Your Personal Statement

Introduction

Your personal statement allows you to to demonstrate to the university that you have thoroughly researched the course, you have a passionate interest in the subject and really want to study it. Your personal statement...

1. Carries a lot of weight with universities
2. Demonstrates your reasons for applying
3. Is the first and often only chance to ‘sell yourself’ to your university choices
4. An opportunity to create a good impression to Admissions Tutors

Getting started

Start by brainstorming all your achievements/strengths that you want to include, then

1. Write a draft version and condense it afterwards
2. Construct it through key paragraphs
3. Keep sentences short and to the point
4. Avoid clichés
5. Be Original – don’t make them yawn

What do they want to know

1. That you have already begun to devote yourself to a serious study of your chosen field.
2. This subject is the admissions tutor’s life’s work so they want to teach students who are as passionate about the subject as they are.

How do I make a good impression?

1. Show motivation - what extra-curricular reading/activities have you done?
   1. Be enthusiastic about your chosen course
   2. Show your enthusiasm for academia and learning generally
   3. Show what kind of person you are outside academia
   4. Show your personality, interests, achievement and relevant work experience
   5. Show that you are a well-rounded individual
   6. Be careful not to make it specific to one university

Transferable skills

1. Wider life experiences are important. Display transferable skills such as teamwork, leadership, communication, enterprising and organisational skills as well as maturity and dependability. #Think about your part-time work, taking part in sports, being a prefect etc - how have these helped you to be more organised, communicate effectively and prioritise your time? How will these skills help in your chosen course?

Don’t state, evaluate!

1. What effect has your experience had on you? What did you learn from a particular experience and how will that benefit you in your chosen course?
2. Don’t say ‘I was captain of the rugby team’ say ‘My experience as captain of the rugby team has taught me the importance of teamwork as well as leadership, both important skills I will bring to University life’.

Be Specific

1. Don’t say you’ll make a good doctor if you can’t say why. Don’t say you ‘enjoy history’ – give examples of your knowledge of history and what, in particular, fascinates you - if this is outside the curriculum, then so much the better.
2. Research the modules taught on the course (look at the course information page and most especially the entry profiles on the UCAS website) and refer to them in your personal statement.

Keep it short and to the point

1. Remember that by the time it gets to the admissions tutor it is reduced and difficult to read, so don’t feel you have to use up all your word count.

Suggested Structure

Write 4 key paragraphs – weight it three quarters about your course choice and why you have made it and one quarter about yourself:

Opening - Explain your choice of subject

1. The most important paragraph you will write - grab the reader’s attention or lose it
   1. Outline why you are interested in the subject(s). Why does the course appeal to you?
   2. Does your current study have relevance to your subject choices?
   3. Demonstrates that you are well motivated and enthusiastic about your chosen subject area

2 - Suitability

1. Describe your suitability for the course – use the entry profiles on the UCAS website extensively here
   1. What transferable skills have you gained from your current A levels?
   2. How are these relevant to your chosen degree subject? Unsure? Check out course entry profiles (EP’s) at www.ucas.com
   3. Has this study sparked your interest or affected your degree course choices?
   4. What have you particularly enjoyed?

3 - Longer-term career objectives

1. Detail any work experience or voluntary work, particularly if relevant to your subject choices
   1. Even if these are broad, include an outline of the field in which you hope to work
   2. Identify additional skills that you have gained

4 - The person behind the form

1. Why should they admit you? What is special, unique, distinctive and/or impressive about you or your life?
   1. What makes you different to all the other people who are applying eg Duke of Edinburgh/ Cadets/travel.
   2. You are a real human being and as such you are interesting
   3. Describe yourself – your skills, strengths and personality - but don’t just list points
   4. Outline your academic/social achievements
   5. Describe your sporting and leisure interests
   6. Are you planning a gap year? If so, what are you planning to do?

Top tips

1. 1. Be meticulous
   2. Type and proof read your statement very carefully.
   3. Accuracy – spelling and grammar, correct use of language, capitalisation – very important to admissions tutors
   4. Be clear and concise – pay attention to detail
   5. Ensure that it is all your own work, UCAS have sophisticated software and check for plagiarism AND similarity
   6. Use entry profiles (EPs) if you are unsure what to include
   7. Don’t repeat yourself
   8. Use positive and enthusiastic language
   9. Give examples
   10. Ask for help - form tutors/Mrs Hawkins with editing/redrafting
2. Remember you may be called for interview and they may use your personal statement as a basis for the discussion, so be truthful.