Personal Statement Advice
Session content
What is a Personal Statement ? Getting started: the basics
Top Tips and enhancing your Personal Statement
Once your statement is completed
What is a Personal Statement?
What is the
Personal Statement?
• The Personal Statement forms a large part of your application to Universities through the UCAS website.
• It is your opportunity to tell your chosen universities:-
Why you are applying for your chosen subject
Why they should offer you a place
How enthusiastic you are about the course
What is the Personal Statement?
Grades
Contextual information
Reference
Personal Statement
When is the personal statement particularly important?
• At application stage:-
• For competitive courses and competitive universities, it will help you stand out.
• It is where you talk about relevant experiences so it will boost your chance of being invited to interview or audition.
• At interview/audition stage
• The interviewers will use the personal statement to prompt questions.
• The decision on whether to offer you a place will be based on the performance at interview or audition as well as your personal statement and application.
• On results day
• If you do not achieve the grades required, the university may still confirm your place if your application (including the personal statement) is strong.
Getting started: the basics
The basics…
• The personal statement should be a maximum of
• 4,000 characters including spaces
• and
• 47 lines including paragraph breaks
• It should look like one side of A4 typed text.
• The structure is usually 4 or 5 paragraphs.
• Spelling and grammar are important.
Make it relevant : ABC Technique
What activity did you do?
What skills or experience did it give you?
How does this relate to your course choice?
Structure
Introduction
Introduction: Grab tutor’s attention.
Show you understand the course you’re applying for.
Give evidence to prove your interest in the subject.
Why are you suited to that course? What events led to your interest?
How does your current study support your interest?
Work experience that’s relevant to your course choice.
Explain what you’ve learnt from it, don’t just describe the event.
Other activities that show your qualities and skills.
Activities that demonstrate your interest in your course or relevant skills.
Closing statement
This could include where you hope a degree in this subject will lead. Reaffirm your desire to study.
Talking about your subject
Have you studied it before?
What have you done to show you are interested?
Trips, documentaries, journals, books, moocs
Listening to visiting speakers, online lectures, podcasts
Voluntary or paid work
Why is the subject important to study?
How can you link your subject to society?
How is this subject going to prepare you for your next steps?
How many different courses are you applying for?
• One personal statement for all 5 choices.
• Make sure it is equally appealing for all 5!
• For combined honours:
• Refer to both subjects, make it equally appealing.
• Find common themes.
• Find common skills.
• For different courses:
• Have you considered your choices carefully?
• Lean towards the most competitive course.
• Find common themes.
• Find common skills.
• Consider contacting universities re. a supporting statement.
Top Tips
Top tips!
• Spelling and grammar are ESSENTIAL.
• Every sentence needs to be relevant.
• Every sentence should be sharing more information (ABC).
• Use quotes with caution. They need to be integrated well and relevant. If in doubt, don't use them!
• Avoid clichés. You cannot give 110%!
• Don't mention Universities by name (more on this later)
• Look for common themes amongst all the courses you are applying for.
• Familiarise yourself with what admissions tutors are looking for (more on this later).
• Get someone who does not know about the subject you are applying for, to proof read your Statement.
Spelling and Grammar
• The Personal statement section of your UCAS Application does not have spell check.
• It is best to write your drafts on Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
• You can then copy and paste the statement across when you are happy with it.
Spelling and Grammar
• Try to avoid contractions (use “I have” instead of “I’ve”).
• Try to avoid dashes – - - use proper punctuation instead.
• Type numbers as words (one to ten) and then use numbers (11 onwards).
• Don't use passive language like "I feel..."
• Leave spaces between paragraphs or indent the first word of a new paragraph if you are running out of space.
• Watch your tenses. Keep them the same within sentences!
Make it relevant : ABC Technique
What activity did you do?
What skills or experience did it give you?
How does this relate to your course choice?
What are admissions tutors looking for?
Qualities and skills that make you
suitable for course and University
A genuine interest in chosen subject
Confidence not arrogance
Evidence of Academic ability
How do I make it sound interesting?
Don’t fall into these easy traps.
• Don’t say “I am passionate about History”. You need to demonstrate that enthusiasm.
