Our Top 10 tips for writing a personal statement
- Don’t leave writing it to the last minute – our students almost always say it took them longer to write than they thought it would
- Have a plan and structure: this will help you ‘tell your story’ better and avoid repeating yourself. Set aside time to brainstorm ideas with your parents/guardians or see if your college tutor or another teacher will help you
- Try to include these elements:
- why you are interested in this subject/why it’s right for you including details on relevant research you have done, skills and experience
- why you want to study at university
- why you are ready for higher-level study: independent worker, motivated, track record of academic ability
- future career aspirations and why you are suited to this field
- work or volunteering experience including placements and community project work
- other interests, positions of responsibility, abilities and achievements (certificates, awards etc) to show you are well rounded; relate them to your course choices if you can
- Keep in mind that what you write has to work for all five of the courses so don’t name universities or be specific about an individual course
- Be positive and enthusiastic! It’s easy to forget this when you’re grappling with words. Don’t be over-formal, either: the people reading it want to feel like they are getting to know you, not the dictionary
- Avoid cliché – you have to stand out among all the thousands of applications universities see. The most overused opening phrases are: ‘From a young age I have been….’; ‘For as long as I can remember I have….’; and ‘I am applying for this course because…’
- Don’t just list what you have done; say what you got out of it – the skills it’s given you, the ways in which it’s stretched you, the knowledge or understanding you gained. The more you can reflect critically on your achievements and experience, the better
- The personal statement must be written by you and not contain any material copied from another source. UCAS will know and it could lead to your application being thrown out
- It leaves a bad impression if there are spelling or grammar errors so a second pair of proofreading eyes over it before it’s submitted is essential. Ask your parents/guardians or approach your college tutor or a teacher; mature students could ask a friend or work colleague who is confident in English
- When you think it’s all done, wait a day then review it. Most professional writers find time spent away from a piece of writing makes it easier to see how to improve it or spot errors and repetition
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