, I was interested specifically in the target of eradicating poverty within 15 years, which seemed overly optimistic. In ‘The End of Poverty’, Sachs estimates that with planned developmental aid, poverty can be eradicated by 2025. This argument is predicated upon the existence of the poverty trap (represented by the S-shaped curve), which he argues a one-time injection of resources will help the poor escape.
Contrary to this, economists like Easterly reject his notion of a poverty trap, and instead argue that poverty can be tackled by educating the poor as to the efficient way to benefit from their existing resources. Personally, I do not think the two ideas are mutually exclusive; greater efficiency and information will increase the efficacy of aid. However, research I conducted during an economics internship at Malaya University suggests the existence of thresholds in corruption and governance, which prevent aid from serving its intended purpose.
I am eager to further explore growth and development models at university. The SDGs detail far more than just poverty, but I think that there are multiple conflicts between the different targets. For instance, the goal of speedily eradicating poverty conflicts with that of controlling climate change, since the UN’s time targets would require heavy industrialisation. Growing up in Malaysia, I have witnessed the harms of overly rapid development first-hand. Cities like Kuala Lumpur experience flash floods, landslides, and pollution due to over-urbanisation. I am therefore convinced that sustainable development must be the overarching goal.
To explore the subject further, I took Columbia’s online course, ‘The Age of Sustainable Development’. I learnt that growth must comply with planetary boundaries in order to be sustainable. While researching the link between development and sustainability, I was fascinated to stumble upon the environmental Kuznets curve. If the hypothesis of increasing development leading to environmental improvement after a point is true, then concerns of sustainability will sort themselves out naturally. However, empirical work by Levinson et al. has found little support for an inverted U-shaped relationship between national income and environmental indicators.
Competing in the Malaysian Public Policy Competition, I employed this knowledge to conclude and argue that development policies must be designed to be sustainable. My EPQ on sustainable development argues that development policies need to strike a balance between neoclassical and ecological economics. Neoclassical economics considers the environment a subset of the human economy, focusing on maintaining a constant available capital stock by ensuring a high savings rate; this investment then drives technological improvement. On the other hand, ecological economics rejects the subsuming of the environment, instead arguing that it is the human economy which is a subset of the environment, since natural resources are not perfectly replaceable by man-made capital.
I argue in my EPQ that firms must move towards investments with positive externalities, and that this is the only way to ensure that the micro-foundations of development are sustainable. Businesses could invest in waste management, ensuring safe work environments, education and reducing carbon footprints. This ultimately generates dynamic increases in productivity, achieving growth while preserving the environment. Therefore, I suggest that governments should move to subsidise and encourage such investment; failure to do so spells doom in the long-run.
As a scholar of the Central Bank of Malaysia, I will have a platform to craft policies and models for sustainable development. I am keen to explore the intricacies of sustainability and development through economic theory at degree level.
DISCLAIMER: The personal statements on this site are strictly meant as a starting point to give an idea of how successful personal statements look like. There is no surefire formula to writing good personal statements. COLLEGELAH IS STRICTLY AGAINST PLAGIARISM OF ANY KIND. UCAS employs a plagiarism check system that checks applicants’ work against other published writing so please DO NOT PLAGIARISE.
Preparing for an interview can be pretty daunting at first, and a Cambridge interview, no less (those can get pretty intense). In this article, I will share my personal experience of the interview day with you.
Arriving at the Scene
I did my interview at Taylor’s College Subang Jaya and was allocated to (probably) the last slot of the day at 4.30 pm, so you can quite imagine the anxiety that had slowly built up throughout the day as I waited for my turn.
Reaching the waiting area 30 minutes early, I tried my best to kill the butterflies in my stomach by praying and recalling everything I’d prepared. Suddenly, someone tapped my shoulder from behind. When I turned around, to my surprise, it was the interviewer himself! (You will know your interviewer beforehand via email.) That caught me totally off-guard and almost gave me a heart attack. And that was how I went into the interview room.
The Interview Proper
Though I was still recovering from shock, things escalated right off the bat! After a quick introduction, he wrote a pretty complicated equation and asked me to sketch a graph based on it. Caught off-guard at how quickly things started, I took a few seconds to calm myself down and analyse the equation before asking him about the few unknowns in the equation. He then wrote down on paper the parameters for the unknowns and explained them to me.
I managed to determine how the first part of the equation would only affect the gradient of the graph and not its shape. The shape can only be determined from the 2nd part of the equation by first deducing how an e−x graph would look like, and work my way towards the end product by slowly explaining how the graph will be affected step by step. After a few hiccups here and there due to panic and carelessness, I managed to complete the sketch with to his satisfaction. He was there to guide me whenever I got stuck.
Next, he then asked me a few more questions regarding what I’d talked about in my personal statement, regarding the effectiveness of microcredit in reducing poverty and the various factors that would affect this proposed solution. Hence, you need to be thoroughly well-versed with all the books and concepts that you have mentioned in both your PS and COPA.
Before concluding the session, he asked me if I had any questions. Trying to leave a meaningful impression, I asked for his view on the effectiveness of supply side policies in combating poverty. That didn’t end well for me: he stopped me midway and said that he didn’t have the time for that. So, maybe ask something simple or don’t ask at all. We then bid farewell to each other and that was it.
Lessons Taken
To sum it up, Economics at Cambridge can be very mathematical and so your interview would most likely be similarly so. Make sure you have a strong grasp of A-levels maths and economics concepts before the interview. Further Mathematics knowledge is definitely an added bonus. I find it very helpful to vocalise your thoughts so that the interviewer can understand your thought process and assist you if you get stuck. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. At the end of the day, the interviewer is trying to find someone who is a good fit at Cambridge and not someone who knows everything. All the best to you if you are applying!
Aaron Goh Zhong Fu’, a Bank Negara Malaysia Kijang Scholar, is currently on a gap year and will be reading an Economics degree at Cambridge University come September 2019. Besides playing a ton of futsal, there is nothing he enjoys more than binge watching a good anime series. Aaron is as humble as it gets and one can frequently hear him say, “All glory to God.” If you intend to contact the author, feel free to contact the CollegeLAH Team at contact@collegelah.com.
Applying for the JPA scholarship was not troublesome, that I can say. Compared to other agencies or organisations I applied to, which sometimes asked for essays and my CV, JPA’s was based solely on a two-stage selection process. The first was an online application in which all applicants were required to fill in their basic details, SPM results, preferred course and country plus a little bit of family members’ information.
If your application was taken into consideration, you would then receive an invitation letter for interview session via email from JPA. They usually hold their interview sessions over several days in each region scattered all over Malaysia, so fret not if you’re from Sabah or Sarawak, you don’t have to come all the way to KL just for it. Your interview location depends on which region you filled in earlier. Either way, in all places, the process would be the same. Included in the invitation letter was the dress code, which personally I thought was very simple during my time: just dark sports attire.
Next came the exciting part of the selection process; the second stage which was the interview itself. We were first divided into several groups of six or seven. From here on, the interview would revolve around 2 checkpoints. The first checkpoint was a group presentation, where they randomly provided a topic for each group to discuss within a time frame and present it visually on a piece of mahjong paper. Everything in this round was carried out in English. For my group, we were asked to discuss the pros and cons of working in the private and public sector. During the prep time, the JPA officers in charge would stay in the room and observe everyone, so it’s really important to be an active team player or team leader throughout the discussion. If you’re unsure about the assigned topic, make sure you grasp the whole concept before the prep time ended, as the JPA officers and other applicants from another group can ask anything related.
Let’s say you are suddenly aware of how passive everyone in your group is. The discussion still has to be done on time, so I’d advise you to take the role to lead the group by asking for their opinions and such. Contrastingly, if everyone seems to ooze with knowledge, then spice up the discussion by contributing more points and carefully manage the differences in input. Only then the team will come to a consensus. In case you have completed everything early, you probably will find it helpful if you occupy the remaining prep time with further discussion on possible questions that will be asked. As far as I can remember, the JPA officers didn’t go easy on us; they asked a lot of questions and even condemned our opinions when we were presenting just to see how far we could bend before breaking. Some of my teammates could not answer several questions posed, but luckily we had each others’ backs. Regardless, stand your ground and express your ideas clearly with supporting evidence. To the debaters out there, I’m pretty sure you would enjoy this round as much as I did because here’s when our defensive mode is automatically switched on.
Where at the first checkpoint we were assessed in groups, at the second the evaluation was more individual-based. Basically, all members in the group were assessed together in a room where everyone would have a go at the questions asked. However, the interviewers did not specifically mention which person they would like to hear from first, so it was all up to our prompt response to determine the turns. The first few questions they asked were our names, preferred courses together with our strengths and weaknesses. While it’s an easy task to brag about your positive traits, don’t forget to highlight on how these qualities can help you to propel yourself forward in your life, especially in the area you’re applying for. Instead of simply stating your weaknesses, remember to press on effort you’re currently putting in to fix them (just to tone down the said negative traits), and try to add the extent that your improvements have been successful. That’s one way to prove that you’re always open to beneficial changes and are willing to improve yourself in every aspect of life. At this stage, we were allowed to choose either to answer in English or Malay, whichever we were more comfortable with.
The interview questions revolved around government past and current policies plus our opinions on them, current global issues like refugees, brain drain, technology transfer, transnational corporations: basically anything debatable. From here, they would get a glimpse on the way we think, our personality and most importantly, if our traits and skills will be useful for them in the long run. So my advice for this section is to be extra careful on your choice of words: make sure they are not misleading but instead form sustained, coherent judgements. Keep in mind you’re applying for a government scholarship, so avoid any provocative remarks on their policies or decisions. However, do not spend too much time thinking to the extent that you look clueless about everything; even if you really have no idea on whatever they ask, try to extract some points from other applicants who have answered before you and elaborate them. Here hydration is not the key anymore, confidence is!
Overall, it was a fun experience. For my batch (SPM 2017), JPA also accepts applications for JKPJ Scholarship Programme (Program Khas Kejuruteraan Jepun, Korea, Perancis, Jerman) from those who have achieved all A+. I actually applied for both JKPJ and this PPN (Program Penajaan Nasional). Of course they were generous enough to send invitation for both programmes, but at the end they only offered me the PPN one even though I did not submit the PPN form on the day. It was odd actually, considering I always answered JKPJ as the programme I was applying for and never mentioned about applying for PPN throughout the interview, not even once. I suspect it had something to do with preferred language I chose in the individual assessment, as they already hinted their preference during briefing. It makes sense in a way, since all PPN scholars would eventually have to sit for IELTS before studying abroad meanwhile JKPJ scholars will take other languages proficiency assessments. Thus, if you’re aiming for either one of the programmes offered, it’s better if you just apply for the targeted programme.
