1. Positive Destinations Presentation
Personal Statement
Positive Destinations Presentation

2. Personal Statement Positive Destinations Presentation
Where will you be this time next year?
Preparing for:
Gap Year/Volunteering
Employment
Apprenticeship/Training Scheme
College
University

3. Personal Statement Positive Destinations Presentation
Whatever your plans are the likelihood is that you will need to complete a personal statement. The better your personal statement the better your chances of success!

4. Personal Statement Positive Destinations Presentation
What is a personal statement? A personal statement is your opportunity to sell yourself to your prospective school, college, training provider or employer. Your personal statement is your chance to describe your ambitions, experience personal skills and qualities.

5. Personal Statement Positive Destinations Presentation
Remember when writing your personal statement:
Do use your best English and don’t let spelling and grammatical errors spoil your statement. Proofread aloud and get your teachers, advisers, and family to check*
Write in an enthusiastic, concise and natural style – nothing too complex. Structure your info to reflect the skills and qualities the universities and colleges value most – do not exaggerate*
Do show that you know your strengths and can outline your ideas clearly.
Try to stand out and show your interest in the course, but be careful with humour, quotes or anything unusual – just in case the admissions tutor doesn’t have the same sense of humour as you.
Do expect to produce several drafts of your personal statement before being totally happy with it*
Do research! Course descriptions mention the qualities, skills and experience it’s useful to have for each subject – take note of these to help you decide what to write about. Refer to careers book in the Library
Remember it’s the same personal statement for all the courses you apply to, so avoid mentioning unis and colleges by name. Most students choose similar subjects, but if you’ve chosen a variety, just write about common themes – like problem solving or creativity.

6. Personal Statement Positive Destinations Presentation
What do I include in my Personal Statement?
You can write up to 4,000 characters of text that show you’d make a great student and should include:
Why are you applying for your chosen course(s) and why does this subject interest you?
Why do you think you're suitable for the course(s)?
Do your current or previous studies relate to the course(s) that you have chosen?
Have you taken part in any other activities that demonstrate your interest in the course(s)?
Universities like to know what skills you have that will help you on the course, or generally with life at university.

7. Personal Statement Positive Destinations Presentation
If you do or have done any of these before, they could be ideal things to mention in your personal statement. Or you might be able to organise or start a new activity before you send your application.
Clubs or societies you belong to – perhaps sporting, creative or musical.
Employment or volunteering – such as vInspired Awards, Step Together or Project Trust
Skills developed with Duke of Edinburgh, National Citizen Service or young enterprise.
Science, technology, engineering or maths skills gained with the Crest Awards.
A higher education taster course/summer school
Study free online courses like FutureLearn or the Digital Business Academy.

8. Personal Statement Positive Destinations Presentation
Important points (Deadlines) to note:
step-by-step guide for registering/applying (buzzword ‘Lochaber2019’)
Research – 15th October application deadline for all medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and veterinary science courses and for all courses at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
1st Draft of Personal Statement handed in to Guidance by Thursday 20th September 2018 (this gives pupils time from 27/06 to 20/09 to work on their UCAS application.  This deadline gives guidance staff 3 weeks to read, provide feedback and return personal statements before the October break)
Personal Statement to be completed by Friday 9th November 2018 (Pupils will have from 12/10 to 09/11 to work on their personal statement, allowing time for several drafts/feedback)
Online application completed (awaiting reference) by Friday 16th November 2018 (all applications sent by Friday 14th December giving Guidance staff a month to complete references etc.)

9. Personal Statement Positive Destinations Presentation
Support available to help you:
UCAS Website
Admissions Team
Guidance Teacher (Relationship, Deadlines, Google Classroom (Lochiel – class code –x4fpxvb)
Library/Mrs Masson – Occupations Book/Prospectus
Skills Development Scotland
University Open Days (Tuesday 28th August 2018 – Glasgow)
LHS Careers Fair (Friday 31st August 2018 – period 4 and 5)
Scottish Universities Tour (Wednesday 22nd August period 4 – G5)
Information in Pupil Shared Folder (General – Teaching Materials – Positive Destinations Folder)

10. Personal Statement Positive Destinations Presentation
What you need to do:
Research – be realistic
Register for UCAS before the end of the summer break
Make use of the support available to you
Work hard in all classes – predicted grades will be required in November/December
Get relevant experience/work experience
Employment/Volunteering – reflect personal skills/qualities
Take advantage of opportunities available to you – Open Day/Higher Education Tour

11. Personal Statement Positive Destinations Presentation
Any Questions?