4. guide to personal statements by lse

8/13/2019 4. Guide to Personal Statements by LSE

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Advising the Advisers 2011


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The Importance of thePersonal Statement to LSE

Linda Hamer

Access & Admissions Specialist


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LSEs situation ....

Volume & Quality of Applications

Highest application : places ratio in UK

Seek to recruit students with the very best academic

potential irrespective of their background

Aim to select students who can benefit from and

contribute to the LSE community


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Selectors at LSE ....

Academic Admissions Tutors & Admissions Specialists

Discuss procedures & policy

Apply strict School (i.e. LSE) guidelines

Work to specific criteria for each course

Uphold the principles of fairness, transparency andconsistency


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The process .....

Selectors look at all forms where the Academic

Admissions Criteria (i.e. grades) are satisfied

LSE does NOT interview applicants

Personal Statement IS important

Advice on web-site:www.lse.ac.uk/collections/undergraduateAdmissions/Ad

missionsCriteria/UCAS_personal_statement/Default.htm


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LSEs ideal Personal Statement

Clearly structured (think interview)

Obvious subject focus (general & specific)Links current & future studies

Evidences relevant skills & experiences

Minimum 66% academic (one third social)

Full use of space (but paragraphed)Error free

Original (UCAS Similarity Detection Service)

Enthusiasm; motivation; spark


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Subject Focus

Why this particular subject?

e.g. It is the ever-changing nature of Law which makes it a

discipline in which one will always be challenged. Yet it is

not just this versatility that attracts me to Law, but also thediversity of this exciting discipline.


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Specific Subject Interests

Which aspects are of particularinterest?

e.g. particularly how the critical decisions that affect our

country are made. I am also keen to explore the moral,political and economic implications of such decisions on

both individuals and marginalised groups in society.


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Present & Future

Links to current subjects / studies

e.g. ... In my Economics A level, I have been able to use mymathematical reasoning in analysing statistical data andinterpreting trends in economic activity, for example

considering how future growth can be stimulated withoutinflationary pressure. I hope to develop this further in mydegree course


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Skills and Experiences

Not just about what the student has done, but whats/he has gained by doing it

e.g. In reaching the national finals of the ProshareFinance competition, organised by Deutsche bank, I

developed a better understanding of investment andimproved my communication skills through the variouspresentations.


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Evidence of Planning

Ends on a positive note

e.g. ... I am a committed and enthusiastic student; I enjoy achallenge and work hard to achieve my goals, I lookforward to tackling a degree in Accounting and Finance as

well as contributing to all aspects of university life.


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Additional Information

Evidence of more than study

Voluntary or Charity work

Sporting success or interest

Social activities (theatre, art)

Duke of Edinburgh & similar

Work experience or paid employment

Internship (particularly if relevant to course - but not

essential)


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What to avoid...

Spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors

Jargon, abbreviations, non-standard English

Excessive use of quotations

Rambling or repetition

IrrelevanciesPreference for one university

Failure to make use of space

Lying!


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4. guide to personal statements by lse

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