On a different note, after receiving the offer you might want to consider several things before signing the agreement. One of them is the fact that JPA’s allowance is not that much compared to the amount provided by other agencies, which might be a huge problem unless your family/relatives can provide additional financial support. However, rest assured that they wouldn’t put too much pressure on you throughout your preparatory period in A-Levels as they’re pretty lenient about semester exam results and are always open for any proposed discussion. Those are crumbs of factors to be weighed up again.
I hope you will have an enjoyable time during the interview. Even if you are rejected, please think of all the new friends made, what the many new acquaintances including the evaluators impressed onto you, what new skills you’ve gained and what new observations you got out. I could go on and on, but I’m sure you will all try to find something positive from your participation. Whatever it is, all the best and good luck!
Tasha Aziera is currently a National Scholar under JPA. She is completing her A Levels at Kolej Yayasan UEM and is hoping to further her studies in the UK, majoring in psychology. You can often catch her nibbling on a chocolate cookie browsing through Instagram or looking at pictures of corgis. If you intend to contact the author, feel free to contact the CollegeLAH Team at contact@collegelah.com.
“Ancora Imparo : I am still learning” – Italian philosopher.
First of all, I would like to praise the Almighty because I had the chance to be shortlisted by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) for the Kijang Scholarship. Here is a short timeline of the subsequent process, and may this be an eye-opener and an inspiration to anyone reading this. May it help you in your future interviews insyaAllah.
So, a week before the Kijang Academy, I received a phone call from my sister who said that a representative from BNM wanted to talk to me. I promptly returned the call and spoke to a Ms. Rafidah of the Scholarship Department. She told me I wasn’t shortlisted for the Actuarial Science I had applied for, but they were willing to offer me Economics. I immediately gave them my answer: a flat-out YES!
6th April 2018
I arrived early at Lanai Kijang (the Bank’s purpose-built residence), perhaps around 2.30pm. My parents drove me there and they were admittedly more excited than me.
I registered at the reception and got my room number. While waiting for my keys, I leafed through the namelist and discovered only 61 candidates were given the invitation to join the Kijang Academy (a selection camp for the Kijang scholarships), including 12 candidates for Kijang Emas.
That night, all candidates sat in a full group for the first time and there, we met our mentors: Mr. Haziq, Ms. Sharlene and another whom I didn’t get to know. We had the chance to introduce ourselves and asked questions about the scholarship.
7th April 2018
Activity 1 – Magazine Covers
We stayed in Lanai Kijang but the group activities were held in Sasana Kijang (a nearby BNM complex housing conference venues). For the first activity, we had to draw a magazine cover of ourselves and present it to the panel one by one. Then, we had to exchange stories with partners. The session ended with us voting on the best magazine cover.
Activity 2 – Kijang Bridge
In the next activity, we were tasked to build a 60cm bridge using straws, old newspaper and tape. Challenging? Indeed!
The panel asked how many bottles we thought our bridge could withstand. I, representing my group (K2), confidently told them 13. Other groups (K1 and K3) put lower targets. At the end, our bridge was hideous. So when it was judgement time, the panel asked if we wanted to lower our initial target. K2 was firm in maintaining ours, while other groups relented. I justified why I wanted to stay with 13 despite the horrible structure, amid the panelists’ doubt over our bridge. The outcome was unexpected. K2’s bridge didn’t topple and managed to withstand 1 bottle. The K1 Bridge toppled before even putting any bottles. K3 withstood 1 bottle.
Activity 3 – Case Study
This was a failure. I’m definitely blaming myself because I didn’t understand the concept of CSR. Sorry team. But what was the case study about? No spoilers.
Activity 4 – Role Playing
Our group had to compete against another in planning a 7-minute drama. The topic of our choice was ‘Curious.com’, an online shopping website. Both teams were amazing and hilarious: in either team there were such talented actors.
At the end of the day, we had a session with the panel. They gave us feedback and motivation going on our future paths.
Thank you panel, if you’re reading this. Mrs Fauziah, Mr Chai and Mr KI, lots of love.
That night, we were assembled in the hall. Names were called out one by one and we were instructed to exit the hall. My name was one of the earliest to be called; I was scared but stayed calm.
29 names in total were called out and we were brought to a room. We were then told that we managed to proceed to the next stage. Alhamdulillah!
Personally, I wanted the whole team to proceed but the panel had to make the cut. So moving to next stage from K2, were Kah Hou, Faisal, Husin and me.
8th April 2018
The final assessment day, where I managed to proceed to the last stage.
For the final stage, we had to prepare an individual presentation. I’m not a creative person so I wrote words: just words, and not even sentences. We were then ushered to separate rooms. One by one, we wished our friends good luck and I was second to present. Alhamdulillah it went well. Again, not spoiling any content on the nature of the presentation.
Before we went home, we stopped by the Bank Museum. After the tour, we packed our bags from Lanai Kijang and went home. It was a sad moment for me, immersed in an environment with amazing people with unique personalities. I really wished it would have lasted longer.
A big thanks to Bank Negara for giving me the chance to experience Kijang Academy. Will I get the scholarship? InsyaAllah, I don’t know really. Do pray for me. The results will be out at the end of April.
Muhammad Alif Iman is currently a Bank Negara Malaysia Kijang Scholar. He completed his SPM in Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah Putrajaya and is currently pursuing his A-Levels in Epsom College in Malaysia (ECiM). As he is planning on pursuing an Economics degree, his A-Level subjects are Economics , Politics , Mathematics , Further Maths and EPQ. If you intend to contact the author, feel free to contact the CollegeLAH Team at contact@collegelah.com.
Fok Sing Tian is currently a first year undergraduate reading BSc Actuarial Science at London School of Economics and Political Science. This personal statement was part of his successful application to LSE, Heriot-Watt University, University of Manchester, Cass Business School and University of Kent for Actuarial Science.
Mathematics, to me, is a discipline that requires one to possess an analytical mind and sufficient critical thinking skills in order to truly comprehend its depth. My curiosity brought me to venture deeper into the world of Mathematics, and eventually, I caught myself dwelling on the link between statistics and uncertainty. After reading ‘How Long Is A Piece of String?’ by Rob Eastaway and Jeremy Wyndham, I was particularly enticed by the feasibility of Benford’s Law and Kermack-McKendrick Model in detecting fraud and predicting the distribution of infectious diseases, respectively. My fascination for the versatility and practicality of statistics in the process of risk analysis ultimately led me to understand that a degree in Actuarial Science might suit me the most.
Further research on the career enlightened me on stochastic simulation. I was stumped when I came across the Monte Carlo simulation, which involves the computation of probabilities of different outcomes in an event which is influenced by random variables. Deeply intrigued, I discovered that this simulation is used in determining the premium price for term life insurances. I feel that this simulation has greatly contributed to the prediction of uncertainty through a more holistic approach and it compensates for the limitations of deterministic models. It is the eagerness to understand the principles behind predictive models that sparks my interest in Actuarial Science.
‘Probability: The Science of Uncertainty’ by Michael A. Bean, impressed me with the ingenuity behind the derivation of Law of Large Numbers, a fundamental principle in insurance. It was then that I finally understood that as more people become involved in loss sharing, the monetary amount that one must bear in the case of catastrophe becomes more certain and insubstantial. I believe that this law helps in formulating more stable premiums capable of accounting for larger variations and thus preventing credit risks. In the future, I look forward to obtaining further statistical knowledge and eventually run my own calculations.
My internship in an accounting firm gave me the opportunity to gain first-hand exposure to the financial world. During my tenure, I familiarised myself with Microsoft Excel for bookkeeping, data entry as well as calculating taxable income and depreciation of assets. Furthermore, I learnt how data collected were analysed to ascertain company performance and had the chance to witness the process of auditing a client. This experience allowed me to hone a meticulous attitude and adopt some soft skills, in addition to greatly contributing to my overall confidence in my decision to pursue this path.
My interest and proficiency in Mathematics propelled me to join numerous competitions. I was awarded the Prize Certificate in Australian Mathematics Competition and clinched the Honourable Certificate in National Mathematics Olympiad. I also won the Best Year 10 Team Award and the Individual Bronze Award in Malaysia Asean Science & Math Olympiads. These competitions helped me to improve my problem-solving skills and maintain a critical thinking process even under stressful environments.
As the Vice President of Mathematics Club, I equipped myself with leadership qualities and management skills by organising activities and competitions for students. Being part of the Model United Nations enabled me to practise essential communication skills in a variety of situations. Moreover, I am learning basic coding through Udemy courses as I am aware that programming plays a big role in easing the tasks of an actuary, such as in data massaging.
I envisage myself to be a part of the actuarial team which devises effective statistical models and utilises them in risk analysis. Having secured a scholarship from the Central Bank of Malaysia, I look forward to embarking on an intellectually rewarding journey in world-renowned institutions in the UK that will aid me in achieving my goals.
DISCLAIMER: The personal statements on this site are strictly meant as a starting point to give an idea of how successful personal statements look like. There is no surefire formula to writing good personal statements. COLLEGELAH IS STRICTLY AGAINST PLAGIARISM OF ANY KIND. UCAS employs a plagiarism check system that checks applicants’ work against other published writing so please DO NOT PLAGIARISE.
Zulhaiqal Iqmal is currently a first year undergraduate reading BSc Economics at University of Warwick. This personal statement was part of his successful application to LSE, UCL, University of Warwick and University of Nottingham for Economics.
Microeconomic frameworks are fascinating! The engineering of socially optimal outcomes led me to explore Becker’s exposition of a framework to find the optimal responses that minimised the social loss from crime. Inspired by his approach, I completed an EPQ on the economics of crime. The first part of my research analysed how an individual’s decision to commit a crime could be explained by rational choice theory; if a rational individual commits a crime, the expected utility they get from doing so must be higher than the expected utility obtained through any other path. I then used this simple framework to judge the microeconomic optimality of anti-crime policies in the US. Through this research, I was exposed to the concept of the Lagrangian in simple static optimisation, and enjoyed this mathematical approach to economics. As a scholar of the Malaysian Central Bank, I want to use sophisticated microeconomic models to craft robust regulations for Malaysia; I look forward to learning optimisation techniques at degree level.
