Penstripe Student Planner Catalogue 24-25 - Flipbook - Page 86
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ABOUT THE PERSONAL STATEMENT
Application to Higher Education – personal statement
What is the personal statement?
The personal statement is a very important part of your UCAS application. In just 47 lines (4000 characters),
you have to convince university admissions tutors that you are totally committed to your chosen subject.
It is your opportunity to sell yourself and secure an offer of a place. It is crucial that your statement reflects
your personality, as well as showing your motivation and commitment. Indicate what it is that makes
you an interesting person and how you may gain even more experience from attending that university.
Universities are now interviewing fewer students and rely heavily on the personal statement when
assessing academically equivalent applications.
What do I write?
There are no right or wrong formats. Start by using the suggestions below:
1. Course
Demonstrate that you have researched your course.
Why are you interested?
What sparked your interest?
What specific topics do you enjoy?
Identify common factors if applying for more than one course type.
For combined courses, make sure you say why you’re interested in both areas.
2. Career
If you have an idea of your career path, explain how the course fits in with this and
how it suits your interests and ability.
fund raising event may have involved teamwork, research and organisational skills,
commitment and perseverance. Describe any positions of responsibility you’ve held,
e.g. student mentor or team leader.
5. Extra-curricular
You should include activities that support your choice of course. Describe any visits
you have made, e.g. visits to art galleries for art courses or hospitals for nursing.
Even if your interests aren’t directly relevant, it is important to give an impression
of your personality so mention any hobbies or gap year plans.
Top tips for your personal statement
Think about writing your statement weeks in advance – you’ll write several drafts.
As a rough guide, use half the space to write about your chosen course. Use the
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remainder to write about your chosen career path, work experience, achievements
and extra-curricular activities.
Write in a positive style that you feel comfortable with, using simple words and clear
sentence structures. Don’t try to be funny as others may not share your sense of humour.
Be analytical about yourself and the subject, rather than descriptive. Never start your
personal statement, ‘I have always been interested in…’.
Be honest! You may be asked questions about your personal statement at an interview.
Don’t rely on a spell-checker. Proof read as many times as possible. It can be helpful to
leave a few days between drafts as it’s often easier to identify mistakes in spelling and
grammar after distancing yourself. Ask your tutors, parents and friends to make final checks.
Remember: Universities routinely check for plagiarism,
ensuring statements are not copied from the internet.
Description
About the personal statement
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Remember: try to make your statement stand out from those of similar students.
Task 1 – Identify your strengths
Do not be modest or take them for granted. State the skills that you have developed that are
transferable requirements of your chosen course.
List skills developed
Communication
Listening
Speaking
Working independently
Computer literacy
Team work
Managing others
Caring for others
Using your initiative
List evidence
Part time job
Member of sports team
Peer mentoring younger students
Dealing with customers
Charity work
Work experience
Voluntary work
Special awards and achievements
Participation in events and activities
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Use these lists to complete a self assessment using the headings below. You should then
identify and include areas in which you require improvement.
My personal strengths/qualities
Attendance and punctuality
Involvement in extra-curricular/enrichment/additional activities
In school/college & out of school/college
Work experience/part time job/hobbies and interests
Task 2 – Write your personal statement
This must be clear and easy to read. Use the following tips and advice to help you:
Avoid writing
‘I enjoy reading...’
‘I have a variety of skills...’
‘I am the captain of the football team...’
Instead try to write varied sentences with a range of starting points. For example:
‘The opportunity to work with...’
‘Apart from my involvement in... ’
‘In addition to…’
Think of different starting points for the following and create your own sentences
‘I have taken part in...’
‘I am the captain of the football team...’
‘I enjoy socialising...’
‘I enjoy reading...’
‘I have worked at...’
‘I ran the sixth form school council...’
‘I do voluntary work at the local hospice...’
‘I have a number of skills...’
E.g. ‘Apart from my involvement in the school’s peer mentoring programme, I am also involved in
the local community’s Help the Aged project…’
It is important that your personal statement is accurate and up to date.
Description
Writing your personal statement
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& problem-solving.
4. Achievements
Include any personal achievements and state what they demonstrate, e.g. participation in a
Writing your personal statement
Writing a statement about yourself is an important skill. There is no such thing as the perfect or
model personal statement; this is unique to each individual and it is the applicant’s opportunity to
demonstrate their personal motivation and commitment. As a guide, the first part of the statement
should be about your reasons for choosing the course and this should be followed by an outline of
your knowledge and experience of the subject applied for. Finally, you need to show how the skills
that you have developed and demonstrated make you a well-rounded individual.
Add other skills you have acquired and provide the evidence
3. Experience
Consider both work and life experiences, both related and unrelated to your course.
Be specific about what you have learned.
Refer to transferable skills gained, e.g. planning, communication, time management
WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT
