Personal Statements

What is a personal statement? Important part of the UCAS application process. Your chance to describe your ambitions, skills and experience. Your chance to show how you stand out from the crowd.

How do universities use it? To help distinguish between many equally qualified applicants. To indicate how far the applicant understands the course. To explain any issues, such as worse than expected results. To promote topics for discussion at interview.

How should it be structured? Clear paragraphs. Reasons for subject choices including choice of A levels. Relevant personal interests / extra curricular / experiences. Work experience. Career plans / gap year plans if relevant.

The 70 / 30 rule 70% should be devoted to providing evidence of a commitment to academic study: Justify your choice of course. Explain career aspirations. Describe academic achievements. Describe what you enjoy doing at school.

The 70 / 30 rule 30% should be focused on how you exhibit skills suited to university life: Time management. Motivation. Independence. Commitment. Sociability. Team working.

Other things to include You should also look to include evidence of the following: Hard working Respond to challenges Intellectual curiosity Initiative Openness to new ideas Leadership Staying power Enthusiasm Energy Stamina

Questions to help you write your personal statement Why do you want to study the subject at degree level? How did you start to take a real interest in the subject? What aspect of the subject do you find most stimulating? What else have you done to develop your interests? Who/what inspired you in this subject area? What hard evidence of your interest in this subject do you have? What qualities and experience can you bring to a university course? What do you hope to gain from studying the subject at university? What have you learnt from any relevant work experience? Do you have a career in mind?

Constraints / rules You have 47 lines (4000 characters) of font size 12 script, i.e. about 500 words to write. Do NOT use tabs or inverted commas and stay clear of any fancy formatting. Check and check again for spelling, punctuation and grammar. Do NOT copy from someone else’s statement or from the internet. It must be your own statement – the admissions tutors have software to spot copying. Avoid ALL of these: Generalizations Slang Long lists SPG errors Exaggeration Flowery language Repetition

In conclusion… The first draft of your personal statement should be handed in to your tutor by July 12th. Examples of personal statements, this PowerPoint and the handout are in the following folder: Resources for students 2015\sixth form\personal statements The UCAS website has tons of helpful information on their website: www.ucas.com/personalstatement Including a personal statement creation tool: https://www.ucasdigital.com/widgets/personalstatement/index.html#/splash