My interest in rationality and microeconomic regulation led me to consider whether governments could employ frameworks like Becker’s to achieve efficient outcomes. I think that the government should exploit the individual’s tendency to maximise utility through the use of nudge theory, which presents a socially desirable choice as the one which maximises their personal utility. One example I found particularly interesting was Volkswagen’s ‘piano stairs’; the simple act of turning stair-climbing into a fun activity made stair-climbing the utility-maximising option compared to escalators and elevators, even though climbing the stairs still required more physical effort and time. Such policies can be viable alternatives to conventional intervention like taxation and subsidization. However, the literature on behavioural intervention – for instance to reduce smoking – is inconclusive. For instance, Gine et al. conclude that “quit and win” contests had clear success in getting people to cease smoking long-term, but Cahill and Perera concluded the exact opposite – they found that the use of “quit and win” contests caused fewer than 1 in 500 smokers to quit. This demonstrated to me that using behavioural policies is risky; costly intervention may accrue no significant benefits.
Evidently, working with existing utility functions may not be satisfactory; if individual utility functions can be modified, the effectiveness of microeconomic policies can be amplified. As a Muslim living in Malaysia, where Islam is the religion of the majority, I was intrigued to discover Ahmad’s work in ‘A Macro Model of Distribution in An Islamic Economy’. He explains that in the institutional framework of an Islamic economy, the fear of God is present, which causes individuals to not only be motivated by self-interest, but also by the fact that they will be held accountable by God in the hereafter. Furthermore, tithing is practiced in the Islamic economy as an inviolable pillar of Islam. I postulate that the concept of brotherhood inherent in Islam causes individuals to include the utility of other individuals in their own utility functions – this might explain the altruism I often observe in the Islamic community. Historical studies posit that when Prophet Muhammad brought the migrants from Mecca to Medina, he declared the migrants and the Ansar (the original citizens of Medina) to be ‘brothers’. This brotherhood was based on mutual socioeconomic support, and caused two previously disparate groups to work for a common good, transforming Medina into the economic hub of the Islamic world. This role of institutions like religion, which can alter the incentives of microeconomic agents, is something I am keen to delve further into.
I love the rigour and richness of Economics, and am excited to gain a grounding in economic theory at university.
DISCLAIMER: The personal statements on this site are strictly meant as a starting point to give an idea of how successful personal statements look like. There is no surefire formula to writing good personal statements. COLLEGELAH IS STRICTLY AGAINST PLAGIARISM OF ANY KIND. UCAS employs a plagiarism check system that checks applicants’ work against other published writing so please DO NOT PLAGIARISE.
Ariana Ng is currently a first year undergraduate reading LLB Law at University of Nottingham. This personal statement was part of his successful application to University of Nottingham and Queen Mary University of London for Law.
A conversation with a law student sparked my interest in law. She suggested that it would be possible to sue your neighbour if a leaf from your neighbour’s tree fell on your property. After some research, I concluded that she had over exaggerated the situation as you could only hold your neighbour liable if it caused nuisance or damage. However, I realised how every aspect of a person’s life was governed by legislation that even included the simplest of things: a leaf.
The complex arguments behind cases fascinates me. For example in Mayor of Bradford v Pickles, Mr. Pickles deliberately intercepted the water supply on his land, which flows to the city of Bradford. Lord Halsbury LC said: “If it was a lawful act, however ill the motive might be, he had a right to do it” when ruling this case. Lord Halsbury’s reasoning was surprising as I assumed that laws exist to prevent those with malicious thoughts from actualising them. “What About Law?” by Barnard et al inquires further into this with a hypothetical case in which David tries to kill his girlfriend through voodoo. His motive could justify a conviction even if the intended harm is impossible. I noticed that the defendant’s motive was more critical in the latter case as attempted murder is a more serious offence than the right to use one’s water supply. However, other legal findings such as interpretation of the statute may change the final ruling of either cases. The intricacies of the law inspired me to research further.
I decided to explore the workings of the law by writing an EPQ on the reliability of eyewitness testimonies. My initial research from journals by E. E. Loftus proves that eyewitness’ testimonies are fallible due to the malleability of one’s memory. I questioned why eyewitnesses’ testimonies are still used in court as innocent people had been wrongly convicted. A discussion with a visiting law professor made me aware that eyewitness’ testimonies provide closure and act as a means to serve justice especially if victims themselves testify. I only looked into the injustice faced by innocent defendants and neglected how the acceptance of these testimonies was a safeguard to protect victims. Through my EPQ, I learnt to address conflicting interests and present a non-biased argument – skills which I hope to develop further by reading law.
I came across a module about International Law by Dr. Tzanakopoulos during my Oxford Summer Camp. I was intrigued by this new topic but I contributed little to the discussion and kept questions to myself – a weakness I knew I had to address. I joined the Model United Nations club to ensure that my questions would no longer be left unanswered and honed my debating skills.
My internship with Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill, a Malaysian law firm that specialises in civil law, enabled me to help in the research of the associates and chambering students. It was a very fulfilling experience especially assisting in pro bono work that involved defending ethnic minority children that were discriminated against by their local authority. I realised that lawyers play a vital role in upholding the rule of law by ensuring everyone has access to legal redress.
My scholarship with the Central Bank has reinforced what my role will be in preserving the stability of the financial system through the law. The response to the 1MBD scandal failed to hold those who had created insecurity in Malaysia accountable. The lack of judicial power and ineffective institutional framework have formed an executive with little constraints and this may have stemmed from the 1988 Malaysian constitutional crisis. As a central bank scholar who may one day initiate or be part of the necessary reform to prevent these financial scandals, this issue hit close to home.
It is my ambition to read law and I am keen to return to Malaysia with some possible remedies to the issues faced in Malaysia.
DISCLAIMER: The personal statements on this site are strictly meant as a starting point to give an idea of how successful personal statements look like. There is no surefire formula to writing good personal statements. COLLEGELAH IS STRICTLY AGAINST PLAGIARISM OF ANY KIND. UCAS employs a plagiarism check system that checks applicants’ work against other published writing so please DO NOT PLAGIARISE.
Medicine and UCAS: The toughest thing you’ll go through as an A-level student
I remember hearing from my family members and seniors about how tough it is to be a medical applicant to UK universities. In fact, getting a place at any university seemed close to impossible. And this is the point of this article: to debunk that myth. Do not be mistaken – medicine is by far one of the toughest courses to get a place for. However, if you know how to prepare, what to expect and assuming you give twice the maximum effort you could give, you can get a place.
Firstly, I will explain the medical application process (as everyone else does), type of medicine courses, tips (my experience going through interviews) and finally how I handled receiving bad news! (i.e. getting rejected)
Medicine Application Process
UCAS allows students to apply to 5 UK universities. However, for reasons I cannot comprehend nor know of, we can only apply to 4 universities for medicine. Bummer. Fret not, you only need ONE offer – still possible.
Prior to the application process, you will need to undertake an attachment programme, for whatever length of time, wherever, and in any field you want. I shadowed a medical officer in a private hospital. Not the most exciting of options but it got the job done. The point of this is to grant you a glimpse into the medical profession and everything that it involves. The length and the activities you choose do not determine anything – it is what you learn from it and how you reflect on experiences that determines whether it will be fruitful.
During the application process, you will be required to write a small essay about anything in the world, and this is called a personal statement. This is, some would say, the most important piece of writing where you must give them reasons why you should be allowed to study in their university: basically selling yourself. Most people find this essay to be the hardest thing they had ever done before, while some people write theirs in a week. I, myself, took more than 20 drafts to get it right and that took me just over 5 months. Long indeed. Now, you do not need to start that early – I only intensely worked on it for 1-2 months. I will include my own guide to writing a good medicine personal statement below – hopefully it will help.
Admissions Tests
Now, medical universities use entrance exams. They are really tough exams which absolutely test you and yes, you have to prepare for them. The entrance exams are called BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test) and the UKCAT (UK Clinical Aptitude Test). The UKCAT can be taken before or during your application (or even after, though I would not recommend that). The BMAT can only be taken after submitting your application, usually in the first week of November.
UKCAT: 5 sections – one of which is the situational judgement test (SJT). Some universities do not take into account the SJT, but some do. Each section comes up to 900 marks. Total score is 2800 for the four sections and you are graded in bands (Band 1 to 4, I think) for the SJT. The total score (out of 2800) is averaged over the four subjects and that is your UKCAT result. Try to aim for 700 and above – some universities are very competitive, and 5 marks can make a huge difference. In addition, this test is taken on a computer at the test site: your results will be given to you immediately.
BMAT: 3 sections – Section A: Aptitude; Section B: Theory based on maths and science; Section C: English essay. A tough exam. Sections A and B are graded out of 9. Average is around 4. Section C is graded based on the quality of the essay (1 to 5) and your English (A to E). Work hard and start early – aim to get above 5 or 6 in Section 1 and above 7 or 8 in Section 2. A score of 4A and above in Section 3 will get you anywhere (even Oxbridge!).
After submitting your application, you will be put onto UCAS Track where you will begin the seemingly-endless days of checking Track in the middle of the night awaiting any updates. Tip: they always email you if there is an update so do not do what I did, please!
Once that is all done, and you have done your entrance exams, you begin the wait (AGAIN!) to see if you get shortlisted for the interview process. All universities have interviews (except Edinburgh – they have a criterion whereby they rank their candidates). Interviews will take a long time to master and prepare for – they are hard work indeed. Some universities have their interviews in Singapore/Malaysia, whereas others require you to fly over to the UK. Blimey. I would advise you not to get too worried about the prospect of having to go through the interviews. It is really a good experience, once you’re there it’s not at all daunting and really enjoyable. Interviews are an opportunity to have a friendly chat with top professors in the field! Generally here’s when you’d be notified:
Cambridge & Oxford: 2nd week of January
UCL: 3 days after final date of interview for international applicants – can take 2-4 weeks depending when you get the interview. [some people have said they have received it 3 days after the 1st interview date – so it can vary]
Queen Mary: 2 weeks after interview
Edinburgh: Late February/Early March
By March, you should have gotten your decisions. Do not fret over what the outcome could be (unless if its motivating you to work harder!). It is alright to get rejections. I myself got rejected by Cambridge, even after working mightily long and hard for it. Think of it as a learning curve – you are meant to grow and improve every step of the way.
Personal Statement (PS)
This is a 4000-character essay where you are given the seemingly impossible task of selling yourself to convince them to take you on as a student. Hard. But doable. Though, you are not going to sell yourself through describing what you have achieved and done: what they prize most above everything else is a good thought process. Explain how you think and reflect in each sentence. Ask yourself why, why and why all the time and then you will find yourself inferring and thinking critically.
In your PS, you should ideally explain your motivations behind this career choice, show a deep understanding of what the profession is all about (including the negative bits of it all), show what you have learnt from extra-curricular activities (no more than one paragraph) and finally, show what you have learnt from your attachment and how that has cemented your career choice. Good personal statements will be more academic and reflective than descriptive (and about your achievements). Talk to them about something sciencey. If you are planning on applying to BMAT universities, and especially Oxbridge universities, you should include at least one paragraph talking about one scientific topic which interests you, which also contains your reflections. For example, talk about cancer/infectious diseases etc.
