1. At the heart of connecting people to higher education The personal statement Richard Allon-Smith: Inspiring Futures At the heart of connecting people to higher education

2. In this session Why is your personal statement important? Who will read it? What are admissions tutors looking for? Getting started What to include and how to make it relevant Practicalities & useful resources Plus, a quiz to see if you have been listening!

3. At the heart of connecting people to higher education Which of the following lines is NOT from a real UCAS personal statement? It was a catch 12 situation Twice a week I attend marital arts classes I think of myself as a worm hearted individual English is like a second language to I All are real!!

4. How important are they?  An opportunity to stand out from others with similar grades  Chance to showcase your writing style and talents  The weighting of the personal statement can vary from university to university and from course to course  In short, an important selection tool for higher education providers (including all top universities)

5. At the heart of connecting people to higher education From a Russell Group university perspective…. “With many highly qualified students applying to university, the personal statement is crucial in helping us identify students with the greatest merit and aptitude for our courses.” University of Manchester

6. Who will read them?  Academic staff?  Departmental administrators?  Central administrators? How do they decide?  Own personal judgement?  Check-list of criteria?

7. At the heart of connecting people to higher education What are admissions staff looking for? In most cases, 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

8. At the heart of connecting people to higher education Getting started

9. At the heart of connecting people to higher education As a starting point…. Think of it as an opportunity (not a threat)

10. At the heart of connecting people to higher education What can you write about? Why do I want to study the course? ActivitiesExperiences Achievements Abilities Skills and qualities HobbiesClubs Positions of Authority Volunteering Projects or coursework Work Experience Why do I want to study the course? Why am I suitable for the course?

11. At the heart of connecting people to higher education Skills and qualities Creativity Logical Thinking Writing Skills Leadership Self Discipline Critical Thinking Teamwork Problem Solving Research Skills Analytical Ability Motivation Enthusiasm Resilience Dedication Listening Skills Independent Working Which skills on the left are particularly relevant for your course?

12. How to write about skills – the ABC method Good Better Best Activity: What have you done? Benefit: What skills have you gained? Course: How will this prepare you for the course? TIP: GIVE IT THE ‘SO WHAT?’ TEST (Could an Admissions tutor say ‘So what?’ to anything in it? If so, work on it more or consider if it needs to be included)

13. At the heart of connecting people to higher education Content and structure

14. An essay format ▪ At least two thirds of the personal statement should be focused around your desire to study the subject o Where did your interest in the subject come from? o What have you done to develop this interest? o Why do you want to study the subject at HE level? o How have your current studies shaped your desire to study this subject?  The rest of the statement should be about you as a whole person – hobbies, jobs, interests

15. At the heart of connecting people to higher education Opening Section Provide insightful reasons for choosing the subject Demonstrate commitment to the subject Middle Section Opportunity for the writer to identify themselves as a reflective and mature individual with appropriate skills, knowledge and attitudes Final Section Needs to be ‘punchy’ and leave the reader with a firm impression of a strong desire to study the subject chosen Running order….

16. At the heart of connecting people to higher education During Work Experience Observing a dentist Saw him/her calm a distressed patient Realised how important communication skills are for dentistry Example: showing subject insight

17. At the heart of connecting people to higher education During a History debate I had to critique argument of opposition Needed to listen carefully to identify flaws in their argument; then took the lead in prioritising the points that we wished to make in support of our case. As a result, our team won the debate Example: critical thinking & analytical ability

18. Example: reflection I have always been fascinated by the past, beginning with childhood interests in time ‑ travel and mythology. This interest continued with student exchanges to France and Germany, giving me the opportunity to study 18 th century French history and dictatorship respectively, broadening and deepening my historical scope. A subsequent trip to Poland, where I studied archived materials relating to the World Wars, fortified my interest in historical research and my decision to pursue the subject at degree level. At university I look forward to analysing varied interpretations of history and the original sources upon which they are based.

