Burnley College - Building Beyond - Personal Statement Booklet
YOUR GUIDE TO WRITING YOUR UCAS PERSONAL STATEMENT
BuildingBeyond
What is a personal statement?
Whether you’ve heard of a UCAS personal statement, or not, when you learn you have to write 4,000 characters to “sell” yourself to leading universities, it can feel daunting.
But in fact, this guide is here to show you how with a bit of preparation and consideration, you already know everything you need to succeed at this essential stage of applying for university. However, writing about yourself can feel tough. It can be hard to write about your own strengths in a clear and concise way.
This guide will assist you in crafting your perfect personal statement.
Our Careers Team are always on hand to help you in person, with advice developed over decades of guiding people to create their winning personal statements.
Why does it matter?
Your personal statement is a way to talk directly to the people making the decision about whether to offer you a place at their university, so consequently, it’s vital you make it the best it can be.
It’s a balancing act, where your need to demonstrate your enthusiasm, your passion and your drive while simultaneously highlighting your experience, skills and personality. Universities are looking for the person as a whole – it’s more than simply the exam results you’ve achieved.
A strong personal statement can convince a university to offer you a place or invite you in for interview. And if your course is popular, it’s essential you stand out from the crowd when Admissions Tutors are considering accept onto the course.
These three simple questions will play a vital role in shaping your personal statement:
1. Which subject are you applying for?
2. Why are you passionate about this subject?
3. What future career would you like to embark upon?
WHAT SHOULD I WRITE ?
This is the first thing that enters the mind of any learner confronted with the idea of writing 500+ words about themselves. Fortunately, there are several tried and trusted ways to ensure you get all the information you need into your personal statement.
Remember!
Don’t refer to particular universities or specific details about courses. Your application is going to up to five different universities so it needs to be non-specific. Find common themes and write about those instead.
What
inspired you to study the course you have chosen?
This is often the best place to start. The Admissions Tutor will be looking for a number of things. Firstly, that you display a genuine passion for the subject you have applied for. It’s also important to demonstrate you have the motivation to study the subject for three or more years. You can achieve this with examples. Rather than simply stating “I love physics” or “History is my passion”, you could talk about particular parts of the subject which appeal to you, or first sparked your interest.
“I first learned of black holes watching my favourite sci-fi show and began to devour books on physics soon after.” or “There’s something about the Tudors and the way England was so radically transformed during their reign which enticed.”
If you are pursuing a particular career and require this qualification to progress, it’s vital you mention this too as it demonstrates true motivation.
WHY ARE YOU THE PERFECT CHOICE?
The key thing to remember about your personal statement is you are selling yourself. The Admissions Tutor who is reading it needs a good reason to offer you a place, particularly if there are hundreds of applicants for only a few spaces.
You can break this down in to two simple areas:
• Academic studies: how will your qualifications prepare you to read your chosen subject at university?
• Enrichment activities: what have you undertaken outside of college in your own time which further readies you for three or more years of study? What extra could you bring to the course which no one else could?
What qualities can you bring to your time at university?
Universities are not looking for a bunch of identical students who simply study and do nothing else. Remember, you could be up against multiple other people with very similar interests and who are going to get the same results as you. This is your chance to show people how unique and interesting you are. Think about how you can enrich the university community. You could mention skills you’ve learned through a part time job, your love of movies, your podcast you do with a friend, the fact you’re top scorer on the netball team. Think about responsibilities in your life. By demonstrating you have held a position of responsibility you are demonstrating you have the skills to complete your degree.
Checklist – what should you definitely mention?
Your academic pathway
Your wider understanding of the subject
What motivates you
Your ultimate goals and ambitions
Extra-curricular activities
When it comes to Enrichment Activities, they can be broken down in to three categories:
Enrichment - Stand out and be more
Enrichment activities are your secret tool for making yourself stand out from your peers. Your qualifications represent your ability to learn and use that knowledge while enrichment activities demonstrate your passion, your curiosity, your willingness to challenge yourself and take the extra steps to expanding your skill set and knowledge beyond the classroom and into the real world.
Enrichment activities can be related directly to your studies, eg completing an EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) or attending a subject day at your University of choice. They can also be activities you’ve chosen to undertake due to your interests, your passions and community spirit. These could be First Aid qualifications, the Duke of Edinburgh award, Army Cadets etc.
Finally, always include any awards and decorations you have received, either academic or sports related. These clearly demonstrate your drive and desire to reach the highest standards you can.
MAKING A START
Instead of just talking about the kinds of things you could include in your personal statement, it’s often easier to make a start. Below is space for you to start creating a list of things you could include in your personal statement. They don’t need to be in any order, and you may not even include some of them, but if you start gathering ideas now, it means you’re not starting from a blank piece of paper when you start writing your personal statement.
INTRODUCTION
Crafting your UCAS personal statement is a pivotal step in your university application journey. This guide aims to simplify the process, helping you turn apprehension into excitement. With a clear structure and focused approach, you can present your best self to admissions tutors.