I would recommend you to only put in 1 paragraph for your extra-curriculars – they can go into your reference (which is done by your teacher/someone in Sixth Form). Try to get them to write something good for you and if possible, let them know what you’d like to see in your reference (as in, what extracurriculars you think are necessary to include in the personal statement)!
Avoid jargon, waffling (unnecessary sentences) and overly emotive descriptions – they do not really care. They care more about what you learnt from your experiences and your thoughts on everything. Reflect, reflect and reflect should be your mantra for personal statements.
Here’s how I wrote my PS: one paragraph of introduction explaining why you chose medicine (only briefly! ‘Why medicine’ has to be evident throughout the PS and they must be able to see that, so you should be capable of expressing that passion very well). Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 should contain one theme each [related if possible but varying at the same time]. This will show that you are a wholesome person – always thinking of varying perspectives. Your PS should, in overall, carry one overarching theme/point. Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 should reflect that if possible. Paragraph 5 should be about extra-curricular stuff and more importantly, what you have learnt from it or how you have grown because of it.
INTERVIEWS
Every medical school requires an interview bar one – University of Edinburgh. A friend once told me: medical interviews are basically a platform where you try to teach them something whilst learning something from them. You are teaching them about your mindset – your perspective of things and maybe they’ll actually learn something! In addition, listening to whatever they say, you are inadvertently learning. It is also an intellectual conversation – simple. Talk to them like how you’d speak to your headmaster/head of sixth form or even any teacher. They want to pick your brains, nothing else: not your physical prowess or other, but to assess whether you can be a good student, doctor and ultimately contribute to society (or the university) down the road.
Some interviews are long, some are short – it matters, but arguably it should simply be an incentive to give it your best shot if you’ve been shortlisted for it. Just 15 minutes with the professor/doctors of your dreams. You can handle it
Interviews come in mostly these forms:
Panel (2/3/4 on one) – most universities
One-on-one – Cambridge (if you opt for an interview in Malaysia)
MMI – multiple stations where you move around, completing a task/answering a few questions at each station, each of which is manned by different interviewers.
Every interview will be different and there is not one method which will help you go through each brilliantly. The following is what I know about interviews. My knowledge regarding MMI is not very good – I did not apply to MMI interviews nor did I get any interviews that were MMI-based.
Types of interviews/format:
Science – mostly Oxbridge
General/about anything – UCL [they think interesting people make good doctors]
Traditional – the usual type of interview where you get ‘why medicine’ etcetera.
Challenge of interviews:
They go through thousands of candidates – the pressure of trying to stand out.
Nerves! Some of you may not have gone through any interviews before or even anything as important as this. Trust me: it is completely fine to be nervous. I would be worried if you weren’t!
Body language – trust me when I say 25-40% of the decision process goes into demonstrating yourself as someone sociable, open, trustworthy, passionate and simply good company. Basically, whatever a good doctor should be.
Insightful opinions – it may be hard to think of the best answer when you are put on the spot. Sometimes, you finish the interview thinking you could’ve done better, or said something smarter. I have had those thoughts after every interview I’ve gone through. What I now realise is that if you went through that, everyone else probably has too.
How do I remember everything? If I forget, and what if I stutter (etc.)? → It is completely fine. It is expected of you!
15 MINUTES? HOW?? What if I mess up?
If you notice, most of these challenges take place within your own mind. How can you then solve them? → Do what trains the mind, which is practice! Build confidence, train your mind to generate better and more wholesome ideas and Bob’s your uncle!
My experience in interviews:
Cambridge:
I sat for my interview during my AS exam in KL, before my BMAT because I opted to do it here. Crickey.
This interview is not really an interview but more of a private tuition class (i.e. supervisions). They are not interviewing you to see your capability of being the best doctor out there, but the ability to cope/thrive under the supervision system, which is small-group tutoring.
The pro of doing it here – cheap, no jet lag!
The cons of doing it here:
During AS/A2. [which may be good because it forces you to remember your academics, but in my case, it was a con – Maths was long and gone and I had lost my understanding about some topics which hence resulted in my being unable to answer one question]
30 minutes to convince them where you’d have twice/thrice as long in Cambridge itself. If you mess up one question – chances are, you may not get in.
Conducted by someone who may not necessarily be your college admissions tutor/academic professor. Thus, your college is acting on the recommendations of someone, so although they have been doing it for a long time, it is not the same!
Unlucky – some people get similar, easier questions whereas others get more complex problems. It really depends on your luck!
Now, what do I mean by answer questions correctly/mess it up?
Answering it correctly means to explain them your thinking process, refer to the basics to solve the complex problem and then get to your answer. You may stumble and be inaccurate/wrong but that does not matter. You just need to think out loud, express your rational opinions (think of every question as a KBAT/HOTS question or Moral essay question – just ‘goreng’ your answer).
For more advice/thoughts, email me! Preferably if it aids in deciding your uni choices/if you have gotten the interview!
UCL
This is more of an interview than the above but it felt more like a conversation. We chatted about some weird things which were sometimes unrelated, but at the same time it was really engaging. They were trying to dig into your brain/thinking process like Oxbridge does but instead of using science/maths to do it, they wanted your general thinking process.
The format of this interview is unique – they somehow manage to obtain a copy of your BMAT essay, which is used as a topic of discussion in the interview. The interview is thus split into two ‘parts’, each conducted by another interviewer within a panel of three. The third interviewer is more of an observer – not to ask questions at all. The first part is usually regarding your personal statement, and any general questions. The second part is about the BMAT essay that you have written.
During the first part, they did not ask me about anything even remotely related to medicine, yet still stemming from my PS. Point is, they don’t care if you’re the most academically gifted. They think interesting people make good doctors, so try to be as interesting as you can be, i.e. in your opinions/thoughts.
Queen Mary London/Barts
Queen Mary is another special one – they base half their interview on an article that they would have sent to you two weeks prior to the interview. Besides the interview, the questions that they asked me were very generic. In addition, they used the same questions for everyone – to give everyone an equal opportunity to succeed!
Receiving bad news – how?
I received my Cambridge result in the toilet of UCL’s Rockefeller Building – where they interview you at UCL. Not the best of times to have gotten it but again, my word of advice is to always just get it over and done with. Bad news means it just is not meant for you. I had many uneasy nights/sleeps thinking about all the ‘what ifs’, but the end result will not change. I would suggest you to learn from the experience and work on it – you may end up getting a better learning experience in some other university.
Tips
Start early – starting earlier means you have a longer time to develop your PS, the way you think and to develop your character.
Read books – non-fiction books – for this is the best way to learn new concepts/ideas and to develop your character.
Do not ask for too many people’s opinions for your PS. Stick to two persons – but you must ensure they give you good feedback!
Work as hard as you can to improve and get to where you want to get to. It takes smarts and hard work to get into any medical university. Work hard.
Hareneshkaran Kirubakaran, a Bank Negara Malaysia Kijang Emas Scholar, is currently a first year at University College London pursuing a degree in Medicine. He is of a calm and composed nature and one can often find him in the kitchen, attempting futilely to cook curry. Sadly, that is just the tip of the iceberg for Harenesh’s sorrow as he will be single on Valentines for the 20th time this year. If you intend to contact the author, feel free to contact the CollegeLAH Team at contactus@collegelah.com.
Greetings, readers! I am Faisal, a Bank Negara Malaysia’s Kijang Scholarship recipient for the year 2018/2019 and I am delighted to share my experience with you. First of all, I would like to clarify that the assessments are carried out differently every year. This article will only then give a glimpse of the style of the assessment. I will not be able to describe the whole process to avoid revealing some confidential parts.
First Day
Contrary to previous years, there were only about 60 candidates that made it through the online application stage in 2018. On the first night, we were sorted into our respective groups and were briefed on the central bank’s organisational structure and the scholarship programme itself. There were no assessments held. Previous Kijang scholars (who are currently serving their bond) were assigned to each group as mentors. At first, when no one had the guts to start a conversation, it was rather awkward. However, our mentors were nothing but friendly and I found myself enlightened by the situation. They were the ones who started the conversation and we had quite a fruitful discussion throughout the night.
One of my mentors is an Economics undergraduate. She was definitely my point of reference as I myself applied to read Economics. If the same activity is carried out in 2019, my best advice for you is to ask as many questions as possible to understand what you will be facing in the future as a central bank scholar.
Second Day
The group assessment was split into four stages.
The first stage was ice-breaking with the assessing panel in our respective groups. One by one, we were given the opportunity to introduce ourselves to let the panel get to know us better. Towards the end of the session, each of us were given a blank A4 paper and coloured pens and was told to produce a simple magazine cover that summarizes our personality and interests precisely and concisely. Indeed, the first stage made us knew each other better and we became more comfortable around each other.
The second stage was a grouped task (balancing water bottles on a bridge made of straws and newspapers). Each group were given materials such as straws, newspapers, scissors and cellophane tape. It was more challenging as we were only allowed to use the materials to produce a bridge (of our own design) that is able to hold as many water bottles as possible. It was quite an intense activity as each group were divided into two and one subgroup was not allowed to communicate with the other. Hence, we had to make half of the bridge, hoping that we were able to connect them together and produce a strong bridge. Surprisingly, our bridge managed to hold 3 bottles compared to others in our room which could only hold 2 bottles on average.
The third stage was a role-playing task. Each group were instructed to come up with a solution to a business problem (our goal was to develop a project with the objective of complying with CSR). I was assigned to the administration team. My responsibility was to assure that our proposals would not backfire and self-contradict. Perhaps, that was the task other candidates found the hardest. There was definitely pressure as we were allocated very little time and were required to complete a rather detailed proposal.
I am not able to recall the fourth stage accurately. From what I remember, each group had to present a daily life situation that requires us to apply knowledge from the respective fields we applied for. For instance, since some of the members of my group applied for Economics, we re-enacted a situation that portrayed how corporations use supply and demand theories to target consumers.
Third Day
Reality hurts but that’s just how life works. Only about half of us made it to the interview stage and we were sorted into groups according to the courses we applied for. Prior to the interview, we had to create a presentation based on a given topic using a mah-jong paper and marker pens. We were instructed to present our ideas before the interview.
The interview process was similar to the interviews that we have heard from other people. The interviewers could ask what you know regarding the structure of the central bank, your reasons for applying for the scholarship (why Bank Negara out of all?) and what made you choose to study the intended course. Most importantly, to get to know you and understand who you truly are.
What I think I did well and what should you do?
