Personal Statements

Personal Statements

This presentation will cover:

• When you need to apply and complete the personal statement

• Who reads your application• Who reads your application

• What should you include and leave out

• Why should you spend a lot of time on your personal statemnt

• How do you complete a winning personal statement

Choosing a Course

• Get an idea of what is available

• Entry Requirements - be realistic!

• Your interests and hobbies

• Which career?

• Stamford Test?• Stamford Test?

• Study Abroad option?

• Course Structure – which

university offers the best

one for you?

• Talk to staff at Open Days

When: UCAS Deadlines

Important dates to remember

•September is the time!

•15 October : Dentistry, Medicine, Oxbridge

15 January : Deadline for applications from UK and EU •15 January : Deadline for applications from UK and EU

students to be guaranteed consideration

•24 March : Deadline for some art and design courses

•31 March : Universities and colleges should aim to have

sent decisions on all applications received by 15

January

Who?

• UCAS process all applications

• UCAS aren’t involved in the decision making

• Form sent to Admissions Staff at all five universities

• Processing takes one day then you will be sent an

application number and bookletapplication number and booklet

• Subject tutors from each university will read

your personal statements

• Remember – they will be looking at

lots of applications.

Make yours stand out!

UCAS CycleImportant dates to remember

1• You need to make up to five choices on your application.

2• UCAS will send your application to each chosen institution.

3

• You will receive a decision for each course. You may be asked to come in for an interview, given a conditional or unconditional offer or be rejected.

4• Respond to UCAS and to confirm your ‘Firm’ and ‘Insurance’ choices.

5

• Wait until your results have been published to see if the entry requirements of the institution have been met.

Why?

Why?Why?

Why?

Why write a good Personal Statement

• It is a compulsory part of the UCAS form

• It is your ‘interview’

• Helps with your CV now and in the future• Helps with your CV now and in the future

• Helps you focus on what you really want

• To stand out over other students with the same grades

• 450,000 applicants and 2.5 million applications to HE

• Competition is tough!

Expand upon your

interests and experiences

• It makes the statement more convincing

• More personal if you give specifics

• Explain why an experience or activity makes you a • Explain why an experience or activity makes you a

good candidate

• Include enough additional information to make it

interesting

• Demonstrate your own interest

Applying to Multiple Courses

• Remember that you only write one

personal statement

• Joint degree - Explain why you are • Joint degree - Explain why you are

interested in both subjects.

• Contrasting Subjects – Try and

identify the common themes.

Real ExamplesReal MistakesReal Mistakes

Introduction Example – English Degree

My Personal Statement. The reason why I want to study for a degree

Is because of the following reasons:

I want to get a higher degree and better qualification,

I want to gain more experience and knowledge,

I want to improve my skills as an educational challenge

and I want to have a good career later.

I finished English literature in my country and got a first degree. I studiedI finished English literature in my country and got a first degree. I studied

English grammar, drama, Shakespeare's plays, comprehension, poems and

critic. So far I know Arabic, Italian, English and some French. I like

learning and speaking different languages especially English because I

feel that communicating with other people in their own language is

better so I could understand them more.

What Not to WriteDon’t be a victim!

• Using slang or poor English

• Underestimating the skills you gain from

part-time work

• Exaggerating

• Assuming that the reader knows about you

• Repeating information that is elsewhere on

the form

• Trying to include too much

• Getting someone else to write it!

• Plagiarism!

Introduction Example – Sports

Understanding the story of Muhammad Ali initiated my interest in

sporting figures. Muhammad Ali has had an immense influence on me and

the bout in Zaire against Foreman was truly inspiring. Ali's mentality in

that fight was immense to control such a fighter of Foreman's calibre. It is

astounding what the individual can achieve when the mind is both

determined and focused. Studying for a degree in sports science would

not only further my understanding of the impact of biological aspects on not only further my understanding of the impact of biological aspects on

performance but will also help me to appreciate the psychological aspects

of performance, which particularly intrigues me. My aspiration is to

become a sports coach and I feel that this degree will help to make my

dream more likely.”

Experiences

• “I worked in a solicitors office for my work experience”

• Provide context and show what you have learnt

• “In July 2007 I spent two weeks on a placement at Elias,

Smith and Jones, a solicitors’ firm in Colchester specialising

A good example

Smith and Jones, a solicitors’ firm in Colchester specialising

in family law and personal injuries. During that time I

shadowed a partner, and attended a child custody hearing,

and also had the opportunity to work closely with a Para-

legal as they prepared a compensation claim. This has given

me an insight into the variety of work in a small firm, and

has emphasised to me the importance of a thorough

grounding in contact law”.

What to WriteYour opportunity to sell yourself

• Make it attention grabbing! Quotes and jokes

• Make the content relevant and current

• Ensure your personal statement has a structure and organise

the material clearly

• Show an awareness of your subject

• Only put in things you are prepared to talk about if called for

interview

• Think about the impression you want to give

• Make it individual – all about you!

• Tell them a story (a true one!)

What to Write: Structure

• Choice of course

– Why have you applied to study?

– Why are you interested in this course?

– Motivation - why this particular course?

– Possible career aims/ ambitions

• Work experience or voluntary work, and skills gained• Work experience or voluntary work, and skills gained

– Communications, IT, numerical

– Personal, e.g decision-making skills, working in a team

– Voluntary work? Positions of responsibility?

• School / College experience

– What have you learnt about from your

current studies? What skills have you developed?

– Additional positions of responsibility?

– How would you describe your college experience?

What to Write: Structure

• Sporting involvement

– Teams /clubs– what have you learned? What skills have you gained?

– Have you recently participated in any events?

– Any positions of responsibility? Any medals/awards?

• Out of school/college activities and interests

– Hobbies and interests; what skills have you gained from these? Any – Hobbies and interests; what skills have you gained from these? Any

rewards or achievements?

– How would you describe yourself? What are your strengths?

– Holidays and travel

• Concluding statement

– What are you looking forward to at University? What can your offer?

– If you plan to defer entry, say what you plan to do and how you feel it

will benefit you

• Apply online at UCAS

• Use Times New Roman/Arial, font 12pt

• Edit for spelling and grammar

How?

• Edit for spelling and grammar

• Write enough to fill the space

• Write in paragraphs or short statements.

• Proof read. Even better, get someone else to read it

• 47 lines or 4,000 characters

Any Questions?