1. WRITING A PERSONAL STATEMENT Vladimir Shaposhnikov Careers and UCAS Adviser Student Services OML Site Tel:216182 Group tutorial with Level 3 students Tel:216182

2. Session Outline  Personal Statement basics  Personal Statement guidance  Questions

3. The Personal Statement You will write a 500 word personal statement

4. The issues of PS  PS concludes the UCAS applications  Admission tutors consider PS only after the achieved qualifications and predicted grades are taken into account  PS matters only for competitive courses  PLAGIARISM. It is standard: you are expected to answer the same questions  It is recommended to start it early and edit it continuously  PS is an opportunity to “sell yourself”- present your best qualities  Non competitive courses do not require high quality PS. Really?  It is unique: the answers are your own

5. The purpose of the Personal Statement  This is your opportunity to tell the unis that they should choose you.  You’ll need to ensure that you stand out from the crowd.

6. Personal statement exercise

18. What admissions tutors are looking for Evidence of:  Independent study skills  Self-awareness  Motivation and commitment  An understanding of the course  Good numeracy and literacy  Essay writing  Research skills  Time management skills  Enthusiasm to go beyond the syllabus  INSIGHT of the chosen career

19. First section : your choice of subject to study at university Second section : the subjects you are currently studying Third section : your extracurricular interests and achievements Structure & Contents

20. First section: 40%: Why have you chosen to read the subject at university? What is the background to your interest in the subject? What aspects appeal to you most and why? How is it related to your career aspirations and work experience? Second section: 35% What particular interests do/did you have you in the current/past courses? How did they help you choose the course? What evidence of independent learning can you give? What useful skills have you gained from those subjects/courses? Third section: 25% Can you show that you have important skills such as: PERSISTENCE INDEPENDENCE LEADERSHIP SELF-MOTIVATION RESPONSIBILITY MATURITY COMMUNICATION INITIATIVE EFFICIENCY ? Structure & Contents

21. What to include Check the Entry profiles for the courses you’re interested on Course Search at www.ucas.com. These explain what the unis are looking for in the students and the qualifications and experience you’ll need for the course. The EPs will give you some ideas what to include in your PS.www.ucas.com

22. What sparked your interest in your chosen degree subject? What would your friends/family say about you if they were writing your statement? Have you had a conversation with people already studying in the field? Where do you see yourself in 10 years time? Has anyone motivated you? If yes, who and how? Have you faced any challenges in your school work? Did it change you? What is your favourite book, film or hobby? How has it influenced you? What has been your biggest achievement and why? List any prizes you have won – inside or outside school Getting started – questions to ask yourself

23. Activity Benefit Course Activity Benefit Course What you’ve done What skills it has given you How these relate to your course Personal Statement ABC Guide Good Better Best  Structured, clear, concise, precise  Avoid waffle, slang and inappropriate language  Check GRAMMAR and SPELLING GRAMMAR SPELLING

24. I play badminton twice a week with a club that plays in local competitions and I play in both singles and doubles matches. Doubles matches require good team working, an ability to support your partner, to devise a game plan but be able to adapt it as required and fast reactions. I take responsibility for organising the social activities and fundraising events of the club. This gives me an opportunity to develop my organisational and planning skills I enjoy badminton Personal Statement ABC Guide

25. ‘So what?’ … I am working towards my Duke of Edinburgh Gold award and will be undertaking a hike in the Brecon Beacons. This has taught me a lot of skills.’ 1 “ I am not a mind-reader – to win me over I need the applicant to explain more fully the skills they have gained ”

26. ‘So what?’ … During my Duke of Edinburgh Silver award trip my team ran short of provisions. As a result I am assuming responsibility for food and drink for our forthcoming Gold Award trip. I have developed a spreadsheet which details our precise requirements and I am confident that my organisation will enable the team to perform at its peak during the challenge.’ 2 “ This is much better – she is obviously not afraid of responsibility, is organised and a true team player ”

27. Don’ts  Intellectual Pretensions  Misdirected humour  Plagiarism  Mentioning one institution  Committing GBH on English language  ‘I so don’t want to miss this opportunity’  ‘It was a catch 12 situation’ Do’s  Mention future aspirations  Get feedback from others  Advisers  Parents  Write it early and edit  Take it with you to interview  Be prepared to answer questions about it Personal Statement: Do’s & Don’ts

28. Dear John: I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you I have no feelings whatsoever. When we are apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be. Yours, Gloria Dear John: I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we are apart. I can be forever happy – will you let me be yours? Gloria Punctuation

29. Don’t Cheat  5% of applicants “borrow” from websites  234 applicants - dramatic chemistry set incident aged 8  370 applicants – “a fascination with the human body”!  175 applicants – “an elderly or infirm grandfather”  UCAS anti-plagiarism software –  Similarity Detection

30. Websites www.studential.com www.thestudentroom.co.uk www.getintouni.com www.ucas.com

31. Similarity Detection Service  Personal Statements are checked against a library of those already in the system, and from a variety of websites and paper publications  Each new statement is added to the library after processing

33. QUESTIONS