I think I should reiterate what was said by other previous (and current) scholars. The idea is to be as natural as possible. It is undeniable that your knowledge of current issues (particularly those pertaining to the course that you applied for) is a valuable indicator of your potential. However, I believe that some candidates might try to show their potential by plainly using economic jargon throughout the assessment. Some candidates can also come off as very weak team players especially when they are quick to dismiss other people’s ideas. Besides intellect, I believe that the central bank is looking for candidates that cooperate well in teams, an aspect that is vital for functionality in an organisation. It is advisable to stay true to your personality when you are being assessed. This way, not only are you able to express yourself truly, it will also help you go through the assessment calmly.
Faisal is currently a Bank Negara Malaysia Kijang Scholar who’s completing his A-level at Epsom College in Malaysia. Having full faith in his passion, he aims to study in Economics in the United Kingdom (particularly UCL). His A-level subjects are Economics, Chemistry and Further Mathematics. As an active member of the Epsom Debating Society, Faisal believes that discourses in a community are essential for positive outcomes. Even though you may see Faisal with his emo hair and grumpy face, Faisal is actually a highly friendly and sociable person so feel free to talk to him whenever you see him. If you intend to contact the author, feel free to contact the CollegeLAH Team at contactus@collegelah.com.
Before I begin sharing my scholarship experience, let me give you a quick introduction to FGV. Felda Global Ventures Holdings Berhad (FGV) is Malaysia’s leading global agribusiness and is the world’s largest producer of crude palm oil (CPO). FGV has operations in more than 10 countries across Asia, North America and Europe. I’m sure that most of you have came across the name Felda but not Felda Global Ventures. The difference between these two is that Felda (Federal Land Development Authority) is a government agency whereas FGV is a private corporate entity initiated by Felda.
Let’s go back to my experience now. I have basically applied for numerous scholarships before this, attended various interviews and even managed to qualify for final stages but sadly luck was never on my side. I follow a page called AfterSchool on Facebook and one fine day there was a post about FGV scholarship. Filling up forms became something very normal to me and again I went through the hassle to apply for it. Thank God I applied!
FGV offers a good scholarship programme where it covers your full tuition fee, accommodation, living allowance, books and stationaries allowance and also project allowance. Ten days after the closing date, I received an email stating that I was shortlisted to attend the scholarship assessment (Stage 1). This assessment was slightly different from the ones I have attended before because it was held in a hotel. A few assessments were conducted, and it took the whole day. There were about 200+ candidates shortlisted for this stage.
Stage 1: • Test – Four series of tests were given which are mathematical reasoning, verbal reasoning, IQ and the last one was an essay. To master this task you are encouraged to try out similar tests on google. (Each test was about 20 minutes)
• Boardroom discussion and presentation – We were grouped into groups of 5. We were given a random topic to discuss and to present on a mahjong paper. There were 3 panels who are professional executives of FGV from various fields. The key to master this task is to stand out, speak and most importantly show them the fire in you. (The session was about 45 minutes)
• Interview – After the presentation, the same panel interviewed us. This time they asked us direct and indirect questions. Examples of the questions asked are why you chose this field, what is your weakness, why should we award you and not others together with issues happening in Malaysia and around the world. For this stage, you should read up about the company beforehand and brush up on your general knowledge. Make sure you volunteer to answer the indirect questions but at the same time do not be too dominating. (The session was about 25 minutes)
After 2 weeks FGV called and mailed me to inform that I was shortlisted for the final stage and this time it was at their HQ, Menara Felda itself. There were about 60 candidates shortlisted for the stage.
Stage 2: • Interview – Candidates were grouped into groups of 5 and were given a briefing before the interview session started. For this, there were 6 panels; chief human resource officer, top key people from the research and development, plantation, finance, human resource and production department.
I was a little bit nervous as I never expected that the “senior management” they meant, is THAT senior. Candidates were thrown direct and indirect questions at this stage too. This time was more for getting to know the candidates’ personality better and determine whether the candidates can adapt to FGV’s culture. (The session was about 45 minutes)
After 2 weeks, I finally received THE CALL. The call that I have always waited for. They informed me that the scholarship board has decided to offer me a full scholarship for my degree (Accounting) in University of Malaya. There were only 20 candidates that received the scholarship.
Prabhakar is currently a FGV scholar pursuing a degree in Accounting in University Malaya. Driven by strong motivations in life, Prabhakar can always be found on a laptop or notebook reading up on the latest technological breakthrough or playing Counter Strike. His nerdy facade masks his breathtaking musical talent as well as some below average football skills. If you intend to contact the author, feel free to contact the CollegeLAH Team at contactus@collegelah.com.
The Yayasan Khazanah Scholarship tests a range of abilities including essay writing, mathematical reasoning, as well as data analysis – and that is before being called in for interviews.
I’m a YK Global scholar from the 2018 Early Harvest intake, currently on my final semester of A-Levels in Kolej Yayasan UEM and planning to read Economics for my degree. The purpose of this article is to share my experience as well as some general tips to give you an idea of what to expect, which skills are needed at each stage, and what preparations to make.
Preliminary Round: The Application Essay
Like any other personal statement, the most crucial aspect of the essay is specificity. Try to vividly define your academic interest and goals. It’s not enough to say you want to do Economics to eradicate inequality, it’d be better to talk about, say, how you came to the realisation that economic inequality is a major issue in Malaysia and how you hope to contribute it through your degree (stress on Malaysia: remember that this scholarship is also an employment contract for you to contribute to the country!).
While this core part of the essay is crucial, the rest will be entirely up to you. It may be beneficial for you to include relevant skills you’ve acquired through different leadership positions or academic subjects, mention specific goals in a corporation under Khazanah Nasional you’d want to be involved in, or reflect on any volunteering opportunities that you might have.
Stages 1 and 2: The Online Tests
During my batch, the online test consisted of Numerical and Verbal Reasoning, as well as an additional E-tray Assessment. Numerical reasoning consists of standard mathematical problems as well as some questions regarding shapes. As a rusty-in-math SPM leaver at the time, I could only prepare for it by going through some Additional Mathematics problem-solving questions and refreshing my mathematical skills. The verbal reasoning questions were, as the name suggests, language-oriented, with a focus on comprehension of texts.
Should you make it through these two standard IQ tests, the Stage 2 test will be the most unique aspect which is the E-tray assessment. This will be a simulation where you are a manager of a company and you have to make managerial decisions based on presented data as well as answer emails. I don’t think I can delve into the details much as it’s likely that the same model will still be used.
Overall, I found these two stages to be the most challenging – you never really know if some of your answers are correct, especially in the numerical reasoning part concerning shapes. The best you can do is to simply be in a calm environment, read all instructions carefully, and take your time answering them.
Stages 3 and 4: The Interviews
If you’ve made it to this point, congratulations! The online quizzes are where most candidates are sieved out, which means you’ve got one foot in already. My first interview was held online via Skype, as I was part of a small Early Harvest intake. It was a casual one-on-one conversation with the Scholarship Manager on my academic and career goals. I talked about which subjects I planned to take at A-Levels, what I hoped to do with my degree, and my plans to pursue a Masters in the future. Of course, these plans are not static as our interests evolve over time, but having a general idea of what to do with your degree would be much better than simply saying you hope to go wherever life takes you.
At Stage 4, I was finally called to the YK Office in Mercu UEM (near KL Sentral). This was the most intimidating stage as I was interviewed by two members of the Board of Directors. They held a copy of my personal essay and asked me questions based on them, such as to clarify my leadership roles, volunteering involvement, and academic interests. I also remember having a discussion on brain drain of YK Scholars: they mentioned that it was a rare occurrence among our scholars, but it happens nonetheless. I remember assuring them that I had a strong commitment to this country, and I hope to improve it through my education.
Overall, YK’s interviews are not as technical as corporations where you have to memorise their Vision and Mission and have an idea of which department you want to work in, etc. Again, it goes back to the same principles as the personal essay – you’d need to clearly define your academic and personal goals and figure out how you will contribute to this country through your education. Do not be complacent: there’s this misconception that if you’re at Stage 4, you’re pretty much going to get the scholarship. While this has an element of truth to it, I’ve had peers getting rejected at Stage 5, which means you should not feel comfortable just yet. Above all, be genuine and honest in the way you present yourself.
Stage 5: The Chat
My Stage 5 was a casual chat with a member of the Board of Trustees along with one member of the Board of Directors. And when I say ‘casual’, I mean we talked about my shirt collar being too small and how I should get a tailored-fit shirt or at least know my measurements, how my then-girlfriend also wanted to apply for the scholarship, and how KYUEM is smack in the middle of the jungle with limited access to facilities.
You can prepare a little by knowing about current affairs in case they pop up in a discussion, but the casual and flexible nature of it means there are a myriad of ways it could go. Again, just remember to be genuine and honest in the way you present yourself.
Concluding Remarks
That is all I have to share about my entire application process! As I was part of the 2017 intake, certain features for the 2019 batch and beyond are bound to differ, but I hope that this article has given you the gist of what to expect throughout each stage.
The Yayasan Khazanah scholarship has granted me access to tons of opportunities and privileges I could never afford on my own, including a private college and university education, personalised help for SATs and US applications, and numerous volunteering programs, and I owe so much to the organisation. While it is often associated with its difficulty and prestige, the YK community is also a welcoming and accommodating family that is very supportive of your changing needs. The only price associated with this opportunity is your contribution as part of this nation’s human capital and contribute through your education. I sincerely welcome you to be a part of this community, and I wish you all the best in this long application process.
My name is Ahmad Faris Bin Ahmad Rizal. I graduated from SM Sains Alam Shah, Cheras in 2016 and am currently on my final semester of A Levels in KYUEM. I’m planning to read Economics for my degree in the United States, with a specific focus on economic development and policymaking. Outside of my studies, I enjoy lifting, hiking, boxing, and reading classical fiction.
Judging from past year articles by scholars, the selection process is being continuously tweaked year by year. This is solely based on my experience: yours might be entirely different.
PETRONAS Education Sponsorship Programme (PESP)
A scholarship offered by Petroliam Nasional Sdn. Bhd. for post-SPM students in majors ranging from Accounting to Sociology, from Applied Chemistry to Instrumentation Engineering. A scholar’s tuition and living fees will be fully-sponsored for pre-university level and undergraduate level.
How to Apply
1. Google for the Petronas Scholarship for the current year. An easy way to keep track of all the scholarships would be following the websites and Facebook pages like afterschool.my and studymalaysia.com
2. Fill in your personal details (NO essay, NO resume! NICEST ONE!)
3. Select your intended major and country of study.
· Economics, Law students are typically sent to the UK (after studying the A-Level at KDU or KYUEM)
· Psychology, Maths, Computer Science are primarily sent to the US (Pre-U: American Degree Program at Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus)
· Australia-bound students first take South Australian Matriculation (SAM) at Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus
· Petroleum Engineering students study locally, starting with a Foundation course at Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP, the best private university in Malaysia!)