• Instead say “My passion for History led me to complete an EPQ focusing on…”
• Don’t say “Ever since I was 5, I have loved biology…” You need to briefly explain that initial spark.
• Instead say “Breaking my leg when I was five prompted me to investigate how my body healed itself.”
• Don’t say “In Biology I have completed a module on biomechanics. This is the study of the structure, function and motion of the mechanical aspects of biological systems…” Don’t just tell us what you have learnt. Tell us how you have applied that knowledge.
• Instead say “Completing a module including biomechanics and gaining a greater understanding of how muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments work together to produce movement has allowed me to research how this is affected as people age.”
Three or four well-written examples are better than listing lots of activities without detail.
Mentioning universities by name
• This is great:
• Over the summer holidays I completed a MOOC entitled ‘Introduction to Nursing: The Role of Nurses Around the World’ which was run by King’s College, London. This course enabled me to gain an understanding of nursing on a global scale and I believe this complements the practical work experience that I obtained last year in local settings.
• So is this:
• In July I took part in the University of Surrey’s Health Sciences Summer School. This included a mix of theory and practical work and access to current students and academic staff. The experience helped confirm my desire to study Paramedical Science.
• And this:
• During a Young Carers Residential at the University of Winchester I was inspired by a practical session on Forensic Entomology. We collected maggots from a simulated crime scene, examined them in the laboratory and learnt how to use our findings to estimate time since death.
• This is not a good idea:
• Ever since I attended an open day, I have been really looking forward to studying Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Winchester.
Most overused opening sentences
• From a young age I have (always) been [interested in/fascinated by]…
• For as long as I can remember I have…
• I am applying for this course because…
• I have always been interested in…
• Throughout my life I have always enjoyed…
• Academically, I have always been…
• I have always wanted to pursue a career in…
• I have always been passionate about…
If you are struggling with an opening sentence, draft the rest first and then return to the start.
What skills should I talk about?
• Communication
• Independent working
• Teamwork
• Flexibility
• Determination
• Computer literacy
• Organisation
• Entrepreneurial skills
• Working to deadlines
• Presentation skills
• Reliability
• Trustworthiness • Diplomacy • Problem solving
Initiative
Time management
Commitment
Responsibility
Leadership
Project Management
Try to show us MACK:
Maturity
Ability
Commitment
Knowledge
There are so many options!
How can I write one statement that is relevant to all my choices?
University Skills required Knowledge required
Look for common themes!
• List the skills and knowledge required. You can find this information on university website course descriptions and module descriptions.
• Highlight the common words.
• Include this information.
Enhancing your Personal Statement
Enhancing your Personal Statement
Read to build your subject knowledge. Books, Academic Papers and Research, Google Scholar.
Watch content around your chosen subject. Documentaries, films, Online lectures, YouTube, Webinars.
Listen to Podcasts –there are so many!
Visit places of relevance. Ask questions of people who work there. MOOCs available via Coursera, FutureLearn, or Unifrog.
Do you need work experience?
• Check the University website and course requirements.
• It may be essential for some courses.
• Your college will be able to support you finding Work Experience.
• UCAS has a guide on how to source Work Experience.
Helps demonstrate commitment to course, genuine interest, and provides evidence for a large number of skills.
Could be Work Experience, Volunteering, Place ments, or Virtual work experience
Think you have completed it?
Tips for checking your Personal Statement
Try reading it out loud
Utilise teachers / friends / family members
Make sure you check names, dates and technical language. Does every sentence provide new information?
Your spelling, grammar and punctuation need to be perfect!
Make sure there is no passive language (e.g. ‘I feel’)
Adding it to your application
Similarity detection
WARNING!
- All personal statements are checked by UCAS’s fraud verification team
- Any statements showing a level of similarity of 30% or greater will be reviewed by members of the UCAS verification team
- The universities are then informed by UCAS and they will decide how to deal with it.
In Summary
• Write confidently about yourself
• Support your skills & experiences with evidence (ABC technique)
• Make everything relevant
• Every sentence brings something new
• Don’t use lots of clichés or unconnected quotes
• Check spelling and grammar
• Ask others to read it