The “Three Questions” Structure
Your Personal Statement is made up of the following three questions, so try to create compelling answers to them.
1. Why do you want to study this course or subject?
• Showcase your genuine interest and passion
• Highlight any specific aspects of the course that excite you.
2. How have your qualifications and studies helped you prepare for this course or subject?
• Demonstrate how your academic background supports your choice
• Connect past learning experiences with your future aspirations.
3. What else have you done outside of education which may enhance your application, and why are these experiences useful?
• Include extracurricular activities, work experience or volunteer work
• Explain how these experiences have developed your skills and readiness.
Tips for Success
• Be Authentic:
Write in your own voice; authenticity resonates
• Avoid Cliches:
“Ever since I was a child...”, “I’ve always been fascinated by...”, “I enjoy reading and socialising with friends…” etc.
• Stay Focused: Keep your content relevant to the questions and course
• Proofread: Ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors
• Seek Feedback: Use the Burnley College checking service.
Final Thoughts
Start early to give yourself ample time to refine your statement. Remember, this is your chance to shine and show universities why you are an ideal candidate. Enjoy the journey of self-discovery that writing your personal statement can bring!
STYLE AND STRUCTURE TIPS
Clarity and Conciseness:
Use clear and concise sentences to convey your message. Avoid unnecessary jargon and keep your writing straightforward.
Positive Language:
Employ positive and enthusiastic language throughout. Showcase your excitement and motivation for the course.
Personal Testimonials:
Incorporate examples from your life to add credibility and personality to your statement.
Proofread:
Ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors at least twice. Have someone else review your statement for feedback.
Conclude:
Concluding with a forward-looking statement can act as a motivational close.
BuildingBeyond
INTRODUCTION
• Why are you interested in this course/subject?
• Which aspect are you looking forward to studying in more depth and why?
• If applicable, how does this subject relate to society or current affairs? Why is this important to you?
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
• Show you have the knowledge needed to succeed on the course.
• Mention particular skills and experience you have gain from your education, eg. Favourite units or things you have learned group work and projects.
SUPER-CURRICULAR
• What have you done, beyond your studies, to extend or deepen your knowledge of your subject? This might include things like relevant work experience placements, wider reading, online courses or taster lectures.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR
• List the attributes that make you interesting, special or unique, such as involvement in sports, clubs or societies. What are you most proud of?
• Detail any part-time or voluntary work.
Future Aspirations
• What do you hope to gain from your studies?
• Explain how you want to use your degree knowledge and experience.
• How does the course relate to your future goals or career?
ACTION, BENEFIT, COURSE THE ABC METHOD
It’s important when you list what you’ve learned and the skills you’ve acquired that you also talk about how they’ve allowed you to develop individually and how they are relevant to your chosen course.
One way to do this is to use the following mnemonic.
A – Action B – Benefit C – Course
So, for example.
Action =
Benefit =
Course = Or
Action =
Benefit =
Course =
I am a member of a band and we have played multiple venues throughout Lancashire.
I learned the logistics of moving equipment and people from one place to the next, organisational skills, promotion and marketing skills and negotiation.
Logistics, organisation, marketing and negotiation are vital skills which will help me complete my chosen course in events management.
I took part in a national inter-college hacking competition and placed first overall with my team of four colleagues.
This shows my skills rate very highly on a national level and that I work well as part of a team, even while under the pressure of competition.
This demonstrates I have the skills, the passion and the drive to excel at the Cyber Security course I wish to read at university.
DOs:
• Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the course
• Be detailed, but don’t be boring. If you find yourself thinking “Who cares?” then you’ve probably gone into too much detail
• Show the extent of your knowledge by mentioning relevant authors, papers/research and additional reading you have done
• Get as close to 4000 characters as possible. A short statement looks like you couldn’t be bothered or you have nothing to show for your studies
• Include a minimum of 350 characters in each section.
• Check your writing at least twice, and ALWAYS ask someone else to read it too.
DON’Ts:
• Go into too much detail about your course syllabus - just the outline
• Use negative language
• Lie about or exaggerate your achievementsit’s easy to get caught in a lie and ruin your chances
• Make jokes in your statement or use overlyinformal language
• Copy part or all of someone else’s statement, from this year or previous yearsUCAS have software to detect it
• Use AI to create your statement - it’s usually very easy to spot and indicates laziness, plus it will not represent you and may cost you your place
• Apply for multiple subjects - pick one and stick to it to show dedication and determination
WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF SUCCESS!
We’re Here to Support You
Even with this guide to help you, we know it can feel overwhelming.
That’s why we want to assure you that we are here for you.
Visit the Careers Hub: Monday to Thursday 9:00am – 5:00pm In the Atrium (Main building, floor 1)
University Drop In: Every Wednesday 2:00pm – 4:30pm The Careers Hub
Email buildingbeyond@burnley.ac.uk with questions or a draft of your personal statement.