A few hundred people will be shortlisted from applicants from all over Malaysia for the Petronas YoungStar Day. The event was conducted in both Kuala Lumpur and Sabah.
Interview process
First round
· Thinking Skills Assessment (approx. 1 hr). The questions are primarily testing your thinking skills. Prior knowledge is not needed.
Second round
· Group interview (1 hour, in a group of 5 to 6)
· Discussion and presentation on a whiteboard as a group
· Atmosphere
– Relaxing
– Most group members were cooperative and most likely everyone will get the chance to voice their opinion. The officers listened respectfully without contradicting any ideas so don’t worry too much about their response.
– However, you might have questions directed at you by the officers and group members in a brief discussion session after each member justified their answers.
· The question: How would we improve Petronas petrol stations’ and Kedai Mesra’s sales?
· Here are some of my answers as well as my friends’:
· Kad mesra (gaining points to exchange with gifts) to be given out straight away (community-based card)
· In Kedai Mesra stores along the highway where efficiency and convenience are of great importance, the process of purchasing Mesra goods is made efficient. Customers can make direct purchases.
· Introduce a mascot for branding
· Introduce innovative store or petrol transformations and advertise about the changes
· Mobile app for Petronas (innovate the app to make it more user-friendly and advertise it)
· Massage chairs, facilities for kids, free breakfast (the general idea here is to increase customer satisfaction)
· Feedback – we were allotted a session to talk about how we felt about the day, what people we met, what we learnt, and whether we liked their interview style/activities done. You should be sincere and positive.
One piece of advice
As the scholarship results will be released later than the enrolment date of A-Levels (specifically January and March intakes), Foundation and STPM, you should consider attending one of them first. It’s wise to plan for different possibilities and prepare for your future.
The Petronas scholarship results were announced near the end of May for the first batch students, while the second batch were notified near the end of July. And the third batch students were notified near the end of August.
Advice for the interview
I would not say I have any solid advice in getting the scholarship as there are a host of uncontrollable factors in the selection process. I’ll just outline some interview guidelines instead:
1. Research about Petronas beforehand
· It’d be great to integrate some of their social mission, or values in the discussion
· to also show that you’re interested in the company itself
2. Prepare questions to ask if possible
· It would be unwise to ask something that can be found on the website
· But don’t worry if you can’t find a question, I didn’t.
3. Smile widely (Keep smiling!)
4. Be kind but argumentative
· It’s fine to disagree, but you must show that you have a solid opinion
5. Give your most creative ideas
6. Be specific and realistic
With that said, I wish you good luck ! You have come a long way to score in SPM after tons of hard work. I believe that if you’re motivated enough to make an effort and apply for one of these scholarships, you definitely have the potential to get one!
Other resources
It might also be useful to check out this link to learn more about a senior’s journey as a Petronas scholar. In it, the author recounted her life post-SPM until now.
Azfar Azmi is currently studying Economics at University of Warwick. Azfar completed his A-levels at KTJ and is graduating in 2022.
The inception of my interest in Economics was a result of its unpredictable nature. I really like how everything within economics seems to be interconnected; whenever I learn a microeconomic theory it invariably touches upon macroeconomic theory. Areas I am especially interested in include currency fluctuations, instabilities and market valuation. This includes the rise, and perhaps fall, of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, the unstable Argentine economy and Venezuela’s current hyperinflation, estimated to reach an astonishing 1,000,000% by December 2018, according to the IMF.
I am particularly fascinated by the fact that the US dollar is slowly losing its status as the leading global reserve currency, with the Euro and Yuan striving to overthrow it in the near future. From my independent reading, I feel that this is because the US is becoming increasingly indebted to China; as of June 2018, the figure stood at $1.8 trillion. US consumption of goods from China is also causing the Yuan to appreciate and strengthen, something that looks likely to result in a prolonged trade tariff war this year. However, I also understand that China’s plans for the Yuan to become the leading global reserve currency are hampered by the fact that it is not convertible; currently, it is difficult for countries to buy the Yuan as there are government restrictions placed on it. I think China has work to do, in relation to the Yuan’s convertibility, if it is going to make it the leading currency reserve worldwide.
Another intriguing issue I have enjoyed reading about is China’s economic relationship with Malaysia, my home country. Recently, the Malaysian Prime Minister visited China on a trip where the leaders made several bilateral trade and cooperation agreements. The two countries wish to increase trading which I am sure will provide great economic benefits to Malaysia. Moreover, the countries plan to increase tourism across both countries which excites me; more tourists in Malaysia could mean greater expenditure within the country, boosting the Malaysian economy and, in theory, this should cause a trickle down effect, benefiting the economy as a whole, resulting in job creation and economic growth.
Over the summer break, I attended a job shadowing programme at CIMB, one of the largest banks in South East Asia. During my time there I had fun developing many of my skills; I performed multiple presentations, specifically about Kredivo, an application that allows consumers to perform a buy-now pay-later service which I had to then compare to CIMB’s ‘goods-financing’, a similar service. I concluded that CIMB’s service only allows consumers to purchase goods on Lazada, whereas Kredivo could be utilised more ubiquitously. Through the research I did, I learnt that banks create such services to increase the amount of money consumers borrow from them in order make profit through interest charged, and also to encourage consumers loyalty, to encourage them to use the bank’s other services. At CIMB I also developed my interpersonal skills, interacting with people across departments, and I was given an insight into the corporate world, a field I hope to work in, in the future.
I have represented my school at football, rugby, athletics and cross-country across local and international tournaments. These experiences have taught me the importance of dedication, persistence and time management. Training for the National Athletics Finals, whilst also studying for my IGCSEs, meant I had to be disciplined and organised; I learnt how to quickly and effectively switch my focus between sports and studies, working hard to be successful in both.
I am a hardworking, perseverant and positive person who loves to learn. I am very excited about the prospect of studying at a top UK university and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of me.
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The student is currently studying Land Economy at the University of Cambridge and will be graduating in 2022. This personal statement was part of her successful application to the University of Cambridge, UCL, LSE, Durham and Warwick.
My attempt to comprehend the complexity of the 2008 financial crisis kindled my fascination with Economics. It led me to read Geithner’s ‘Stress Test’, which offered a firsthand look at tackling the crisis. While his focus on avoiding panic and maintaining credit flows is justified, I think creating more effective programmes to reduce rising foreclosures is equally vital. Weaknesses in the Home Affordable Modification Program, for example, severely restricted the potential number of rescued homeowners. Its inherent fault was that the incentive of mortgage servicers to help homeowners modify their loans was eclipsed by the more profitable prospect of foreclosure. The government could perhaps have restructured incentives by implementing a reward-by-output system where the government pays a servicer for every loan modified, whilst ensuring the payment is higher than what the servicer receives when foreclosure occurs. Furthermore, while I agree with Geithner’s argument that moral hazard was inevitable, I think the extent of its impact was influenced by controllable factors like how stringent lending terms were; the lenient terms in this case encouraged recklessness. I hope to explore issues like crisis prevention and financial contagion further with more rigorous theoretical frameworks in university.
The centrality of neoliberalism today pushed me to read Ha-joon Chang’s ‘Bad Samaritans’ for a contrarian view. He observes that while protectionism formed the basis of rich countries’ advancement, these same countries advocate neoliberal policies for developing countries, which often hinder their growth. This made me question the true intention of richer nations. During my internship at an agribusiness, I felt that Chang’s point was echoed in the EU’s palm oil biofuel ban; the EU’s justification of ‘environmental reasons’ appeared to be a euphemism for a return to protectionism. If environmental protection truly was their goal, they could have opted to share expertise with producing countries to help mitigate their carbon footprint rather than imposing a ban, since a ban would reduce the incentives for sustainable production. The EU’s ignoring of the harmful impact of rival oils farmed locally in the EU further supports this view. This illustrated to me the importance of acquiring diverse ideological views in the study of the political economy.
The mathematical aspect of economics appeals strongly to me. I was intrigued to discover the relevance of differential calculus in economics, such as deriving the Marshall-Lerner condition, or explaining changing values of price elasticity along a linear demand curve. Exploring its use in utility maximisation, I learnt several ways to derive the equimarginal principle, but was most awed by its derivation from the first-order conditions (FOCs) of a Lagrangian. To me, the magic of this tool is its power to find optimal values under multiple constraints. However, I am aware that my understanding of optimisation is limited. For instance, further reading led me to discover that with quasi-linear utility, utility-maximising values would not satisfy all FOCs; this was something I had not considered up till then, since my syllabus emphasised that the equimarginal principle had to be satisfied at the optimal. Therefore, a deeper grounding in optimisation is something I keenly anticipate.
My role as prefect and my school’s Interact Club Finance Director has enhanced my ability to communicate, organise events, lead, and be a team player. I enjoy independent research which goes beyond class work; during my internship at RHB investment bank, I used data from Bloomberg to gauge firms’ financial positions. I am open to discussions and thrive on incorporating new ideas and opinions.
Aside from the thrill of exploring new concepts, I believe that this degree will arm me with the tools to contribute to the sustainable development of South-East Asian economies as a policy analyst or economic consultant.
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To me, Land Economy’s allure is its blend of law and economics; it considers the moral effects of economic policy, and the economic impact of the law. For example, research into Malaysia’s strata title laws during a law internship made me realise that a total pursuit of economic efficiency may not be possible if individuals’ property rights are to be protected, as enshrined in the Constitution. In Malaysia, unanimous consent from strata title holders is needed for an en-bloc sale of a strata property. While this position upholds owners’ property rights, it jeopardises urban renewal as unanimous consent is difficult to acquire. A case in point was an aging condominium in the city centre which depreciated after failing to gain approval for sale to a redevelopment project. In contrast, Singaporean law only requires 80% approval for en-bloc sales of older buildings while providing safeguards for minorities; this facilitates urban renewal. Malaysia should consider emulating this regulatory model.
Economic policy and legal frameworks must exist in symbiotic balance. A degree in land economy would equip me to realise my aspiration of addressing the problem of urban decay in Malaysia.
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I greatly value socio-economic and environmental balance in the process of development. I am lucky to have travelled extensively and experienced places in which this rings true. On a National Geographic Journeys trip to the Peruvian Amazon, I was shown travel lodges built among trees, which do not come at the expense of biodiversity. They contribute to the local economy by providing employment opportunities, yet still respect and preserve natural authenticity. I hope to one day advance and actualise sustainable accommodation because respect for nature and its inhabitants is important to me.