19. At the heart of connecting people to higher education Rewriting, editing and polishing

20. Hints and tips 1. Avoid repetition and using over-long sentences that are full of generalities or lists 2. No matter how good you are at writing English, be prepared to edit and cut out anything not relevant 3. Make sure that the paragraphs flow in a logical way 4. Insert some line breaks (i.e. take the opportunity to use paragraphs) & do not obsess about using all 47 lines!

21. Adopt good habits.. Get into the habit of being very critical with the number of words you use in each sentence. Once you have written something, go back and decide if each and every word you recently wrote deserves to be there. Be ruthless with excess words - take no prisoners!

22. ‘Powerful words’ ExcellentSuperiorInstrumental CreativeInnovativeMotivated DependableArticulateMeticulous ConfidentPositiveTenacity Hard-workingThoughtfulReflective DynamicIncisiveCaring InsightfulEmpatheticIntegrity Tip – use sparingly and with care

23. Spotlight on things to avoid

24. At the heart of connecting people to higher education Avoid writing lists I enjoy watching football, I play basketball for Coventry schools, I sing in a choir, I am doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, I am a member of a debating society, I work in Tesco on Saturdays and I shop for my Granny on Monday after school.

25. At the heart of connecting people to higher education Instead, look for a key activity to expand I have been an active member of an East Midlands debating society for the last three years. This has proved really interesting as I have had the chance to research and defend viewpoints that I would normally not agree with; an exercise which I’m sure will be prove valuable as a Law degree student.

26. At the heart of connecting people to higher education Also avoid…  Intellectual Pretensions  Misdirected humour  No mention of future aspirations / direction  Committing GBH on English language  ‘I so don’t want to miss this opportunity’  ‘I have been interested in Sport from the get-go.’’

27. At the heart of connecting people to higher education 10 things to double-check 1. How impressive is my opening? – score out of 10 2. Have I made a convincing case of why I have chosen my course? 3. At least one piece of evidence that I have researched what the course entails 4. At least one piece of evidence of wider reading in the subject 5. At least two pieces of evidence of skills picked up in my Level 3 studies 6.At least one piece of evidence of skills gained from an out- of-school activity 7. Have I suggested what I might do after university? 8. Have I avoided using over-long sentences? 9. Am I guilty of using any bland generalities (I love football)? 10. Is the ending a positive affirmation of what I can bring/contribute to a university staff/student community? Tip: ask a friend or parent to sense check

28. At the heart of connecting people to higher education Practicalities & resources

29. At the heart of connecting people to higher education Personal Statement Application Section

30. At the heart of connecting people to higher education Too Long...

31. At the heart of connecting people to higher education Too Short...

32. At the heart of connecting people to higher education 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. I have always been fascinated by the way writers can influence and even manipulate readers’ emotions by their expression of thoughts and by their ability to encourage the expansion of our imaginations and understanding. My favourite authors include Phillip Pullman and Caroline B Cooney whose novels are inspiring because of their enviable lucidity and innovative character development. I had a vivid imagination as a child possibly influenced by my interest in the captivating work of such authors as Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl and Charles Kingsley. I still enjoy reading in my spare time. It is impossible for me to choose my favourite book but I have taken pleasure numerous times in reading 'A Child Called It' by Dave Pelzer, a book which I find mesmerising and deeply moving and 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott, a powerful and inspiring novel. I enjoy literature that can provoke a range of emotions in the reader from start to finish and I think that these books fit the bill perfectly. What attracts me most to English is not only the chance to expand my literary knowledge, but the opportunity I am given to communicate my own thoughts and ideas.

34. At the heart of connecting people to higher education UCAS Personal Statement Resources

35. At the heart of connecting people to higher education PERSONAL STATEMENT – QUIZ TIME!

36. Personal statement exercise

44. At the heart of connecting people to higher education To end, a message from an experienced admissions tutor to all UCAS applicants… “It is a pleasure (although a surprisingly rare one) to read a personal statement where the candidate’s voice comes across clearly – DON’T BE AFRAID TO BE YOURSELF.”

45. At the heart of connecting people to higher education Any final questions? Thank you for listening and joining in. Good luck with your UCAS applications!