DISCLAIMER: The personal statements on this site are strictly meant as a starting point to give an idea of how successful personal statements look like. There is no surefire formula to writing good personal statements. COLLEGELAH IS STRICTLY AGAINST PLAGIARISM OF ANY KIND. UCAS employs a plagiarism check system that checks applicants’ work against other published writing so please DO NOT PLAGIARISE.
Zulhaiqal Iqmal is currently studying BSc Economics at University of Warwick. He completed his A-Levels at Epsom College and will be graduating in 2021. This personal statement was part of his successful application to LSE, UCL, University of Nottingham and University of Warwick for Economics.
Microeconomic frameworks are fascinating! The engineering of socially optimal outcomes led me to explore Becker’s exposition of a framework to find the optimal responses that minimised the social loss from crime. Inspired by his approach, I completed an EPQ on the economics of crime. The first part of my research analysed how an individual’s decision to commit a crime could be explained by rational choice theory; if a rational individual commits a crime, the expected utility they get from doing so must be higher than the expected utility obtained through any other path. I then used this simple framework to judge the microeconomic optimality of anti-crime policies in the US. Through this research, I was exposed to the concept of the Lagrangian in simple static optimisation, and enjoyed this mathematical approach to economics. As a scholar of the Malaysian Central Bank, I want to use sophisticated microeconomic models to craft robust regulations for Malaysia; I look forward to learning optimisation techniques at degree level.
My interest in rationality and microeconomic regulation led me to consider whether governments could employ frameworks like Becker’s to achieve efficient outcomes. I think that the government should exploit the individual’s tendency to maximise utility through the use of nudge theory, which presents a socially desirable choice as the one which maximises their personal utility. One example I found particularly interesting was Volkswagen’s ‘piano stairs’; the simple act of turning stair-climbing into a fun activity made stair-climbing the utility-maximising option compared to escalators and elevators, even though climbing the stairs still required more physical effort and time. Such policies can be viable alternatives to conventional intervention like taxation and subsidization. However, the literature on behavioural intervention – for instance to reduce smoking – is inconclusive. For instance, Gine et al. conclude that “quit and win” contests had clear success in getting people to cease smoking long-term, but Cahill and Perera concluded the exact opposite – they found that the use of “quit and win” contests caused fewer than 1 in 500 smokers to quit. This demonstrated to me that using behavioural policies is risky; costly intervention may accrue no significant benefits.
Evidently, working with existing utility functions may not be satisfactory; if individual utility functions can be modified, the effectiveness of microeconomic policies can be amplified. As a Muslim living in Malaysia, where Islam is the religion of the majority, I was intrigued to discover Ahmad’s work in ‘A Macro Model of Distribution in An Islamic Economy’. He explains that in the institutional framework of an Islamic economy, the fear of God is present, which causes individuals to not only be motivated by self-interest, but also by the fact that they will be held accountable by God in the hereafter. Furthermore, tithing is practiced in the Islamic economy as an inviolable pillar of Islam. I postulate that the concept of brotherhood inherent in Islam causes individuals to include the utility of other individuals in their own utility functions – this might explain the altruism I often observe in the Islamic community. Historical studies posit that when Prophet Muhammad brought the migrants from Mecca to Medina, he declared the migrants and the Ansar (the original citizens of Medina) to be ‘brothers’. This brotherhood was based on mutual socioeconomic support, and caused two previously disparate groups to work for a common good, transforming Medina into the economic hub of the Islamic world. This role of institutions like religion, which can alter the incentives of microeconomic agents, is something I am keen to delve further into.
I love the rigour and richness of Economics, and am excited to gain a grounding in economic theory at university.
DISCLAIMER: The personal statements on this site are strictly meant as a starting point to give an idea of how successful personal statements look like. There is no surefire formula to writing good personal statements. COLLEGELAH IS STRICTLY AGAINST PLAGIARISM OF ANY KIND. UCAS employs a plagiarism check system that checks applicants’ work against other published writing so please DO NOT PLAGIARISE.
Suah Jing Lian studied BSc Economics at the London School of Economics. He completed his A-Levels at Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar and graduated in 2018.
My interest in economics stems from growing up in Malaysia. Living in Kuala Lumpur, the financial capital, it surprised me that the most expensive real estate is mostly inhabited by the Chinese while the Indians and Malays dominate the less developed suburbs. I wondered how such racially polarised, economic disparity exists in my country, even with affirmative action such as low-interest business loans and race-specific quotas for shareholding in place to correct it. I believe that economics holds the key to unraveling developmental questions for countries like mine. With a scholarship from the Central Bank of Malaysia, I hope that studying economics at a UK university will give me a broader, better-informed, understanding.
I was interested by Partha Dasgupta’s “Economics: A Very Short Introduction”, which offered a more detailed perspective on situations like that of Malaysia. Dasgupta illustrates multifaceted economic problems such as differing market opportunities for individuals due to their socio-economic status. For instance, underdeveloped healthcare, low literacy and high fertility rate make it difficult for individuals from poorer countries to progress out of communal or subsistence economies, trapping them in a vicious cycle of poverty. This made me think that it might be more effective if humanitarian or developmental aid were targeted at improving healthcare and education infrastructure in less developed countries, instead of targeting individuals alone.
This interest in the differing developmental levels and market opportunities of communities within nations led me to read Acemoglu and Robinson’s “Why Nations Fail”, which places the dichotomy of extractive and inclusive economic institutions at the heart of phenomena such as growth and developmental disparity in populations. This seems very similar to slow developing, impoverished present day nations such as Togo and Laos, whose economic institutions are extractive. This raised a key question for me regarding Malaysia: can economic institutions be extractive or inclusive exclusively to different social groups within the same country?
While studying for my A levels, I took up competitive British Parliamentary Debating, which offered a platform both to learn and apply economic issues and concepts. Competing frequently against university debaters, I was a 5-time national open quarterfinalist as well as the president of my school’s debating union. Topics ranging from the relevance of trade unions in developing nations, to more contemporary ones such as the 2008 Eurozone Sovereign Debt Crisis, further emphasised the depth and breadth of economics as a subject. For one, I proposed that while trade unions may hinder crucial growth for developing nations, they protect the welfare and security of wage earners, leading to a more inclusive and sustainable growth rather than one that reflects vast wealth disparity.
Studying in the sixth form showed me that mathematics is used frequently when learning economics, such as in modelling consumer behaviour and the effects of monetary policies. I am convinced that my strong mathematical background will be useful at university. Studying the Game Theory in Further Maths showed me the applicability of mathematics to the social sciences, highlighting its versatility in economics. In addition to completing A-level Maths in my first year of study, I was also a silver medalist in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge.
I am a member of Mensa and also a school prefect, responsible for encouraging good behaviour amongst students, organising school campaigns and contributing to school policies such as pre-examination regulations, which I succeeded in amending. I was also, at my previous school, part of the Board of Directors, where I learned how to run and manage societies.
I am very much looking forward to studying Economics at a UK university, where I hope to find diverse culture and broader, more global perspectives.
DISCLAIMER: The personal statements on this site are strictly meant as a starting point to give an idea of how successful personal statements look like. There is no surefire formula to writing good personal statements. COLLEGELAH IS STRICTLY AGAINST PLAGIARISM OF ANY KIND. UCAS employs a plagiarism check system that checks applicants’ work against other published writing so please DO NOT PLAGIARISE.
This personal statement was part of this student’s successful application to Imperial College London for Medical Biosciences, UCL, University of Sheffield, University of Edinburgh and King’s College London for Biomedical Science.
Following an independent research project in Biology, I was motivated to learn more on the oncogenic behaviour of human cells and their cellular origin. This really piqued my interest and consolidated my decision to study Biomedicine. Researching the behaviour of cancer cells that regenerate, even after being exposed to some aggressive cytotoxins, motivated me to explore the fundamentals of cancer stem cell theory. This stem cell-like behaviour of cancer cells provides me with a completely different perspective on conventional cancer theory, the theory upon which current treatments and therapies are based.
‘Therapeutic Potential of Differentiation in Cancer and Normal Stem Cells’ explained that multiple oncogenic mutations can affect normal stem cells, resulting in the formation of cancer stem cells. One key point that struck me is the importance of maintaining the cells’ quiescent state as any abnormalities will cause uncontrolled proliferation and a possible development of tumours. Applying the fundamentals of stem cells and differentiation in A-Level Biology, I discovered that cancer stem cells and normal stem cells share characteristics such as self-renewal and longevity. These common properties have introduced me to possible improvements in regenerative medicine to prevent the development of cancer cells. I am eager to learn more on how the reprogramming of cellscan avoid the occurrence of cancer, in addition to its wider role in biomedical research such as facilitating the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
I have recently been reading about the use of oncolytic virus as an alternative cancer treatment and have found some interesting and informative articles on this virus that have challenged my perception on the role of viruses in molecular biology such as TVEC which can cure melanoma. I am fascinated by the modification of HSV-1 gene which prevents the occurrence of fever blisters and how this has resulted in the invention of TVEC that targets tumour cells rather than normal cells. The development of TVEC over three phases of clinical trials, prior to approval by the FDA as the first oncolytic virus in the US, has emphasised to me the importance of validating drugs prior to their mainstream use. Thalidomide is a perfect example of how things can go wrong if these precautions are not taken. I am looking forward to understanding more about these topics while studying the control of gene expression in Molecular Biology as an undergraduate.
My decision to pursue Biomedical Science was consolidated after presenting in multiple innovation exhibitions. I realised the importance of research studies in improving health care as I discovered the cytotoxic effect of Nephelium Lappaceum on cancer cells from a participant at one of these events. I am now able to effectively critique scientific articles which proved to be invaluable when undertaking my independent research. As well as gaining insight into a wide range of Biology topics, I established an ability to think analytically and therefore be organised in planning studies as a researcher.
As a leader in the Duke of Edinburgh International Gold Award expedition, I demonstrated resilience and perseverance in accomplishing the journey. I am a confident communicator and have established problem-solving skills which serve me well during academic discourse. Additionally, within school, I have contributed proactively to my community such as by organising a charity event to empower female refugees and asylum seekers.
These opportunities were made possible because I was awarded the Central Bank of Malaysia scholarship in recognition of my academic achievement. I will maximise these opportunities that I am delighted to have received, to strive for the best for my country and myself through studying Biomedical Science.
DISCLAIMER: The personal statements on this site are strictly meant as a starting point to give an idea of how successful personal statements look like. There is no surefire formula to writing good personal statements. COLLEGELAH IS STRICTLY AGAINST PLAGIARISM OF ANY KIND. UCAS employs a plagiarism check system that checks applicants’ work against other published writing so please DO NOT PLAGIARISE.
This personal statement was part of this student’s successful application to Imperial College London, UCL, King’s College London, University of Glasgow and University of Dundee for Biomedical Engineering.
Helping in any way that I can afford fuels me as a person on a day to day basis, thus pursuing knowledge in a field that involves a hybrid of engineering principles and biology intrigues me as a deep understanding in it would enable me to help improve lives on a large scale. I became drawn to biology ever since I learned about it in school, and after further reading and studying, I have decided that I want to work in the medical field one day so that I can continue learning and make a difference in people’s lives. Together with my keen interest in solving problems, biomedical engineering became the clear choice of career path.
My interest in engineering has been amplified ever since I started watching documentaries such as “Engineering an Empire” and “Mythbusters”. The way machines can be engineered to carry out specific tasks efficiently fascinate me. I enjoy applying physical and mathematical knowledge to make my daily life easier. As a scout in secondary school, I would always figure out ways to build structures out of wood and string to make gadgets to be used in camp. Pioneering sessions were my favourite, as I was allowed to express my creativity in design and engineering.
I took A level Biology, by doing that I have gained appreciation of how individual components in the body work together harmoniously to form multiple systems that help our bodies function, and how the dysfunction of any component could disrupt the systems. I want to create new innovations that could solve problems that still remain mystery. I also aspire to make them more accessible to the general public because as of now majority of medical equipment such as artificial limbs and artificial hearts are priced quite greatly, thus many people are unable to afford them.
I believe everyone should be given a chance to live as if they did not have disabilities. In secondary school I organised a trip for a group of students to visit a mentally disabled children’s home. Seeing how the children were abandoned at this home due to their unavoidable disabilities changed my perspective, no one should be treated as less than due to disability, and I wish for the children to be able to live their lives with more ease. I believe that my pursuit in biomedical engineering may provide a solution to make at least one child’s life in that home more wholesome.
I constantly hear people say that males are ‘smarter’ especially when it comes to STEM subjects. I do not wish for women to feel intimidated in entering a male dominated field. I want everyone to be able to express their passion and pursue them without feeling judged or oppressed. I grew up in an environment where people discourage females in pursuing higher education, where only men are expected to provide for the family financially. As a female, I want to contribute to breaking such stigmas, I want to prove that anyone can pursue their dreams despite gender, race, or disability.
In secondary school, I was the vice captain of my school’s sports house, the secretary of the track and field society, troop leader in scouts, and president of the Interact Club. In college I was the deputy secretary on the student council. I believe that the team work skills and leadership skills I learned through these experiences will make me a suitable student for university.
I would like to study in the UK due to its impressive international reputation in producing well rounded students. Also, very few institutions in Malaysia offer my desired course, which is why I have decided to study abroad instead of locally.
I believe that I have the drive, passion and academic ability to succeed in this programme. I want to explore this vast field and discover what is best suited for me, I want to make a change in this world, and I intend to do so being equipped with the skills of a biomedical engineer.
DISCLAIMER: The personal statements on this site are strictly meant as a starting point to give an idea of how successful personal statements look like. There is no surefire formula to writing good personal statements. COLLEGELAH IS STRICTLY AGAINST PLAGIARISM OF ANY KIND. UCAS employs a plagiarism check system that checks applicants’ work against other published writing so please DO NOT PLAGIARISE.
This personal statement was part of this student’s successful application to the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, University of Edinburgh and University of Bath for Mechanical Engineering.
In-depth analyses on how the Mars Helicopter is set to fly autonomously in a thin atmosphere and how the Bugatti Chiron reached 300mph mesmerise me. Applying the Physics and Maths that I love to such complex real-life challenges inspires me to become an engineer. McCarthy’s “Engineering: A Beginner’s Guide” helped me appreciate that engineering is a very diverse field and that I have the most affinity for Mechanical Engineering.
Organising the Oxbridge KTJ Engineering Workshop, I got a taste of what Mechanical Engineers do. My team and I trialled and tested the task: design a model crane to transport weights through a Microbit-controlled traffic light. With specified design constraints and limited materials, I analysed the objectives and limitations, and produced a sketch of my design. Over time we made, tested and improved our model’s design. A major difficulty was identifying the perfect balance between the inversely-related angle and length of the boom. Balancing the tension level in the boom and the overall centre of gravity gave the highest load capacity. It was stimulating developing my analytical, practical, design and communication skills.
For my EPQ on vehicle aerodynamics, I built an open-circuit subsonic wind tunnel. In doing so, I improved my research skills, undertaking a wide review of wind tunnels online before moving on to the design and building stages. Low-Speed Wind Tunnel Testing by Barlow et al, opened up the world of boundary layers, Reynolds number, laminar and turbulent flow, formation of wakes and flow separation above critical Angles of Attack (AOA) to me; using these in my own wind tunnel was immensely satisfying, as was building it with own hands using saws, drills, chisels and hammers. Using AutoCAD to create blueprints for my designs of the force balance enabled my imagination to bloom. The force balance was crucial for the testing of the Lift to Drag Ratio with respect to AOA of a 3D-printed Airbus A320neo model. I recorded the raw data using a datalogger and load cells. I sharpened my data analysis skills as I interpreted the readings and performed further calculations. Completing my EPQ has further sparked my thirst for knowledge of the game-changing advancements in the efficiency, safety and speed of aircraft. I hope to further explore and master advanced fluid dynamics at university.
Munroe’s Thing Explainer allowed me to appreciate engineering’s significance to humankind. It gave me a stronger grasp of the fundamental working principles behind mechanisms such as elevators, jet engines and the ISS. It also inspired me to think about engineered products around me like padlocks and cameras. The discovery and synthesis of new materials in the future will be key to technological advancements and J.E. Gordon’s ‘The New Science of Strong Materials’ underpinned my appreciation of this.
In my internship with the University of Malaya’s Faculty of Engineering, I visited the Advanced Cutting Process Lab. Independent research on computer-controlled machinery led me to discover more about CNC machines and 3D printing. I learnt that both methods are efficient for rapid prototyping in different ways, depending on the material and the geometric complexity of the parts. In a fortnight at the Renewable Energy and Green Tech Lab, I worked in 4 project groups and these opened my eyes to the creative integration of technologies under the principles of green engineering.
In my Shell work placement, I gained valuable insights into how the energy industry, specifically petroleum, works from the wells to the wheels. I understand that the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams is vital in engineering; attending the Pipelines Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) Workshop, I learnt from Front End, Project, and Material Corrosion and Inspection Engineers.
I am keen to study Mechanical Engineering and eager to make an impact, particularly in the disciplines of fluid mechanics, materials and renewable energy.
DISCLAIMER: The personal statements on this site are strictly meant as a starting point to give an idea of how successful personal statements look like. There is no surefire formula to writing good personal statements. COLLEGELAH IS STRICTLY AGAINST PLAGIARISM OF ANY KIND. UCAS employs a plagiarism check system that checks applicants’ work against other published writing so please DO NOT PLAGIARISE.
Quincy Tan is currently studying English at King’s College London. Quincy completed her A-Levels at Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar and is graduating in 2021. This personal statement was part of her successful application to King’s College London, Durham University, University of Warwick, University of Bristol and University of Surrey for English.
Communication, creativity and expression: at the global forefront of these is the English Language. It was at a University of Bristol talk on English and Globalisation that sparked my critical concern of the pervasiveness of English, but also brought to light the underappreciation for its artistry. In literature class at school, I first discovered the power of carefully selected diction, emotive metaphors, and the subtlety of the author’s message; I realised how neglected the language was outside of base functionalities, its power to evoke vibrancy and beauty largely untapped. Exposure to such formidable inner workings deepened my appreciation of Literature hence resulted in a desire to pursue it at university.
Hoping to challenge literary expression, I took to creative writing to explore literature as a craft, experimenting with narratives focused on my experiences and opinions. My inspirations come from my favourite novelists: Lahiri’s luminous style, and Dahl’s coyly morbid short stories. Short stories have become a medium for my literary expression, one example being a story I wrote titled ‘Peppermint’ that traverses the qualms of love through pathos and apathy, the detailed imagery gearing it towards emotional acceptance.
The vibrantly mundane poetry of Siken inspired me to delve into a surreal and abstract landscape in my poetry. I find the flexibility of modern poetry to offer its own unique emotiveness. The dreamlike imagery of my favourite poem, Siken’s Scheherazade, embodies a distinct poetic presence; such poetic presence is reflective of what I wish to harness through the creative writing elements of my university course. Presently, I have written poems centred largely around expressing observations of modern social issues, like neurodivergence, through intensely abstract allegory. Aside from challenging literary genre, I also find it intriguing how the author’s intent becomes victim to the reader’s scrutiny. Having read Barthes’ ‘Death of the Author’, the concept of bartering the author’s intent for the reader’s whims made me question to what extent such a sacrifice is inevitable. This exploration has led me to permutations of themes and literature that, combined with my sensitivity towards the nuances of language, has formed my own unique works and writing style.
Reading articles regarding social contexts, as well as critical analyses of authors, has enhanced my contextual knowledge surrounding my studied texts, such as the opulence of the Regency era that frames Austen’s work. My reading has also extended towards the emergence of literature. Culler’s ‘Literary Theory A Very Short Introduction’ invited me to question literature’s construction, giving me insight on the definition of literature; this has led me to great eagerness in studying literary theory at university.
I also seek to apply my literary skills on a practical field. As head of the journalism club, this included aiding students of varying language levels with writing, giving me valuable leadership and communication skills. This would enable me to contribute optimally to my course at university while grasping the ideas of others. My experience in copywriting with an online shopping app had me adapt my writing to best epitomise the visions of my clients, the exposure to such an application of language building my creativity and flexibility.
Attending a summer programme helped me develop my grasp of literary study. In studying artistic movements and their impacts on literature, I was fascinated by the sways of societal change on writers. Discussing “literary value” led me to read more on matters like Derrida’s theory of supplementation. With every novel discussed, poem written, or theory traversed, my fire to explore literature grows ever ardent. Literature can be defined by its intertextuality: those who partake in it continue to challenge what it is and what it can be, and it would be an honour to become a greater part of its discovery.
DISCLAIMER: The personal statements on this site are strictly meant as a starting point to give an idea of how successful personal statements look like. There is no surefire formula to writing good personal statements. COLLEGELAH IS STRICTLY AGAINST PLAGIARISM OF ANY KIND. UCAS employs a plagiarism check system that checks applicants’ work against other published writing so please DO NOT PLAGIARISE.
